Chapter 8
He stops, looking around. He’s a natural leader. He’ll do well as an Alpha. I need to see if his father made it to the leaderboard. Shane has the potential, and I want to tap into that while I’m here.
I glance at Enya. I wonder how I can convince her to go to the Academy. It would be good for her. I can feel the strength in her, but her confidence is lacking. She has accepted that she will become a Luna, and there is nothing wrong with that. It’s a difficult job. But I would like to expand her horizons, help her to see that in her future, there’s more potential than just being a mate to an Alpha.
As if she can feel my eyes on her, she glances over, blushes, and quickly looks away.
“With that, Alpha Christian, will you join me,” Shane says.
I quickly refocus on him and step forward.
“Alpha Christian, do you pledge to lead these pack members, protect them with your life, if need be, and to serve this pack to the best of your abilities?”
“I do.”
He slices my palm, and I hold it over the cup, looking out over the pack.
“Do you swear to always put the needs of the pack over your own, forsaking yourself for the pack if need be?”
“I do,” I say as he slices my already healed palm again.
“Do you promise to lead this pack with a firm hand when necessary and a gentle kindness when possible?”
“I do.”
“As the Alpha heir of this pack, I claim you to be my Alpha,” he says, lifting his neck and submitting to me. It wasn’t necessary, I didn’t ask him to do it, but I know it will go a long way toward assuring the pack that I am in charge.
“Thank you, Shane,‘ I say in the mind link.
“The pack needed to see it,’ he says, stepping back.
It starts with Gamma Braden and then one by one, the pack comes up, swearing their loyalty to me, Shane, and the pack.
Each member connects to my mind and when it’s done, I have created a new pack link for the pack. I also realize quickly that my presence in their mind is stronger than Alpha Colin’s ever was. It makes me think that he didn’t make it to the leaderboard. I’m sure he was a good Alpha, but I’m not getting the impression that he was a great one. I’ll have to look into that.
“I know there are patrols who haven’t yet sworn their loyalty to me. That will be remedied this evening. My first order of business is to look at the protections that are in place in the pack. Since we were recently attacked, ensuring that our borders are safe is my first goal. Alpha Shane, Gamma Braden, will you join me in reviewing the patrol schedules? I understand there are some discrepancies in the frequency of pack members being assigned patrols. That ends today,” I say, loud enough that the warriors who are standing around us can hear me.
Gamma Braden ducks his head to hide his smile, obviously pleased that this is my first order of business.
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“Over the next few days, I will be getting familiar with how things are run and managed in this pack. That not only includes the patrol schedules, but it also includes the kitchens, food preparation and ordering, warrior training, the pack hospital, anything and everything that this pack does will be reviewed by myself and Alpha Shane. Do not think that it means you are doing anything wrong. I just need to understand how the pack runs and if Alpha Shane and I see any areas that can be improved upon, we will take those actions together,” I say, nodding at Shane who nods in agreement.
“How many times a day do you run warrior training?” I ask him.
“Once a day, in the morning,” he says.
“Starting tomorrow, warrior training will be held twice a day. All warriors who are not actively on patrol duty will report to both warrior trainings,” I say. “I want you all to feel comfortable approaching me if you have any questions, concerns, or if you just need to talk. I am here for you. Obviously, as Alpha Shane mentioned, he’s still grieving the loss of his parents. Understandably so. In the interim, please come to me. Once your Alpha heir has had some time to process the events of the last couple of weeks, then he will make himself available to you as well. Questions?”
I answer a few standard questions, then dismiss the pack.
As we walk back inside, Gamma Braden turns to me. “Shall I bring the patrol schedules to Alpha’s office?”
