His jab has a direct hit. A reminder of how many pack members we’ve failed.
“Taya is here to train as well.”
“Her? Train? This I’ve gotta see.” Tyler snickers and crosses his arms.
Tyler and Taya aren’t the biggest fans of each other ever since their rendezvous some time ago.
“Do us all a favor and stop talking,”I mindlink Tyler.
But judging by his sly grin, he’s not planning to.
Mentally, I shrug.It’s his funeral.
Taya glares at Tyler.
Sam catches her annoyance and locates the source with his eyes.
Tyler, who doesn’t see Sam staring him down, scoffs at Taya’s dirty look.
Sam stands, his jaw ticking. He stomps over to Tyler, grabs him by the back of his neck and face plants him into the glossy tabletop. His cheek is smashed flat to the surface. Sam leans down to Tyler’s ear with his weight on Tyler’s head. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did to my mate.”
Tyler gulps.
It’s then the silence becomes apparently loud. The councilman is dead.
“Your life is a privilege. Privileges can be taken away.” Sam stands and heads back to his seat, grabbing a stack of documents from the dead council. Sifting through them, Sam says, “Now, it is my understanding we are looking at finding you an arranged mate.”
I blink, making sure I heard him right.An arranged mate?I want to choose, not have them chosen for me. “Regarding that matter, I would like to know if the crown is open to me taking a chosen mate over one arranged. There is a she-wolf here who has a green thumb of sorts. She could be considered a perfect match given our abilities,” I say.
Sam raises an eyebrow, not convinced.
But he doesn’t stop me, so I continue, “She’s familiar with the pack, well-liked and—”
“Your father was killed by a rogue,” Sam says, “and he failed to teach those who follow him how to protect themselves. Your people are being attacked daily and are losing faith in you. Do you really think a little green thumb is going to regain their respect?” He shakes his head and points his attention back to Alexa, who is white as a ghost from the shock. “Wouldn’t you agree council?”
Alexa blinks her mental return and reaches for the documents they brought to the meeting. They shake as she flips through them. “Y-Yes, sir. The council agrees that, given the length of time the alpha heir has been of age, an arranged match seems more appropriate in this case.” She hands Sam a page. “I’ve taken the time to compile a list of approved potential matches.”
Sam scans the page. “I’m looking at a list of proposed matches. They’re leaps and bounds ahead of your local she-wolf.” He turns to face the remaining council member and then back to me, setting down the paperwork. “The crown approves for you to proceed with the search for an arranged mate.” He stands and holds out his palm for Taya.
She takes it and stands with him.
Before exiting the room, he says, “Invitations will be sent out to the approved, prospective matches on this list. They will be presented to you, and you will choose one from them. That’s more choice than our king would have had. Take it. Ultimately, he will still have final approval of whether you can move forward with the match.”
Sam stops at the doorway.
“Oh and one more thing. As someone who has worked under the most ruthless of them all, it might be a good idea to start establishing fear if you can’t be loved.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re suggesting.”
He flashes a toothy grin. “Show off your new prisoner.”
Chapter THIRTEEN
Caleb
For the next week, Sam’s words echo in my mind. My father always operated under the assumption that being loved was the way to lead. I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps, but... maybe Sam is right. Is it better to be feared than loved? If so, then I can’t help but question... If my father had led with fear, would he still be here?
Our king leads with fear, and because his dangerousness protects his pack, he is, in return, loved. Although he isn’t my favorite and most certainly not my biggest fan, he can lead. And lead well.
