“Now without further ado, let me present your next Beta, Ben Jackson.” Ben and Mona walk up to the stage and stand next to Ben’s parents.
“Your next Gamma, Mona True”
The crowd gasps. My father and everyone looked shocked. Seleste had started walking to the stage but stopped. I noticed that all the members of the Elite 12 walked and stood behind Seleste. I guess that is a show of power, but I have the ultimate power.
“Son, what are you doing?” My father asked, “Seleste is the next Gamma.”
“No, dad. I don’t think Seleste is the right one for the position. Seleste has done nothing but undermines my authority in the pack for the last year. As alpha, I can’t have anyone under me who does not respect my position as head of the pack. I want Mona as my Gamma. I think that is best for the pack.” I say.
My father is stunned and quiet for a moment after I finish that statement. Mona takes that moment of silence to speak up.
“I respectfully decline,” Mona said.
“You can’t refuse.”
“I just did,” Mona said. “I would never serve with someone like you. You have no respect for tradition or even understand how a pack is supposed to run. If Ben wasn’t my mate, I would leave this pack with you as alpha.”
“Watch, how you speak to me, Mona. I will be your alpha.”
She was about to say something else, but Ben hugged her and whispered something in her ear. My father spoke up after that.
“Alpha Connor, the rest of the council and I are going to leave now and let you deal with this situation before we have to step in.” The councilman says and walks away with the other members looking at me with disappointment.
Whatever, I am the future alpha of this pack. There is nothing they can do to me.
“Wow, human, you really are an idiot. That is the supernatural council. They are the ultimate authority in the supernatural world. Not ever the king himself can overturn a ruling from them” Convel says.
“Son, what is going on. Seleste is the rightful Gamma for this pack. What are you doing? Help me understand.”
“Dad, my mate, and I discussed this. Aside from the fact that Seleste does not respect me or my position, it is common knowledge that Seleste is in love with me. My mate does not feel that Seleste will have her best interest at heart. My mate does not feel safe with Seleste, being in charge of our safety and security. As her mate, I have to put her first and protect her peace of mind. Seleste being here affects her peace negatively and I can’t have that.”
“Is this true?” My father asked my mate. I answer before Shana could. I don’t know how convincing she can be, and my father would see through any hesitation on her part.
“Of course, this is true, dad. Why would I tell you something that is not true? Seleste is not the right person to be Gamma.”
I noticed that Mrs. True was holding Mr. True tightly now. If he thinks my dad will let him do anything to me, he is crazy.
“Fine,” Seleste said. “Gamma is just a title. I don’t need it. Not having the title does not change who I am. I will still train the warrior and fulfill my other obligations. As far as respecting you Trevor, respect is earned, and until recently, I thought you deserved my respect. You have shown me over the last couple of days that I was mistaken about you. So, you can keep the Gamma position. I don’t want it. As far as being in love with you. That is laughable. I don’t even like you.”
“Well, that’s settled. Seleste will not be the next gamma. And since you mentioned training the pact, that’s the other thing. I do not want you training my warriors anymore. Since you are mad that you are not the Luna of this pack, how do I know you won’t influence the warriors against me or continue to undermine my authority?”
“Are you serious right now, Trevor? If I don’t care about the Gamma position, what makes you think I would want to be your Luna? Not in this life.” Seleste says.
“I have done nothing but make this pack better and have spent my life learning and training so that I can strengthen this pack. Do you want to take that from me because of your pettiness? Of course, you do. Trevor, you are weak and petty. You do not know how to lead, so you feel threatened by others who have natural leadership. You are pathetic.”
I can tell that I am getting to her now.
“Watch your mouth Seleste,” I say.
“Just so you know Trevor. I have a role that is far greater than anything you can offer me, but me being a trainer of this pack or any other pack is not your decision to make. You don’t have the authority or power to take that from me.” Seleste says.
“Save it Seleste, I have made my decision. As of now, you are nothing to this pack. Why don’t you find another pack to train, since you mentioned other packs? We don’t want you here.”
“Gladly,” Seleste says. “And when I leave, you will take the full brunt of your decisions and the consequences of what you are doing tonight.”
“If by consequences, you mean my pack will be better without you, then yes, I accept that and good riddance. We don’t want you here, anyway.”
Everyone murmurs. My dad tries to calm everyone down.
“Speak for yourself,” Ben says. “Seleste is the best trainer we have had in many years. What are you doing, Trevor? This is not right.”
“I have made my decision. I do not want Seleste. She will be a regular wolf in the pack, or she can leave.” I say with finality.
My dad is looking at me strangely now. He seems disappointed, but I am doing the right thing for the pack.
