Page 57 of Cruel Alpha Daddy

“You okay, boss?” Ryan asks.

I nod, taking a deep breath.

I’m not scared anymore. I’m not scared of anything.

“Let’s go,” I say, striding quickly from the room. I walk straight across to the hall, where a huge crowd has gathered.

Looks like every single pack member is here. Good.

Voices rise and fall around me, a wave of sound that should confuse my senses but sharpens them. A few arguments break out, and I realize I made it here just in time.

The pack is about to tear itself apart.

With one smooth movement, I leap up onto a table, turning to address the pack.

“Listen to me!” I roar, hearing my voice echo back to me as it bounces off the high ceiling of the great hall. “I know that this pack has been fragmented and fighting itself for far too long. This is the moment we make a stand!”

Every single face turns towards me, and I briefly feel that old fear rising. But the fiery rage in my veins burns the icy terror right out of my heart.

“Tobias has kidnapped your luna—again!” I yell, letting all my frustration and anger come out. “This man has done nothing but hurt and betray you. I should have stopped him earlier, but I wanted to be a fair alpha and a good man. I tried to put the violence and death behind us.”

I take a deep breath, letting it back out as a sigh. Shaking my head, I address the crowd again. “I didn’t want this. I was hoping for peace. Now I know there is nothing left but war. If I want to build this pack up and make it strong, my only choice is to destroy those who threaten it.”

People are beginning to whisper amongst themselves, and some of them look skeptical. It only inflames my rage.

“Anyone who follows Tobias, stand up right now or run from this place like the coward you are!” I bellow. “Tobias wants us to return to the mountains and Jethro’s violent ways. He would enslave the women, attack our allies, and assure your death.”

“Tobias has been good to us!” one of the young men shouts. “He brought us food and clothes, which is more than you’ve done!”

“Where does he get these things?” I demand, turning to face the boy. “Has he told you where these resources come from, and the price he will demand of you?”

It’s Desmond. For fuck’s sake, he’s only fourteen. Tobias is a monster to warp the minds of these boys!

Desmond seems uncertain and looks around at his friends for support. Most of them back away from him.

“How many of your brothers just died, Des?” I ask him. “When Tobias decided to attack Bailey and threaten his mates, how many were killed and injured for his arrogance?”

“But… you left us! You didn’t bring the reinforcements like you promised! That’s why we got slaughtered.”

“I didn’t even know about the plan,” I tell him. “Tobias has been playing you this whole time.”

Des looks down, shaking his head. I can hear a lot of muttering going on around me. It looks like all of them had doubts, and now they are questioning everything Tobias told them.

Good.

I cast my eyes around the hall, and I don’t see any of Tobias’s close friends.

What are they up to?

“Rider!” Lilah hurries up to me, pushing through the crowd. “Where is Tobias, and what is he going to do to Fiona? We need her.”

“I know,” I answer. I look back up at the crowd and am relieved to see all eyes are on me. “Tobias has taken your luna and disappeared to create more mayhem,” I tell them. “I can’t begin to guess what his plan is, but there is only one thing I know for sure. I have to find him and kill him.”

As my words strike home, I see expressions change all throughout the hall. Some people look determined, others angry, but most just look confused.

“If you stand with Tobias, make your choice,” I state. “I will give you one chance right now to leave and save your worthless skin. Just know this—I am coming for him, and when I find him, I will kill anyone who fights for him. There will be no mercy, no more second chances—only death.”

A few kids at the back of the hall turn and run. It hurts me to see them go, but I have to give them a choice, and I need every potential enemy to show themselves before I move forward.

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