Chapter 43 #2
“I think we should get to vote on this,” one male omega calls out. He’s a deer shifter, unmated, and lives in one of the single male omega houses with several others. I think his name’s Burt.
There are a few scattered assents to that when I stride out into the crowd, which parts before me, and stand in front of the guy. “Are you challenging me to be pack Alpha?”
He’s 5’5” and maybe 130 soaking wet. He joined the pack around ten years ago, a refugee from his home herd, exiled when he came out as gay.
We welcomed him with open arms, obviously.
His eyes widen as he stares up at me. His gaze darts around, and he realizes everyone has rapidly backed away; no help there.
“Uh, n-no.”
“No, what?”
“Um, no, I’m not ch-challenging you.”
I tip my head and point at my ear. “You’re not challenging me what?”
“Uh…” His gaze widens in fear.
“Sir,” someone close to him whispers.
“No, I’m not challenging you, sir!” he quickly says.
“Knees!”
Everyone takes another step back from him, and the wave it causes ripples through the crowd like a living puddle. They’ve rarely seen me do this, assert myself in this way. Not in public.
I’ve rarely had to before and I hate having to do it.
He’s trembling as he drops to his knees.
“Show your throat and pledge your allegiance to this pack or get the fuck out. You were welcomed into this pack when you had no one, and you dare think you can make the fucking rules when it’s existed for a hundred years?
” I’m shouting by the end of that, and now more than a few people are uncomfortably adjusting their stances. The space is dead silent.
When he tips his head back I roughly grab his throat.
“I-I’m s-sorry, sir,” he says, his voice quivering. “I’m s-sorry. I p-pledge my allegiance to this pack, s-sir.”
I don’t just release him; I shove him back so hard he falls, splayed across the floor. Looming over him, I jab a finger at him. “Don’t you ever publicly question how your pack Alpha does things, do you hear me? You have suggestions? You bring them to me—respectfully—in person. Understand?”
He’s crying now, nodding. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”
I stalk back to the podium. When I turn, he’s slowly climbing to his feet, but no one’s helping him. Everyone’s averting their gazes from him, and as he hurries toward the exit, they part to let him through.
“Anyone else want to challenge me tonight?” I growl.
No one speaks up.
I take a deep breath to settle myself. “I will not require people walk sentry duty, but I would greatly appreciate volunteers. Even if only for a couple of hours here and there. The pack will reimburse you for time you take off from work, and if you volunteer in your free time, we’ll give you a stipend.
We’ll also feed you while you’re on duty. ”
“If you don’t expect problems, sir, why do we need guards?” someone else asked. Since he did say sir, and his tone isn’t challenging, I let it go.
I point at the roof. “Just like I hope we never need to use this building as a storm shelter, I’d rather be prepared.
Again—children. Their home was destroyed, and some of them lost their parents.
They’re scared. If they come here and we have people keeping them safe, at least that will be one small thing we can do to give them peace of mind.
No child deserves to live in fear, and some of you remember how that feels because you were kids when you were brought here by your parents, many of them running from abuse or packs who threatened to kill them and you.
Some of you were kids who arrived here alone, scared, with no one in the world to lean on or protect you. ”
I note how several of them slowly nod, those I know who joined our pack in exactly that way.
“Who’s teaching them?” a voice speaks up.
“The kids? They can’t be in school, but who’s teaching them?
” He steps forward and I realize it’s Sam, Todd’s fuck-buddy.
He’s a non-shifting heron and a popular teacher at our pack school.
“I volunteer to come in and teach them in person,” he says.
“I can do it outside of regular school hours.” He looks around.
“Jax is right—they’re kids. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t look myself in the mirror if I don’t help.
They didn’t ask for this to happen to them, and they didn’t do anything wrong. ”
“He’s right.” Helen steps forward, taking her place next to Sam. She’s also a teacher at the pack school, an unmated, non-shifting wolf born in the pack. “I volunteer to teach them, too.”
