Page 1 of Shadowed Bond

The Alpha No One Asked

Ares

The howls of the Blood Moon Pack are still echoing through the night when I realise Uncle Damon is looking at me. I cock a brow.

“What do you want?” I ask. He smiles as if expecting that very response.

Yeah, Jayce took his rightful place. The firstborn becomes the Alpha, something that has happened since the beginning. He has inherited Dad’s Alpha power, leaving Uncle Damon with none. That annoying smile makes me want to give him the finger, but that’s a tad immature.

His smile continues to grow as if he’s finding something amusing, and it’s only pissing me off.

“Fucking weird old man,” I mutter, turning away from him. Carter cocks a brow as if I’m the problem.

Uncle Damon will get sworn back in as Alpha now. I don’t need to linger; it’s nothing special. I take one last look at Jayce – he somehow looks different. And it’s not just because he’s become Alpha… I’m not sure if it’s his mate, him finally realising where he belongs, or maybe it is the power that was destined to be his.

It suits him.

But no one is ever going to drag that out of me. As far as everyone else is concerned, my opinion is that he has been handed it all on a silver platter. Some of it he has. Asshole.

My eyes flicker back to Uncle Damon, who, although now standing beside Dad, is still looking at me, and I almost growl in irritation. The fuck is he looking at?

Don’t make your distaste for Jayce becoming Alpha so clear, brother; it’s not a good look, Carter says through the mind-link.

I look at him and narrow my eyes. Don’t make me break your teeth; you already don’t have much going for you, I snarl.

He rolls his eyes as if I’m annoying, and I swear, if Uncle Dickwad Damon looks at me one more time, I’m going to-

“I know everyone is expecting me to be sworn back in as Alpha, but I have decided that I will be stepping down.” I stop, surprise flickering in my eyes at Uncle Damon’s words. He’s looking at Dad now, who smiles at him. Jayce also doesn’t seem surprised.

Right… So both packs will become one…

Things are going to get a lot louder in my head. I can already imagine Asher annoying the fuck out of me at all hours.

A murmur ripples through the Blue Moon pack members who were currently expecting Damon to reclaim the title; everyone was. The information is obviously new to most; even Grandad looks shocked.

“The pack will not become one with the Blood Moon Pack either,” Dad says, answering the question that is probably playing on many people’s minds. I frown, then what?

Are they about to make Artemis Alpha? She’s a decent fighter, strong enough to make it into Midnight Academy, but she’s no alpha…. My frown vanishes as I look sharply at Uncle Damon, who is speaking, as a thought settles into my head.

“It will remain its own pack and one that will technically no longer even be considered a sub-pack since the Alpha power would not be borrowed.” He looks at Dad and smiles. But my mood is souring; the long looks, that knowing smile…

Right, this is where I slip away. Being the shortest brother doesn’t really do shit when everyone else around us is still fucking shorter than us all. I turn, making my way quietly through the crowd, but I’m barely four metres away from the stage when Uncle Damon’s voice makes me stop.

“This time, an Alpha-born will lead this pack to new heights. It would be my greatest honour to call to the stage your new Alpha! Ares Westwood!”

I close my eyes. I’ve always tolerated – ok, maybe liked Uncle Damon, but right now I’m wondering how I can turn him into a football and kick him around the entire Blue Moon territory until he’s as black and blue as his pack’s namesake.

I feel all eyes on me as I turn and look at Dad and the soon-to-be football, and narrow my eyes. “No.”

My wolf stirs, and I can feel my aura swirling around me, subtle and restrained, but there.

Dad looks at me, but Uncle Damon just smiles and exchanges one look with Dad before he steps off the stage. I shove my hands in my pockets and walk away.

You always wanted to be Alpha, Carter’s sharp voice comes through the link.

Ares, don’t cause a scene. What are you doing, man? Come back, Lord Jayce commands, as if his command matters.

Hey, you’ll make a good Alpha. Come on, Renji says, trying to calm the tension between the four of us.