Chapter 49 — This Time Will Be Different

Marcel staggers and falls, his tail twitching anxiously. His leg appears to be broken, and he can’t get back up. All that’s left now is for Dorian to strike the final blow. They’re both panting and bleeding, and as much as I want it all to be over, I’m not ready for what must come next. I never will be.

Dorian lets out a low growl, and it’s a terrifying and unfamiliar sound from him. It pierces through my horrified daze as he goes in for the kill.

“Stop!” I cry, and I don’t know with what strength I manage to stumble forward, throwing myself in between the two of them.

Dorian catches himself in time, freezing in his tracks.

“Marcel Ernouf is done. He’s down, and he’s not getting back up. It’s over,” I say.

Nobody moves. Nobody speaks, but I know from the look in their eyes that they are not satisfied. This is not our way. A challenge ends when one wolf stands, and the other is dead. But our ways need to change.

I lock eyes with Dorian, searching not for the human or the wolf within him but for the balance of the two.

“It’s done,” I say again, speaking only to him this time. “There’s been enough bloodshed in this pack. We’re family.”

Dorian huffs, looking past me at Marcel slumped on the ground.

“He’s just a kid, Dorian. So am I, and so are you,” I whisper, and I know from the pain in his eyes that he hears me.

This pack has lost enough already, and now we’re expected to watch this boy die? That’s all Marcel is. A scared, stupid, selfish boy. Tears are falling from my eyes, and I didn’t even realize that I’d started crying. Goddess, I’m so sick of crying. Enough.

I turn to the rest of the werewolves, raising my voice.

“The last wolves who fought a challenge for this Pack were Anthony Ernouf and Jacob Whren,” I say, my voice breaking as I utter my father’s name. “Our next leader must not follow in either of their footsteps.”

I take a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. From the crowd, Emily nods at me encouragingly.

“They say that young people are the future, but then old men wage wars, and young soldiers die on the battlefield,” I tell them. “I loved my dad as much as any daughter can love a father, but I have to do better than him. We all have to be better. And that starts with kindness. It starts with the mercy Anthony should have shown Angelica, and the courage Angelica should have shown my father, and the wisdom my father should have shown me.”

I turn back to Dorian, whose eyes soften as they meet mine, and I walk towards him.

“You deserve to lead, not just because of the strength you’ve displayed here today, but because you put your own feelings aside for the good of others. You say you’re sorry when you’re wrong, but you never apologize for being true to yourself. You’re willing to stand for what you believe in. You notice things that others would ignore, and you don’t walk away from an unfair fight. You help people… just because they need it.”

Slowly, I kneel before him, keeping my eyes fixed on his. He comes over to me, nuzzling my hands. I rest my forehead against his and close my eyes, allowing myself to feel safe by his side.

“You’re my Alpha.”

Dorian and I stay very still, our foreheads pressed against each other. I could stay like this forever. My eyes are closed, the rest of the room falls away, and for a moment, everything just feels right. There are no fears and no doubts.

He pulls away slightly, and when I open my eyes, I see that I am not the only one kneeling. I watch in awe as, one by one, the werewolves in the great hall bend their knee and bow before their new Alpha. Emily is full-on happy crying, and I think I catch the faintest smile on her father’s face. Felix is there too, and he winks at us with a grin before kneeling as well. It’s really over.

Marcel grumbles, and no one really pays him any attention. At some point, one of the pack members slipped out of the room and brought a fresh set of clothes. Everyone politely averts their eyes as Dorian shifts back into his human form and puts on a pair of jeans. Well, everyone but me. I don’t take my eyes off him. I want to see all of him and remember every second of this; we won.

He smiles as he walks over to me, offering me his hand to help me up. Once I’m on my feet, he leans in close and whispers into my ear.

“Are you sure about this, princess?” he asks, his breath soft against my skin.

I laugh and wrap my arms around him, not caring who sees us or what they might think. Everyone begins to rise, and the atmosphere is light and triumphant.

“I’m positive. You’re going to be an amazing Alpha,” I tell him.

“With some amazing councilors to advise him throughout his leadership, right?” Emily says with a smirk, running up to join us. “After all, we young people are the future, right?” She nudges me with her elbow playfully, and I roll my eyes.

“There are still a few things that need to be settled,” Emily’s father says, nodding towards Marcel. “No one has ever lost a challenge and survived before.”

He’s right. Punishments will have to be dealt out, and there are still a few mysteries tugging at the back of my mind. I feel as though I’m missing something; it’s like there’s a piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fit quite right. How did my father find out about Anthony’s scheme? What will become of Angelica’s prophecy? And while I’m thinking of unanswered questions, why was my necklace glowing? My hand slips into my pocket, where I’ve been stashing the moonstone until I can figure it out.

A noise behind us makes me lose my train of thought, and I’m reminded of the more pressing matters at hand. Marcel shifts back into his human form as well, and someone hands him a jacket. A few people circle him, but he’s not going anywhere.

Dorian observes him carefully, and there’s something different in his eyes. There’s patience and almost a sense of regret as he looks at his fallen opponent. Then, he turns back to Emily and me.

“The Ernoufs have taken a lot from this Pack, but no one has suffered more than the two of you. You each lost a parent because of Anthony’s actions. He didn’t just hurt your town; he hurt your families. So, the fate of his family rests in your hands. That is my choice as Alpha. The sentences of Marcel and Nora Ernouf will be decided by Angelica and Jacob’s daughters… my amazing councilors,” he smiles at me.

Emily squeezes my hand so tightly it’s almost painful. She nods at Dorian a silent thank you before turning to me. Whatever comes next will set an example for the pack.

And it’s up to us.