I nod. “Thank you. We’ll leave those logistics for after they arrive.”
“And I’ll come inside, too,” she says, turning to glare at the crowd. “I’m not afraid of children, regardless of who they are, unlike some people in this room.”
I feel a subtle positive shift in the crowd’s mood, more people, especially men, looking abashed.
“Helen, I’ll get with you and Sam in a few days. We’ll see what we need to do. It might be better to set up a video system so you can teach remotely.”
She turns back to me. “Only if they want that—I’m not afraid of children. Sir,” she adds, apparently realizing she sounds defiant.
But I smile to let her know she’s not in trouble. Definitely not over that. “I really appreciate it.” I focus on the room again. “Once I designate a sentry coordinator—”
“I’ll do it.” Chaz steps forward again, glaring at everyone who turns to look at him.
“I’m mostly retired. I can handle it. I’m not saying I like this situation, but you’re right—I’m not afraid of kids.
I don’t have to like vampires to want to help kids.
If your father trusts them, then I don’t have a right to question you, much less him, over the safety of this pack.
I know he’d never do anything to endanger us, and neither would you. ”
I nod. “Thank you. Please get with me after the meeting, and we’ll set up a time to talk tomorrow.”
He nods and returns to his place.
Someone else holds up a hand and I acknowledge them. “I’ll volunteer too,” he says. “For sentry duty. I can hate vampires and want to protect kids at the same time.”
A few more people start to raise their hands and I hold up mine for quiet. “If you want to volunteer for sentry duty, please get with Chaz to save time,” I say.
“Vampires aren’t our enemy,” Todd unexpectedly says, stepping forward.
He honestly doesn’t need a mic; his booming voice fills the room, and everyone shuts up again.
“Look, raise your hand if you personally, or someone you know personally, has ever been harmed by a vampire,” he challenges. “And I don’t mean a rumor you heard, or your great-grandfather’s neighbor’s roommate, either. I mean you or yours.”
Everyone looks around but not a single person raises a hand.
“Exactly what I thought,” he says. “I’ve had business dealings with vampires for several years now, and they’ve never been anything but courteous and respectful and honest with me.
They damned sure treat their cattle better than many top-end human operations.
We will have their vulnerable loved ones here.
Do you honestly think any of the vampires will dare start shit? I mean, seriously?”
A few people shake their heads and thank the Goddess Todd’s here. I don’t interrupt.
“I know what fear feels like as a kid,” he continues.
“Many of you were adults when Mom and I arrived, running from our home herd after my father was murdered. We arrived here I was immediately made to feel safe and protected. Cared for. Welcomed as family. Now I’m not saying we need to integrate their kids into our pack school, but nothing’s being asked of you except to volunteer to stand outside with your thumb up your ass making sure no one goes in or out who’s not supposed to.
How will that negatively impact most of you during the duration, huh?
Because I know damned well the majority of you won’t volunteer, or can’t volunteer, and no shade from me.
But for the rest of you who still ‘aren’t sure’ about this?
” He uses air quotes. “Ask yourself how this situation will impact your daily lives. And if the answer to that is ‘not one fucking bit,’ then I suggest you get over yourselves.”
He nods to me and steps back, next to Shawn, who fist bumps with him.
I take a deep breath. “Questions?”
There aren’t any at first, but then another unmated omega speaks up. “I heard a rumor there’s a new pup,” he says. “Who is he, and when’s his initiation?”
Shit. Well, I knew it was too good to be true to hope Mal might not come up as a topic of discussion.
“All initiations are on hold until after the refugees leave,” I say.
“My cousin lives in Georgia,” he continues. “She said she heard a rumor from a friend of hers that Sterling’s missing a son, and that the fucker isn’t happy about it.”
Fuuuck.
Now all eyes are on me, including Todd’s.
