Page 43 of Forced Alpha Bride
“No thanks,” she answers quickly. “I’ll let you two go.”
“Very generous of you,” I quip, putting my hand on Winnie’s arm to steer her to the stone staircase that leads down from the foyer.
Flickering shadows from small torches on the wall confuse my eyes as we make our way down the dark stairs. This part of the manor never got renovated, so there’s no electricity orplumbing past the ground level. At the first landing, I gesture to Winnie, and she turns to go into the sacred chamber.
We walk out into the open space, the flat stone floor stretching out in all directions to disappear into shadows all around us. To the left, the dais is lit by small, bright torches that burn with white flames and give out almost no smoke. I’m not sure if the effect is made by herbs or magic, but it illuminates the dais perfectly, leaving the rest of the room dark.
“Alpha Damon,” Regina says, her voice echoing around the room. “Welcome.”
I step up to the dais, holding onto Winnie’s chains as I approach.
“Elders,” I answer, nodding my head in respect. “I’ve completed my trials and brought my mate to our first official meeting. You cannot dispute my position.”
“No, we cannot,” Regina agrees, her frustration evident. “So, by all means, take your seat and declare your intentions for the pack.”
The long stone table is curved to match the dais, and I walk with Winnie to take our seats in the center. The others are arranged on the other side of the table so we can see each other.
Suddenly, I have no idea what to say. When I was a child, my mother schooled me on pack etiquette, but I’ve got no framework for an actual council meeting.
Fuck it. I’m the boss, I can do whatever I want.
“So, Alpha,” Regina begins. “We have matters to discuss regarding town commerce—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I’d like to discuss my first order before you tire me with trivial things. I want to talk about our boundarypatrols, enemies, allies, and the pack’s duty towards expansion and taking new territory.”
The silence that falls in the room is the most complete stillness I’ve ever experienced. Being so far underground contributes to it, but it’s also as if the elders have forgotten how to breathe. Even Winnie looks terrified.
“I want all hostile maneuvers between Gryphon Eyrie and Valentine Creek to be terminated right now,” I continue. “Any scouts or warriors we have in the area will be recalled, and members of their pack are not to be attacked, even if they leave the town boundary. Do you understand?”
There is a series of reactions around the table, mostly of surprise, but some of pure rage.
“Who do you think you are—” Regina begins tartly, then stops. I watch her take a deep breath and swallow her words before she talks again.
That’s right. Don’t forget I’m your alpha now.
“Is that wise, Alpha Damon?” she asks, her voice calm but her eyes blazing. “They are our sworn enemies. A very dangerous pack. If we withdraw, they might advance, and it will put all of us at risk.”
“I don’t believe so,” I answer smoothly. “They are much smaller than us, and it’s unlikely they’d mobilize to cross such a wide area, especially in winter. They simply don’t have the resources.”
Regina narrows her eyes, glaring at me. I smile sweetly, daring her to say exactly what’s on her mind.
Valentine Creek is a very small pack northeast of Gryphon Eyrie, nestled under a mountain near a lake. I’ve never beenthere, but it’s been described to me by Uncle Leroy and some of my misfit brothers.
My mother, Sara, was born into the first families of Gryphon Eyrie. It is her blood that gives me the right to sit in the alpha’s chair right now.
But it is my father’s blood that makes me a bastard. And his home was Valentine Creek.
Chapter 13 - Winnie
While Damon and Regina face off, I keep my mouth shut and try to understand the situation. Krista often talked about a rival pack that lived in the hills, a savage bunch of wolves with no honor, all of them killers and thieves.
I don’t know if I should be relieved or terrified. I thought he was going to organize attacks on the surrounding packs—Kit and Galen! I didn’t expect this.
“Alpha Damon,” Elder Mitchell says, keeping his tone light and respectful. “I understand you don’t have much experience dealing with official business. Unlike the other challengers, you’ve never been involved in the top circle—”
“How is your son, by the way?” Damon asks casually. “What was his name? Steve?”
“Scott,” Mitchell says curtly. “He’s with the healers now.”
