Page 20 of The Alpha Wolf's Bullied Bride

Until he whispers, “Well done, son. Dismiss the meeting and give them time to process this.”

I frown at my father, his support coming as a surprise, though Mother’s nod of approval behind him is something I would have expected. I look down at the mic in my hand, still stunned by what just happened, then nod and turn to the hall.

Barely paying attention to what I’m saying to dismiss the meeting, I’m reeling from the shock of declaring Lila Hargis, the Omega of Blood Moon, as my mate. The hall quickly empties, the Blood Moon werewolves as shocked as I am as they disperse.

Even Lila leaves the hall with her friend, and Miles comes up to me for a congratulatory hug. All I can do is nod and hum in reply to whatever he’s saying until he informs me that he’s leaving.

I’m still in shock, using the podium as a prop to steady my legs when my knees threaten to cave. I have so many questions, and so many answers to seek.

I need to invoke my wolf right now.

“Flynn Lycoan!”

My name echoes through the empty expanse of the hall, dread filling my gut with how much anger is laced in that familiar voice.

“Cynthia,” I reply calmly as I turn around to find her fuming at the bottom of the stage.

“You don’t even have the right to say my name,” she spits venomously, eyes furiously slit. “How dare you humiliate me like this?!”

“Humiliate? Cynthia, I didn’t promise—”

“You promised me, Flynn! You promised me when you rejected her the first time around!” Cynthia roars.

I’m immediately sprung back to the memory of that very moment, when I made a solemn oath to take Cynthia as my mate. Except my words had been spoken while I glared at Lila, even as I kissed Cynthia’s head. Had my words held so much power that they’d been directed at Lila?

I shudder from the inability to accept that words hold that much power.

“It’s not—” I begin, but Cynthia cuts me off again.

“Save it, Flynn! Or should I say, Alpha Flynn?” she scoffs. “What kind of Alpha do you think you are, taking that worthless piece of sh—”

“Cynthia Warren!” I bleat, a fiery rage suddenly taking over me when I know where she’s going with her words. She’sabout to slander Lila, and it awakens my inner wolf. “Don’t you dare say another word, or you will force me to kick you out of this pack.”

Cynthia frowns. “Kick me out? After what you did?!” she accuses.

My wolf completely takes the wheel, my fists curling at my sides as my wolf claws dig trenches into my palms as they extend of their own accord. “Enough!” I roar. “I will not hear it. You will not speak ill of the Luna of this pack!”

Cynthia stares at me in disbelief. “You’re gonna defend her?!”

I glare back, the inner wolf threatening to rage out and leap forward in defense. “I warned you already! Be very careful of where you’re treading!”

The harshness in my voice as I loom over her with the claws of my wolf out and ready is all it takes for Cynthia to back away and storm out of the hall in a flurry of tears.

It’s like a switch inside me is flipped again, allowing me to breathe, as if I hadn't been in control of my breath just now. Not in control of my voice either, which had me spitting words of menace at the ex-Delta’s daughter. I watch in shock as my claws retract and my hands turn to that of my human.

I could hardly stand the female who’d frequented my bed ever since we’d received our wolves. For a long time, even I’d believed that she would eventually become my mate, once I returned from special ops training.

Up until a few nights ago, I thought I’d do the honorable thing and pick Cynthia as my mate. Until I stood in those woods, like a creep in the night, and watched Lila undress.

Even then, I convinced myself that I was mistaken. That there was no way that I could ever feel drawn enough to the Omega to pick her as my mate. I walked into this hall tonight, determined to make the right decision—my first decision as the Alpha of Blood Moon.

Yet, something had taken over me, just as it’d taken over me to defend the Omega, who I chose as my mate.

I have no idea what came over me, but it was powerful, more extraordinary than anything I’ve felt before. Pulsing through my existence, the inner wolf became invincible for a hot moment.

I lick my lips as if the taste of that power lingers on my tastebuds, the adrenaline rushing through my veins almost scorching my flesh. The impulse to go outside and run freely in the woods propels my feet forward, a vindictive smirk growing on my lips.

I just tasted what feels like the peak of my existence as a werewolf. As the cool air outside contrasts the heat of my skin, a rumble of satisfaction bellows in my chest, spurring my steps as I rush forward toward the shadows of the trees making up the forest. As soon as I hit the ground running in wolf form, my paws carry me out over hedges and boulders, my path lit up by the moon. I cross Rock Creek, climbing to the peak, where I lift my head and howl at the sky.

---