Page 67 of Ascension of the Pack

‘Great. Thanks, you two.’

They left and my eyes strayed to Liam, whose eyes were glistening suspiciously. I flicked my gaze to the security screens and saw David’s corpse laid out in front of Nina. I patted him on the shoulder. ‘It’s a sad day.’

‘It is,’ he said brokenly. ‘We have lost so many.’

‘We have.’ I blew out a breath. ‘We’ll call a tourney soon and restore the battle thirteen.’

‘That would be wise,’ he agreed.

‘Everythingelse okay here?’ I asked. He nodded, but his eyes were bleak. I gave him another order. ‘Get me Archie and Thea, please.’

‘Of course.’ He instantly pushed away from his desk. Liam was an excellent foot soldier but his instant obedience reminded me of Xander and that made my heart hurt. Everything these days seemed to make my heart hurt.

Liam showed Archie and Thea into my office but this time I needed some privacy to say what needed to be said. I shot him a soft smile. ‘Give us a moment, Liam, please.’ He stepped outside and shut the door.

Thea and Archie looked at me expectantly so I started without preamble. ‘I can’t run half a dozen packs. I am alpha of the Home Counties, Devon, Dorset, Essex, East Riding, Cheshire packs – and now the Merseyside Pack, too. It’s too much for one person so I’m going to be looking within each pack for a new alpha. For the Devon Pack, I am considering you two.’

Thea looked confused. ‘I’m as low down on the ranks as they come!’

I shook my head. ‘Firstly, you haven’t been in a ranking tourney in years. Your brother Beckett was alpha, and your brother Ace was beta, so I have no doubt you’ll be stronger than you expect. Secondly, you and Sophie are finally in complete accord. Thirdly, I really don’t give a fuck. Afterall it’s experienced, the Devon pack needs someone who cares about it, someone who has first-hand experience of the trauma it’s been through.’

Thea grimaced. ‘Well, I certainly have that.’

‘You do. And Archie is currently number four in this pack, so if anyone thinks you don’t deserve to rule, I’m sure he can set them straight.’

Archie grinned. ‘Damn right I can. She’ll be an excellent alpha – and I’ll watch out for her.’

I blinked. ‘You misunderstand me. I want you to both rule the Devon pack. Together.’

‘Both at the same time?’ Archie asked, bewildered.

‘Exactly. Any disagreements between you, you weigh in with the Great Pack and they will have the deciding vote. With the Great Pack restored to us, you have the combined wisdom of every wolf that is no longer on this plane to guide you.’

‘Wow.’ Archie was wide-eyed. ‘That’s going to take some getting used to.’

‘You don’t have to consult the Great Pack all the time – you can make your own decisions – but if you need a guiding light you’ll have it. You’re both young and I think you’d make an excellent ruling pair. I know things are early in your romance—’

Theasnorted. ‘He helped me hide a dead body! I trust him with all that I am. I’d mate with him tomorrow.’

Archie beamed at her. ‘You would?’

Her eyes softened. ‘In a heartbeat.’

I smiled. ‘Good. Then if you’re both happy?’ I waited a moment for any objections, ‘I’ll make the announcement that the Devon pack is going home. If anyone wishes to stay here, they can apply for a transfer. I’ll wait a week for applications before I hold a pack tourney.’

‘They’d gain prestige if they were ranked in the Queen’s pack,’ Archie noted. ‘That’s going to be a reason for some of them wanting to stay.’

I steepled my fingers. ‘I hope so. I want to draw the power-hungry ones to me so you have some time to find your feet before the challengers come. At some point, you’ll have to hold a tourney of your own.’

Thea’s spine straightened. ‘We’ll be ready.’

I grinned. ‘Damn right you will be.’ I paused. ‘Liam’s dating someone from the Devon pack.’

‘Christine,’ Thea nodded.

‘If that goes somewhere, Liam would like to transfer to your pack.’

‘“Your pack”,’ Archie said in wonder, shaking his head. ‘Wow.’

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