Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Liam POV
I grip my mate’s arm tightly as we walk back onto the grounds and stare down at her in awe. She flutters her eyelashes at me, her expression filled with playfulness.
“Is there something wrong? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost,” she teased.
I laughed despite myself. “Not a ghost,” I murmured, “but a beautiful woman with a just as beautiful wolf. I can’t believe that you are an alpha.”
I was still in a state of disbelief. I had never expected to see that she had a black wolf, but with her parentage, it wasn’t as out of the norm as I thought it was. In fact, I was lucky to have a mate this powerful. She would outdo everybody when she came home with me. I was proud of her.
She bites her lip and looks at me nervously. “Is that a bad thing?” she asks slowly, “I mean, I know that it might be difficult with both of us having Alpha wolves…” she trailed off.
I look at her incredulously. She though I might have a problem about her wolf. I shook my head and quickly kissed her on the forehead. She smiled, melting against me and I wrapped an arm around her, keeping her close to me.
“The alpha ceremony should be soon,” she murmured.
“Do you think they will still go through with it now?” I asked even though part of me already knew the answer. Of course, they would. Regan and the other two men had not even blinked at Celeste’s behavior while something like that back at my pack would have immediately had her sorry ass flung in the dungeon regardless if it was her birthday or not. There was no excuse for vicious and malicious behavior like that towards another pack member, let alone a ‘guest‘ as Regan had the nerve to call my mate.
She gave a scornful laugh. “Of course they will. Didn’t you hear Regan back there asking me to forgive Celste for her little transgression? They’ll never change as far as she’s concerned?” she exhaled and shook her head in disgust. “She’ll always be the apple of their eye.”
I shift on my feet, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “Does that make you sad?” I asked tightly.
Did she miss her parents? Was she regretting joining me at my pack and accepting me as her mate? Did she want to be the leader of this pack after all? So many questions were whirling in my mind as I tried to fight back my insecurity.
“No,” she said decisively, and I relaxed slightly. “In fact, I feel sorry for her. Our parents have coddled her too much. She’s spoilt. What man is going to want her for a mate, let alone how will she be able to lead this pack when she’s not even mature enough to admit she’s made a mistake of taking the consequences for her actions? She’ll run this pack into the ground, mark my words.”
It was true. I doubted the pack would make it as Celeste with the Alpha but I had been too polite to express it. Fiona was only saying what the both of us were thinking.
I sighed, hearing the grief behind her words. Even though she put up a brave front, I could tell that underneath it all, she was still hurt by her parents‘ indifference to her. I spied the chairs nearby and began to tug her towards it, knowing they had been placed there specially for the ceremony. She sat, and I faced her, cupping her cheek.
“We don’t need to stay. There’s doing your duty, and then there’s being responsible for taking care of yourself,” I told her sincerely.
I would rather she take care of her own health then worry about these people who didn’t seem to give a damn about her.
Screw her parents and screw this pack. She didn’t have to remain there if she didn’t want to. She sighed and leaned against me for support.
1/3
16:23 Tue, Apr
Chapter 167
“It’s fine. Let’s just get this over with, and then who knows? Maybe we can do as you suggested back in the limousine,” she quipped, causing me to get all heated at the very thought of it.
45
I hadn’t thought she would take my suggestion seriously, but if she were up for it… the man inside of me was hardly about to complain.
There were expectant looks on everybody’s faces as Regan came to the front of the grounds and lifted her hand. “The alpha ceremony is about to begin. Could everybody take their seats as we welcome the new alpha of the pack?” she announced loudly.
There was a mad scramble as everybody went and got themselves seated. A wry smile appeared on my face as my parents, all three of them, stood together, smiles on their faces. I saw Celeste beginning to appear, her dress exchanged for a white one that made her look virginal, pretty, and demure at the same time. I wanted to snort at her. It was such a laughable contrast to what she truly was, but I remained silent, gritting my teeth and waiting for the announcement to this pack.
“As you all know, Celeste has been training for this position since she was a small child. We have taught her the values of leading a pack, how to become a leader, and the true morals that she will need to ensure that every pack member is kept safe and treated with value.”
Regan’s voice was filled with warmth as she faced her daughter, Celeste nodding, a look of nervousness on her face.
They had failed then, I thought with dry amusement. I saw several pack members shoot each other sidelong glances, doubt on their faces. It was clear not everybody was enamoured with Celeste becoming the new Alpha of the pack. They were just too frightened to speak the words out loud. Another sign that people were being forced to be silent, not wanting to anger the future alpha of the pack who would no doubt punish them for it. I shook my head, feeling disgusted.
“I want to make it clear that we appreciate everybody’s input into this. Before Celeste drinks of our blood and performs the ritual if anybody has any objections, they should speak now before the ceremony is concluded. We will attempt to clear any concerns you might have.”
Liam nudged me. “You should object like in the movies,” he growled under his breath, “Give them something to talk about.”
I giggled, knowing what he was referring to. “Object to what? She’s not marrying anybody, and like I said, I’m not interested in becoming the leader of this pack. She can have it.”
“Maybe you should reconsider. This is your birthright as much as hers, and you have an Alpha wolf. You would do great at leading.”
“I have you. I don’t need to become the leader of this pack. Besides, we can’t both be alphas of differing packs and mates,” I pointed out with a grin.
It would mean time away from each other, and I didn’t want to leave his side.
“True. I would hate to lose you,” he continued to tease, and I swatted at him, laughing slightly to myself.
It was enjoyable seeing this playful side of him. There was silence from the rest of the pack. Regan looked relieved as she began to speak, but then a man stood up from the crowd. Heads swivelled towards him. He looked intimidating, with big broad shoulders and legs that looked as though they were made from tree trunks. I blinked, then glanced towards Celeste, but the blood had drained out of her face. She and the man knew each other then. He was an Alpha; I could sense his aura, and right now, he was glowering at Celeste as though she had personally offended him.
“I object to her becoming Alpha of your pack” he said loudly as the crowd began to gape and gasp at his audacity.
“Alpha Max, I don’t understand,” Regan began, looking at him questioningly. “This has nothing to do with your pack, so I can’t possibly…” she said, looking helplessly at her mates to interfere.
But Alpha Max straightened his shoulders and then looked directly at Regan and her mates.
“I object because she can’t be alpha when she’s going to be coming back to my pack.”
2/3
3/3
16:23 Tue, 1 Apr
Chapter 167
What? I saw Regan’s mouth drop open in shock and Xander step protectively in front of her while Celeste swayed on her feet. The Alpha ceremony had just gotten very interesting, I thought with a smirk, glad I had decided to remain behind and view it after all. I couldn’t wait to see what kind of relationship she had with Alpha Max and why he wanted her.
