The crowd's uproar at an illegal Alpha challenge filled the air, and Reirder's murderous glint got turned on Zoe.
"Enough," he yelled. "I am your Alpha. Anyone that wants to challenge me can fight me. I dare you to find out why these scars cover my body, yet I still live."
"Zoe doesn't have to fight you," Jared said. "You became Alpha without a challenge. She can do the same. Unless you want to admit that your Alpha position was earned illegitimately and agree to step down."
Reirder pursed his lips and drew sharp breaths. From where she stood, Giselle could see his muscles quiver. Jared had found a way to trap his Alpha in his lie. He turned to Zoe and nodded at her.
Zoe spoke up. "The Darksong have a centuries-old rich history. Our ancestors came to this country in the late 19th century, running from the British purge of shifters of that time. Ever since that time, we built up rules that governed and protected us.
"Reirder Dagiel became Alpha by disrespecting the rules of our proud history. I want to become your Alpha by asking you to modify those rules. We do not live in the same dangers we once did. Why must blood be shed for one brute to take over from another? We deserve better leaders and lives. Better ways of doing things. I want us to have better."
The crowd seemed to mull over Zoe's words as they went silent. A distinct sense of hope filled the air as she continued to speak, and Giselle could feel a change coming. The redness of Reirder's face confirmed it.
"It's working," Giselle whispered excitedly.
Mara took her hand and squeezed it. "She's already talking like an Alpha."
Zoe then started to pace the circle. "Very few of you are happy with your lives. Reirder's bloodthirst has sent both you and your children to wars that could easily have been avoided. In fact, some of you are here as the result of kidnappings that his thirst for violence demanded.
"I have always pushed for peaceful resolutions, but Reirder fought me at every turn. He shot down effective, peaceful solutions in favor of violent ones. But I never gave up. That's why our legal businesses have expanded, and our merger with the Silver Claw clan occurred.
"Many of you may not know this, but when the sickness took over some of our males, and we found out that mating would help reverse it, Reirder would not allow me to organize a merger. He insisted on kidnapping female wolves instead. Many of you lost your sons and husbands to that disease, and some of them still roam the wild, unable to shift back, forever lost."
Zoe stopped her pacing and pointed to her father. "He is the reason why. The merger could have happened years earlier, but he refused. This man does not deserve to be Alpha. He happily let your loved ones die and will continue to do so. Reirder Dagiel is a violent, madman, but above all, he's a coward who uses violence to convince himself that he deserves to be Alpha. Don't let him take any more from you."
"Insolent dike," Reirder roared as he charged at Zoe.
Before Giselle could even move, he pounced on his daughter, his giant body completely covering hers. Giselle's heart stopped as her mind caught up to the images her eyes were taking in.
Oh, my god. He's going to kill her.
Giselle took a step forward but froze in her tracks when out of nowhere, Chase stepped out of the crowd and drove a dagger into the back of Reirder's throat. He crouched beside him and slapped away Reirder's hand when he tried to pull the dagger out.
The low gurgling sound of Reirder trying to draw breath was the only thing that could be heard as they all stared in shock. Chase twisted the blade before yanking it out.
The crowd gasped as Zoe scrambled out from beneath her father, her face covered in blood. Giselle ran to her mate and pulled off her shirt, wiping the blood off her face. Zoe moaned as she spat out blood, then turned to the side and vomited.
Giselle rubbed the older woman's back, doing her best to force air into her lungs as her heart beat faster and faster making the action harder.
Chase had just killed his father, spilling the man's blood all over his sister. Tension filled the air, and Giselle had no idea what the mood was. Was the crowd pleased or would they turn on Chase and Zoe?
Zoe straightened and turned to face her brother. "Chase. Why did—"
"It had to be done," the young man said, his voice void of emotion. While Chase's voice gave nothing away, his eyes were full of turmoil as he struggled to explain himself. "The only reason he had power is that you gave it to him. I couldn't let him kill the person I love most."
Chase took Zoe's hand and forced the dagger into it. Then he raised his sister's arm and bellowed. "Blood has paid for blood. Zoe Dagiel is your rightful Alpha." Chase dropped her hand and walked away, the crowd happily parting to let him through.
