Page 45 of Forced Alpha Bride
Ledra looks away uncomfortably, and Damon chuckles.
“Come now,” he says. “I can tell you’re all thinking it, and I’m getting sick of these underhanded little barbs. Why don’t you just come out and say it? All of this is true of me. Because I came from Valentine Creek.”
A shock runs through me, so powerful that I jump a little, rattling my chains. Damon looks over at me sharply, his eyes deep and sad, but he quickly turns his attention back to the council, who are now all talking at once.
Is this why he’s doing all of this? To free his hometown? If they’re all murderers and thieves, will any of us be safe?
Fear runs in my blood, making me shiver. I’m so twisted by anxiety, I can hardly breathe.
This is all adding up too fast, that wolves from Valentine Creek steal women, raid, pillage, and kill. And that Damon is one of them!
“We meant no offense, Alpha—”
“Of course, we didn’t mean you, Alpha—”
“Please just listen—”
“Silence!” Damon roars, standing up and slapping his hands down on the table. “I don’t want to hear any of your bullshit. I don’t have to explain myself, but I will. I’ve never even been to Valentine Creek—well, not that I can remember, anyway. Yes, my father came from there, but I grew up here, as you will recall.”
The elders all seem to search their brains for information, and I can tell most of them aren’t even sure.
“Then after the tragic death of my mother, I lived with my uncle in the woods,” Damon finishes softly.
Ledra claps her hands. “Yes! That’s right, I remember. You were in my daughter’s science class, and she told me—”
Ledra stops talking abruptly, a terrified look on her face.
“No, by all means,” Damon says, gazing at her. “Tell me what she said.”
“Ah. She said she was sad to see you go.”
“I bet,” Damon chuckles.
At this point, I really don’t know what to believe. The evidence is clearly stacking up that Damon is a bad guy from a rough place, and it could be extremely dangerous to take our eyes off Valentine Creek. On the other hand, he does seem genuinely concerned for the welfare of innocents.
It could be an act. Just a way to get the council on his side so they’ll happily accept his orders.
With a sinking feeling, I realize how much Damon actually needs me. This isn’t strictly about the broken contract or needing a mate for his ascension.
I, personally, have connections to the alphas of nearby packs. If he wants to take over the Range or get more territory, I’m a very valuable bargaining chip. He could hold me to ransom or use me as a weapon. The possibilities are endless.
“Enough!” Damon yells. “I’ve heard your protests, and they mean nothing to me. I will dispatch my own men to your front lines and recall your scouts. I may leave sentries closer toour border, but there will be no more occupation in the town of Valentine Creek.”
“On your head be it,” Regina swears with a sneer. “Lives will be lost, our pack will suffer, and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”
“I’ll risk it,” Damon says. “I’d rather put myself on the line than approve the suffering of innocents.”
“Your definition of innocent is different from mine,” Regina mutters. “But I submit to your will, Alpha, as we all must.”
“Good,” Damon says. “I’ll be heading out to give the orders soon, and I’d like all of you to communicate with your personal guards so this transition goes smoothly.”
“Understood,” Regina says, her voice calm but her eyes blazing with fury. “Since we have wasted so much time on this, we have little left, and most of the items on the ledger will have to be put aside for the next meeting. But there is one more point we must discuss.”
“What is it?” Damon snaps, clearly done with any attempt at civility.
“Heirs,” Regina says with a cruel smile. “You’ve come this far, Alpha, and I have nothing but congratulations for you. But all of us know the consummation must take place before the next full moon, or your position can again be contested. Your mate’s willingness to bear a child also weighs on this decision.”
I see Damon clench his hands as he glares at her, and my heart flutters in my chest.
