Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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"Stop pacing" I sighed in annoyance.
"I'm thinking" my mate snapped back.
"You don't have to pace in order to think" I shot back. There was a moment of pause, as Seth froze,
before he began to pace again. I closed my eyes, trying to control my anger, before turning over in the
bed so that I couldn't see Seth pacing. I could still hear it and it was setting me on edge – if he carried
on we'd be having a blazing argument. But, that was typical these days.
Seth and I had been living in the small, isolated, cabin for almost a month. It had been the worst month
of my life. If Seth wasn't angry, he was depressed and if he was depressed then he was picking fights
with me. We spent more time arguing that we did anything else anymore.
Seth was not taking being a lower rank easy. He refused to be involved in Pack events, and if he was
then he was moody and stood at the pack unapproachable. I actually think the Pack were slightly glad
that he wasn't getting too involved, they had no idea how to act around him. People kept slipping up
and calling him 'Alpha' as they just weren't used to calling him anything else, and that was just like salt
to a wound for Seth.
But later that day, Dale was calling a Pack meeting, so Seth couldn't avoid that. And he was nervous –
hence the pacing back and forward. He hadn't slept last night, which meant that with him restless so
was I. So, I was trying to get a few hours or sleep before the lunchtime Pack meeting. But, with Seth's
pacing it wasn't going to happen for me.
Ten minutes later, Seth sighed and sat down on the side of the bed. "I don't know if I can go today" he
muttered to me.
"You don't have a choice" I grumbled.
"How can I just stand there and watch him lead my Pack? Hearing people call him Alpha, people
bowing down to him?" Seth ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know if can do it, May. It's going to
drive me insane".
"You have to do it. You made the choice to stand down and now you have to live with it". I pulled the
covers closer around my body, trying to keep my eyes closed. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
"I'm so unhappy Mabel" he said softly, voice almost lost in the air.
"I will be too if you don't let me sleep, dammit" I snapped at him, turning over in the bed. Seth was
silent for a few minutes, making me feel guilty, before he slipped into the bed behind me. His arms
slipped around me as he cuddled into me. "I'm sorry" I whispered to him, "I didn't mean that".
"I know". He kissed my neck delicately as he breath tickled my skin. "I know you think I'm overreacting,
May, but I'm not. I really don't think I can go to this Pack meeting".
"I don't think you're overreacting, Seth, but you don't have a choice. He's your Alpha now and you have
to follow his rules". There was a few moments of silence before I spoke again, "you're not an Alpha
anymore and there is nothing you can do about it".
"What if there was?" he questioned, voice soft as he tested the waters.
"There isn't, don't be wishful. You and I both know the moment you take over the Pack again that the
Council will just intervene and we'll be right back to square one, with you an Alpha who has to answer
for the pregnant woman in Yellowstone".
"Maybe".
I chose my next words carefully, "I'd rather see you miserable and alive than dead, Seth. Remember
that".
Seth let me sleep for a few hours, before waking me up for the Pack meeting. I could see from the bags
under his eyes that he hadn't slept any. I was worried that Seth was plotting something, something that
was going to put him on the Council's kill list all over again. But I knew that he was going to do
something, Seth was born to be an Alpha and he wasn't going to last doing much else in his life.
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I showered and dressed, as Seth pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a shirt. I still couldn't get used to
the look of him in casual clothing, because before he was demoted I had never seen him in anything
other than a designer suit. Seth was a man of class and expensive things, not someone who wore
jeans and sneakers.
But, he was dressed and willing to come to the Pack meeting so I was happy. I took his hand, making
sure he didn't change his mind, and made the half mile walk to the centre of the Pack village. People
glanced over at us as we joined the crowd, but people quickly looked away before making eye contact
– they didn't know how to treat us. For some of these people, Seth had been their Alpha for a large part
of their life so they couldn't just be friendly and casual with him.
