Most kids didn’t want to be my friend because of my father, but that didn’t stop Jaxon from being intrigued. Sometimes, I believe that making my first friend told me everything I needed to know—if one person likes you, that means you’re not a bad person.
“I’d like to ask what your intentions are, Caleb.” I hear a strong voice as I glance over at the dark-haired woman. “We all know who your father is, and we all know what he’s capable of, which brings me to ask: What exactly are you planning on doing here?”
I suck in a sharp breath.
Don’t lash out,Felix says calmly inside my head.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
She blinks at me. “Beatrice.”
“Beatrice,” I start, “thank you for leading the discussion, and I hear your concerns. My plans for being Rainewood’s new Alpha are to bring together both my current pack and Cole’s old pack. I want to work with you all—nothing more, nothing less.”
Beatrice narrows her eyes an inch. “And what about your father practically forcing Cole out to give you his pack? That sounds incredibly suspicious to me.”
The faces of everyone in the room turn dark.
“I understand your worries,” I say clearly. “First of all, my father never pushed Cole out of his pack. Cole owed my father a favour—a big one at that. I’ve wanted to move from the North down to the South for as long as I can remember. And from what I’ve heard, Cole also had health issues that were stopping him from fulfilling his duties as their Alpha. I stepped in with the help of Ryker, yes, but Cole agreed as he wanted the best for hispack. I also did it in the chance I might find my mate. Something that’s very important to me as an Alpha.”
The words taste like ash on my tongue because it’s not the main reason I came here. If I told them it’s because my father threatened to hurt my pack if I didn’t take over Cole’s, I know they’d be in even more fear.
I had no choice but to obey his orders because I needed to protect them—and I was running out of time.
My father doesn’t necessarily care for mates—not since my mother passed—but he wants an heir, and desperately wants me to settle down. Whether that be my mate or not.
Except I found my mate on the first day of arriving here, and we cannot physically produce an heir together.
“I want nothing more than for my pack to thrive,” I carry on. “I am their leader, but I want to lead a pack that is comfortable enough to come to me about any issues they may have.”
“But how can we trust anything you say?” a man from the other side of the room calls out. “We know what Ryker has done and will continue to do. He ransacked an innocent village a few years ago. He’s continuously using his powers to abuse people to get what he wants.”
My jaw ticks. “I never said he was a good person, but I am not him. We have different values and outlooks on life.”
“And what if he attacks the South?” Beatrice curls a brow.
“I won’t allow it.”
“How?”
My chest tightens.
“Caleb is a hardworking individual,” Jaxon speaks up for me, and they all turn their attention towards him. “We have been friends since we were young, and he’s shown nothing but gratitude and determination for a better world. I understand the fear of Ryker lingers because we know he’s erratic, but haveyou heard stories about Caleb doing the same? No, you haven’t because he wouldn’t do something like that.”
Felix clears his throat. “Caleb also built an entire pack outside of his father’s help, and if you came over to our pack, you’d see how happy and content they are. He’s been an Alpha for five years. We are not the enemy, and despite Caleb and Ryker being related, Ryker could attack anywhere.”
Beatrice stares at me as Felix speaks.
I don’t usually like people talking for me, but in this situation, it seems other people's opinions on me are needed.
“Ryker might have helped Caleb with a way in, but that doesn’t mean Ryker is the leader here. Caleb will not let anything happen to his pack or the district. All we want is to live a peaceful and fulfilling life, just like you guys.” Felix glances around at each and every person.
“I promise to keep this district safe,” I say as I lean forward in my chair and into the table. “And I will earn your trust by proving it.”
They all continue to stare directly at me, and now I realise this might be harder than I thought.
“I think there should be some kind of probation period,” Beatrice says simply. “I’ll be willing to accept you into the district, as long as you prove your loyalty to us and everything we’ve worked hard to build. I’d like to hear in a few months what your pack truly thinks of you, what you’ve been doing to benefit the district and keep us safe from outsiders.”
More than half of the room nods and agrees.
