The pack shifted, murmuring.
“My mate is everything any decent pack could wish for. He has a brain and uses it. He’s fair in his decisions even when pack members test his patience. He treats everyone with respect regardless of their rank or history.” Leyden dropped his voice, letting danger seep through. “And in return, you’ve questioned his worth because of something that is absolutely none of your fucking business.”
Heat crept through the bond - Connor’s embarrassment - but Leyden pressed on. His mate needed to hear this. The pack needed to hear this.
“My mate’s sexuality - our private intimate life - belongs to us alone. Not to pack gossip. Not to speculation. Not to judgment from wolves who think they know better than me about what kind of mate I need.” Leyden intensified his power, satisfaction curling through him when several wolves whimpered. “I chose Connor. I claimed Connor. I will stand beside Connor every single day for the rest of my life, and anyone who has a problem with that can voice it right now.”
Silence stretched across the hall.
“No one?” Leyden scanned the crowd. “Interesting. There are plenty of whispers behind my back, but no one has the courage to speak to my face.”
Walter raised his hand tentatively.
“You have something to say?” Leyden fixed his attention on the older wolf.
“Just - I want to apologize, Alpha. To both of you.” Walter stood, looking at Connor directly. “I questioned whether an alpha mate who didn’t consummate the bond could be strong enough. That was wrong. Connor has proven himself in action, and anything else shouldn’t matter. I’m sorry I ever doubted.”
“Accepted,” Connor managed, and Leyden felt his mate’s surprise that his voice even worked.
Sarah stood next. “I made Connor feel unwelcome when he first arrived. I’ve already apologized for that before, but I’m sorry the alpha feels he had to call this meeting. You’ve been nothing but fair and kind to this pack.”
One by one, other wolves rose to apologize. Marcus. Janet. Even Josie admitted she’d participated in gossip without considering how it affected Connor.
Leyden let satisfaction settle through the bond for Connor to feel, but his fury hadn’t diminished.
He wasn’t finished.
“Those apologies are appreciated,” Leyden said when the last wolf sat back down. “But apologies mean nothing without changed behavior. So let me make the consequences clear.” He paused, letting the weight settle. “Anyone who disrespects my mate disrespects me. Anyone who questions Connor’s authority questions mine. And anyone who spreads rumors or undermines him in any way will answer directly to me. Are we understood?”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the hall.
“I asked a question.” Leyden pressed his alpha power down harder. “Do. You. Understand?”
“Yes, Alpha,” the pack chorused.
“Good.” Leyden found Lonnie in the third row, and the anger that had been simmering in his gut flared hot. “Lonnie. Stand up.”
The young wolf rose slowly, face pale.
“You’ve been the primary source of gossip about my mate since the day he arrived. You put yourself in my bed uninvited, trying to undermine the bond I have with my mate. You spreadrumors about our private life. You told Rolf information that nearly got me killed.” Leyden kept his voice level, deadly calm. “You’ve questioned Connor’s position at every opportunity and suggested to multiple pack members that I’d be better off with a ‘normal’ alpha mate.”
Lonnie’s eyes widened. “I didn’t…I mean, I was just…”
“Shut it.” Leyden cut him off. “You’ve had multiple chances, Lonnie. Multiple warnings. You refuse to respect my mate, which means you refuse to respect me.”
“Alpha, please…”
“I don’t want to hear your lies. I’m banishing you from pack territory.”
Shocked silence exploded into gasps and urgent whispers. Connor’s hand flew to Leyden’s arm, but the decision was already made. Final. Unchangeable.
“No!” Lonnie stumbled forward. “You can’t… I’m pack! I was born here!”
“You were pack.” Leyden kept his expression neutral. “You ceased to be pack the moment you chose to continuously undermine your alpha mate despite repeated warnings.”
“I’ll stop! I swear, I’ll…”
“You’ve said that before. After the bedroom incident, you promised to respect Connor. Instead, you spread more poison.” Leyden shook his head. “You had your chance.”
