Page 56 of Malcolm

Eliza cooly looked down at the body as if she wasn’t staring at a person who’d been breathing or talking earlier.

Malcolm turned to face the stunned crowd; he spoke to them although his eyes were still on the head. “For those of you whobelieve that my time in Veil City made me soft, I hope you’ve learned today that that is not true.”

Lifting Dannith’s head high, he shouted, “Mercy is given by the weak, and the kind. I am only kind once, after, it’s up to you to ask your gods for mercy, for I, Alpha McLaren, will show you none.” He released a deep howl.

The crowd began thumping their chest, the rhythm filling the air. Howls joined soon enough; this was where he belonged. He was meant to be here on his people land, surrounded by their cheers and shouts of awe. It had only taken six years for Malcolm to finally complete one of his greatest wishes.

The tall iron doors, that had the McLaren emblem carved into to them opened revealing the wolven the warrior class. As soon as they came into view, they entered and once they reached Malcolm they took a knee and clapped their fist to their chest lowering their heads.

“Our Alpha.”

“Make your vows, " he said tossing the head aside.

There and then he won their loyalty, and the people all fell to their knees. He turned to find one person who hadn’t, but he would never ask it of her. No, the woman who stood while others kneeled had enough power that he could feel it buzzing against his skin, calling to the beast that remained behind his mental bars.

It licked its maw, eager to be released to see if those bold brown eyes would remain so brave in its presence. Malcolm smirked; his mate would stand against Satan himself. Her back was straight, and her chin lifted with pride. Malcolm turned his attention back to the soldiers.

Robert stepped forward. “Your Alpha has been chosen, now. Let’s party!”

A roar of cheer went up, and slowly, the crowd began to disperse. He walked towards Robert only to hear Kirkle'smasculine wail as he gathered his sons' body parts. He didn’t look at the man, nor did he say anything. He would give them the right to mourn in privacy. With that, he made his back to the main building, his men following him.

For him, this moment never felt more right.

“You’ve done well,”Robert said as they walked away from the fighting pit. The pack had already moved to the festivities. “I didn’t expect any less from you.”

Malcolm shot him a skeptical look. “Yet, someone yelled at me about having a plan. Wasn’t that you?”

Robert didn’t answer him. Instead, he pointed at five men who stood a little ways away. “Let me introduce you to your guardsmen. They are the most talented among these pups here.”

Malcolm glanced at his uncle right before they reached the five men. Two of them he already recognized: “Derrik and Agun, I know.”

“Yes,” Robert said, pointing at the male with blue eyes. “This is Jamie; he’s cousins with Kirkle.”

Malcolm lifted his chin, narrowing his eyes slightly on the men. “You’re not feeling bitter about your cousin's death?”

Jamie shrugged. “The rules are clear, and he was already lucky enough not to be shamed. He earned his death.”

Malcolm gave a short nod. “Then welcome,” he reached out, clasping hands with him. “I expect nothing less than loyalty.”

“And I don’t have any intention of giving you anything less,” Jamie said, offering him a cool smile.

Robert turned to a man with blonde hair. “And this is Archie. He’s pretty brutal, so if you ever need a sparring partner, he’s it.”

Archie gave a low chuckle, and the scar at the corner of his lips kicked up. “He’s exaggerating.”

“Did you, or didn’t you throw me into a ravine?” The one who hadn’t been introduced spoke up, his nearly black hair pulled back in a low ponytail. Spotting Malcolm looking at him, he lifted a hand, “And I’m Will.”

“Malcolm,” he said in the introduction, pulling back. “I’ll be your Alpha from now on. I hope to serve you well.”

“Oh,” Archie said crossing his arms, “I don’t think you have much choice. We’ve got high expectations for you.”

Malcolm was taken aback by his words, and he grinned. “Is that so?”

“It is,” Agun said, adding his own two cents. “So, don’t bother thinking about failure.”

Malcolm couldn’t help laughing. This was what he’d missed in the veil, this easy comradeship. The ability to be understood without explaining himself. Family, he’d missed his family.

And he wasn’t too much of a coward to admit that.

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