Page 75 of Dawn of the Pack

“Alright, just stick close to me,” she hisses. “We’ll get that collar off of you, and then we’re getting out of here.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Lilliana

They knew we were coming long before we arrived in Montrose.

It’s easy to tell; we don’t encounter a single car on our drive through town, and while it’s pretty late, there are still bars with glowing neon open signs in the windows that we pass.

But no people.

I can only assume they’ve pulled back to protect the alpha, and are waiting for us somewhere ahead in the dark.

Our long line of vehicles trails into town like a gas-powered snake, and at the point we selected this morning, we pull off on the shoulder and park. The cars behind us split, lining the road on both sides to unload their passengers.

It’s even colder now than when we left; heat rises from our bodies and my breath makes dense white clouds with each exhale. The guys gather around me and we wait for our pack to close in on foot. In the distance, cars are still parking, tiny figures running up to join the massive crowd that pushes forward.

My heart feels like a hummingbird in my throat. Even though I know this is what I need to do, it’s hard to put so many of my pack in danger to achieve it.

But the alpha draws strength from her pack. And Harridans have sacrificed for Smoky Falls for generations, shouldering the brunt of the curse that was laid upon us all.

The gathered people wait, watching me expectantly, and I know I need to tell them what I’m thinking.

“Thank you all for coming with me tonight,” I start tremulously, my voice fragile and weak.

Milo slips his hand around mine and squeezes in encouragement. I clear my throat and try again.

“We’re here tonight to take back our freedom. Generations ago, the founders of the Montrose Pack decided they no longer wanted to be part of Smoky Falls. Instead of simply leaving, they left a curse on our entire pack. Not only did they prevent us from freely shifting as we used to, but they forced the Harridans, my predecessors, to carry a heavy burden. Upon becoming alpha, I found out that any alpha is required to return to Smoky Falls before 24 hours passes or face immediate death.”

There’s dead silence as the pack listens, and I draw in a deep breath. Jared wraps an arm around my shoulder and rubs my arm.

“My mother left before that became her curse, and many blamed her for it. I recently discovered she did that with intent; not to run away and save herself, but to return with an heir who would reunite the packs and end the curse for good. An heir who didn’t grow up knowing about the curse, who could believe in the reunification with the descendants of those who’d hurt us so long ago.”

A rumble of surprise runs through the crowd now, people glancing at each other and whispering in response. I forge on.

“So tonight I’m here to do exactly that. I’ve come to challenge the Montrose alpha, hoping we can put an end to this pain and start a new chapter for everyone. I’ve asked you to come because I need your help. My strength as an alpha comes from the pack. And the alpha protects the pack, but sometimes the pack protects the alpha. I need you to help me get past the Montrose pack so I can confront their alpha and issue him a challenge directly. I don’t know what this fight will be like; I ask you not to use more force than you have to. Don’t forget that these people are still family, removed by a few generations, but family by blood nonetheless. Defend yourselves, but don’t hurt anyone if you can help it.”

I falter, not sure how to end this part explanation, part motivational speech.

Milo squeezes my hand, then steps forward. “My mate didn’t grow up here. She wasn’t raised alongside us, calling Smoky Falls home from birth the way we did. She suffered a loss most of us will never understand when her parents died. And she came here a stranger, ignorant to the inheritance she was about to receive.”

My blood races through my veins… this hardly sounds good, and I have no idea where he’s trying to go with calling me an ignorant outsider.

“But she’s shouldered the burden that fell on her as if she’d been raised to be our alpha. Despite all the trials she’s faced, my mate has never backed down, never given up, and never stopped hoping that there was light at the end of this tunnel for all of us. We have the opportunity to walk through that tunnel, reach the light together, and restore our pack to the family it was always meant to be. We’re here tonight because of my mate,” he glances back and Landon and Jared, “our mate, Lilliana Harridan!”

The still-growing crowd is silent for half a heartbeat, and then a roar, like an ocean wave of sound, rises from them. Cheers and whistles and clapping and joyful shouts. Two separate chants begin, one group shouting ‘Har-ri-dan! Har-ri-dan!’ and the other calling ‘Smoky Falls! Smoky Falls!’

Blood rushes in my ears, and my body relaxes even as I realize the smile on my face is so wide my cheeks are hurting.

“You see, gorgeous?” Jared leans in and speaks loud enough for me to hear over the din. “They’re all here for you.”

“They love you, just like I said,” Landon adds before kissing my cheek.

I can feel my pulse in every inch of my body. It’s as if my heart has synced to the chanting, and I can’t seem to separate myself from the crowd. We’re one and the same now.

After a few more moments, I raise my arms and lower them slowly, and the pack understands, quieting their voices to hear me. “The alpha house is a straight shot up this road. I don’t know how much resistance we’ll meet or when, so be on your guard, and let’s go!”

With another roar, they surge forward, and I turn and start walking with my mates. Quickly, many familiar faces join our line as we march up the street. Dom and Roxanne; Savannah and Brad, the boy who sat next to her in the car on the way here; Justin and Amber; more members of Jared’s football team, staff from Harridan house, and lots of people—whose faces I recognize but names I don’t know—crowd around us.

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