Chapter Ten #3
I tensed reflexively before my brain fully registered the voice as that of an ally. I turned to my left and said, “Paul Drake, Arkhon of the Northwest Region, you may speak freely.”
“Anax, I am happy to have the former packs of the Pacific Region as part of my region,” Paul said. “However, I believe it will be beneficial to them for the previous state of affairs to resume if and when possible.”
Beside him, Hollis Rourke raised his hand, and I nodded.
Hollis stood. “I concur with the Arkhon of the Northwest Region. Should the former Pacific Region packs remain part of the Four Corners Region, so be it. I am happy to have them. However, our country was broken into regions for a reason, based upon geography and pack sizes and numbers among other factors. It would seem, to me at least, that it would be best to restore that structure as soon as we are able.”
“Thank you, arkhons.” I let out a long breath. Even knowing that Paul was on my side and that Hollis would likely follow Paul’s lead, I couldn’t be completely at ease when anyone in this room spoke. Any of them might turn against me. Any of them might challenge me.
Those were thoughts that not so long ago, I would have ascribed to the Anax, the power, rather than myself. But now…well, paranoia made sense when people actually were out to get you.
“We won’t be able to solve the issue of the Pacific Region and its existence during this gathering,” I said.
“Not completely. There are too many variables to consider, including whether Davis Gray intended this to be a permanent break between him and the rest of the country. Perhaps he acted out of anger or malice without thinking it through. Perhaps he simply wanted to make a statement.”
“Perhaps he’s aware that you’re a pale substitute for the Anax,” a voice somewhere among the alphas said.
Several gasps punctuated the statement, and the arkhons stared at me. Angry red heat rose in me, and I clenched my fists beside the podium. How dare someone question me? How dare he speak without being recognized? Disrespect had no place in this room.
But neither did rage. I couldn’t afford to lose my temper when I stood in front of those who could, in theory, remove me from my rank. I took a few breaths while most of those in the room seemed to hold theirs.
“Whoever spoke, please stand and be recognized,” I said finally, and I was pleased at how calm my tone was despite the roiling anger. “You will be heard, but if you’re making such a statement, I believe I have the right to know who you are.”
For a beat, no one moved. Then, finally, a broad-shouldered man with short dark hair stood in the middle of the second row of alphas. “I spoke, Anax.”
He didn’t apologize for speaking out of turn, not that I’d anticipated he would.
I simply looked at him until he lowered his gaze.
“Wally Elias, Alpha of Modoc Pack, you may speak freely. You believe I am no replacement for Hezekiah Wheelwright. Something with which I agree, given the harm he visited upon the werewolves of this country and Canada. I have committed many errors, but I have not gone his route. Tell me what you mean when you call me a pale substitute for him.”
He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, glancing at the men on either side of him. None of them looked at him. I didn’t know if that was because they didn’t support him or because they didn’t want me to think he had their support.
“Anax, you have changed this country,” Wally said finally. “Some of us question whether it has been for the better. Alphas have been killed or ejected from their packs. An Arkhon was killed. People have been moved around. The status quo has been erased.”
“I see.” I folded my arms and regarded him.
He bowed his head even further. No matter how pissy he was about me being in this rank, he still couldn’t meet my gaze.
That was fine with me. “Allow me to respond to your points. Alphas have been killed or ejected from their packs for abusing their pack members and/or causing harm to members of other packs. In particular, Jack Leary was sentenced to death for sexually abusing multiple women in Berkshires Pack and for ordering human women to be changed for the specific purpose of providing him with more unwilling sexual partners. Prescott Thibeault was stripped of his rank for giving sanctuary to Jack Leary after he fled to avoid justice. Those are two of the ones you meant, are they not?”
My voice was rising along with my temper, and I took a second to try to settle both the hell down.
In this setting, I couldn’t afford the show of emotion.
Anger was more acceptable than most feelings, but even that could be seen as weakness if exhibited at the wrong time.
