Julien cuts him off with a low growl. “Donotdisrespect your Alpha Mate.”
Everett sneers. “You put the pack in danger offering to fight as proxy for the no-name Alpha. If he couldn’t hold his power on his own, then what does it matter to our pack?” When no one responds, Everett continues. “You don’t deserve to lead this pack after you risked your life for that damn omega.”
I roll my eyes. I am so sick of people treating me like I have no name.
Julien glares at Everett and opens his mouth to speak, but the woman holds her hand up.
“You had to realize we would not back your leadership, Everett,” she says. “You’ve tried to gather support to your cause before and failed. We cannot let you continue to undermine the pack’s rightful Alpha, as it has a detrimental effect on the stability of the pack. Either you will formally give up any and all claims to leadership of this pack or you will be exiled.”
My eyes widen. Exile is a pretty extreme, but I can’t say the asshole doesn’t deserve it. The only question now is if his pride will let him accept the lesser punishment.
“That’s ridiculous!” he shouts. “I have done nothing that—”
The woman speaks over him, “As you can’t seem to take the mercy that was offered, pending the Alpha’s final approval, you are hereby exiled from this pack.” She nods to someone behind us and two shifters I don’t recognize step forward to take hold of Everett’s arms. “These men will escort you to the pack-owned house you reside in and assist you in gathering your belongings. You have one week to leave Alpha Matisse’s territory.”
Everett looks like he’s going to say something else, but Julien cuts him off with a snarl.
“Shut your mouth and get out,” growls Julien, flashing sharpened teeth in Everett’s direction.
Everett’s fear must overtake his anger because not another sound passes his lips as he leaves flanked by the two other shifters.
Once the door has closed behind him, the elder turns to us. “While your actions in agreeing to that fight might have been reckless, we understand they were taken in defense of your fated mate.” She dips her chin at me. “Keir Anderson, the elders of the Madison pack hereby recognize you as our Alpha’s fated mate, making you this pack’s Alpha Mate.”
I kind of want to be snarky about it and say something along the lines of ‘now that wasn’t so hard, was it?’ but I manage to hold my tongue.
Julien is not so restrained. “If you had simply listened to me in the first place, all of this nonsense could have been avoided.”
The elder nods, looking properly chastised. “I apologize for our ignorance and our overstep.”
“Fine.” Julien throws his arm around my shoulders. “My mate and I have plans this evening, but tomorrow we need to sit down and get a few things straight—like how I’m the Alpha of this pack and I will be taking back the power I inadvertently gave this council when I first took over.”
The elders glance at each other, but not one of them says anything in response as Julien turns and leads me toward the exit.
Back home—that word still makes me feel giddy—we spend the rest of the morning in bednotsleeping. Sometime in the late afternoon, we drag ourselves into the shower, then get dressed and head downstairs before everyone starts to arrive.
I’d prefer to spend more time in bed with my mate, but Luke will be going to the airport later this evening. He’s been sticking around to make sure things got settled and somehow we got talked into hosting a small dinner as a sendoff.
Rachel is sitting on the loveseat in the living room with a glass of wine while Remy is lounging on the couch, drink in hand, chatting with Luke. Remy straightens and waves Julien and me over to the couch. My mate and I take a seat next to each other and join in on the conversation.
“I was just telling your new brother-in-law that Malachi seems to have disappeared,” says Luke. “He dropped Everett off, then drove away and no one’s heard from him since.”
“Good riddance,” I say. “I hope he drove off a cliff or something.”
Luke chuckles. “I’d share the sentiment if I wasn’t a little concerned that he might be headed back to Alabama to stir up trouble with the pack before I arrive.”
“And if he hadn’t taken your transportation with him,” chimes in Remy. He turns to Julien. “I told him we could have Brody drop him off at the airport.”
“Of course,” says Julien, focusing on Luke. “We are in your debt. This situation could have turned out much worse if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”
“It was the least I could do.” Luke’s gaze darts to me. “There was a lot I needed to make up for…”
I shake my head. “No, there’s not. Randall was the asshole. You were too young back then to stand up to him, but you helped in the only way that you could. If it wasn’t for you that night, I wouldn’t be alive.”
Luke gives me a tight smile and looks like he wants to disagree, but doesn’t say anything.
“Speaking of Randall,” says Julien, “Now that you’re the Sweet Water Alpha, have you made any plans to investigate the kidnappings, Luke? It’s possible you and Keir weren’t the only ones.”
“Specific plans? No,” replies Luke. “But I’m definitely going to do what I can to find out what happened. If nothing else, I want to know where I came from.”
