6
Besides, a weak pack has no business controlling a territory."Scattered murmurs of clashing interest spread across the throne room as pack and court members disagree. I see the moment as my opening.
"Your Majesty, my elders," I address the court, getting on my feet. "Like Alpha Kaden said, we wolf shifters are territorial beings and would typically fight for what is ours, but we are shifters, not mindless beasts. We have a human part that enables us to think, unlike mere wolves. I don't know about the Silver Pack, but I prioritize the lives of all my pack members and would not subject them to the losses of a war if it is not necessary. I suggest we save ourselves from the bloodshed and follow protocol. I believe we have long evolved from blood lust."My remark is met with silence, and I can see the queen looking at me with approval. Some of the court members who were previously agitated reign in their claws, taking in the meaning of my words."The young man has spoken wisely. I suggest we wait for the bill," an elder from the court says, but Alpha Kaden declines.
"If Blackwood is too scared to fight, then that is the indication that they're too weak to have control over the territory. Prolonging the issue and waiting for a bill that might never be passed is not ideal. My pack and I have decided to fight to the death for what is ours, and the current law permits us to. Blackwood is welcome to surrender if they don't want to fight."
Tension returns to the room following Alpha Kaden's not-so-subtle insinuation, and I freeze. This is certainly not how I expected this to turn out. There has been no war in Blackwood for the longest time, and we have done everything to maintain peace. Even my training spoke at length about choosing to preserve the lives of pack members over ego-serving, mindless wars. This was the worst timing, but I know it takes two to clear a war, so I'll bank on my father refusing to indulge the maniac."I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Alpha Kaden on this one," my father says, his eyes blazing with silent fury. My eyes snap to him in surprise. I quickly mask my feelings with a nod of agreement, not wanting to appear scared and weak in front of the court. "Passing the law might take years, and we don't have the time for that. We'll settle this the way we know best. Blackwood will fight." The not-so-subtle war declaration sends a wave of silence across the room as everyone takes their time to digest the words and their implications. My mind is a jumbled mess, scrambling to adjust to the new reality, figure out the best approach to the situation, and be steps ahead.
The meeting ended on a tense note, with the queen promising to find a way to prevent the war, but we all knew that might come after an ample amount of bloodshed. Changing a law in the shifter community was not an easy feat by any measure. The drive back home was even more tense and uncomfortable."This fight is your one and only way to prove how capable you are, so I'll leave it to you," My father says as soon as we step into his office. I have no time to process the meaning of his words before he confirms my suspicion. "You'll have to be named alpha as soon as possible." This is the moment I have spent my whole life preparing for, but the feeling of freedom and euphoria I expected to feel following the declaration was masked by the bloodied taste of the looming war. Not my wolf, though. He was pleasantly pleased with the promotion.
I expected to play a vital role in the coming war. What I didn't anticipate was heading it. A fit of dry cough cuts through my thoughts, and I focus on my father's hunched shoulders as he coughs into a white handkerchief. He squeezes the piece of fabric and speedily tucks it into his pocket, but I catch the characteristic red stain of blood on it.His sickness is getting worse, and I know it's one of the reasons he is handing over to me. But the goddess will most likely turn mortal before he admits to any sign of weakness. It's probably why he won't quit smoking despite his worsening condition, to prove he is not scared.
He lifts his head, and the words he utters have me wishing his fits lasted long enough for him to wave me out as usual. "You'll announce your engagement to Selene Westwood before your coronation.""What?" I'm completely blown away by his words. Marry Selene? Granted, we were in a relationship during my first year of college, but that ended a long time ago, and I've not even caught a glimpse of her since then."I believe I did not stutter. You will marry Selene Westwood and be named alpha afterward." His tone is flat, and he is passive, as though he didn't just take over the reins of my future.I have sacrificed my whole life for the pack. The least he can do is let me spend what was left of it with a woman of my choosing. I summon every courage in my veins.
"Selene is not my fated mate.""Your mother wasn't mine either, but here we are."I opened my mouth to counter his point, but he continued. "The pack is at risk, and Selene comes from a long line of pure-blood warriors, one that takes their bloodline seriously. With her as your mate, you're bound to her in the oldest and most highly recognized way known—by blood—and they'll recognize you as one of them. Her brother being your second in command is an added bonus. You'll create an alliance that will have every pure-blood warrior in the community loyal and willing to fight for you. It is the best line of action, and it is final."
"What if I already found my fated mate and intend to marry her?"
He lets out a loud scoff, lighting himself a fresh roll of cigar. "The orphan half-blood that stays in the cottage close to the boundary? I only allowed you the liberty because I knew you had blood flowing in your loins and would want somewhere to experiment. You couldn't have thought she was Luna material."