Contractually Yours, Alpha by Giftemmy

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Five

Chaos erupted people spoke over one another, everyone desperate to be heard.

"Enough," I snarled. "You bicker like children. I am not for one side or the other this pack is one, and everyone will be treated equally. You're right that I don't deserve this position, but..." I paused, weighing my next words. " The Alpha will return" I assured them.

Keith spat on the ground. "That's a lie, and you know it. You did something to him, and he's not coming back."

I couldn't hold it in anymore. "I did what I did to help him I hated the fact that I lost it, but I felt the need to let them know. "I love him, and I will never stop loving him."

"And yet here you are, taking his title and taking over his pack. You didn't do this for love, but greed-greed for power. What you fail to realize is that you might claim the title as yours, but loyalty and respect are not passed down; they're earned." Keith finished; with one cold glance at me, he turned around and walked away. Many others followed.

"You can't let them talk to you this way; you have to do something." Austin said, but once again, I shook my head.

"He's right," I said. Austin and Phil stared at me like I'd lost a nut. "I have yet to earn their respect. If I thought I could step in and claim both the title and their loyalty, then I'd be the fool. It's a gradual process-one step at a time. And this... this went better than I expected." I said, my gaze drifting back to the others still kneeling before me. Most were from the Dawn Pack, but among them were a few Nightshade members.

This was more than I should ever expect-I kept telling myself that.

But when I was finally alone, locked in my room, I cried. I cried until there were no more tears left.

Alexander coming back, and then everything was back

to the dungeon, stopping at Aric's

his beating- swollen, bruised, and marked with cuts. Pain was etched

snapped open, wide with alarm. Without hesitation, I unlocked the gate and stepped

though their earlier surprise still lingered as I stepped into the criminal's cell unarmed. Well, they didn't see the gun I had brought along but I hadn't brought it for protection-I wasn't afraid of Aric. Even if he weren't chained, beaten,

he saw

his eyes

widened.

stopping him short. "I'm so sorry, Kaida.

ever make up for it, but I need your forgiveness. I can't live with myself after what I

sister." I said to him and that ended his pleas. "I-I couldn't

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Why couldn't you

me