Chapter 44
Valarie
The sun was bright. A crisp, cold autumn morning and we were all paraded out into the courtyard.
I was still separated from the other groups, luckily. Two guards stood on either side of me as we slowed and turned to face the empty space where I assumed Gabriel and his mother would be appearing shortly.
To my right stood the bedraggled line of rebels.
They all wore the same clothes they’d come in, most of them torn, almost all of them looking tired and angry.
Morgan stood at the very end with her hands tied in front of her.
Her parents stood stiffly in the crowd among the other alphas from every pack, including Sophia’s mother, who looked regal and intimidating.
I glanced around and took all of this in before staring down at the ground. I was cleaner than everyone here, dressed better in fresh clothes, but it was still embarrassing to be dragged in with the traitors.
A murmur picked up in the crowd and when I looked up, Gabriel and Queen Raquel had appeared, joined by Sophia.
I noticed she and Gabriel walked next to each other. Gabriel even leaned down to whisper something to her and I felt my heart drop.
He wouldn’t still...?
Sophia looked beautiful, as always, but I could see more of her mother in her now. She wore dark clothing—pants and a shirt that looked like it was made more for sparring than any kind of formal address. Her eyes were cold and cutting.
They softened when she found me in the line-up, but she didn’t smile.
Gabriel stepped forward, flanked by Sophia and Raquel. He looked every inch the Alpha but there was something different about him, too. His hair was slightly unkempt, and his hands were relaxed.
He greeted the crowd and thanked them all for coming before stepping closer to the line of rebels and walking the length of it.
“I think it’s obvious now that the rumors were true—we've had traitorous factions against us for a while now. And here they are.”
He stopped before Morgan, staring her down.
“For those of you who don’t know, the princess of the Blue Pack took it upon herself to try and kill me the day before my marriage ceremony to Princess Sophia.
Unfortunately for her, she was unsuccessful, for a number of reasons.
The first being that she underestimated the strength and loyalty of the Kingdom and surrounding packs. ”
A cheer went up at these words and Morgan’s face reddened, her eyes dropping. Her parents looked absolutely mortified, shifting uneasily in the group of alphas.
“The second reason being... she was fed false information, misled, by a loyal member of the Autumn Pack.” I looked up, searching his face, but he was addressing the crowd still.
“This person found their way into the rebel group and has reported back to us every single one of their members, plans, and intentions. It’s with this information that I’m sure we have every single rebel standing before us now. ”
Gabriel turned and started toward me, his eyes light with laughter, but his face still serious.
The two guards flanking me stepped back.
“Valarie Pratt, I’d like to thank you for your service to the Kingdom and honor you with the title of beta. And your choice to live wherever you’d like in any of the territories. Although I’m sure the Autumn Pack would be honored to have you continue to remain a member.”
A small smile started on my face, but I fought it back, nodding instead, aware that hundreds of eyes were on me.
Sophia and her mother were absolutely beaming, the two of them straight-backed.
The guards touched my elbows lightly, signaling that I could move now to stand with the rest of the pack.
I was a beta.
Pride welled up inside, but it was dampened by the fact that Gabriel went back to stand beside Sophia, his eyes on her easy and familiar.
“The last few months have been trying for all of us,” Gabriel continued, his voice booming as he turned to face the crowd. “I’ve had the pressure of being forced to find a mate, and you all have had the pressure of being ruled by an Alpha who wasn’t taking the responsibility seriously.”
My eyes widened as the crowd began to chatter and murmur, surprise clearly tinging every voice. Only Sophia and Raquel looked unsurprised.
Then Daniele, the Hickory Pack alpha, stepped carefully toward the three. She joined Sophia with her hands clasped behind her back, long hair down and braided in a few spots, eyes serious.
“Although it would have been preferable to avoid any kind of uprising, this event has brought to my attention that the Kingdom is in need of a change. And this is why we’re here today—I will be stepping down as Alpha. And my place will be taken by Sophia, who has more than earned it.”
The clamoring kept up again, but no one sounded upset about this turn of events.
I stared at Sophia, who remained as graceful as always, gazing out impassively at the crowd. Her mother, on the other hand, was absolutely ram-rod straight with pride.
“Sophia will be guided by my mother and the two of them will be joined by Daniele, from the Hickory Pack. We’re aware this is unusual—the packs have always been led by a mated pair and not a council of wolves.
But after long discussions, it’s time for changes to be made.
There can be no progress without change and I’m sure these three powerful, ambitious, and caring women will be able to lead the packs toward stability and balance.
Daniele will spend the first few months dealing very specifically with these rebels. ”
All eyes dropped again to the line of traitors who shifted under their gaze, waiting to hear their fate.
“Traditionally, we’d run traitors out of the pack. Kill them, even, maybe.”
Morgan stood perfectly still, jaw clenched, waiting for the worst.
“But after discussing our options, it’s been decided they will remain in the Kingdom in a rehabilitation program, under the close and careful eye of our pack members and Daniele.”
The crowd called out in agreement. It was obvious that loyalty was winning out today. Everyone seemed to be taking this in stride, most of the pack members supportive of the idea.
“The Blue Pack Alphas will remain in control of their territory, under the condition that they destroy any sign of an uprising,” Gabriel looked pointedly at Morgan’s parents, who appeared relieved and submissive.
“And they will choose their successor. Although their daughter will not be an option, it’s my impression that she’s been the reason for most of the turmoil, and with her absence, the Blue Pack will thrive again. ”
I looked up and Sophia was smiling at me now, her gaze knowing and playful. I smiled back tentatively, wondering if she knew everything—about Gabriel and I as well. But she didn’t seem overly upset that she’d be losing a mate. Instead, she seemed even more sure of herself, practically glowing.
Gabriel addressed the crowd once more, offering his apologies and his time to anyone who was concerned about the changes and wanted to discuss them.
It would take a few months for everything to be implemented, and he would help his mother, Sophia, and Daniele get situated.
Then he thanked them all for their support through the last ten years and signaled to the guards for them to lead the rebels away.
I was left alone to stand with my two guards, a few curious eyes on me—the new beta with so many options to choose from now that the tangle of rebellion and lies were dealt with.