Page 48 of Rogue Wolf

CHAPTER 12

Kodiak

He dug his toes into the dirt. The earth offering him the grounding he needed as his stomach knotted.

Ash, in charge of the night’s formalities, stood beside him in the semi-circle, her drum now quiet. They were all ready to start.

Kodiak had imagined his alpha ceremony differently, in a world where Olcan willingly transferred his responsibilities to Kodiak instead of getting killed by vampires.

It hurt. What he’d give to have Olcan watching, being there to help the transition. He knew the pack had needed a leadership change and he suspected Olcan did, too, which is why he’d pushed Kodiak so damned hard.

He should be here.

Not dead.

And Tamaska… He sensed her to his left, in the shadows. The rest of the pack stood in the light.

His chest tightened. She should be there with them. With him.

But his own stubbornness had gotten in the way. They’d never let her be part of it, not even if she’d transformed already. Not even if they were all open to his ideas of a more modern pack, one that could weave progressive thoughts with the ancient ceremonies and ways.

He was so damned aware of her. Had been since they’d first met and butted heads.

She’d proved her strength more than once, but her inability to follow him made him stand back. Grow hard with her. He had to. The pack would never accept her otherwise. They weren’t mated. He couldn’t have favorites. Especially an outsider. A human.

It would come, but later, when all this was done, the danger passed.

He had thought about taking her aside for a talk before leaving for the ceremony, but Ash had caught him first to talk about the information she’d found. Then, it was time to leave, and once more, his plans to talk with Tamaska were put on ice.

Would any of the others fight him for the alpha position? He didn’t glance about, but the thought was there, anyway. And it happened. Often.

Here the danger was the upheavels, the attacks and deaths and the new unknown threats from the vampires they all faced. It was natural to strike out and place blame where none lay.

So if someone was to challenge, now would be the time. The sanctioned time.

He wasn’t sure he had it in him to risk another fight to the death with one of his own. Out of all the pack, Moki would be the most likely challenger. Thankfully, he hadn’t caused Kodiak any further issues. But there was always the risk that Moki had been quietly garnering support from others.

“We are here to inaugurate the new alpha of the Shadow Pack,” said Ash, her voice ringing clearly in the crisp night air. “Kodiak, the Beta, is next in line as the one Olcan chose to succeed him if...” Ash faltered, a fleeting tide of emotion flooding over her before she regained control of herself. “Olcan had chosen Kodiak to be the next alpha. The succession is clear.”

Kodiak’s stomach fluttered as if housing restless moths that wanted to escape. He inhaled, slow and deep. This was it—the moment when he found out for real if anyone wanted to challenge him over the alpha position.

Kodiak didn’t want to fight again, but he would for Olcan. The old wolf shifter had trained him and trusted him to lead the pack after he was gone, and Kodiak would do that to honor Olcan’s memory.

Plus, there was Tamaska. He wanted to look at her to see her eyes on him. But he didn’t. He forced his stare ahead, to toward the circle of his pack. As alpha, he would be better able to protect Tamaska. It was his position, and he wouldn’t let anyone take it from him.

“According to your sacred rights as a member of the Shadow Pack, step forward if you wish to challenge Kodiak for the position.” Ash beat the drum once. The vibration washed over him as he held his breath.

He looked his pack’s members, lit by orange flames. Channing lowered his eyes respectfully, along with Roan and Fern. Then, he found Moki. The shifter held his gaze.

“You have until the end of ten drumbeats to make your intentions known. Otherwise, you will be expected to pledge your alliance to Kodiak wholeheartedly.”

Ash pounded the drum.

Ten…nine…eight…

Kodiak counted automatically. He locked eyes with Moki, and neither backed down.

So be it, then. Kodiak darkened his glare, daring Moki to come forward.

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