Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Four

KADIA'S POV

The whole pack had gathered before me-some drawn by curiosity, others eager to know what would happen next.

I looked upon the faces of those I had to protect, their lives resting in my hands. One wrong decision, and they would all suffer. I couldn't let that happen.

Austin and Phil sat on either side of me, on the platform overlooking the pack members.

After the incident with Sarah, her body had been disposed of. I supposed I should feel bad that she hadn't been given a proper burial, but I couldn't bring myself to. She was a traitor, and she had died a traitor. News of her betrayal had spread through the pack, giving people even more to gossip about. Aric deserved the same fate. I should have killed him-made his death slow and painful. might have once considered Sarah a friend, but Aric... I had seen him as family. His betrayal cut the deepest, yet I couldn't bring myself to expose his treachery-not until I heard everything he had to say. For now, he rotted in the cold, dark cells, wasting away.

Once the crowd had settled, Austin rose to his feet.

"We are gathered here today to announce our new leader. By right, she is next in command after the Alpha. She has proven herself brave and capable of leading this pack...

His words were cut off by a voice from the crowd-Stark. One of the advisors who had chosen to walk away.

"A woman cannot lead us," he said. From the crowd, a few nodded in agreement and that urged him to continue." What will the other packs think of us? They will see us as weak. The Nightshade Pack has never been seen as weak! Making a woman Alpha will only bring war upon us." His voice rose with every word.

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.

Austin and Phil had mentioned this, so I had expected it.

"You're right,” I said, finally speaking up. "The Nightshade Pack has never been seen as weak, and that won't change now. If they come for us, we'll fight and remind them who we are."

Another murmur of agreement, though I noticed it came mostly from the Dawn Pack members. Now that I was paying attention, I realized the crowd had split into two-Dawn Pack members on the left, Nightshade Pack members on the right.

"We came here in hopes that you would tell us what happened to our Alpha, not to watch you claim a title that never belonged to you."

"The Alpha is gone. That's all I can say about that. And if you believe you can challenge me for the title, then go ahead." I said that, and that silenced him.

Austin continued. "Kaida Dawn Blackwood is, by right, the leader and Alpha of the Nightshade pack." He finished.

One by one, I watched the Dawn Pack members drop to their knees. The Nightshade Pack members, however, remained standing.

"Say the words, Alpha, and the soldiers would force them to submission." Phil whispered into my ear.

I shook my head. "No. If they will submit, then they will have to be willing."

Keith-another ex-advisor-walked out. This time he didn't face me but the Nightshade members.

"I always knew it would come to this. This foreign woman walks into our pack with her people, and they think they can take what's ours?"

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More grumbles of agreement followed his statement.

"A foreign woman, you call her. Yet you know you cannot face her in a fair fight- she is stronger than almost everyone in this pack. I have fought beside her in war, and she is a true force to be reckoned with. Don't forget that the blood of an Alpha runs in her veins. She is our Alpha.".

Aaron, one of the former commanders of the Dawn Pack, spoke. I remembered him well-it was true that I had fought by his side.

"Says the Dawnite." Keith sneers. "You think we don't know you all have been waiting for this? A time she would take over and rule? We know you've hated yournoveldrama

own Alpha ever since you joined this pack, and looking around, it's hard to see what you all peasants have contributed to this pack."

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