“If Seleste leaves, we leave.” Tim, the leader of the Elite 12, said. All the warriors nodded their heads in agreement.
“See, that’s why I need to strip Seleste of her power. The warriors are more loyal to her than they are to me. You all need to respect me. I am the alpha. What I say goes. None of you have my permission to leave. If you choose to leave, you will be rogues. Will you throw everything away just for her?”
“I don’t know about the others,” Tim said, “but I would rather go rogue than stay in this pack with you as the alpha. Like Gamma Seleste said, respect is earned, and I just lost all that I had for you.”
Warrior Tim walks over to my dad and takes his hand.
“Sorry Alpha Connor, I cannot serve your son. I will prepare to leave this pack in the next two hours.”
Warrior Tim and the rest of the Elite 12 surrounded Seleste. They all made their choice. That’s ok. I will choose another 12 that will be loyal to me.
My mother and father look lost right now. I don’t know why. They should be proud of me for standing up for the pack.
“Ok, everybody, just calm down. Nobody makes any rash decisions until we discuss this further.” My father says.
I don’t know why my dad is begging them. We don’t need them.
“No, dad. There is nothing to discuss. My mate and I do not want Seleste as our Gamma and I will not allow her to continue to influence my pack. As alpha. I have decided. She and the traitor warriors can leave. I don’t need her. I don’t want her, and I don’t need anyone who follows her. She is nothing to this pack but trouble.”
Before I know it, Gamma True has broken free of Gamma Female True and has me lifted off the floor with his hands around my throat.
“I have had enough of you, pup.” Gamma True says. “I have stayed quiet for this long because my daughter asked me to let her handle it, but you have gone too far now. It’s bad enough that you rejected her on your birthday, then you hurt her by being intimate with another female, knowing she would feel it. You stopped her on her way home from hanging out with her friends to insult her, and now you are trying to embarrass her in front of the whole pack. I will not stand for that.”
“What do you mean he rejected Seleste?” My father asked.
Both Mr. True and I ignored him. I was trying to get free, but Mr. True was not budging.
“Put me down,” I say in my alpha voice.
“Have you forgotten that your alpha command does not work on me and my family, pup? That’s right.” He said, looking at my shocked expression.
“So, when you tried to command Seleste not to tell anyone that you rejected her, it was ineffective. My mate and I have known since the night you rejected her.”
“Finnis, let him go. I will deal with him. I promise.” My dad said. I don’t know why my father is begging him.
“Daddy let him go,” Seleste said. “He is not worth it. Do it for me and mom. Do it for your long-term friends; alpha and luna. Please, daddy.”
Seleste continued to beg her father as she walked up to him. Mrs. True was also walking up to him. I can tell they were trying to calm him down. I don’t understand why my dad isn’t doing anything. He is the alpha. He can make him stop.
“Ok. Everyone out.” My father yells.
“We need to discuss this in private.”
“With all due respect alpha, we deserve to know if you are going to let that spoiled pup ruin our pack.” One of the ranked wolves yelled.
Several others made noises in agreement. They smell blood and they are all circling us like sharks.
“I will not repeat myself. Everyone out.” My father said in his alpha voice.
Everyone but the True family submitted, showing my father their necks.
“We will have a pack meeting tomorrow the update you all. That’s all.” My dad said to the crowd.
The pack members grumble as they walk out the building. I can her several pack members are saying that I am a spoiled brat who will ruin the pack. Others are saying that they will leave the pack if I become alpha. What is wrong with these wolves. Don’t they know that I am doing this for them?
“Are you really doing this for the pack?” Convel asks. “Remember, I know your true thoughts.”
“Finnish, you can let him go now. We will discuss everything and find a resolution.”
Gamma True just looked at my dad. He was still not budging. I was seeing dots by this point. I would pass out soon if Mr. True does not let me go.
“Seleste, I told you if he hurt you again, I would end him. You know I am a man of my word. This pup has continued to hurt you, Sweet Pea. He does not deserve to live.” Gamma True said to Seleste.
“I’m sorry, Alpha, but no one gets to hurt my pup and continue living. You know I only have one bottom line and that is my family.” Mr. True said, speaking directly to my father.
“Daddy, please,” Seleste says. “I am ok. He cannot hurt me anymore after the rejection. I am angry with him, but I am ok. Remember, I am your daughter. It takes more than a spoiled brat to hurt me.”
Did she just call me a spoiled brat? I guess that’s what she thinks of me. I will show her as soon as I get free. Well, maybe after I get my strength back. By this time, Seleste and her mom are both touching Gamma True. I can see him visibly relax at their touch. After a couple of minutes, Gamma True drops me to the ground. Not one time during all of this did Convel show himself. Is he trying to leave me alone?
