Most of Dane’s pack lowered their heads inrespect. The ones who didn’t were dominant males or submissive females wholooked too terrified to do anything. Kai was still catching his breath, so Istepped forward.
“Kai has rightfully won this pack and theselands. But he won’t make you his wolves by force. We’re more than pack. We’refamily. If anyone else wants to leave, then go. Find another pack to run with.We run a clean pack. No dominance fights. We treasure and protect our females.We help them find their mates. We have homes and enough food for everyone. WEare a family. If you want to be a part of our family, then step forward.”
I glanced at Kai who had pride in his eyes.
“A worthy mate and second in command,” Iheard Kai’s mother whisper to Diya.
Kai’s shoulder wound wasn’t healing as fast;you could see bluish iridescent fluid leaking from the wound. Silver. He lookedexhausted.
Dane’s entire pack stepped forward and got onone knee, all but two people. One was a hard looking man with dominance in hiseyes and scars on his face. The other was a woman who looked like a survivor.She looked like she had been through hell and back and didn’t want to takeanymore shit from abusive males. She looked like me the night I killed myfather to save my mother’s life.
The scar-faced man stepped forward. “How canI assure a high position in the pack without a fight? I’m third in this pack.”
Kai acknowledged him with a nod. “If fightingfor dominance is the only way to calm brother wolf then you will have to findanother pack. If you are okay with letting brother wolf out and staring into mymost dominant wolves eyes, then we can establish your place in the pack withouthurting my family members. If that doesn’t settle brother wolf then I willgrant you leave to find another pack.”
The guy raised his eyebrows. “That works forme.” Something else crossed his face but it was too quick for me to read.
Lastly, the woman stepped forward. “My nameis Isabelle and Dane attacked me on my way home from work. He took my money,ripped my flesh apart, and left me for dead. I have a husband and two smallchildren. I survived thechangemuch to his delight. I have wished everyday since then, that I hadn’t. I don’t know where my family is now. It’s beentwo years. Every time I tried to run away Dane beat me and eventually held mecaptive in his basement, rarely letting me out. I know I can’t go back to beinghuman, but I won’t go back to being a slave. I want to see my family.”
She held her chin raised and her jaw was set,but I could see her lip quiver. Her wrists, I could see now, were bound withthin silver chains. I felt sick.
Kai began to speak when I stepped forward andquieted him with my eyes. I walked slowly and lowered my gaze so I didn’t spookher. I could feel her dominance, yet she was fragile.
“Kai is a good Alpha and a kind man. I got intoa car accident and almost died but he saved me. I survived thechangetoo and when I told him I didn’t want to fake my death, that I wanted tocontinue to see my family, he allowed it. My mom just came to a pack barbequelast weekend.”
Tears were streaming down the woman’s face. Iknew she needed more; she didn’t trust anyone. She needed proof. “If you joinour pack tonight, then first thing tomorrow morning we will take you to findyour family or you can leave. Be a lone wolf.”
‘She wouldn’t last a day as a lone wolf,’ Kai told me.
‘Don’t underestimate a victim of abuse,’ I fired back into his mind.
She stepped forward and bent on one kneeaccepting my words.
Kai raised his hands high up into the sky. “Icall on my ancestors and invite in the pack magic that bonds us all, makes us afamily. Let me lead you, let me protect you.” All of the new pack members werelining up.
“Do you promise to obey me and share all thatyou are with this pack?” I could see sweat had broken out on Kai’s forehead.
“I do, Alpha,” the first person said androlled up his sleeve. Kai transformed his fingers to claws and swiped at theflesh of the young man’s forearm. The man winced and then clawed at Kai’s forearm.They touched their forearms together.
“Blood of my blood,” they recited in unison.
“Welcome to my pack, son,” Kai told the youngman. The pack roared and cheered behind Kai, welcoming the new member. I wasfaintly aware of a new string of consciousness added to the pack’s energy.
‘You okay?’I asked Kai.
‘Yes, just pushing out this liquid silver.Will be fine with a good night’s sleep and a couple of rare steaks.’ Hesmiled knowing that would gross me out.
Kai walked to the next person and repeatedthe ceremony. When he had finished inviting the last member, Kai’s arm wasdripping blood. He looked exhausted. His shoulder was healing but deep gashescould still be seen. Fresh blood dotted his stomach. He needed sleep and food. Buthe was alive. I smiled.
Just as I was approaching him to suggest weget him home, the unthinkable happened.
The male dominant pack member that was thirdin the Portland pack, advanced towards Kai with yellow eyes. “I challenge youfor Alpha status of this pack.”
The collective intake of breath from the packgave me chills. I barely saw a flash of fear flicker across Kai’s vision beforeit was gone. Cold hard anger replaced it.
Suddenly, Kai’s mother was by my side,whispering. “A pack’s second in command can fight in place of an injured Alpha.”
I didn’t hesitate. “As second in command, Iaccept your challenge on behalf of my injured Alpha.” Oh, shit. Did I just dothat?
