The pain that surged through Lily dulled over time, but it was still a persistent ache in the back of her mind. Yet, amidst the throbbing, she became aware of something strange happening. More voices started to echo in her mind, and she realized that the number of males trying to seduce her seemed to have doubled.
"Dammit," Tiffany exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice. "Now, our males want you too." She didn't expect nor know that this would happen. "You're going to have to fight Lily. I know you don't have experience, but you're going to have to because...my mate needs me."
Determined to reach Adam, Tiffany threw herself back into the fray, forcefully knocking wolves out of her way. She couldn't ignore the pull of the mate bond now that she understood what it was. Though she had felt it the first time she met Adam, she had brushed it aside, thinking it was just lust for a handsome man.
Meanwhile, Lily readied herself to fight when she heard Berric's voice, "I am coming Lily. Just run." She smiled slightly at his voice, but the smile faded when she saw some wolves had gotten past Tiffany and Adam. Lily identified some of them as Blue Creek's warriors. They would not go easy on her as they held no allegiance to her now.
"I can't. Not anymore," Lily responded, her voice resolute as she prepared to fight them as best as she could.
Suddenly, six wolves and two tigers emerged, encircling Lily. One of them was Debra, accompanied by Tiffany's mother and sister, all joining forces to aid Lily, who was now at a disadvantage.
"Stop this now!" Debra howled, her voice was joined by the other wolves and roars from the werefelines. Their Luna and Queen calls echoed in the forest, a powerful display of authority that gradually reigned in the chaos. Their mates, the Alphas, joined their calls assisting with calming everyone down.
"Enough," Jack's voice boomed, silencing the commotion. "This has gone far enough. Everyone get your wolves under control. We do not act like primal beasts."
"Indeed," Alpha Oscar of the Black Dusk pack growled, his voice commanding. He was a long ally of Alpha Jack and not a wolf to be crossed. "Tonight was supposed to be about unity not foolishness."
"Then, get your son under control, Jack. He challenged me for my pack member at the time. He overstepped and needs to pay for it," Kenneth snarled.
"Garrett will pay for nothing. As my Beta, he has the right to act on my behalf," Jack said firmly. This hushed any doubts in anyone's mind on how Jack felt about his eldest son. As an Alpha calling his son his Beta was one of the highest honors a male wolf could receive. "And his decision was the right one. You know our laws. You don't force our pack members. You don't abuse your position as Alpha."
Garrett had finally made it, hearing his father's words. He felt a mixture of emotions: excitement, sadness, guilt. How long had he felt that his father hated him and it wasn't true?
'You don't have to support me father. I will accept the consequences of my actions,' Garrett told his father through their private link.
'Don't doubt my word, boy. I meant what I said. You were right in your decision,' Jack responded before closing the link between the two earning another surprised expression from Garrett.
"That's rich coming from you, the same wolf of legend that killed and maimed wolves that disobeyed in any way," Kenneth scoffed. "How dare you condemn my actions?"
"The challenge is still valid, but now I am stepping in. I told you and your Luna to stop interfering in my pack's affairs. It seems that words don't work for you and I have no problem using my fists to get it through your thick head," Jack growled, his resolve unwavering in the face of Kenneth's taunt.
"Alphas please wait. I think there has been enough blood shed tonight due to this unfortunate situation. My sister going into heat has brought upon so much carnage," Brandy intervened. "We have joined an alliance with Grey Blood pack. I think it would be a terrible thing to throw it away for a misunderstanding."
"My daughter is correct," Mandy supported Brandy, her appearance suggesting she had been through a fierce bottle as she was bruised and bloody. Kelly followed closely behind her, furious that she had been commanded not to rid her of the world when she was so close to ripping this wretched woman's throat out.
"Then, what do you suppose?" Alpha Oscar questioned, his tone condescending.
"Let me challenge Lily. She is my sister, after all, and this is my fault. If Matthew hadn't fallen in love with me, none of this would happen," Brandy explained, causing Lily's jaw to flex.
Matthew glared at Brandy. He didn't love her, but he had to support her. That was the only way to get revenge upon her for making him so miserable.
"It should be up to me as family to settle this, so we can go back to enjoying the celebration tonight," Brandy continued.
Tiffany wanted to protest Brandy's plan, well aware of Brandy's true intentions. Lily could not win this fight against Brandy. It would be literally impossible for an Omega to best an Alpha. Tiffany opened her mouth to speak, but her mother's voice echoed in her mind, 'Don't you say a word. She needs to handle her own problems. Now, that she is a pride member, this is how we do things. We only intervene when absolutely necessary.' Reluctantly, Tiffany held her tongue, acknowledging that her mother was right.
"What are your conditions?" Lily asked. She maintained her composure despite the impending challenge.
"If you win, you can do whatever you want. If you lose, you will renounce your pride bond and bind yourself back to the Blue Creek pack, never to break it," Brandy replied.
"I accept these conditions,"