Page 5 of Wolf Sacrificed

I thought I’d made that pretty clear already, but I guess I’d say it again. “No. I plan to stay here and defend our home. I’m done running and hiding. This war is going to end, and I promise you we’re going to stop Alpha Dane.”

Thomas’s face scrunched up as his head snapped up. “You can’t possibly know that.”

I clasped my sweater, squeezing the water from the fabric between my fingers and down my arm. If I didn’t have something to do with my hands, I might punch him. This was my father’s funeral. I wanted to grieve.

I forced in a calming breath. “I have to believe that we are going to win. We all should. If we give up now, then we give up to Alpha Dane, and I’m not willing to do that. The way he is destroying packs is wrong. What he is doing to women is dishonorable. We can’t allow him to continue.”

Thomas’s jaw worked, and he put his hands on his hips. “How do you intend to protect us?”

I gripped my water-logged sweater tighter, so tight I worried I might tear it. “Our first step is going to be rebuilding, but during the rebuilding process, every able-bodied person is going to learn to defend themselves and fight. We still have a large wolfsbane supply.

“With Lincoln’s help, I’m sure we can come up with ways to use it to our benefit. There are also other defensive measures that we can take around the property such as electric fences and video surveillance. We will implement all of it as soon as possible.”

Huffing, he shook his head and motioned his hand out to me. “Very well. I will submit to you as alpha for now, but you have yet to earn my respect.”

I wasn’t sure how he meant that, but to me, it felt like a threat. It would be poor taste to attack me today at my father’s funeral, but I wouldn’t put it past anyone. This guy had already interrupted.

My original pack would be loyal. Of that, I was certain, but there were a couple hundred new members now I barely knew. I had to be careful.

The minister cleared his throat. He gave me a small half smile before he spoke up. “If there is no one else…”

I held my breath, watching the crowd, daring anyone else to step forward.

This time, no one did, and the minister grasped my hand again. “May I present to you your alpha, Alpha Sloane.”

He held my hand up like I’d won some sort of grand prize, but there was nothing grand about this.

I shifted my gaze to the coffin.

I love you, Daddy. I held my breath like he might reply, but the only sound was the pounding of the rain.

I wasn’t trained for this. I was supposed to have time with my dad so he could go over all of this with me. Alpha Dane had stolen that from me, and I’d have to figure it out on my own.

One thing was for certain: I wasn’t going to let my dad down.

The minister let go of my hand and clasped his hands together as he looked out at the pack. “Miss Kathleen has prepared a wonderful brunch for us that is waiting for us at the pack house. Please return…” He made a pained noise in his throat as he must’ve realized what he said.

He ducked his head down and rubbed at his hair, slicking it back. “My apologies, not the pack house. But there is a lovely brunch Miss Kathleen has prepared at the enforcers’ quarters. Please give the family a few moments alone with their father and husband.”

The pack murmured as they dispersed. I wobbled on my feet, my legs suddenly turning to jelly. Lincoln wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close.

My mom moved in front of me, hugging me and Lincoln at the same time. “You did good, my love. You did good.”

She pushed matted, wet strands of hair off my face.

I trembled and shook so hard my teeth rattled. I couldn’t control the tremors racing through my body. “They’re going to challenge me again, aren’t they?”

A big rain droplet fell on my eyebrow, momentarily blurring my vision.

My mom‘s face fell, and then crumpled as she cried.

Lincoln grasped both my hands. “Probably. You just have to keep being strong, Sloane. You did great, and we all have your back.”

Mark reached out, his hand gripping my shoulder, and I turned to hug him. He and I hadn’t really talked since everything had happened. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was okay with me getting the title and not him, since he was older than me by a year.

He patted me on the back as he enveloped me in a bear hug. “It’s going to be okay. Our pack is going to protect you, and we won’t let them challenge you. Dad knew what he was doing when he selected you to take his place. You are the best fit for this role, and I know you can do it.”

I blinked up at him, his face fuzzy from my tears and this dreaded rain. “I was worried you might’ve wanted this instead.”

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