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“The chains of the pack start and end with me,” I whispered.
And finally, it clicked.
“All right, everyone! Listen up!” I bellowed over the heads of those in my pack. “I need everyone in the middle of town. Everyone who’s willing to fight. Men, women, and children. Understood!?”
Hudson pivoted to face me. “Are you sure that’s safe?”
I gazed into his onyx eyes. “You’re going to have to trust me if I’m going to be your alpha, okay?”
He nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll go help round everyone up.”
The rolling march of the bears grew closer as trees continued to break and slide down the mountain. War was upon us, and we needed every able-bodied individual in the pack to stand their ground. I clenched my fists at my side and forced myself forward, feeling the emotional and mental weight of the entire clan weighing me down. I dragged my ass into the middle of the chalets. I waited for the throngs of wolves to gather around me. But, that self-doubt kept creeping back in. The human part of me that was still scared shitless.
Just go home.
Why are you doing this?
You were almost there, why did you let Hudson talk you into coming back?
Your apartment is safe.
Your bed is warm.
There are no memories of this place back in L.A.
You don’t have to die for them. It isn’t your place.
I closed my eyes and snuffed out the voice. For the first time in my life, I didn’t allow my thoughts to control me. I didn’t allow the self-doubt that had shackled me to a life of what if’s control me. Nothing was in control but me. I was the only person who had the power to change the course of my own life. It was no one’s fault, not Mom’s or Dad’s. It wasn’t their divorce that did me in, or Dad’s absence—though I wasn’t sure I’d ever forgive him for that.
No, it was me holding myself back. This idea that I had to live a life fitting for the parent that raised me instead of living the kind of life that would’ve made the parent that abandoned me proud. But, Dad never abandoned me. Hudson showed me that. And when I sensed that my pack was ready and awaiting my command, I pushed past the darkness into the little pocket in the pit of my gut that I never willingly touched.
“THERE YOU ARE, “Wolfy said.
I found myself smiling into the gaze of a massive wolf. “Ready to eat?”
Wolfy licked her lips. “I WAS BORN READY.”
I clenched my fists and girded my stomach. I threw my arms out, lifting my head toward the sky as I let out a bombastic howl. It was a cry for help, for anyone in the general vicinity to come to our aid. Why? Because war was upon us.And I’d slaughter every last bear that got in my way as I slammed back down to the ground on all fours.
With my wolf gazing out at the gathering crowd.
“Those bears that are charging us believe they can take us by surprise because my father is dead. You know they’re attempting to capitalize on how weak they see us right now. So, let’s give them a show. Dean.”
He walked out of the masses and bowed at my feet. “Yes, alpha. I’m here.”
I bowed down with him, becoming eye-level with his stare. “Take all of the men and surround the outer edge of the woods. You guys are going to be the first level of defense.”
He stood back up. “Done. Men! With me!”
Levi came up to my side and dipped down as well. “Alpha. What is your command?”
I dipped down with him as well, still gazing into his eyes. “Take the women willing to fight and perch them on every stoop and every back porch we have on the property. The men will be the force attack, but the women will be our sneak attack. Go. Now.”
Then, I turned to Hudson, who dipped down as well. And as I moved with him, he stood there silently, awaiting my command.
“I want you to go to my place and gather up the healers. We need their help if we’re going to win this. Tell them to ditch the house and come here. We need their constant string of support.”
“Where do you want them stationed, alpha?”
