Chapter 19 #2
“Well then, that’s settled, isn’t it, father? I guess I will see you in the arena then. I have no need for titles, as I already hold the highest one. But just to show you who the more dominant one is, I will gladly show you your place, which is below me, Porter. Challenge accepted.”
Porter, though, for all his confidence, turns to the Alpha. “Are you really going to let your own daughter challenge me?”
“Why? You’re not scared, are you, Porter?” Maverick asks him, and Porter scoffs.
“No, I just don’t want to hurt a dainty little thing like Emery. But fine, if it stops all her shit-talking, I will gladly teach her a lesson,” Porter says, and Eli growls at him. Emery, however, looks unfazed by his words.
I notice a few of the women keep staring, a little shocked at Emery’s challenge, when one of the women in the back puts up her hand, only for the man beside her to rip her hand back down. Emery, however, notices and glares at him.
“Let her speak. She has every right to. She is a pack member, is she not, father?” Emery says, looking at her father, who looks a little uncomfortable but nods, telling the girl to rise.
She looks young, around my age, but that means nothing. She timidly stands up, glancing at the man beside her.
“Are you really an Alpha?” she asks Emery.
“Yes, I am. Women are equal where I come from.”
Clearly, some of the men in this pack don’t agree. Emery smiles at those that disagree.
“I am sure some of the women here could show some of you men who holds the real power. Women are perceived as weak among this pack, but we are anything but. While you men hunt and protect, who do you think makes this pack work? None of you men would be able to handle the hours spent harvesting those fields and raising these children. While you run around looking for an invisible threat, the women are doing the real work. Don’t underestimate yourself, ladies.
You are far more worthy of any title these men have,” Emery says.
“Alpha, this is absurd. She is putting ideas in our mates’ heads. Stop this nonsense. I will not be challenged by any mate of mine,” he says, glaring down at the woman beside him who cowers away from him.
“Sit down. Emery is right. Times have changed. I have seen it. Women are not beneath any of you, and it is time things change. Any who disagree are free to leave,” Maverick tells them, his eyes scanning the crowd, yet no one says anything.
Emery folds her arms across her chest, a smug smile on her lips, and I can’t help but smile at her. Everyone hangs around the gathering spot for an hour or so before they start retiring to bed. I notice a few women approach Emery excitedly, and Maverick sighs, making me look at him.
“Things need to change,” I hear him mutter to himself.
“Some things don’t, though, proving my point. You can be such a hypocrite,” Eli says, also hearing his father.
“Son?” Maverick asks, turning slightly to face him.
“None of these women have any say among the pack. I wonder how they would feel knowing mom held all the power, and you were at her beck and call. They just didn’t realize it.”
Maverick runs a hand down his face, looking rather upset at his words.
“I have apologized for not protecting you kids better, but she was my mate. I know you would do anything for Addie, just like I was willing to for Mary. I have seen the error of my ways, and I took action, son. A little delayed, but I still did it.”
“Yes, after it cost you your kids. But I haven’t forgotten the things you allowed her to do, the things you allowed this pack to do to us, all for the sake of your mate and our mother, father. What you did is unforgivable.”
“Emery has forgiven me,” Maverick says.
“She may forgive, father, but she will never forget. She has risen above and beyond your expectations, has learned to adapt and fought for who she is, and that is no thanks to you.”
“You’re right, son. I know this now. She is who she is because she had you and Cyrus, something I am grateful for.
Emery has turned into quite a remarkable woman,” Maverick says before hopping up.
He looks at his daughter, who is talking to some women near the arena.
His eyes glisten slightly, and I realize he is tearing up.
“You both have become far better than your parents, despite what you think, Eli. I love all my children, always have. I know I didn’t deserve to be your father.
I know I ruined your childhoods, but all I can do is try to make up for my past, and I will continue to try to do so,” Maverick says before turning and walking toward the house.
Cyrus has remained quiet for most of the dinner. He does, however, disappear for around thirty minutes and goes inside, saying he is fixing the bed or something. Cyrus grabs my knee, and Eli unwraps his arm from my waist, allowing me to stand up.
“Come on, we should head in. Getting a bit cold for you out here.”
Heading inside, I hear Maverick’s bedroom door close just as I enter the small hallway. Pushing the bedroom door open, the room looks vastly different, making me look at Cyrus.
“How did you get that here?” I ask, looking up at him.
“Called a mattress in a box and not without difficulty. I found some wood to make slats on the old metal frame,” he tells me.
I flop onto the mattress; despite it coming out of a box, it is quite comfy. Cyrus then throws me a box. I open it to find the sat phone.
“Also, pillows and a duvet that doesn’t contain insects or dust,” Cyrus says, tossing them at me.
Eli shuts the door before walking over and sitting on the bed. “Ah, that is so much better,” Eli says, lying beside me. He reaches over, gripping my wrist before pulling me on top of him.
“Ah, watch the baby,” I tell him as I roll on my bump.
I straddle him before sitting up. His hands run over my thighs before he grips my hips, rolling them against him.
“Eli, people will hear. This place has a terrible echo,” I tell him when I feel his erection press against me.
He rolls, pulling me with him before lying between my legs, his weight held up on his arms before he presses his lips to mine.
“Eli, people will hear,” I tell him.
“Let them,” he growls against my lips. He sucks my bottom lip in his mouth, grinding his hips against me before I feel the bed dip.
Cyrus lies beside me, his hand going to my breast as he squeezes. Eli sits up on his knees before peeling my pants down my legs. Cyrus leans over the top of me, his lips crashing down on mine almost urgently, and I kiss him back, arousal flooding me before I feel Eli force my legs apart.