Page 85 of One True Mate

They come after you, they come after this entire pack. No one will back down from this.I heard her warn me and I knew she was speaking truth.

“Kelsey believes the pack will rise to protect us if it comes to that.”

My father sighed looking far older than he had even one day earlier. “You know they will, but we're talking a potential war here, Kyle.”

“I think we need to bring in the Pack Council and formally fill them in. If they agree with Kelsey, then we need to hold an emergency pack meeting to prepare our wolves. If they do not, when the time comes I will grab her and go despite her protests. They will not kill my mate without first killing me.”

Dad nodded in agreement and made a few quick phone calls. Within an hour, the full Pack Council was assembled in his office and Kelsey joined me as we filled them in on what we knew of her past and confirmed to their shock and horror that she was indeed a female alpha.

“This will go to war amongst the packs when they discover what she is, and I do not think Kamen will back down until he has all the answers, including this,” Ambrose spoke up first.

“Yes, but she is pack. Have you not seen the response of the pack to her presence? She has allegiance of many already. They will fight for her. I have no doubt in that,” Quinton spoke, generally the quietest of the bunch which caused the others to subdue.

“I move to tell the pack. Hold a special pack meeting and discuss this with them as a whole. If they fear what she is and the outcome of that news getting out, then Kyle is prepared to take her and run,” Kelsey started to protest but I shook my head and she submitted as Cole continued, “But, if they are willing to stand in support of her, then I say we prepare to fight. This is our future Alpha and Pack Mother we are talking about here. Kyle will die by her side if we do not. We can not allow that to happen.”

Heads nodded around the room and the issue was settled. We would move forward with talking to the pack. It was a risk, especially since Kelsey's alpha powers had not yet come to light. Still we all felt we were on borrowed time with that and needed to proactively stay ahead of the Grand Council and whatever packs aligned to take her.

The emergency pack meeting was called for that very night. Because of the severity in the nature and because, despite my father's insistence for the visiting packs to clear out, with the Grand Council's presence in Westin Territory, there were still more unwanted ears potentially listening in than desired, so the meeting was being held in the sub-basement of the pack house which was fully shielded from prying eyes and ears, same as the offices in Westin Foundation and my father's office in our family home. The room was much smaller though so wolves were brought in in groups of thirty by alphabetical order.

It was a good plan also in that the numbers were small enough not to draw too much attention to the outsiders and should the pack not accept Kelsey's power and position, we would not be ganged up on by the entirety of the pack at once. I honestly didn't think that would happen, but had to be prepared for the possibility. Because of this, I strategically placed Kelsey near the emergency exit that only a handful of people knew existed and even fewer knew where the escape tunnels exited. I would do anything to protect her, even against those I cared about.

When the first group arrived, I was an aggressive nervous mess. It was my mate that had to calm me and she chose to speak up on her own behalf. I was equally humbled and grumbled over it. On the one hand I wanted to take the lead and properly introduce her, but on the other hand, I wanted to keep her secret safe and protected. I was a mess. She was right to take the lead.

“Hello,” she greeted everyone equally. I knew the other wolves felt my unease and it stirred their own, but she smiled and welcomed everyone and almost knew each of their names. I wondered when that had happened.

“Please take a seat, this won't take long.” She said with authority. “Most of you know my story by now. But there is a part of it that was held back to protect you all as much as me, but circumstances are changing quickly and a pack joint decision needs to be made immediately.”

There were murmurs of confusion around the room, but my father nodded and raised his hand asking them all to settle and hear her out.

“I know you all are fully aware of the rumors that Kyle and I have fully bonded. I know you saw the scene I caused at the challenge. That was not faked, our bond has sealed.”

Again a few concerned whispers.

“We don't know why this happened so quickly, but there are a few theories, and unfortunately it was enough to stir questions and a formal inquiry to the Grand Council forced through the Bulgarians who are angry over Andon's defeat.”

She paused again and let that sink in.

“I've always told you the truth. I do not know where I come from, or what pack I may have once belonged to. I do not know for sure why my parents chose to raise me away from a pack, or why they told me to fear wolves, and never mentioned what I truly am. I'll likely never have these answers, however, with Kyle and Jason's help we do have a theory. And there's no easy way to say this, so here goes, I am a natural born alpha female.”

She hesitated and waited for reactions, but there was complete silence.

“We believe this is why my parents acted as they did. We believe they were trying to save my life. It is also suspected that this may be why Kyle and I bonded as quickly as we did. And this is something we fear could come out in the Grand Council's inquiry into me.”

I was taken back by the fierce grumbles that followed in that. My dad again raised a hand to silence them as I began mentally preparing to protect and remove my mate.

“You all know the implications of what she is saying.” Cole Anderson spoke up. “If they find out what she really is, they will no doubt order her death, and with that comes the death of Kyle too. We are certain of this. Micah has examined their bond and there is no doubt here. You all know what's at stake. We are risking the loss of both our future Alpha and Pack Mother if this comes to light. Kyle is prepared to run and live in exile to keep her alive, in which case we will still lose our future Alpha and Pack Mother.”

That brought up a fury of angry voices.

Leo Tripp stood amongst the crowd and raised his hand. “What does the Pack Council propose?”

“We are not proposing anything right now,” Saul assured them only to be received by angrier voices. “We are giving you this knowledge and as a pack will decide what is best for all.”

Leo smiled, “In that case, there's no discussion far as I'm concerned. Kelsey is pack and we protect our own.” He turned directly to Kelsey. “I will fight till my dying breath to protect you, future Pack Mother.” Then he kneeled before all and bared his neck to her in allegiance. Many others dropped to their knees pledging allegiance with him, but not all.

Sally Merchant stood and raised her hand. “Kelsey, you know I love you and appreciate our friendship, but I have to know,” turning towards her Alpha, “Alpha, is she a threat or danger to us? There is a reason female alphas are sentenced to death. They are too powerful. Have her powers even been tested? Are we certain she is what she says?”

“Oh, we’re certain,” Vanessa Relic spoke up. “Trust me, being on her wrong side isn't exactly fun.” That earned a few chuckles. “But a danger, no, not to us at least. I don't know this for sure, but having been on the receiving end of her powers, I would say they are defensive and protective in nature. I do not believe she was even aware she had them when I goaded her over Kyle causing a surprising jolt to surface.”

---