CHAPTER 9

THADDEUS

Most of the wolves present are Alphas.

Some are Betas.

No omegas. Because we don't allow Omegas in our Packs. Not that they would ever be sent here. Omegas are prized among our kind. They would never be rejected. They would be revered and worshipped instead if they ever arrive.

And most of the wolves here weren't rejected at all. 

Just artificially rejected for the purpose of falsifying records and allowing more Brute wolves to come here. 

Although, there are few here who are absolutely insane as a result of their real rejection. They are not Brute wolves, just rogue beasts that created the need for these reject packs.

Those rejected males are not allowed to play our games. They are kept busy with other menial tasks that keeps the pack alive. And they provide a decent front for us to hide behind.

“Gentlemen,” I greet as I step onto the dock. “You may have noticed the lack of shipment arriving.”

A few of them chuckle from my word, while the others just nod. 

“The guard unceremoniously dumped her into the water on the opposite side of the island," Thea grumbles, annoyance evident in his voice. "She's... less than thrilled, to say the least.”

I nod. “She's beyond upset. More like shattered, broken, even.”

The other three females were present— otherwise known as volunteers—for the males in the pack. They were bored and wanted to play. So my father falsified their rejections to send them here to satisfy their own urges, as well as our men. 

The females definitely didn't qualify for that. 

But I asked Thea to set up the games as an introduction to our life, thinking she might appreciate some play time. 

Clearly, I was wrong.

“She's from a different pack," I say cautiously, avoiding specifics for now. I don't want to prejudice the men against her before they even meet her. "We'll have to postpone the game."

"So, who is she?" Alpha Bruno demands, his voice low and menacing. His arms, corded with muscle, are crossed tightly over his chest. "And tell me something else. Where's she from?"

“That's her story to tell, not mine,” I deflect. “Which is hard for her to do since she's currently in her wolf form and refusing to shift.”

Alpha Eric grunts. “Then make her shift.”

“I will, I promise you all." I uttered. “But I came here with Thea to deliver the news first. Once she's ready, we will reschedule the introductions.”

Alpha Bruno and Alpha Eric share a look, their brows furrowing. “We want to see her and judge,” Alpha Bruno says then, looking back at me. “We want to assess her for ourselves.”

Because you can smell her, I translate, sighing to myself.

These two have always been a problem. Which is precisely why my father sent them here—he want me to master them and to prove my worth as Pack Alpha.

Which unfortunately means I have to use my fists more than I would like. 

But leadership has its requirements—both good and bad. 

“I have assessed her,” I tell them. “And she needs time before she meets the rest of us.”

“So you are keeping her for yourself,” Alpha Eric hedges.

“I didn't say that,” I reply, already bored with the posturing. “However, I'm deciding as Shadow moon Alpha to give her time to shift before we play our usual games.”

“I think this need to be discussed,” Alpha Bruno says, glancing around at the other Alpha's and Betas in the crowd. “She's not from your father, she's from the Elders. That makes her open for debate, right?”

“I agree,” Alpha Eric declared. “She smells different, too. Sweet. Like an Omega.”

This causes several growls of agreement to go through the crowd. 

It doesn't matter that she was wet and dropped off over two three miles away from here; we’re wolves with strong enhanced senses.

They can also likely smell her on me and Thea, despite the fact I barely touched her.

“Are you hiding her because she's an Omega?” Alpha Phil asks, his grey eyes flashing with irritation. “Is this all a rude?”

“I want to see her for myself,” Alpha Zion adds. “Prove to us she's incapable of shifting and we will discuss it more.” 

I raise my brows. “We will discuss it more?” I repeat the words with a humorless laugh. 

This is exactly why I had accompanied Thea. Not because he couldn't handle himself, but because I suspected this female’s scent would addle some brain cells.

“Let's say she is indeed an Omega,” I say, infusing a healthy dose of sacarsm in my tone. “What would stop me from claiming her? No, hold on, let me rephrase that. Who would stop me from claiming her?”

My question is met with a handful of growls, mostly from Alpha Bruno and Alpha Eric. 

“Do you require a lesson on why I'm the most suitable Alpha for her to choose?” I asked my accent thickening my dark tone. “Because I will happily oblige.”