"What the hell just happened?" Giselle asked. She saw her question echoed on the faces of her friends and most importantly, the crowd.
Reirder Dagiel was no more. What they needed to know is whether Chase was to be charged with treason and if the Darksong would accept Zoe as their new Alpha.
15
Zoe stood frozen in place as she watched her brother walk away. She felt weak and woozy from what she'd just witnessed. She shut her eyes and willed herself not to cry.
Zoe knew that the image of her father poised atop her with a dagger through his throat would forever haunt her.
"It's going to be okay," Giselle whispered as she rubbed circles on Zoe's back.
The older woman wanted nothing more than for than for that to be true, but she knew Chase better than anyone. What he just did was entirely out of character. The events of that day would haunt him too.
I hope I can help him come to terms with what he did. Something tells me he never knew that type of anger was in him.
Zoe straightened and let her eyes run over the crowd. There was a mix of trepidation and shock on the faces around her. Then she caught the eye of one of her father's loudest supporters and saw anger.
It became clear to Zoe that she needed to seal the deal before someone took the chance to accuse both she and her brother of treason.
Zoe parted her lips to speak, but Jared interrupted her. "Alpha," he said, bowing low.
A woman stepped forward and did the same thing. Pretty soon, a chorus of bows and chants swept over the crowd. Zoe's heart swelled with pride. Her people had chosen to accept her. They had chosen a better life.
All because Chase cleared the way for me. We all owe him one.
Zoe forced herself to look at her father's face planted on the ground. She needed that image to remind her of Chase's sacrifice. Because of him, the Darksong could face a new day.
Zoe raised a hand to quiet the crowd. It was all well and good that they had accepted her as Alpha, but there was still much to be negotiated.
Zoe wasn't full of herself. She understood that she'd been backed by some of her father's top lieutenants and that that was the reason why her father's opponents hadn't struck yet.
She needed to talk to her people. To lay the law, so that anyone that wanted to leave could do so. One thing was for sure; there would be no hunting down defectors.
"Out of the darkness of this day, a new dawn has come for the Darksong. Some of you will welcome my rule, and others will despise it. Know this; anyone that wants to leave this clan is free to do so. No longer will we hunt down our brothers and sisters in the dark of the night like rabid dogs."
Zoe made sure to lock gazes with Maddox as she let her words sink in. To her surprise, he lowered his head in deference. It seemed that it wasn't his favorite job either.
Dad really was like a cancer, affecting everyone. Maybe there is hope for us after all.
"Great change is coming to the Darksong, and not all of you will agree with it. We've lived in the dark for so long that the light will seem harsh. But, I promise you this. If you stay by my side, then we will build a better future together. For ourselves, for our children and for all of those who gave their lives so that we may stand here today."
Cheers of "Alpha" erupted charging the atmosphere w
ith excitement. Zoe turned to Giselle and grinned. The younger woman squeezed her hand.
"They love you."
Giselle stepped back and disengaged, but Zoe grabbed her hand and held it tight.
"With the help of my mate, Giselle, my Second, Jared, and my Third, Jax, I will do my best to lead this clan to a brighter future. All I ask is that you trust me and share your knowledge with me. The Darksong will no longer be a clan ruled by one, but by all."
With those words, Zoe forced her way past the crowd once more. Before, she had to fight through because the few people that recognized her wanted to show their displeasure at her arrival. The news of her stealing had probably reached their ears.
Now, Zoe struggled to get through the crowds because several people, particularly females, stopped her to tell her how happy they were she was the new Alpha. Once she got through the crowd, Zoe realized she had nowhere to go.
"Let's go to my place," Jared said, coming up behind them.
Zoe nodded and followed him to the house. She immediately went to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Zoe needed to get every ounce of her father's blood off her. Later, she'd take a proper shower.
For now, she needed to get clean, wrap her mind around everything that had happened, then head out there to take the reins.
These first few minutes are critical. I've got to set the tone for our future. I also have to make sure that no one starts trouble.
After washing her face, Zoe stared at the woman in the mirror and sighed. "Somehow you made it."
If anyone had told Zoe two weeks ago that she'd be the Alpha of the Darksong and meet her mate, she would have called them crazy. But now, everything she'd ever wanted had come true.
