Page 3 of My Omega's Gift

What a mess. Father was not huge on rules, preferring a few that made sense to many that infringed on people’s free will. “I see.”

“Things got so bad that when the old alpha sickened and people were lining up to challenge him, a few of the other alphas and betas who had no real pack positions got together and decided to use the chaos of the transition to leave.”

“Wait…they couldn’t just go?” Because anyone in our pack could do that.

Instead of replying, he gave me a level look that I’d had directed at me too many times growing up not to recognize. Of course, they couldn’t just go. I’d heard of others saying that abandoning their birth group without permission in the past would make them rogue. In the worst situations, that gave others permission to hunt them. But that really wouldn’t happen in modern times. Would it?

“They took nothing with them, waiting until the pack lands filled with challengers, alphas from far and wide who sought to take over the leadership. As now, not all alphas had their own packs, and many wanted them. The old one was still breathing”—he chuckled, shaking his head—“probably very much as I am now, but all knew he had only hours, days at most. They could have challenged him, of course, but to do so would have been cowardice at this stage, so they waited for him to name a successor or simply die.”

He went quiet, breaths shallower, eyes closing, and I wondered if he had reached his last moments without finishing his tale, but then they flew open again. “He passed without a word on who he might support to follow him, and within hours, the battles broke out among the strangers and those of the pack, chaos like even our founder could not have foreseen. Blood flowed, soaking into the soil, and the cries of the injured mingled with the howls of those who chose to fight in their fur. You canfind the record of it all in our annals in the library, or at least as much as those who left stayed to witness.”

“Was it always like that…then?” I had to know. “Why weren’t we taught this?”

He reached for the cup of tea at his bedside, and I held it to his dry lips, aching for the loss coming very soon. My father was a wise and kind leader. One whose legacy I could never live up to. Why couldn’t he see this?

When he’d sipped enough to go on, he said, “I was remiss. I didn’t realize the tutors were not sharing these things until recently. But no, it was not always that horrific. Depended on the prize at the end of the challenge. A large, wealthy pack with much land would have been like that though.”

“Like us?”

“Then, ‘us’ consisted of a dozen or so alphas and betas and their families who crept away under cover of the mayhem. In their fur, with nothing more than they could carry in that form.”

“Wow.” It was hard to picture, but I did know that over time, we’d welcomed many “rogues” who in truth only wanted a fair leader and secure pack. “Now I understand why we have the system we do for succession.” The one I had spent a lot of time begging my father to employ differently. “They never wanted that for us.”

“Exactly, Son. Now, the pack alpha names his successor early on, and all accept that decision. Oh, there was always the danger that the alpha might make a mistake, but so far, for two centuries, they have been at least acceptable. We have as you know a rule of law, and our people rely on that for their peace and prosperity.”

Dammit. “Father, please.”

“No, Son. I don’t have the strength to argue with you.” His pallor was shifting, a blue tinting the skin around his lips. I was taxing his strength.

“We can talk later.” I moved to stand but he reached for me, resting his hand on mine, his fingernails also blue.

“Son, you’re not that foolish. There is no later, and there is no one else I would trust with my people. You love them and this land, and they will look to you for leadership. Please let me pass in peace, knowing I have done my very best for them right to the end.”

My eyes filled, and a traitorous tear spilled down my cheek. This was so much more than a job discussion. It was a lifetime commitment and a deathbed request. “Father, how can I go on without you?” He’d been stern and strong and kind and loving…the best father for our family and alpha for our pack.

“You can and will. Your brother will not challenge you, even though he probably wishes he could. His actions would be struck down according to our laws. His life forfeit, and he is not brave enough for that. He is not a leader. Not the one our people deserve. Say you will take the role and allow me my rest.”

“I accept.” What choice did I have? My father was gasping, holding on only for me to give my word. “I will never fill your shoes, but I swear I will try as hard as I can and give them everything I have.”

“Save some for yourself and your mate.” His chuckle deteriorated into a hacking cough, and he accepted another sip of water. “Fate has a good one for you, I have no doubt. Now, go join those who are gathered outside, and declare yourself alpha.”

I was about to argue that he was still alive until I realized he was not. His hand slipped off mine, his eyes were open, the blue gazing off into scenes I could only imagine. And I had no time to grieve because the mantle of leadership fell onto my shoulders with a silent thud.

Present day…

“I can’t go away. I have too much to do.” I was still protesting as my lead beta, Marco, closed the truck door after me. “Marco, you know…”

“I know you have not taken a day off since your father’s passing. And I know that everyone needs a break in order to do their job well. You’re wearing yourself out for us. All the betas chipped in for your trip, and we are not taking no for an answer.”

I knew this because they’d been saying it to me over and over since springing the vacation on me. They’d even packed my bags.

“Are you sure? What about all the arrangements for the big gathering in the spring? If we don’t get all the invites out, no one will come.”

“Already done.”

“And the distributions for holiday fixings for those who need them?”

“Done.”

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