Seth and I hung towards the back of the crowd, as everyone waited for Dale and Sofia – their new
Alpha and Luna. I was especially annoyed at Sofia, considering that they'd kicked us out of our house
but hadn't moved into the Alpha house. Sofia didn't want to live in the house, as she loved the house
she was already in, but Dale said it went against the rules to let us live in the house designed for the
Alpha. So, currently our house was unlived in and we were stuck in a shitting little cabin away from the
rest of the Pack.
When Dale and Sofia arrived, the rest of the Pack shifted uncomfortably – just like us they were
uncomfortable with the new order of things. To them, Dale and Sofia had been neighbours and friends
and people who were just normal and they were suddenly their leaders. And, in my own sour opinion,
not great leaders either.
I didn't actually have anything against Sofia, she had always been nice to me and after finding out that
he had no idea that Dale had kicked us out of the house, I didn't begrudge her any. But, I disliked that
she was taking my position. Because in my eyes, Seth and I were the rightful leaders of the Equinox
Pack.
Dale said a few introductory words, and everyone silently listened. I had hold of Seth's hand, terrified
he was going to do something he'd later regret. Then, I dropped his hand the moment that Dale began
telling us the real reason he'd gathered here.
"It appears that despite the change in Alpha position in this Pack, Alpha Caster of the Black Blood Pack
seemed to still wish to continue the war" he explained dimly. Seth's lips pulled back in a snarl but he
didn't make a noise. "He still holds this Pack responsible for the placement of his members in
Yellowstone back in the nineties. So, we will continue to war as planned".
There was a nervous air that ran through the Pack as everyone took in the information. Going to war
was one thing, going to war under the leadership of Dale – a new and inexperienced commander – was
a completely different thing.
"However, I am going to implement one difference in preparation of the war" Dale continued. Seth
adjusted his stance, almost becoming more dominant, and crossed his arms across his chest. His
brother carried on talking to the Pack, "we need to be fighting at our full capacity. Previously, the ruling
was that no Wolf under twenty one and no Wolf over fifty could fight in this war. However, I am
changing this rule. Every Wolf, male or female, who has Shifted will fight for this Pack in the coming
war".
"No". Seth's voice strong and dangerous cut through the air. I sucked in a deep breath as I saw the
complete fury in Seth's eyes. Seth was a good Alpha and he didn't believe that anyone under twenty
one had enough training to go to war and that everyone over fifty had completed their duty to the Pack,
so shouldn't have to fight. Changing this rule, pushed Seth right over the edge.
Dale was silent for a few seconds, as everyone in the Pack turned to look at Seth – at their previous
Alpha. "No" Seth repeated, "I will not have children fighting this war. I will not have the blood of school
children and the elderly on my hands".
"It is not your decision to make anymore, Seth. I am the Alpha now" Dale replied, voice slightly wavy
with nerves. He was trying to stay strong, but Dale wasn't very experienced with challenges or public
speaking.
Seth's eyes turned a dangerous colour, so jumped in front of him and put my hands on his chest to stop
him going anywhere. "Seth" I whispered. My mate was quiet for a few seconds and the entire Pack
stood silent; awaiting the movement of the first Alpha male. I knew that a fight would not end well for
either brother. "Seth, please" I whispered again.
Seth looked down at me, his blue eyes searching my face before he took a deep breath. He glanced
back up at his brother, and the Pack. "You may be the Alpha now, but believe me it won't last for long. I
will not allow you to get away with this".
Grabbing my hand, Seth pulled me after him as he stormed away from the Pack. I glanced over my
shoulder to see everyone confused, but excited. They wanted Seth back as their Alpha – and he'd just
sworn he'd do that.
Seth was silently stewing until we got back to the cabin, in which he pulled me in and slammed the
door. He leant against the closed door, eyes closed as he took a few calming breaths.
"Seth, what have you done?" I asked nervously.
My mate looked up at me, his bright blue eyes shone in determination. "I'm going to get my Pack back
and end this war".
"And how the hell are you going to do that?"
A cruel smile slipped onto his lips, "I'm going to kill Alpha Caster and become Alpha of the Black
Bloods Pack. Then I'll lead the war against Dale, kill him and be the Alpha of both Packs".
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