Chapter 18: Emerson

“I think I should lead the ceremony, Emerson. I was the Alpha for many years. These are my people too,” my father says.

“Yes, they were your pack, but I’m the Alpha now. They need to hear from me,” I say. I’m already stressed because of Quinn’s injury. She’s healed and she’s here, but the thought of losing her had me feeling out of control again. Now, I’m trying to keep myself together to bury the dead in our pack and rather than supporting me, my father is here still trying to insert himself as Alpha.

“This isn’t the time for pride, son. This is the time to do what’s best for the pack,” he says.

I’m about to respond when Quinn steps in. “What do you think is best for the pack, Uncle Eli?”

“They need to know that their leaders support them, that their Alphas support them and are here for them,” he says.

Once again, I’m about to say something, something I would probably regret, but my mate inserts herself. I’m not sure if this is a mate thing, a Guardian thing, or a Quinn thing, but I h