Playing The Odds

Jonathan's POV

I didn't ask to be here but I have to do what's expected of me. They say that heavy is the head that wears the Crown and I am beginning to understand that expression now  more than ever, it isn't exactly about the weight of the crown but about the weight on your shoulders when you have to lead.

My father is a ruthless man and I had vowed to never follow in his footsteps but now I understand why he is like that, when you are a leader you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, you have to make decisions that will make people hate you.

I am in a strange land leading strange people who know nothing about me and vice versa. I had been talking to some of the elders and they have been telling me about how they do things around here. I must admit that it was very different from what we do and my pack.

I have since learned that the Crescent's are people who value traditions so I have had to teach myself some of the things around here. the elders have been kind and they have been willing to share with me everything I wanted to know.

I might not be off Crescent blood but I do not want to come here and take away everything they hold dear. I have taken away their leader and I am not going to take away their livelihood as well.

I have also learnt that if they very much valued and respected the alpha that I decapitated and even in death they are still loyal to him. I then realised that it will take more than just an iron Fist hand to lead this people.

I lived in this big old house but I knew that I had eyes and ears everywhere, even behind this walls I knew everything that was happening out there. I knew that everyone wanted Elena on the chair that I was sitting on right now.

They're are saying that and that I should be here, despite the fact that I am now they're Alpha. I then realised that killing her would be a great mistake so instead I  decided to propose something totally different.

After she refused to submit to me she then went on to tell me that you wanted to challenge me and my place is an Alpha. she proposed a conclaid. she is challenging me to a dual match. 

I now understand what's the meant when they said that she was headstrong and that she had a warrior spirit. I found it cute that she thought that she could actually win against me.

I know it's that there is no ways that she can beat me but I also know that if I am to lead the pack then I would need her by my side so I gave her what she wanted but I had conditions of my own.

I agreed to the fight but I told her that if I won then she would have to marry me, this is the only way I am going to move forward and do what I need to do. I have a company that I want to run so I cannot be stuck in this house the whole day.

You see on the other hand she has been trained all her life to be where I am today so if I marry her then I can kill two birds with one stone. I will finally get the respect I need and hopefully the loyalty I need from the pack and she can also do what she has always wanted to do whilst I run my business.

"What?" She asked me looking at me like I was crazy. I must admit that it was a shocker and i don't blame her. She didn't see this one coming. I know that I have a girlfriend I love back home but this was the only way to get what I want.

"If and when you lose this fight you will bow down and accept me as your Alpha, then you will marry me under the willow tree." I said and saw her eyes going wide.

like I said I had been listening to the elders in the village and they told me that the Willow Tree is where all of the past Alpha's got married and that when they get married in that place they can never leave each other no matter what, they said that the place had mystical powers that joined not only two bodies but two souls together.

getting married under the Willow Tree is like a spiritual bond between two people and whenever our wolves need, they will always be attracted to one another.

"No! why would I want that kind of connection with you?" She asked me with horror in her eyes. I understand because this is a scary thing for her.

"Because you can finally get everything you have ever wanted. " I said to her. 

"What do you mean?" she asked. 

" I understand that you want to be the leader of this place and I suppose this is how things were supposed  to be for you,  you were supposed to be your father's successor unfortunately for you I am the man in charge. 

I have since realised that people in this place will always have a soft spot for you and your family. If I want to lead then it would be better to have one of you on my side. I could take one of your sisters but we both know they can't lead." I said. 

"what are you asking to me right now?" She asked.

"I mean that I have a business to run, I can't be here all day listening to the packs never ending grievances. This is a win win situation for you." I said.

I am a businessman and I know what sells and how to sell it. I can see the look in her face right now. she is thinking about what I told her. It is a good offer and she would be a fool to turn it down. 

I don't want a loving wife, I just want her to be obedient and take care of things when I am not around. I work with Nia and we work well together. I will explain things to her. I will tell her that this is just a marriage on paper.

My father and everyone else had already said that we were doomed from the start. My position here has made me question a lot of things. I didnt want to lose Nia and if she agrees to be with me, we can continue where we left off.

"So what do you say firecracker?" I asked her.

"Fine then, If I get my way there won't even be any marriage because you will leave this place for good." She said.

"Alright then, I'll give you a week to prepare. I want to make this a fair fight so I'll let you out of the dungeon, you can pick out two guys to spot with." I said firmly. I wanted her to think that she had a shot.

This way, when I finally beat her, she will finally see that she has no choice but to submit to me and marry me. She's strong but not strong enough for me. She will lose and I will be the one she loses to.

"What makes you think that I won't run away?" She asked.

"I don't but I know that you won't leave your sisters..." I said. 

This is true, she has been fighting for her family and her sisters and her family and she won't leave them, the same way they wouldn't leave her.

She was right about one thing though, I came in an changed everything. I had no choice but to do that. This is an era for a new leader, one that is always up for change.

"Fine then, I have one more request." She said.

I can only wonder what she wants from me now. I had already given her freedom, she just had to see it and now she wants to have another request. 

"What do you want?" I asked her.

"Can I have my old room back since I am out of the dog house and all?" She asked. I know which one was her old room because her sisters told me. The problem was that the room was next to the room I was using.

I don't trust that she won't try to kill me in my sleep. Plus her room was no longer hers, It belonged to me. Everything here belonged to me but if I want this to work, I have to give her a bit of trust. Even if it might kill me. 

"Fine, I'll get someone to prepare it for you, in the meantime, I think that your sisters might like to see you." I said hoping for her to see that I was extending an olive branch.

"Where are they?" She asked me.

"Outside training with others." I said. 

"What? My sisters don't know anything about combat..." She said in horror.

"Which is why they couldn't defend themselves." I said hoping that she will see why it has to be this way.