It's been a few weeks since my last challenge. I’m certainly due for another one now. It's how I maintain my status and prepare for the future.

Alpha Bruno mutters something about my cock under his breath. Or maybe he calls me cocky.

But he's not wrong. 

I’m up here as a result of my heritage and hardwork.

Alpha Eric and Alpha Bruno may be wider and taller, but I'm faster and sleeker. I’m also more intelligent.

“Is she an Omega?” Alpha Phil asks, his tone holding a touch of aww to it.

“If she was, do you think I would be down here placating you all?” It's a carefully worded question meant to disguise the answer. 

Because I don't know. 

She doesn't smell right.

But her wolf certainly acted like an Omega, showing me her belly and ass. She also kept calming from Sparrow’s purr. She seemed perfectly content to let us protect her, something only an Omega wolf could ever do. 

However, until I meet the woman beneath the fur, I won't know for sure. 

“That's not an answer,” Alpha Phill intelligently points out. “I want to meet her, Thaddeus.”

“And you will, when I decide it's time,” I tell him, displeased by the lack of respect in his address and in his tone. 

These men may respect me on battlefield, but it's been hard to win their favor as a leader. 

Another reason why my father sent me here.

Well, that and the Elders mandated it. 

But that's another story entirely.

“I’m protecting her as I would do the same for anyone in my pack,” I continue. “if you can't respect that, then we have other issues to discuss.”

“How do we know that you're not just keeping her for yourself!” Alpha Bruno repeat the exact same words again. 

“Because I'm standing here talking to you instead of fucking her,” I retort, mimicking his position by folding my own arms. “If I want her, I will take her. Regardless of your input or involvement in the situation. So it's a moot point and you're merely wasting my time with this bullshit.” 

He growls.

I snarl back. 

And some of the Alphas take a few steps away from us. 

Scent can make wolves do stupid shit.

Like attacking the superior Alpha in the pack.

Which Alpha Bruno does now by throwing this first punch. 

The only reason I don't outright kill him is because I understand that he's being driven by lust more than Intelligent thought.

If he wanted to truly challenge me, he wouldn't do it here or now. I duck his punch and counter him by slamming my fist into his groin. He’s too big and slow to see me coming, my reflexes far outpacing his as I whirl around behind him and follow up my hit with a kick to the back of his knees, sending him to the ground with a loud thud. 

Then I jump and land my heel on the back of his neck, forcing him to complete the fall and face plant against the rusty old dock. It's the one we maintain for Elder purpose— to help add to the overall beat up flare of the pack. 

The nicer dock is hidden on the other side in an aclove protector by tree cover.

That's where I keep the yatch and other boats for my men. 

Alpha Bruno grunts into the decaying wood, moaning as I take a knee on his back. 

“I could kill you,” I tell him, my voice bored as I lean down to continue speaking against his ear. “I could take the silver blade from my pocket and slit your pathetic throat. But I'm not going to do that. And do you want to know why?”

His response is unintelligible because his mouth is currently kissing the dock. 

“You're one hell of a warrior when not thinking with you dick,” I go on, answering my question without bothering to wait for his clear interest in the response. “So take a breath. Walk it off. And you will realize what I'm doing is the right thing for our pack.”

I shove off of him and meet Alpha Eric’s stare directly. 

He holds it for a beat before looking away. 

Alpha Phill is next. He don't hold my gaze, his eyes averting in respectful submission.

“Good.” I brush my palms off on my jeans, taking a step backwards toward Thea. He’s the only one behind me because he's the only one I trust at my back. “Give me a few days to sort this out with our newcomer. A proper introduction will occur when she's fit and ready.”

They don't respond verbally, just nod in agreement.

There are about thirty of them.

If they wanted to really push this and challenge me, they could as a group.

But too many of them already respect my role as the packs Alpha. 

It's these troublemakers that g

ives me grief. Mainly the idiot on the ground and his buddy Eric. They will heal eventually. They always fuvking do. 

"Does anyone have the balls to say something or challenge me?” I asked and everywhere was eerily silent. 

‘So I thought.’ I said staring at Thea who gave me a nod.