“Oh, I am very much here. I’m just enjoying the show. I warned you that things would not go as you planned, but you didn’t listen. So now you deal with your consequences.” Convel says.
I get up off the floor, rub my neck and go stand next to my father. My father looks tired. He looked at me with so much disappointment in his eyes. My mom won’t even look at me right now. She is just crying, and they are not happy tears.
“See, that’s why alpha males need their fated mate by our sides. When we are out of control, only our mate and our pups can calm us down. If Seleste and her mom were not here, you would be dead and there is nothing anyone in the pack could have down to stop it.” My dad says.
“Wait, what do you mean no one could have stopped him, dad? You are the alpha. You are the strongest wolf in the pack.”
“There are some things you still don’t understand. Some wolves in this pack submit to me out of respect, not out of brute force or me being a dictator.” Dad sighs.
“Gamma Finnis respects me and submits to me of his own free will. He is not subject to any alpha’s command. Not even the Alpha King. And contrary to what your beliefs, I am not the strongest wolf in this pack. Gamma True is the strongest wolf in the kingdom. His strength and power is equal to the Alpha King himself.” My dad says and pauses for a second to calm himself.
“Do you have any idea what you have just done, son? Do you even comprehend the damage you have caused this pack?” My dad asked.
“Dad, I chose what was right for the pack.” I answer.
“So you think weakening the pack, undermining everything that we have built, and going against the moon goddess was for the good of the pack? Do you really believe that? If so there is little help for you or this pack if I ever give you the alpha title. Dad says. “I and your forefathers spent generations building this pack to what it is and you could destroy it in one night. I don’t know where I went wrong with you.”
“Dad, what do you mean. Like I have been telling you all, everything I have done has been for the pack. Seleste is not the right person to be Luna. I wanted, and the pack needs, a Luna like mom. I did not want a warrior who would always put herself at risk. Mom doesn’t fight. Mom goes in the safe room with all the other women so we can keep her safe and protect the pack without worrying about her.”
“Is that really how you see me, son? As someone who needs protecting. Is that what you think a luna does?” My mother asks with disgust.
“That’s a good thing, mom. Dad can lead without worrying about your safety. He doesn’t have to worry about you challenging his authority that way Seleste does me. You saw how even the warriors are willing to leave because of her.”
Both of my parents just shake their heads at me.
I don’t understand why my mom seems offended but what I said. I complimented her. I think she is the perfect Luna.
“Son, the warriors and the other pack members are willing to leave because you are making decisions that will put them and the pack at risk. You are not behaving like an alpha and they lost all respect for you. That’s all on you. It has nothing to do with Seleste.” My dad says. “Son, what you fail to realize is that no powerful wolf will follow a weak alpha or one who carelessly makes life-changing decisions because his feelings got hurt.” My dad said.
“But” I try to say to get my point across. My dad just keeps talking.
“What you have neglected to learn is that the reason no one has attacked us in many years is because of Seleste.” My dad says.
What do he mean by that? I am confused.
“You are more than confused. You’re an idiot.” Convel says.
“I like it better when you are ignoring me. If you have nothing good to say stuff it.” I say back to Convel.
“Honey, before you get into that, let me address our son on his messed-up view of me and women.” My mom says.
My dad nods and smiles at my mom.
“Son, I don’t know where you got such a mixed-up concept of a Luna from. I am now and always have been an elite warrior.” My mom says. “Now my one and only son. when have you ever seen me inside of the safe room? You’ve seen me get the pack members in the safe room, yes, but once they were in the safe room, I and several warriors guarded and secured the packhouse. I have never let your father fight any battle alone. A Luna’s job is to protect and defend her pack. That’s why the moon goddess always gives an alpha a strong mate. I know I did not raise you to look at women as weak and needing to be protected.”
“I know you are not weak, mom.” I say.
“Boy will you just for once be quiet and listen to what we are trying to tell you. You know what, I can’t do this with you right now. Honey, he is all yours. I wash my hands of this right now.” My mom says.
My mom just looked at me in exasperation and walked off to the table where Seleste and her family were sitting. Ben and the guys had been telling me over the last year that I didn’t truly know my mom. That’s not true. I knew my mom was a warrior. I just thought she choose not to fight in battles. My entire view of things has been wrong. I looked at my mom. She was just sitting there with her head in her hands. I have never seen my mom looking so defeated. Did I cause that look on my mom’s face?
“Yes, you did human. Not only her but look at all of your friends. They are all disgusted with you. It’s sad that you are still trying to justify your actions.” Convel huffs.