Chapter 43
"Help me up, please, Sarah. I need to sort this out. He's as stubborn as you are," Ben said.
"Oh no, that's entirely on you," Sarah laughed.
Pain shot through him as Sarah and Aiden lifted him to standing and helped him walk to a bench at the side of the village square. Wincing, he sat down and looked at the faces around him.
"Aiden, seriously. You have a big decision to make. I know you've never had a lack before and you're probably wondering what planet you've just landed on, but rules are rules. When an Alpha dies, that role is passed to their eldest son and it continues down the family line like it does with royalty…"
"There you go. Give it to his son, whoever he is. Where is he?" Aiden said.
"You didn't let me finish. You get that from her, too," Ben said.
"He didn't have one. Never married. That rule doesn't apply, anyway, Ben, you know that" McCabe said.
Been nodded and looked at Aiden. The look of confusion on his face spoke a thousand words and Ben knew he wasn't ready, but what choice did they have?
"I know. He doesn't, though. This is all new to him. All of it. He's only just gotten to grips with shifting and now he faces running a pack."
"Rules are rules. They've always been the rules, Ben. There's nothing that can be done," McCabe said.
Ben noticed the sadness in his eyes as he had spoken and couldn't help wondering how Rick had ended up being Alpha, rather than McCabe. He knew Teddy was the eldest and there was no doubt that he was the wisest and probably the one with most compassion.
"There is. It happens rarely now but back in the day when there was a dispute about Alpha replacement, all wolves of fighting age would discuss it and vote. We can do the same," Simon said.
"Right. That's that then, discussion it is. We'll do it here."
"I'll gather everyone together," McCabe said. "The square is big enough for all. Your pack can act as judges."
Sarah sat beside him as he watched the Red Dawn members running around, gathering people to the square. Old, young, male and female, they were all rounded up like a flock of sheep and herded into the square, where they sat down on the bare floor, on benches or on garden chairs that were being brought out from houses. Sarah placed her head on his shoulder as they waited and he felt the welcome static air begin to fizzle around him.
"Ben, seriously. He's not ready for this," Sarah said.
"I know, but it's out of my hands. I can't just step in and offer to take over. It doesn't work like that. If it did, Teddy would be the best option."
"What if he says no?" Sarah asked.
"Which I will," Aiden said.
"If you say no, it runs like an election. Each willing party gives their reasoning for being Alpha and the pack votes," Simon said.
Been looked at Simon with questioning eyes. For as long as he had known him, Simon had been a rogue and had refused to join a pack, but listening to him explaining pack rules that Ben had no idea existed, made him wonder just how he ended up a rogue in the first place.
"So, we run the course of the discussion and I refuse and then we let McCabe and whoever else argue it out. Then we all go home. Simple," Aiden said.
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Aiden sat on a lounger chair in front of the entire Red Dawn pack, listening to the discussion. Simon had explained how the discussion would work and everyone had listened intently, which had surprised Aiden. Apparently, Ben was to act as judge, along with his pack who would also act as peacekeepers, to ensure there were no violations and nobody caused a ruckus, and Aiden would listen to the arguments of support or whatever else the pack wanted to discuss and eventually, if Aiden claimed his right, he would officially become the Alpha.
"He's a hybrid!"
"Is that going to be your only argument, Thunder? Whether you like it or not, that hybrid bested your Alpha in combat," McCabe said.
"Personally, I think we were due a change and it came at the right time. Us women have ended up being shunned by humans because of what you men and Rick were doing and it's about time we made things right."
"Piss of, Shell. You're just pissed because your human fuck piece wants nothing to do with you," Thunder said.
"And why is that, dearest brother? Would it have anything to do with you killing his brother? The hybrid has my vote and you can get fucked."
Aiden raised his eyebrows as Shell frog marched herself to where Simon and the other Dawn wolves who had submitted to Aiden, were standing. As she reached them, she turned around and gave Thunder the middle finger, then sat herself on the floor, folding her arms like a stubborn child.
"This looks like it might get entertaining. I quite enjoy watching Thunder get fucked over," Charlie said.
Aiden was inclined to agree but the look on Thunder's face gave him cause for concern. It wasn't the look of someone who felt tucked over. The way his brow furrowed and his eyes darted back and forth, as though counting heads, made Aiden feel that he was planning something.
"How are your hands?" He asked.
"Fat and throbbing. One of the women treated them with some iodine and something else, then dressed them for me. I said I didn't want to go to the hospital. How the hell am I supposed to explain what happened?"
"McCabe can stand for Alpha."
Aiden looked up and saw McCabe shaking his head. He had no idea who had shouted out but seeing the colour drain from McCabe's face made Aiden glad they had. It was plainly obvious that McCabe wasn't going to accept being Alpha, which meant Aiden had to rethink his idea.
"The hybrid said earlier that he didn't want to be Alpha. McCabe is saying he doesn't want it, either, so that leaves only one other option. I'll stand," Thunder said.
