Page 6 of Forced Alpha Bride
“You won,” she says, her voice flat. She doesn’t even sound surprised, just extremely pissed.
I wish I had a picture of her face when she saw me come down these stairs. I’ve never seen such a combination of shock and fury.
“I won,” I echo, standing up taller. I begin to walk up the low steps, painfully lifting my feet until I’m standing on the dais, the alpha seat right in front of me.
Just one more step, and it’s mine.
“Stop, Damon,” Regina hisses.
“You cannot deny me!” I roar, turning on her. “I have won the alpha challenge, defeated every rival. That seat is mine!”
“For now, it is,” Ledra mutters. Looking up at her, I bare my teeth just slightly, and she shivers and looks away.
“You have won the challenge,” Regina says, her voice calm. “But you are not alpha. Not until you have a mate.”
“Excuse me?” I answer, genuinely confused. For the first time since I entered the chamber, I don’t feel sure of myself.
“As it is written,” Regina says, pulling out a scroll and spreading it out on the table, “the winner of the alpha challenge must take himself a mate within two days of his victory, or his position is forfeit. The council may initiate another challenge, or elect a wolf of standing who already has a mate.”
“You’re lying!” I swear, slapping the table in front of Regina. She smiles at me, an absolute picture of elegance and class.
Except for that look in her eye that says, ‘Eat shit.’
“Here.” She turns the scroll around so I can read it. My eyes travel over the words, worn into the fragile paper by old-fashioned ink. The text is genuine, and the rule is right there, along with the specifics of the alpha challenge.
I didn’t know!
My Uncle Leroy told me about the challenge. He said if I was quick enough, I could move the second Roderick died and take his place. Leroy trained me to fight, relentlessly shaped me into an instrument for this moment. He never mentioned that I had to have a mate to keep the position.
“I…” My voice croaks deep in my throat as I try to process the information. Throbbing pain from my wounds only clouds my thoughts further.
“You have been accepted into the challenge because of the royal blood of your mother, Sara Mackay,” Regina says, her voice clear and firm. She stumbles a little over the word “royal” as if she’d like to use a different one.
Something nasty and derogatory, I expect.
“Your… unsavory connections have been overlooked, and we enabled the challenge,” she continues. “But the alpha strong enough to lead must also be strong enough to obtain—and keep—a mate. He cannot rule without a luna by his side and a certainty of succession. Do you understand these terms, by writ of our ancient law?”
I look away from Regina to the alpha’s chair. It’s right there in front of me, so close. I feel like all I have to do is sit in it, then everything will be okay.
If I do that, I’ll lose the honor I’ve gained here in the challenge. I’d have to hold the pack by martial law, and we would tear each other apart.
I turn back to Regina, my fists clenched as I fight for control.
I should call you out, you old bitch. We all know you want the position, and you’d take it if you could!
Gryphon Eyrie has never had a female alpha. It’s a tradition that has persisted, even as times have become more progressive. That fact would be enough to keep Regina from trying to take it for herself, as well as her age.
Even though all these wolves are strong and wily, they’ll avoid a fight if they can. Much better to skillfully position herself to rule the pack rather than take it by force.
A grin spreads across my face as I feel victory singing in my veins.
That’s exactly what I did, and I’ll be damned to fucking hell if I let you take it from me now!
“Two days hence,” I answer calmly. “I shall have a luna by my side within this time, or you may strip my title and appoint another.”
I see a look flicker deep in Regina’s eyes, but all she does is tilt her head and smile. “As you like, alpha. We await your order.”
You fucking bitch!
