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1
Dean
I clenched my hand into a fist, trying to curb my wolf’s instinct of violence against the threat to Jason’s rule. The rebels were all standing in the throne room, arguing and yelling about something they thought was unfair. The pack members were among them, also yelling about how their lives weren’t fair and how they wanted more. The whole room felt like a ticking time bomb. It didn’t help that my wolf was always ready to fight - so much so that he looked for fights.
I had always been a violent kid. I couldn’t stop from getting into fights in the pack. Whether it was older pack members trying to bully weaker kids or pack members my own age who needed to remember their place, I was in the thick of the violence every day. It didn’t feel like a burden - it felt like my duty and right. My wolf needed to protect everyone around me and keep the people in their place. It wasn’t until I met Jason that I realized why I felt that way. He chose me as his Beta the second we met. He didn’t even know me and yet he chose me. I owed him everything.
Growing up the son of a single mother, being told we were the lowest of the low and not worth anything, I was shocked when Jason chose me to be his Beta and best friend. I never said anything, but I’ve spent every day since he chose me trying to prove that I’m good enough to be in this position.
“We agreed there would be a dissolution of the monarchy. You’re going back on your word already. How can we trust you?” One of the rebels yelled. My wolf huffed in my head, his annoyance building. He viewed all of these people as a threat to Jason and he wasn’t going to stand for it. I agreed with him, but I couldn’t let him loose on these people. There was no way for me to keep him in check and that meant there was a possibility of hurting Amara or Lily - something that was unacceptable. Besides, these people didn’t deserve to be attacked simply for expressing an opinion - even one that could be considered treason.
I refocused back on the conversation in front of me, trying to get my wolf to understand the consequences of letting him loose and why we couldn’t risk it. “You don’t understand! The monarchy has been in place for hundreds of years. It’s tradition and our entire way of life would collapse if you dissolve the monarchy. It can’t happen!” A pack member yelled back.
A low growl emitted from Jason and the entire crowd quieted. I breathed out a soft sigh of relief, my wolf grumbling as he realized that he wouldn’t get to put folks in their place. My eyes swept the hall, the members of my pack and the rebels that were tired of Jason’s father’s rule were all standing side by side. It was easy to tell who was a rebel - they were skinnier and weaker, their faces pale and drawn tight. It looked like they hadn’t eaten well in a long time and they had a wild, desparate look about them.
I glanced up at the people it was my responsibility to protect - Jason, Lily, Amara, Jason’s mother, and now Lily’s mother and sister. If we didn’t figure out a way to get everyone to calm down, things were going to get dicy fast and people were going to get hurt.
Jason, we need to figure out how to get the pack members out of here. Things are going to get bad if we give an inch to the rebels with them around and if we don’t, they’re going to retailiate. We need to do something now.
Jason sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced at me, giving a sublte nod that he got the message loud and clear. I had no idea how he was going to get everyone to leave without pissing them off, but that’s why he was the politician and I was not. I watched him wrap an arm around Lily’s shoulders and lean in to whisper in her ear. Her face went soft and she smiled slightly at his words. When he pulled away, she looked up at him like he was her world.
I found myself longing for someone to look at me like that. My gaze involuntarily drifted toward Amara, her strawberry blonde hair falling over her shoulders in waves. She was round, her hips the perfect size for grabbing on while she was underneath me, and her ass begging to be smacked. My mouth watered and my wolf let a whine loose. Jason and Lily turned toward me, raising an eyebrow.
I cleared my throat, averting my eyes.
Way to go, loser. You sound pathetic. You know she’s a threat to Jason and someone we can’t trust.
She’s our mate. I’ve chosen her. You just need to give in.
Not this shit again. She’s not our mate! I refuse to mate with her.
You will never have a mate then.
I blinked, feeling my wolf pull away from me. His insistance that she was our mate made me pause, shock freezing me. I heard a throat clear and looked around to see Jason staring at me while Lily had stepped forward. I gave him a head shake, letting him know I’d talk to him later.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming. We appreciate you expressing your concerns over Jason’s reign and the way the kingdom will be run moving forward. However, at this time, tensions are high and we don’t want emotions to cloud judgement. We are not going to be making any choices or changes at this time. We will be taking note of everyone’s concerns and comments so that we can move forward in a way that best suits the kingdom. Because there are so many voices, we’re kindly going to ask that the current pack members please vacate the throne room and come back tomorrow at seven in the evening to air your concerns. Members of the rebellion will stay and air their concerns today. Again, we will not be making any decisions until we hear everyone’s comments. Thank you all for coming today. Please follow the Royal Guards out through the main castle gates and spend some time preparing your comments and concerns for tomorrow’s session,” Lily announced.
There was some initial grumbling as Lily spoke, but the pack members dutifully turned on their heels and marched out of the throne room in an orderly fashion. I raised an eyebrow at Jason, silently asking how she managed to do that. He shrugged his shoulders, admitting he had absolutely no clue. I snorted and rolled my eyes, once again realizing how lucky he was to have someone like Lily.
As soon as all the pack members had exited the throne room and the doors had been shut, the rebels turned to Lily and started shouting out their questions again. A few of the roudier ones pushed forward a few steps and waved their hands, their faces sneered in anger. I stepped sideways, putting myself between them and Lily, a loud growl bursting from my chest. They all glanced at me, backing up slightly.
“I appreciate all of your concerns. I wasn’t being facisious when I said we were going to take note of every opinion and comment you all had before making a decision. However, we need to do so in an orderly fashion, in order to make sure we don’t miss anyone’s comments or misunderstand. So please, for the sake of my sanity and the headache forming at the base of my head, let’s do this one at a time,” Lily repeated, rubbing her temples. The doors to the throne room burst open and a group of men came strolling in.
They pushed through the rebels and made their way to the front, stopping a few feet from me. My lip curled when I saw who it was and I knew we were in for a world of trouble.
“Jack,” Jason said, his voice cold and harsh.
2
Amara
Jack stood in the middle of the room like he thought he was king. I cast a longing glance over my shoulder at the servant’s door that led in and out of this room. I was overwhelmed from all the yelling and my only desire was to get as far away as I could. I didn’t want to be around when the wolves started to fight. I was a human - or, at least, I thought I was. After that whole incident in the woods with Lily, I really didn’t know who or what I was. All I knew was that if the wolves started fighting, I didn’t stand a chance.
I sighed. I turned back around and refocused on what was happening in front of me. Jack was smiling and looking way too smug while standing opposed to Jason or Dean. I noticed Lily’s mom and sister, Jessica, were standing along the wall, nearest us. I watched the frown cross Jessica’s face as she listened to Jack’s monologue. It was clear she wasn’t impressed with his attitude or speech.
“You promised to dissolve the monarchy after your father was overthrown. You promised to give the power back to the people. Why haven’t you done this? Why haven’t you relinquished your throne and done what you swore to do?” Jack was asking. He glared up at Jason and demanded answers. I could hear Dean’s warning growl as he took a step in front of Jason and Lily.
“Jack, we have already established this. I did not swear to give up the throne. I did not promise to dissolve the monarchy. As much as I want to give the people what they want, our entire way of life would collapse if I did that. You know as well as I do that wolves need a hierarchy and the monarchy is the basis of that,” Jason explained, sounding exasperated. I took a small step backward, angling my way toward the servant door.
