Chapter 89: A Challenge

Some Elders didn’t budge to hear what Elder Tom said. Instead, they glanced at each other. Finally, one of them shook his head. “If we don’t send Anna Warren back to the Hurricane Dawn Pack, Alpha Bill may think we want to end the alliance. It will start a war!”

I stood and glanced at each of those Elders in the eye. “Mark my words. The day when I must send our pack member to be ravished by others will be my last day as an Alpha of the Wild Wolves Pack.”

“Son ….” My father warned me.

But it had been too far. The Elder should support our people instead of outsiders. With all the facts they had listened to, they didn’t change their mind and kept suggesting to send Anna to the Hurricane Dawn Pack. It made no sense!

I took a deep breath. “I will ask one more time. Do Elders agree with the decision to send Anna to the Hurricane Dawn Pack?”

My father, Elder Tom, and some others instantly said, “Nay!”

But those evil Elders said, “Aye!”

“As Elders are separated into two poles, let me say my decision. I won’t send Anna or anyone else to the Hurricane Dawn Pack. It’s my duty as an Alpha to protect my pack members. I won’t send her knowing their Alpha will rape her as soon as she arrives there.”

An Elder raised his hand. “Alpha, I have a question.”

I took a deep breath because I didn’t know if I could stay calm any longer. “Yes, Elder.”

“How can you be so sure?” the Elder asked. “You don’t know Alpha Bill well, do you? But how can you make an assessment of his character?” He shrugged. “I understand he might be interested in Anna. But who knows if he will change his mind?”

I shook my head. “Anna and Bill had a long history.” I glanced at Anna. She bit her lower lip and bent her head. “Before yesterday, Anna was raped by him. It was a traumatic event for her. Can you imagine her feelings to know she was in another pack with the very person who ravished her?”

The Elder bowed his head. “I admit my mistake. I will change my opinion and support your decision, Alpha.” He moved his seat to be near my father and Elder Tom. A few Elders did the same, but the remaining five didn’t move from their seats.

“My last question.” I glared at those five Elders. “Is your decision final? Will you still ask me to send Anna to the rapist?”

One Elder stood, but another glared at him. I didn’t know what they communicated through the mind link, but the standing Elder finally sat back. He bent his face and stared at the floor. What’s going on?

“Fine! As five of you still haven’t changed your mind, I have no choice other than to do this. I challenge five of you! If you win, I’ll resign my position and leave the pack. You can choose another Alpha to reign and lead the pack.” I took a deep breath. If it happened, I would take Anna and leave our pack. “But if I win, I will banish you all to the dungeon. You won’t see the sunlight anymore for the rest of your life.”

“Alpha! It’s not fair!” an Elder protested. “We all know you are the strongest in our pack. How can you threaten us to do things we know we will lose?”

I shrugged. “It’s the last thing I can do. As the five of you have lost your mind and support a rapist, what can I say? Even if it’s not Anna but another she-wolf that I don’t know well, my decision will be the same. How can I send our people to be harmed?” I shook my head, too disgusted to think about it.

My father smiled at me. “I support your decision, Alpha. I’m proud to have you as our Alpha.” Then my father opened the mind link. ‘Don’t worry, Son. I’m sure those five Elders will follow our decision soon.’

‘I hope so, Father.’

Then Elder Tom stood. “Dear my Elders, I hope you will come to the right decision. We won’t take any decision to harm our people.” He looked at the ceiling. “It is our responsibility to guide our Alpha in his leadership, but we must not forget our prime responsibility is to our Highest One. Even as a person, I believe we must ask ourselves, if I know someone will be harmed, will I still send them for the price of peace?”

My father shook his head. He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh before saying, “I admit I made the mistake when I pushed my son to do the marking ceremony. I hope we can make the decision that will fix my mistake. It’s not real peace if we must sacrifice our people to achieve it.” He opened his eyes and stared at me. “Our pack was established by our ancestors centuries ago. Many people joined us because of trust. We can’t betray the trust. It’s our responsibility to protect our people.”

I smiled at my father and knew he apologized to me by saying that. I glanced at those five Elders. “We chose you all as Elders because we respected you. We exalted you as those we could ask for advice and direction when we lost our way. However, you disappoint me. You fail not only as Elders but also as werewolves.”

An Elder did shape-shifting and growled. I laughed aloud, and in no time, I changed myself into a wolf too. Some youngsters who joined us to serve as the seat coordinators immediately moved the tables and chairs. Another Elder also shape-shifted into a wolf. Both wolves stood together to attack me.

I would defend the main value of our pack! I wouldn’t give up! Anna and our pup depended on me to maintain their rights in our pack. I wouldn’t lose!