“I’m not asking anyone else, am I?”
Tao’s crystal-blue eyes narrowed. “You do know I’m an alpha, right?”
Zhuang snorted. “Yeah, but I’ve always been stronger than you, and it’s never been a problem before. I see no reason why it would be now.”
“Can two alphas be in the same clan?”
Zhuang shrugged. “How the hell would I know?” It wasn’t as if he’d spent that much time in a clan. Having spent most of his youth at council headquarters because his father was an elder, he hadn’t experienced much of actual clan life.
He had, however, spent a lot of time watching alphas come and go and knew what type of alpha he wanted to be from what he had learned. Now, it looked as if he might get that chance.
“With two alphas in our clan, even if I am the top alpha and you’re my second-in-command, our clan will be stronger.” It sounded good in Zhuang’s head. He had no idea if it would work in real life. He wasn’t even sure he was allowed to have Tao as his beta.
Tao’s jaw firmed as he glanced back out the front window. “If we decide to really do this, I want it done before we reach council headquarters.”
Zhuang knew what Tao was referring to. In forming a clan, the alpha had to accept everyone into said clan. There was a whole exchange-of-blood thing that had to happen. It was what forged the bonds of the clan and gave the alpha the ability to talk to every member of his clan telepathically.
“I’m good with that.” Better to have a solid foundation before arriving at council headquarters. He didn’t think his father or any of the other elders would have an issue with him forging a new clan, but he couldn’t be positive. Some might not like the level of power that would come to the son of an elder when he became alpha of his own clan.
Zhuang was in no way surprised when Tao pulled the CAT to a stop and turned to look at him. Now that they had agreed to do this, there really wasn’t any point in waiting.
There was just one thing they were missing.
“Xias, baby.” Zhuang reached into the backseat and gave Xias’s shoulder a little shake. “Wake up, mate.”
Xias grumbled a bit before his eyelids lifted. “Are we there already?”
“No, baby, but something has come up that I need you to be awake for.”
Instant fear crossed Xias’s face.
“No, no!” Zhuang felt like a heel for putting that look on his mate’s face. “It’s nothing bad. I promise.”
A frown flickered between Xias’s eyebrows as he sat up. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong, mate, but I need you awake for this.”
“For what?”
“I’m taking Tao as my second-in-command.”
Xias’s frown deepened. “In command of what?”
“Our clan.”
Xias’s eyebrows rose. “We have a clan?”
Zhuang chuckled. “We do now.”
“Huh.” Xias was still frowning when he looked over at Tao. “So, why do I need to be awake for whatever this is?”
“We need a witness, Xias.”
“A witness to what?”
Zhuang stared, not sure if Xias’s confusion was real or not. “For the bonding ritual.”
“The bonding what?”
