Page 37 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

I was back in the overlarge room in Kaiden’s lower level, which was apparently not the basement because that was even deeper and held cells to lock up wolves who misbehaved. At least, that’s how he phrased it when I’d asked him. It was still odd to consider the man an Alpha, but I could feel that strange magic come off him in waves.

Will I be the same?

As I waited to get this ceremony over with, I sat in a chair that had been placed on a raised platform, one I was pretty sure had been constructed from the remains of the ring from last night. Kenzie sat in a similar chair just a few feet away, the two seats placed in the center of the platform before an audience of every wolf from the Williams and Edwards packs.

The Alphas from the council were all in attendance as well, and I noticed Brooks sitting next to Kit and Kaiden. I could see that he was working my sister’s last nerve, and I would have laughed if I could find anything funny right now.

As it was, I felt…nothing.

I hadn’t gone back to the room last night to sleep, choosing to shift and run through the wood surrounding the compound. I’d slept just outside the estate and only entered when I had a feeling that the room would be unoccupied.

For whatever reason, I didn’t want to face Kenzie. This was the end of our arrangement, and…and I didn’t want that. Gods damn me to hell and back, but I didn’t think I could keep up my end of the bargain.

I don’t want to never see her again.

When I’d been brought in here, it was the first time I’d seen Kenzie since I left her in bed the other day. We hadn’t talked at all about what had happened or what we were going to do, and just how exactly was I supposed to have that conversation?

I would rather go toe-to-toe with Choal again than have to endure the look on Kenzie’s face when I told her I was having second thoughts.

“Thank you all for coming once more!” Aspen called out, and I did my best to refocus, turning toward where he stood just ahead of me at the front of the platform. “We are here to name a new Alpha!”

The entire room erupted into cheers, even the Williams wolves who’d backed Choal. It appeared that by not killing him last night, I’d put myself in their good graces, and several had come up to me and said how impressed they were by myuniquetransformation.

Alder, Cade, and Rowan sat just behind Brooks and Kaiden. There they were—the misfit group of Alpha wolves who’d broken tradition and befriended each other—and I was about to join their ranks.

“Welcome to the club, asshole!” Brooks called out, the others, even Cade, laughing and pumping their fists into the air.

I should really be a lot happier.

“All right, settle down.” Aspen’s tone was clearly annoyed with Brooks’ constant antics, but there wasn’t much he was going to do about that. “Would the Blooded Wolf of the Williams Pack please step forward to present your new Alpha with the pack bond?”

Choal stepped forward, bowing low as he approached the platform. Just this morning before the ceremony, I’d learned that he was a descendant of the Williams’ old Alpha line and a cousin to Eli.

With that being the case, I’d expected him to be a lot more resistant to me taking over. However, not gutting the man on the floor with my claws had apparently endeared me to him some. Still, there was respect behind the fear Choal had of what I might do to him. And respect was more valuable.

“I am here to offer our new Alpha the Blooded Gift.”

Aspen turned back toward me. I stood up, walked to the front of the platform, and reached out a hand to pull Choal up.

“I accept your Blood Gift, Choal Williams.”

The room was quiet, and as Choal took his place next to me, I looked over toward Kaiden and the others. Kaiden smiled, and I cocked my head at him. Even though we couldn’t hear each other, I silently communicated with him like we always had, pumping my brows in a clear, “Bet you’re glad you didn’t have to do this, huh?”

He smirked back at me, his expression saying, “You fucking bet.”

“Choal Williams present unto the new Alpha the Blooded Gift of the Williams Pack!” Aspen shouted, and the room began to surge with an invisible energy.

Getting down on his knee, Choal lifted his arm and held it out to me. Shifting enough to extend a claw, Choal slashed through his wrist. Blood welled to the surface, and I stepped in front of him, gripping his arm.

“Grayson,” Aspen said, standing just behind where Choal and I were centered on the stage; the image a bit like how Kit’swedding appeared, “do you accept this chance to be the Alpha of the Williams Pack, and do you understand that by joining the Williams today, you bond to the Edwards will be severed?”

Nodding, I looked just past Aspen toward Kenzie before quickly blinking myself back to the ceremony.

“I do. I accept the status as Alpha of the Williams Pack earned through the traditional trials of their pack. I hereby leave Edwards behind and become Grayson Williams.”

Aspen smiled and nodded. “Begin.”

The room went quiet enough to hear a pin drop. I leaned over Choal’s arm, lifting it as high as I could from his kneeling position in front of me. I nodded at him, holding eye contact as a means of respect for his “gift.” When he nodded back, I let my fangs descend into my mouth and struck down just around the slice in his skin.

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