Page 265 of His Sunshine Baby

“I am not fit to lead anyone!”

“You’re a fighter, Elena, it’s in your blood,” says Daniel. “Your father was a Royal warrior, wasn’t he? There is nothing more powerful than that.”

I see the crowd start to whisper between themselves, surprised to hear about my parentage.

“Seriously, Daniel? Now?” I yell at him, furious.

“Don’t blame him, Elena, we already discussed this.”

“I am not going to fucking lead anyone! This is not–”

“Elena, you’re an Alpha, and half-Royal. You’re the best fighter of your generation, or any generation this pack has seen! And your mind-linking ability is way better than anyone else’s too!”

This is a nightmare. How can they do this to me, in front of the whole damn pack! I never agreed to any of that shit! Would it have been too much to at least warn me? Did they do it on purpose, thinking I wouldn’t be able to refuse?

“Elena is half-Royal?” asks someone from the crowd.

“Who freaking cares!” I yell. “Clark, I was gone from this pack for four years, who the hell do you think I am? I can’t show up and start ordering people around! I am not Alpha material! I hate making decisions for others!”

My godfather turns to me, looking dead serious. I almost step back, feeling his all-out aura, but before I do, my wolf is growling right back at him, her instincts taking over.

“Elena, I’m ready to abandon my Alpha position right here and now for you to take it. You know this is what I’ve always wanted for you, and what you deserve.”

“Clark, no. I’ve made my share of shitty choices, haven’t I? You really think I would be able to–”

“You’re good at protecting others, Elena. You make the decisions you make because you know when to attack, when to fight back, and when to retreat.”

“This is insane,” I mutter.

“This whole situation is insane, Elena,” he continues, “but we have a war coming, and it’s just as you said, we need the best chances. You’re one of those chances. You came up with this idea, and I wholly support it. But now, you need to see it through to the end, and do what needs to be done.”

“You fucking exile me for four years, and now you expect me to come back and save you all just because of my lineage?”

“Not just your lineage, Elena,” replies Isabella. “Everyone here knows your skills. Despite what happened four years ago, everyone welcomed you back, didn’t they? If we took back a jerk like Diego, what kind of pack are we if we don’t take you back?”

“I never said I wanted to come back, Isa!” I growl. “I’m fine. I have my daughter, everything I need is not–”

I stop my sentence, realizing I’m wrong. The White Moon is, or was, my pack. I remember the feeling I had when I walked back in. The people I had missed. My friends, my family. I growl, frustrated as hell.

“You’re the one we need, Elena,” Clark sighs.

“I’m not. I don’t know how to lead a pack. Even if I agreed to this absolutely shitty idea, I’m not in shape, I haven’t fought in years and–”

“If I remember correctly, you killed dozens of vampires without even shifting into your wolf form,” notes Orpheus.

“And while being pregnant,” whispers Danny, avoiding my glare.

“You have time to get back in shape,” says Clark. “What we need is for you to agree. If you do, everyone here will follow you into this union with the Blood Moon clan, Elena.”

I glare at the little group, furious. I really hate the whole damn idea, especially since I’m well aware they would make me feel fucking guilty for abandoning them if I don’t agree.

“Elena,” whispers Isabella, “I know how crazy and selfish we may sound right now. But trust me, we talked it over. We truly believe this is the best shot we’ve got, and it’s with you, honey. Maybe things should have gone differently for you, you should have gotten the Alpha position in a more normal and fair way, but here we are. We only have one chance, Elena. And I truly think it’s you.”

Chapter 33

“So, you agreed?”

“Heck no, Nate! They threw this at me, I was not prepared! I just… I said I’d think about it.”

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