Zoe's father had gotten out of her way, albeit in a way she'd never imagined. Chase's future was secure, although he had some heavy things to work through. And Zoe had found her mate in Giselle.
A knock on the bathroom door broke Zoe out of her musing. "Come in."
The door opened and in walked Giselle. "Hey," the younger woman said, wrapping her arms around Zoe's middle.
"Hey yourself." Zoe leaned back and rested her head on Giselle's shoulder. "You okay?"
Giselle chuckled. "I think I'm the one that needs to be asking you that. You just lost your dad, and your brother facilitated it."
Zoe sighed. "I'm fine. I'm just worried about Chase. He wasn't himself." Zoe turned to face Giselle. "I have a feeling he's going to regret what he did or have nightmares about it."
"That's probably true." Giselle took Zoe's hands in hers. "But his sister and her mate will be there to help him through it."
Warmth spread through Zoe's body, making her feel something other than fear or worry for the first time in the last couple of hours.
"Mate, huh?"
Giselle grinned. "You told the crowd I was your mate. I'm just saying it back. Zoe Dagiel, I love you, and I can't wait to live by your side."
Zoe rested her head against Giselle's and exhaled, feeling lighter and more hopeful than she ever had. Now that no one was threatening her life or her relationship, she felt she had a firm foundation to stand on.
Before, Zoe acted out of duty, love, and anger. Now, she had something better. She had a lifelong bond with her soulmate. She had someone in her corner who would give anything for her. Giselle had voiced that opinion several times, even offering to go on the run with her.
"I love you too."
Zoe pressed her lips softly against Giselle's. She wanted to communicate something she didn't feel confident saying yet. That she would give her life for the younger woman and if need be, give everything up for her. Even her position as Alpha, if Giselle wanted her to.
Giselle stepped forward, deepening the kiss. The younger woman nibbled on Zoe's bottom lip begging for entry. Zoe parted her lips, and Giselle's tongue slid into her mouth, diving her to new heights of passion.
Heat gathered at Zoe's core, and her breath hitched as Giselle's naughty hands started to run over her hips and arms before crawling up to her chest.
Zoe pulled away and inhaled sharply. "Oh, my god, Giselle. Not now."
Giselle chuckled. "Just showing you what's waiting for you tonight. I know you're going to be busy today. Jared's waiting to talk to you. It seems Aiden is stirring up some trouble."
Zoe bit her lip. "I'd say you've given me just enough fuel to go and face the hatred out there."
"I'll always do that for you. Especially now that you're the Alpha of an entire clan. It's my job to make sure you're happy, so that you don't make bad decisions."
Zoe smiled. "I plan on having things be a lot more democratic, but I'm all for you doing whatever you think will keep me stable."
Zoe pulled Giselle to her and captured the younger woman's lips in a searing kiss before giving her bottom a gentle pat.
"How do you feel about moving into Chase and my old place? I don't want to live on the Farm, and I'm pretty sure Chase won't either. I need to be by his side right now, so our first few weeks together won't be as romantic as they could be."
"You don't have to convince me," Giselle said taking Zoe's hand in hers. "We're in this together. Hell, I'm already part Darksong just by us being mates. I never thought I'd say that. But that's how much I love you, Zoe. I'm not going anywhere, and I really do mean it when I say I want to make life as easy for you as I can. You're going to have a lot of responsibilities."
"The most important being you and your happiness." Zoe pecked Giselle one more time.
The younger woman clucked her tongue and shook her head. "We've got to get out of here, or we'll give everyone out there an earful."
Zoe bit her lip. "You're right. Look at you already helping me to be a better Alpha."
"I take my role very seriously. But just to keep things balanced, I'll be the Alpha tonight. How's that for role-playing?"
Giselle's eyes burned with such passion that Zoe wished she could fast forward to the end of the day and crawl into bed with the one woman that made her feel more than she'd ever felt both sexually and emotionally.
"I'm so glad I have you."
"Same here." Giselle put her hands in her back pockets. "Ready to face the world?"
Zoe grinned. "With you by my side? Always."
* * *
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1.Outlaw Dragon
2.Wounded Bear
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