Contractually Yours, Alpha by Giftemmy

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Four

KADIA'S POV

The whole pack had gathered before me-some drawn by curiosity, others eager to know what would happen next.

I looked upon the faces of those I had to protect, their lives resting in my hands. One wrong decision, and they would all suffer. I couldn't let that happen.

Austin and Phil sat on either side of me, on the platform overlooking the pack members.

After the incident with Sarah, her body had been disposed of. I supposed I should feel bad that she hadn't been given a proper burial, but I couldn't bring myself to. She was a traitor, and she had died a traitor. News of her betrayal had spread through the pack, giving people even more to gossip about. Aric deserved the same fate. I should have killed him-made his death slow and painful. might have once considered Sarah a friend, but Aric... I had seen him as family. His betrayal cut the deepest, yet I couldn't bring myself to expose his treachery-not until I heard everything he had to say. For now, he rotted in the cold, dark cells, wasting away.

Once the crowd had settled, Austin rose to his feet.

"We are gathered here today to announce our new leader. By right, she is next in command after the Alpha. She has proven herself brave and capable of leading this pack...

His words were cut off by a voice from the crowd-Stark. One of the advisors who had chosen to walk away.

few nodded in agreement and that urged him to continue." What will the other packs think of us? They will see us as weak. The Nightshade Pack has never been seen as weak! Making a woman

agreement rippled through

and Phil had mentioned this, so I had

I said, finally speaking up. "The Nightshade Pack has never been seen as weak, and that

I was paying attention, I realized

in hopes that you would tell us what happened to our Alpha, not

about that. And if you believe you can challenge

is, by right, the

Pack members drop to their

Alpha, and the soldiers would force them to submission." Phil whispered into my

head. "No. If they will submit, then

ex-advisor-walked out. This time he didn't face me but

woman walks into our pack with her people, and they think they can take what's

1/2