Page 54 of Unexpected Alpha's Claim

“Yes, there is,” she said, somehow managing to intensify her glare. “You are the Alpha.Actlike one.”

A slap to the face would have gotten less reaction from me. The wolf surged. I growled, leaning in towards her, meeting her glare with rage. My hands balled into fists, and I was ready to fight.

“You dare,” I said low and dangerous.

“I dare?” she scoffed. “You better dare, first born. Enough with the self-pity. All that will do is get you and your entire pack killed. You need to own your role. Now.”

Once again, her words cut through the storming emotions, the rage in my head was faded, leaving only cold logic. The hard truth was that she’s right. I’d been more worried about Monica and I than I had been in leading my pack. I had kind of thought that it would take care of itself, but where had that gotten me? Nowhere.

“Right,” I nodded sharply.

There was nothing more to be said. The truth was the truth and I either had to accept it or I didn’t deserve the mantle. I promised myself if I was ever Alpha, I would be better than Brad. I wouldtake care of the pack first and foremost and I hadn’t. I’d been too caught up in my own bullshit. That stopped now.

It was all crystal clear to me now. An Alpha was a leader, his pack’s rock. The one who would inspire and guide them through life’s highs and lows. That’s what my father used to tell me. After Brad’s eight-year rule, my people had forgotten that. And I was the one burdened with reminding them of this simple—yet vital—fact.

Helena seemed to read my thoughts because she nodded and made a small noise that I took for satisfaction.

“Good,” she aid. “And there is one last thing. The identity of the actual Alpha vampire. His name is Dorian and he’s about your height. He should be easy to spot because he bears a deep scar on his left cheek.”

“Thank you,” I said, meaning it.

Turning away from the witch, I gazed deeper into the forest, inhaling the rich scents. Home. This was our home and it was up to us to defend it. No matter the cost. No one could enter our territory without a fight.

I turned around and walked over to my sixty-two-strong pack. I had to put my heart aside for later. It was time to lead them to war.

34

RAUL

Imarched towards my pack with my shoulders squared and my head held high. The wolf’s presence made itself known by scent and exuding dominance. The low conversations trailed off as I approached, but they exchanged nervous glances with one another.

“Pack,” I said, stopping a few feet in front of them. “You feel fear. I get it. And I’ll be honest with you. I felt the same before I took on our former Alpha, Brad. I feared his retribution if I failed. I knew that if I didn’t win, these three…” I pointed at my siblings. “They would have suffered the most if I had lost. You all know how he was.” There were murmurs of assent and agreement, but the fear still permeated the air.

“I didn’t fail!” I raise my voice letting it echo over them. “I beat him in honorable combat. I know what you’re all thinking, why do I speak of the past when the threat before us is greater than any of us has faced in our lifetimes?

Well, here’s your answer.

Tonight, we aren’t fighting an oppressive Alpha, and it won’t be one-on-one or honorable. We’re facing our ancient enemy, a clan of undead motherfuckers. The kind of monsters that don’t give a shit about the sacredness of life!

As far as they’re concerned, anything with blood in its veins is food. Anything except us.”

I was winning them over, one by one. The aura of fear and uncertainty was giving way to one of confidence. They were embracing their true nature. Hunters and protectors. I felt it happening as well as saw it. They were almost where I wanted them.

“If we lose, everything you see around you will be gone,” I made a wide sweep with my arm to include all of our town and people. “All our people, everyone we’ve sworn to protect. Anyone who does survive will be forced to become nomads.

Dawson, our home, will become one huge, vampire’s lair. Well, notnow. Not onmywatch. Let’s hunt those sons of bitches down. Let’s show them what the wolf isreallycapable of. For Dawson!” I cried out, thrusting both of my arms up.

As one, the pack’s battle cry rose, filling the air, echoing back to us and bringing a smile to my face. A forest of arms rose, tearing any notion of doubt to shreds. Fear didn’t dwell in them any longer. In its stead, there was a fierce determination to defend everything they held dear. The sounds of the many transformations followed our echoing battle cry. In a matter of seconds, the Dawson pack cleared the parking lot and headed into the woods. The hunt was on.

Ready to write history, I charged past the border of the woods. Sammy’s white wolf and Ray’s dark-brown on my flanks, Ifocused on the trunks up ahead. My mind traveled back to Louisville, remembering the smells, sensations and feelings as I galloped across the forest floor.

Five seconds later, I discovered how unnecessary that was. The stench of death filled the air with a disgusting, cloying odor. That foul smell hovered above us, causing some to snarl in protest. Letting out a nasty bark, I quickened my strides and put distance between me and Sammy. Fifty yards ahead beckoned a gap between a balsam fir and an elm tree.

Bursting through it, I reached a clearing. My gaze landed on my targets. They were spread out over the clearing, kneeling in the tall grass. Dorian’s clan was watching my pack, but I wanted him.

I scanned their ranks until I found him. He was near the middle, standing a little to the left. The deep scar on his cheek was illuminated by the moonlight. At the sight of him, ferocity grew three-fold within me. I raised my upper lip and exposed my canines, without slowing my pace. Paws flattening the fresh grass, I closed the distance between us.

“Come on, you fool!” He cajoled, flashing a devilish smirk and spreading his arms wide. “Come feel the cold embrace of death!”

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