Page 59 of Escalating Alpha

“Time to wake people in Greece?” Reagan checked, nodding when I snorted. He gave me a quick kiss before barking at someone that they were dead if they acted stupid or flinched.

“We’re going to need more local wolves and help. It will be half a day until Greece gets here,” I told him and Freddie. Freddie got on the phone too, but I decided there was a call I wanted to make. Setting the record straight and giving transparency had worked well for me if done the right way or with trusted people.

And I was pretty sure I knew the right woman to help me with what I wanted.

“You really want to see behind the curtain and see how bad things are for shifters, Summer?” I asked when she answered. I realized it was super late for us but probably only an hour early for her since she had a morning show.

“I assume this is a drop everything and fluid situation?” she hedged.

“Yeah, like I’ll have my private jet ready for you in New York as soon as you can get here with or without a crew. But it has to happen fast because Melicent will be sending people to help me.”

She was quiet a moment. “You took over a pack and are going to show me how it all really works? How the transition and—yes, I’m in. I don’t think—my crew was through the network and I’ll have to take at least a week’s leave to do this. We’ll have to get freelancers or something to do this before we get the HBO deal.”

“I’ll put you on a text with Melicent. She’ll manage all of that and probably have to see the final footage before even HBO because of secrets and our rules. Understand there will be some things you can’t ever tell that you saw, Summer. I want the truth and to be more transparent but not at the cost of the lives of wolves.”

“I’ll take it. I might even know the freelance crew we can hire that I can talk to tomorrow so HBO doesn’t pressure us. I want this chance to show the truth. I swear it.”

“Good, and I won’t screw you even if contracts and stuff aren’t signed.”

She snorted. “You don’t have it in you to screw anyone over.”

That wasn’t true. I still had blood under my nails from what I’d done. So yeah, things were never that easy.

It turned out that one of the NYC wolves was a film student. Melicent said she would handle it and put the wolf on the plane with some others who could help for now. Me and the filming.

Awesome.

I went right for the wolf who had tried to trap Carter. “You say one word about what happened and you’re dead. We don’t tell humans about that, and this is not the time to push my buttons. I will hunt you down and end you with a smile if you give me any excuse.”

She swallowed loudly, not meeting my gaze with her throat bared to me. “Yes, Alpha. I will make sure to even refrain from being involved as best as I can.”

“Wise.”

A lot of people arrived after people who were excited for my takeover helped get vehicles and coordinate rides from the airport.

I greeted everyone but held them off until Summer and the camera were set up. “I took over the Louisville pack. Just now. The night of the full moon. It was a council-sanctioned invasion and he’s dead. Legally. So are a few of his Betas that tried to take me out even after I said all of this.” I met Summer’s gaze. “I know you have a million questions as to why I was allowed to.

“What would have made the council rule this way? All of it. I’m not answering that.” I nodded when she frowned. “I’m not answering for other people. This is to show how it works forus. WhatIdo and the truth. Too many lies are out there from my buying Alphas to murdering half of the pack because I’m a sociopath.

“So please accept that and know it was valid. I am not going to be the only one to say that. Therearechecks and balances to this.” I pointed to the council team. “The decision and approval were not given to me by my adopted uncle, the elder of the wolves. That could be a conflict. I have…” I glanced at Reagan. “Four?”

“I think two for this one and four for different ones,” he hedged. “I’d have to check.”

I nodded. “At least the approval of two different council members to take over this pack. I didnotcome here to do it simply to handle a situation but…” I shrugged.

“It’s going to be HBO or YouTube. You can swear,” Summer teased.

“Yeah, but people might say kids can’t see it then, and more of them need to see the truth. There needs to be less fear.” I pointed back to the council team. “They were put on a plane to come here and check on the situation the moment we reportedit. Atmyrequest. I have done this for every pack I’ve taken over. Peacefully by their request or because of circumstances.”

“People are going to ask for verification of that,” Summer informed me.

“I think the council willgladlyverify that one of their most trusted Alphas is always open with their communication and utilizes the council as it’s meant to be,” Tanner said easily.

Oh, he was the right person to send for this. I’d seen mostly the surly side of him, but I’d been floating ideas with Haton for a while. She told Reagan she would send the right person no matter how we needed him. I hadn’t understood what that had meant, but clearly she was on the same page as me.

She usually was.

“Normally, when there was a wolf pack takeover, one of the teams of wolves was dispatched,” I continued. “And while I want to make it clear that no one did anything wrong and the council teams have always exceeded my expectations, I asked them to change that. As a matter of checks and balances, it should be a team of other species.”

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