Page 11 of Her Grumpy Alpha

It was a startling revelation that left me with a mix of emotions. I felt a sense of awe and respect for James’ commitment and the principles that guided him as a leader. At the same time, I couldn’t help but wonder how this would affect our future, and what it meant for the unity and connection we were beginning to rediscover.

But that warm feeling started to subside as James and I left the coffee shop and finally said goodbye. I was startled to know more about James, especially when it affected me and my family in ways that I hadn’t been expecting, and that I was sure James didn’t think about when he spoke to me. Mostly because he didn’t know that I had a little secret as well.

Gregory.

The little surprise that I returned with from Cancun. Not that I knew it for a while, and not that I could have told James earlier on because we parted without ways to contact one another. But now I was going to have to find a way to tell him eventually, wasn’t I?

Gregory was not just my son. He was James’ son as well. I had kept this secret from James today, not out of malice, but out of fear. Fear of his reaction, fear of how it might change our dynamic, and fear of the unknown. He might not be happy to be a father and to have been kept in the dark for such a long time.

But I couldn’t keep his identity to myself any longer.

The truth I had just discovered was that Gregory was a Wolfblood, a child born with shifter blood in his veins. When he hit puberty, there was a chance he might undergo the transformation into a shifter. I knew I would need help and guidance to navigate this unique journey that lay ahead for my son. A journey that, truth be told, I knew nothing about.

When we had dinner, that was when I would have to tell him. It was going to be a hard conversation to have, but I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. I had to let it out. No matter what the consequences were.

SIX

JAMES

Leading the bimonthly all-clan meeting was always a challenging task, especially with the rising tensions within the Blackpaws. As I took my place at the front, my posture displayed the authority and confidence expected of a clan leader. Shoulders rolled back, head up high, intense glare. I was going full force.

The murmurs and hushed conversations in the room hinted at the contentiousness that hung in the air. I knew it was going to be a challenging session, but I was determined to maintain order and focus on important clan matters. We didn’t have any choice but to keep focused on what was important, there was no time for fooling around. Not now.

But Brian wasted no time in seizing the spotlight. He stood up, his voice resonating throughout the room as he began his verbal assault on me without even giving me a chance to speak and get started. I just knew he was going to be a nightmare today.

“James,” he boomed, his voice echoing through the room, “how can we trust your leadership when you can’t even keep the interest of a mate, huh? A stable Alpha couple is the heart of our clan, and you’re failing at the very essence of our traditions! I don’t know why we’re even listening to you anymore.”

The audience watched, some nodding in agreement while others exchanged uncomfortable glances. It was evident that Brian had a considerable following among the female members of the clan, which was unusual to me. I didn’t know any of the women here felt much loyalty to him, but perhaps that was something I’d missed.

Never mind, I couldn’t get caught up in that. I needed to shut Brian down so I could talk about what we needed to discuss. I remained composed, though my eyes betrayed the frustration I felt. “Brian, this clan has always valued strong leadership, unity, and a genuine connection between Alpha mates. You know well that the bond between mates is beyond what any of us can control. I’m not going to fake anything just so you will listen to me. You know that isn’t the real problem, so stop creating issues when there aren’t any.”

Brian smirked, a self-satisfied expression on his face. “That’s just an excuse, James. We need a leader who can stand firm, both within the clan and with his mate. Perhaps it’s time for a new Alpha to take the reins.”

As I stood at the front of the clan meeting, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease. The room, typically a place of camaraderie and collaboration, had transformed into a battleground of words and accusations. Brian, always a thorn in my side, was on the offensive, and I braced myself for his onslaught. Especially now that he was walking to the front of the crowd to stand beside me despite the anger coursing through my veins, driving me insane.

“James, it’s high time we address some serious concerns,” Brian began, his voice carrying through the room, his eyes fixed firmly on me. “Involving you, and not just the fact that you haven’t got a mate, even though that troubles a lot of us. What about the fact that you’re mollycoddling the humans, putting them before us?” He made a sweeping gesture around the room, indicating toward everyone else, who remained annoyingly silent. “What about the wolves? As shifters, we need you to put us first and think about us.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the audience, and my patience was put to the test. This wasn’t the first time Brian had accused me of favoring the humans, even though I had worked tirelessly to maintain peaceful relations. But I couldn’t help but notice now that it was mostly the women agreeing with him again. What had he been saying behind my back?

“Brian, as you well know, our treaty with the humans is essential for our survival,” I replied, my tone firm but controlled. “We have co-existed peacefully with them for generations. We need to continue to do so to thrive. I don’t put them first. I just consider everyone with everything that I do.”

But Brian wasn’t finished. He continued to hurl false accusations my way as his cheeks started to shine red. “James got his leadership position through nepotism! His uncle was a popular Alpha, and he’s simply riding on his coattails! This isn’t something we should stand for.”

My jaw tightened, and I struggled to maintain my composure. “I earned my position through hard work and dedication to our clan. My uncle’s legacy is a source of inspiration, but I have my own path to forge. I don’t know what point you’re trying to make here, but it isn’t happening.”

The room erupted into a cacophony of discussion, with some agreeing with Brian’s points and others vocally opposing his accusations. It was astounding how he could manipulate their loyalty with falsehoods and half-truths. We weren’t supposed to be here worrying about me or anything that Brian had to say. What the hell was going on? This was nuts.

I took a deep breath and raised my hand, trying to regain control of the meeting before everything got even more out of hand than it already was. “These claims are baseless and unfounded,” I declared, my voice carrying authority. “My commitment to our clan and its welfare has never wavered. The search for a mate is a deeply personal journey and should not be a measure of my ability to lead. You know I need to work with the humans to keep us all safe. I don’t know what we’re doing here, talking about this.”

As I fended off Brian’s attacks and defended my leadership, I couldn’t help but wonder how we had reached this point, where I had to battle not just for the clan but for my honor and reputation as well. But this wasn’t getting anywhere. I didn’t know how I would be able to get it all back on track.

After the tumultuous clan meeting, I retreated with my loyal pack, seeking solace and counsel. Their unwavering support was a balm to my wounded pride, but something lingered in the air, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. That was a nightmare, and it got way too out of control in ways I was not expecting. Why did that happen? I’d been challenged by Brian before, but it had never progressed into anything quite like that.

As we huddled in the privacy of our pack den, the dim lighting casting deep shadows, my wolf friend, Helena hesitated before speaking. “James, I have to admit something strange. During the meeting, there were moments when I had this… unusual urge to side with Brian. I don’t know where it came from, and it certainly wasn’t something I wanted deep down. It was more like an intrusive thought that I couldn’t shake off, however hard I tried.”

I furrowed my brow, perplexed. Helena had always been one of my staunchest allies, and her confession sent an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. “What do you mean, Helena? You’ve always been by my side. What was causing these thoughts?”

She nodded, her eyes troubled. “I know, and I can’t explain it. It was as if there was some invisible force pushing me to agree with him, even when I knew he was wrong.”

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