This moment, when I was faced with questions about the actions I’d taken as Anax, was definitely the wrong time.
“Yes, Anax,” Wally mumbled.
“The Arkhon who was killed, Irving Macomber, challenged me for rank,” I continued when I was sure my voice would be steady.
“He died in the fight. The expected outcome when a challenge fight occurs, particularly for a rank such as Anax. Had he not died, I would have. It happened that I took the upper hand in the fight and was the victor. Therefore, Irving died. His death was not murder, not a consequence, but simply the way a challenge fight ends. Do you dispute that?”
“No, Anax.” His voice was even lower.
“I understand that there are those among you who believe we were better off under Hezekiah as our Anax.” I paused to scan the group.
Most of them were looking down. Zane and Paul met my gaze, or at least came close enough to reassure me.
“Perhaps we were. But consider that he ordered more than one Arkhon or Alpha to kill those under their rule simply because he didn’t feel like trying to mediate a conflict.
He caused the deaths of the alphas of Champlain and Saint Lawrence packs and several of their pack members by compelling a Champlain wolf to sabotage the vehicle those wolves were using to travel to the regional gathering. ”
Audible gasps filled the room. That was a little tidbit of information I hadn’t shared with most of the country’s werewolves, something I’d learned when we pursued Jack Leary to Prescott Thibeault’s home.
Since those deaths, just before I became Arkhon of the Northeast Region, I’d believed there was more to the situation than a simple car accident.
At Prescott’s home, one of his trackers had confessed to sabotaging the vehicle, causing an accident that had taken the lives of not only two alphas and six or seven other werewolves but four humans as well.
“Yes,” I said when the reaction died down.
“A member of Champlain Pack admitted to me that he was coerced into releasing air from the tires of the van those wolves were using. As the tires went flat, the van became impossible to steer on the snow and ice covered roads in upstate New York. The accident was a result of sabotage. The sabotage was directed by Hezekiah Wheelwright.”
“Anax, if I may.” Odin Cardona, the current Alpha of Champlain Pack, stood.
I nodded. “The Anax is speaking the truth. Prescott Thibeault, then Beta of our pack, under orders or compulsion by the prior Anax, ordered two of our trackers to slash the tires on that vehicle. Some of you may say that the accusation against the former Anax is unsubstantiated, or that he isn’t here to defend himself. I believe what I have learned.”
“Thank you, Alpha,” I said. He nodded and sat back down.
I studied the crowd again. Fewer of them were looking at me now.
Some appeared flustered, probably those who had believed Hezekiah was the one true Anax.
Given that he’d held the rank for over a century, their belief wasn’t entirely surprising.
Some people just didn’t deal well with change, and a change from the person who had led the country’s werewolves for over a hundred years was a pretty huge adjustment.
“I have replaced some alphas,” I said. “I have found those who were abusing their pack members and invited them to leave. Some chose to have their lives ended rather than depart the packs they controlled. They caused irreparable harm, and someone who would harm another for their own amusement or gratification has no place leading a pack. Some of you would disagree with that. Some of you may fit that description and not agree with my choice because you know you might be the next to be removed.”
I didn’t know for sure about any abusers among those who were currently facing me, but as I scanned the group again, a couple of the alphas fidgeted and cast sideways glances.
I made a note of who they were so I could try to speak to their pack members privately.
Not that I would probably have much luck.
Those pack members were present because their Alpha had chosen them, for whatever reason, and they were unlikely to speak against the person who had brought them to the gathering.
“Are there others among you who share Wally’s opinion that I am not the Anax this country needs?
” I leaned forward slightly. I was taking one hell of a risk asking that question, but I was through waiting around for others to turn on me.
If they had something to say, a challenge to issue, bullshit to spew, they could do it now.
I hoped no one would say anything, but of course that was too much to ask for. Edward Cutler stood. Fidgeting, he stared down at the table. I knew what he was going to say before the words came out of his mouth.
“Tobias Rogan, Anax of the United States, I challenge you for rank.”