Page 160 of Claimed

“If it’s not and you all choose to vote me in as your alpha, I have a parcel of land in mind that we can move to with habitable homes, drinkable water, and farmable land.”

“Where?” Another younger girl asks.

“A couple hours from here,” Brody replies. “There’s also warehouse space on the edge of the land and I’m interested in exploring some business ideas for that space to offer employment to pack members who are interested. There’s a lot of opportunity in the area, but I’m getting ahead of myself here. It’s too early to get caught up in all that. Getting everyone healthy is the priority right now. I’m bringing in some additional friends from Arcana Falls and another two packs I’m close to, so if you do choose me as your alpha I’ll be inviting some of them to join the pack to help us with infrastructure. We can get intoall that later. Right now I’d love it if we could enjoy this meal together and maybe in a day or two, we can open things up to a town hall discussion if anyone has questions or concerns. If anyone has anything urgent, by all means, seek me out. Does that sound all right?”

There are a lot of yesses and nods from the crowd, so Brody invites the kids to line up first to get their food from the table where Stacy and a few of the women have everything waiting to be served.

My gaze meets Brody’s and I give him a nod of approval. I feel it – he’s the right man for this job. We just need to find Meadows STAT and deal with him so everyone in this pack, especially my mate, can move on knowing he’s done fucking with their lives.

45

Stacy

The mood in this village right now is surreal. I see smiles, I’ve even heard some laughter, and there’s an energy I can’t ever remember feeling here.

Eyes are on Brody Savage with curiosity, for certain. I think his speech was received more than well, by most. People are watching him and I’m sure many are hoping he’s the answer for the pack. Improving it. Saving it. He fed the kids first and I wanted to shout out ahallelujahfor that. He let the women serve themselves next, insisting that those who prepared the meal also put our own plates aside before the men were allowed to come up to eat. And I could tell that wasn’t because some of them are under suspicion. It’s because a real alpha takes care of those who can’t care for themselves as a priority.

Addy sat near me for the meal and though she’s been quiet, didn’t eat much, I’ve caught her watching Brody several times. Each time he looks at her, she looks away.

Misty asked her if they’d mated yet and Addy shot her a dirty look, not answering and her face going red. The way Misty and Caroline as well as a few of the other girls keep looking at Grey, Jase, Lincoln, Joel, and Gus I suspect several Silver Hills women are wishing they were me or Addy – and are hoping one of the alphas from Arcana Falls takes notice of them. Caroline has been whispering to me, asking about Grey, asking about Arcana Falls, telling me I’m lucky while fanning herself.

Patsy sits down beside me and leans in.

“I heard years ago that an alpha’s knot can be quite… effective during mating.”

My face burns scarlet and immediately, Caroline and Misty are asking questions. What does Patsy mean? Patsy explains what she knows of it, that it vibrates and pulses against the most sensitive part of a female, that it results in pleasure the likes most women never get to experience, pleasure the likes many women would go out of their way to have and would fight to the death to keep for themselves once they got it.

“Would you fight to keep it, Stace?” Misty asks.

And I can’t hide it. I nod slowly with my teeth embedded in my bottom lip.

“Brody’s an alpha,” Caroline sings out, eyebrows wiggling at Addy.

Addy looks away. Her cheeks are pink.

“What if Brody doesn’t become our new alpha? Does that mean you’ll move away like Stacy?” Misty asks and right now she looks lost.

“I’ll visit,” I promise, not for the first time. “And maybe you can take turns visiting me. Grey’s house has lots of room for guests.”

Misty moved in with us when she was seven after her mom died. We’re the only family she has, even though we’re not blood related.

“Well?” Misty presses Addy.

Addy shrugs and not making eye contact, mutters, “We’ll see what happens, I guess.”

I do my best to make everyone comfortable, encourage them what with the fact that we’ve come a long way from where thingswere just a day ago. I want them to be hopeful, to believe that things will only get better from here.

“I’ll feel better when your brother is dealt with,” Jennifer mutters and I can tell by the expressions in the group that everyone feels this way. I know I do.

I slump and get reprimanded by Caroline. “Nobody associates you with Wyatt so don’t take anything on that is his responsibility. You’re the one we can thank for change here, not the one we blame. So… thank you, Stacy.” She grabs my hand and squeezes.

“Yes, thank you Stacy,” Jennifer echoes.

Misty nods. “Definitely.”

The meal this evening has felt like a party and I can’t remember the last time the mood around here felt like this.Wellbefore Father died, for sure.

Most of the pack is here, just a few elderly folks still recuperating. Everyone else seems to be feeling much better. Some of the men are staying off to the side by themselves. The few couples in the pack have reunited. Though the return of the men of the pack made for some tension, Brody’s speech broke it, as did the hearty meal. There’s more than enough food to eat and many have gone for seconds, some even thirds.

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