The last thing I want is to lie to my pack. I’ve never done it before, and only weak pack Alphas try to bullshit people.
Doesn’t mean I can’t give a no-comment. “You know our rules about protecting people’s privacy,” I remind him.
“I’m not even sure if he’ll stay, or if the pack will help him find somewhere else.
If he initiates, then you’ll learn who he is.
If he doesn’t, the information doesn’t need to be out there—regardless of who the person is—for people who want to harm him to locate him.
He is far from the first and won’t be the last person who uses us as a temporary way-station to safety after escaping.
Any rumors or speculations need to be kept to yourselves. Is that clear?”
The guy swallows hard and nods. “Yes, sir. Crystal.”
For the next fifteen minutes, I field more questions, many of them rehashing stuff I’ve already said. I hold on to my patience—barely—and answer them because I get it. They’re scared. Shawn was absolutely correct about that.
Frankly, I’m not feeling so great either. Because there’s a war coming, and as pack Alpha my job is to keep it as far from our land as possible. Abstaining from the conflict isn’t an option because it’ll only be a matter of time before we’re the next target.
And I’m not keen on standing by while innocent people are slaughtered.
I adjourn the meeting. It takes another twenty minutes or so for people to filter out, mostly because more than I expect stop to speak with Chaz to get his phone number or give him theirs to volunteer to help.
Two more people talk to me about volunteering to help teach the kids, and another offers to collect games and arts and crafts supplies for them, which warms my heart, quite honestly.
Several more ask about setting up a drive for clothing, toys, and other essentials they might need. Shawn gets their information.
When no one’s close by, Shawn leans in. “Terrific,” he mumbles. “I’ll have to find that little idiot Burt a new place to live in the morning. You know damned well they’ll kick him out for showing his ass like that, and like hell will the other omega houses let him move in with them.”
“Then let him move to Brooksville,” I say.
“Tell him he’s on probation now and has to pay his own way for a year if he can’t find someone else to bunk with in the compound.
And don’t you dare help him find a place, either.
He fucked up; he needs to fix this himself and make the calls.
Maybe then he’ll appreciate how good he’s got it here. ”
Once everyone else has left and it’s just me, Shawn, Todd, Chaz, and Davis, I shake Chaz’s hand. “That was unexpected and very appreciated. I won’t forget it.”
He nods. “Still not fucking that pup if he smells like you-know-who,” he says. “I can’t fight that battle for you, either. I won’t betray him, but be prepared for people not to want that kid around as more of them suss out who he really is. And they will figure it out.”
“Thanks.”
Todd helps us stow the podium and do a final walk-through of the building before we shut off the lights and lock up.
“What will you make me do with Mal?” Todd quietly asks.
“I don’t know yet.” I face him. “I… I really do not know.” I squeeze his shoulder. “I know you have feelings for him, but unless you are positive he’s your mate, my hands are tied.”
He nods, studying his feet for a moment. “What if he is my mate?”
“Is he your mate?”
He sighs. “I don’t know.”
“Are you ready to claim him, right this minute, as forever yours?”
“I don’t know!” I hate the anguish in his eyes.
“I don’t know if he is. And yes, I know just because I feel…
something for him doesn’t automatically make him my mate.
And I don’t know what he feels for me. I don’t know if he even knows what he’s feeling about anything right now, considering what he escaped.
If I’d had a ‘I have to rip his clothes off and fuck him and make him mine’ reaction to him the moment I met him, yeah.
But I didn’t, apparently he didn’t either, and I don’t know what this is. ”
“Look, don’t say anything to him about that, okay?” I tell him. “We don’t need to have an action plan in the next day or two. I don’t want to worry him. Just…let me think about it. Whatever I end up doing, I’ll talk to you before I make a final decision. I promise.”
He nods, and we all hug before he heads to his truck and leaves.
“Want me to start looking into resort hotels?” Shawn snarks.
“Not yet. Smart-ass.”