Page 121 of The Alpha's Protective Mate

“We should choose our Alpha.” Gregory looks around for support from the other pack elders. “If we can do away with so many traditions, why not this one, as well? We can choose the Alpha we want to lead us!”

Murmurs of dissent begin; not all the pack elders seem to be on board with such a bold statement. They have uneasy looks on their faces. However, one or two chime in, greed shining in their eyes.

“Gregory is right!”

“We should be able to choose our own leader!”

I look around the pack, unbothered. I don’t have any loyalty to these people. When my father tortured me, when my half-siblings tormented me, none of these people tried to protect me or raised their voice. I became the Alpha to prove a point, to rub it in my father’s face. My motivation was selfish, but I did right by this pack. I gave them a higher quality of life, more freedom. But my words to Charlotte were true. I have no problem walking away to be with her. I have enough money to take her traveling around the world, to pamper her with every luxury I can think of. I don’t need to be here.

“Fine,” I smile, relaxed. “If that is what the pack wants—”

“No!”

I look over and see Tommy Decker, the contractor I sent to Charlotte’s place, step out from the crowd. His voice is firm. “Gregory and the pack elders don’t speak for me. Because of you, nobody is dipping into my retirement fund anymore. My oldest daughter was able to go to college because of the Education Fund you set up for the pack. My son is now employed because you created jobs such that no one in the pack is without one, and you established a minimum wage for us. I don’t want some greedy asshole to come and fuck everything up again. I don’t want you to leave. I’ll accept your mate as Alpha Female. She can be a duck for all I care. If it means you stay, she has my respect.”

His speech stirs the rest of the place, and a woman speaks up. “I agree with Tommy. We don’t want another Alpha. We want you. You’ve given us the kinds of rights we only ever saw the rich enjoy. We have security for the first time. I don’t have to worry about homelessness. I know you won’t let that happen. I don’t want to go back to how things were before you became the Alpha. I disagree with the pack elders. When your father led us, our money lined his pockets and those of the pack elders. We were forced to work for peanuts. We were taken advantage of. We had no one to protect us! The pack elders didn’t care because our suffering benefited them! If anyone should leave, it should be those who want to replace you!”

“Hear! Hear!”

Shouts of approval fill the hallway, and as the elders shout at the rest of the pack, I see the loyalty in the eyes of the people I have worked so tirelessly for over these past years. They’re willing to fight to keep me here. My family never fought to keep me with them. Nobody has ever fought for me, and while these people have never raised their hackles before, they’re determined to hold on to me. I don’t know why it matters so much; I shouldn’t care, but my heart feels warm.

Wolves thrive in packs. It won’t be easy to leave, but I’m willing to do so. Knowing that my pack is fighting tooth and nail to keep me here is comforting to my wolf.

“We have a right to choose!”

“Then go somewhere else and choose!” Tommy shouts back at Gregory. “Just because you live in a mansion doesn’t mean you make decisions for the rest of us! I, for one, am glad our Alpha Female isn’t going to be from one of your families. Robert has not made any wrong decisions so far. I’m confident the woman he’s chosen will treat us like he treats us. We accept his choice!”

The rest of the members voice their agreement with Tommy, leaving the elders isolated and thoroughly humiliated. The decision has been made; without the backing of the rest of the pack, the elders are helpless. Ever since I came into power, I’ve been slowly chipping away at the power they wield. These days, the rest of the pack isn’t dependent on these few prominent families whose businesses are their only source of livelihood, and I can see the realization dawning on them.

I smirk.

The elite of this pack should have stuck by my father if they wanted to keep reaping the benefits.

As I look around the room, I see the dissatisfaction on the faces of the elders. They’re not going to let this insult pass.

I’m going to have to keep an eye on them.

Chapter 25

Charlotte Sanguinite

I haven’t seen Angie in quite a few days.

It’s my day off when I head out to try to find her. Both Mano and Zeno are with me, wearing their leashes. My cat has decided, pregnant and all, that Zeno is beneath her. So, every time we pause, she decides to smack him for being lazy.

“I hope you don’t beat your kids,” I tell her. “You’re so mean.”

She meows at me indignantly as Zeno bounds over to sniff at her protruding belly. Mano is due any day now. I plan to take her to the shelter after this to have Ricky give her a checkup.

Making my way to the park near my apartment, I scan the area, disappointed when I see no sign of Angie. She’s always here around noon. I find a bench and let Zeno and Mano run around, off their leashes. Mrs. Mallory has been training both of them to respond to a whistle, which she gave me to use today. The animals don’t stray very far from me, preferring to be together. Mano is moving more slowly in her pregnancy, and Zeno likes to come sniff her every now and then to make sure she’s okay.

I don’t take my eyes off them, but I do let my thoughts wander.

I still can’t forget that feeling when Doreen declared she was Robert’s fiancée. I know the truth now. I don’t think I’ll be seeing her at the cafe again.

Over this past week or so, though, I’ve had so many shifters visiting the cafe that it’s been overwhelming. Tommy Decker has been dropping in every other day, two or three shifters with him. I can hear them whispering among themselves, but I’ve never sensed any hostility from them. I have a feeling Tommy dropped the bombshell about what I am because a few of them have eyed the silver bracelet on my wrist with unveiled interest.

It’s the older women who’ve been more persistent. I’ve been getting homemade pies and chunks of meat handed to me during my shifts. I’m lucky Jazz finds this whole thing amusing. She doesn’t understand what’s going on, but she seems to have figured out that these women are related to Robert in some way.

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