“Yes, definitely.” I rested my chin on top of his head. “I want to put together some kind of mentorship thing, too. Like, when an Alpha takes the rank, he’s paired with one who has been in the rank for at least a decade to help him learn and give him someone to talk to without judgment if he needs help figuring things out. Same for the arkhons.”
“Ooh, great idea.” He looked at his laptop. “That isn’t really for the chat groups, though, right?”
“No, but I’m mentioning it so I can remember to put it in place.”
He nodded. “Group for LGBTQ etcetera werewolves, also. That one…We’re going to need monitors. Admins. Something, because I guarantee if haters are aware of it, they’ll show up to start shit. But we can’t make it invite-only, because some of the ones who need that group the most might be too afraid to come out, so we wouldn’t know to invite them.”
“Yeah, point.” I considered that. If we were going to provide a safe space for werewolves who weren’t straight and/or cisgender, it needed to actually be a safe space. Which included making sure people didn’t start spewing hatred and that those who were too afraid to come out in general didn’t have to reveal themselves outside of the group to gain access to the space. “We know some gay werewolves. And a trans one. We can talk to them about being moderators, at least for the first little while until more people join.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” He closed the laptop. “We need to get downstairs, don’t we?”
“Yes, unfortunately.” I kissed the top of his head and backed up so he could get out of the chair. “Walk with me. All the way to the platform. I wish I could have you up by the podium, but it’s probably better not to push things.”
“Someday.” He took my hand. “Let’s go.”
The guests had already started assembling in the auditorium. Every Arkhon was in his spot, and most of the alphas’ seats were occupied. As I walked up the steps to the platform, more people entered, some chatting until they realized I was there, some silent other than their footsteps.
I’ve got your back,Kyle said as he went to his seat.
Thank you.We just had to get through this meeting. The afternoon was reserved for anyone who needed to speak to me who hadn’t had a chance yet. In theory, Mandeep had been compiling a list. Everything would stop around four so people could begin to prepare for the hunt.
The next day, the people I didn’t know well, the ones who weren’t friends, would leave. Silas Creighton, along with Quinn, Malachi, and probably at least one of Silas’s guards, would arrive. The day after that, Kyle and I would say our vows.
We just had to get through this meeting.
When I went to the podium, I braced myself. I’d gotten through one challenge fight and the death of an Arkhon who hadbeen too much of a coward to challenge me himself. I’d spoken the apologies I’d wanted to extend, and now it was almost over. Which, historically, would have meant things would go spectacularly to shit.
They didn’t. I stood surveying the crowd, and no one said a word. No one stood and walked out. No one issued a challenge.
Thank fuck. Maybe I would be able to breathe for the next day and a half.
“I appreciate all of you being here.” I paused, still not sure if breathing was a good idea. Everyone still looked toward me without a word. “Before we begin this morning’s proceedings, we will honor two arkhons whose lives were lost yesterday. Edward Cutler of the Southeast Region issued a challenge to me for my rank. He died in our fight. Davis Gray of the Pacific Region returned after walking out of yesterday’s meeting and subsequently being ejected from this gathering. He may have intended to challenge me, but ultimately he asked for death, and I granted the request.”
I waited while a few whispers and gasps rippled through the audience. No one said anything I could make out.
“Despite the circumstances of their deaths, and the fact that Davis Gray had abdicated his rank, I choose to honor them for who they were prior to yesterday.” I leaned forward, my hands on the sides of the podium. “Let those who would speak about Edward or Davis have their time now. When the memorials are completed, I will introduce the new arkhons of those regions. Who will speak about Edward Cutler?”
“I will, Anax.” Robert Greenlea stood. I nodded.
His statement was short and generic. Edward was a good man, a good Arkhon, who had done the best he could for his region. No mention of friendship or alliance. When Robert sat, for a moment, there was silence.
Then Earl Swenson gave a similar statement, and each of the other arkhons except Chris Jennings followed suit. Naturally, as an Alpha in a different region, Chris hadn’t known Edward and so had nothing to say about him.
A couple of the Southeast Region alphas also spoke, in equally generic terms though with a bit more insight into how Edward had run the region. Although no one mentioned any abuses or issues, reading between the lines, it sounded like the Southeast Region would benefit from a new Arkhon.
When everyone who appeared to want to speak had done so, I spoke a couple of sentences of appreciation for what Edward had done as Arkhon, as was expected of the Anax.
We went through the same process for Davis, with fewer kind words and more statements that basically translated to “the guy was a dick, but we respected him because he was an Arkhon.” This time, the only Arkhon who didn’t speak was Roy Ebenezer, for the same reason Chris hadn’t spoken about Edward.
When the speeches ended and I’d said my obligatory piece about Davis, I asked for a moment of silence. Then I said, “As you saw last night during the instatement, we have two new arkhons. Roy Ebenezer, Arkhon of the Southeast Region, and Chris Jennings, Arkhon of the Pacific Region, please stand.”
They did, and there was enough applause that I had to hold up my hands for silence. That was good. If Roy and Chris were celebrated, they would be accepted. That would make all of our jobs easier.
“We also have new alphas,” I said. “Bert Coyne, formerly Beta of Tosohatchee Pack, will become that pack’s Alpha. Arthur Cohen, formerly Beta of Job Peak Pack, will become the Alpha of that pack. Each of them will be instated via video conference later this morning. Solomon McMaster, Alpha of Salton Pack, was instated last night. I have a favor to ask those arkhons and alphas seated here.”
Everyone stared expectantly at me while I put together the words for what I needed from them. I was never a fan of speaking in front of huge crowds. I’d kind of screwed myself when I became Anax, because speaking to hundreds of werewolves at a time was part of the job.
“Traditionally, when a new Arkhon or Alpha is instated,others pledge their support to him,” I said finally. “I have no doubt that such support is willingly given when requested, but I know myself that it can be difficult to admit when support is needed. It can be difficult to say that you are in over your head, that you need advice, or that you don’t understand part of the job. I will say, in full honesty and transparency, that I had far less difficulty adjusting to my rank thanks to being able to reach out to the Anax of Canada when I needed to talk or needed a second opinion. It is easier to ask an individual for help when you know you will not be judged than to choose from a list of names and hope whoever you contact won’t think less of you.”
