Page 75 of Forced Alpha Bride
“Stand down,” I call, addressing the crowd. “Please. Let us tend to the dead and meet tomorrow to discuss what we should do. I will organize a vanguard around the city so no one will be able to get into the town. If Valentine Creek does have assassins watching us, then let them see our solidarity and our respect for the fallen. We can send no better message.”
Imagine if they are mobilized out there and saw Gryphon Eyrie rip itself apart. What a way to lose a war!
Behind Regina, some of her guards begin to drop their weapons. She turns to them in shock.
“Don’t!” she warns. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! You are my guards, and you will obey me!”
“Regina,” one of her guards comes forward, gently taking her shoulders, “I understand your pain, but I believe your mind may be clouded by grief. We were all close to Rafe. I came here ready for vengeance, but Damon has shown me that’s not whatI want. I want fair justice for my fallen brother and a strong, united pack. I don’t want any more blood spilled this day.”
I watch Regina visibly struggle with his words. She would hate to admit weakness in front of them, but if she went against him, her behavior could be truly seen as irrational.
“I promise you, those responsible for this massacre will be discovered and punished,” I call out, imploring the others. “Let us tend our dead, please. I have lost dear friends today, as have you. We are one pack, and we must unite in this tragedy, not tear each other apart.”
The rest of Regina’s guards drop their weapons. Regina crumbles, putting her face in her hands and crying. Mitchell hurries to put his arms around her.
“There, there,” he says. “Damon speaks well. Let’s tend to our dead and heal the wounds between us so we can stand against our true enemies.”
Regina nods, letting Mitchell lead her away. I gesture my men forward and choose wolves from both my guard and Regina’s to stand in defense.
If Regina is behind this, I probably can’t trust her men. That also means we’re unlikely to be attacked, though, because the enemy is within.
After dispatching the vanguard, I take a few of my closest friends—Flint, Giles, and Logan—to collect the bodies of our brothers. All around us, families grieve as they move their loved ones to the sacred chambers beneath the manor, where they will be prepared for burial.
We decide to have the men buried on the grounds—partly for honor, but also for convenience. Heavy machinery is brought in, and I leave Flint in charge to take Winnie home.
“We can stay if you like,” she says as we get in the car. “I’ll understand if you want to keep a vigil.”
“I don’t,” I answer, my voice harsh. “I’ve said goodbye, and after the confrontation with Regina, I need to decompress. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
“I know,” she says, rubbing my arm. “I could tell. But you did beautifully, Damon. You handled the situation like a true alpha.”
“That means a lot, coming from you,” I tell her, moved. “Would Galen have done the same?”
“Probably,” she says. “But my father? No. Same story in Cyan Lock. Kit would ask for peace, but his grandfather would have slaughtered every living thing in Valentine Creek by the next dawn.”
“I wonder what Roderick would have done,” I say.
Winnie shrugs. “I don’t know. He was not as quick to anger as my father or Kit’s grandfather, but he was brutal in his dealings with the Creek. He never argued with Regina, either.”
“Interesting,” I mutter as I pull up in front of the house. “She doesn’t seem to like losing her power. Whether she’s behind all this or not, she’s becoming incredibly dangerous.”
“I agree,” Winnie says, getting out of the car. “We need to keep an eye on her.”
We go inside, and I’m more than grateful for Winnie’s comforting presence. Whatever was disturbing her before seems to have faded, and I’m glad I don’t have to stress out about losing her while dealing with a pack war.
“Just sit down for a while,” she says. “I’ll grab us something to eat.”
“Thank you,” I say. “Not sure I’m hungry, though.”
“I’ll get you a stiff drink, then,” she chuckles. “Pretty sure you won’t turn down one of those.”
“You’re right about that,” I say, sitting down on the couch. For a few minutes, I just relax, sinking into the soft couch and letting my mind drift, trying not to think about anything at all.
When Winnie returns with a plate of roast beef sandwiches and a bottle of whiskey, I surprise myself by demolishing most of the food and a heavy dose of alcohol. By the time I slow down, my head is fuzzy from the drink, and my body is humming contentedly from the good food.
“There you go,” Winnie says. “Feel better now?”
“I do. Thank you, Winnie, for everything you did today, and for taking such good care of me. I’m not sure I deserve it.”
