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Lyla.
All the Alphas sat frozen in their chair as my mother paraded her baby bump now, caressing it gently as she fixed each of them a glare.
“I found out that I was pregnant with a child six months ago. I and Logan were of course excited because we’d been trying for all these years and were suddenly blessed. He’s our gift and Logan’s true heir.”
Alpha Calder rose to his feet, bowing slightly to my mother as he addressed the council. “Although this news is not new to me, Luna Vanessa as Alpha Logan told me some months back I want to offer my congratulations.”
“Thank you, Alpha Calder.” My mother murmured as she turned to the rest of the Alphas, eyes
beaming with pride.
Quietly, each of them took turns to congratulate my mother before Alpha Calder continued speaking.
“Again, Luna Vanessa, how can we be so sure that it’s a boy?”
“Because the Pack Healers have confirmed. I’m having a boy. Logan has an heir now and all I have to do is to take reins of the affairs of the pack and when he comes of age, I hand everything over
to him.”
The Alphas all shifted uncomfortably as they glanced at each other. I sneaked a gaze at Nathan. He looked relaxed, even his father too… they didn’t seem to be affected by the circus happening
in the hall at the moment.
Lenny too, whose presence you could almost miss wasn’t saying anything. Like Nathan, he just sat there observing.
“Mother!” I ventured. “I know you have the interest of the pack to heart but we must obey the instructions left by father. If he wanted the newborn baby to succeed him, he would have
mentioned it. I know father and I know how meticulous he is and…”
My mother’s face had turned ashen. She stared at me as if she had just seen a ghost, that was when I understood the gravity of what I was saying. It felt like I was already taking sides with Nathan. I was giving the council more leverage for a refusal.
“No!” I shook my head, raising my hands placating. “That’s not what I mean. I mean…
“We understood you, Miss Lyla.” Alpha Rowan said quietly giving me a nod, an indication that I should stop talking before he turned to the other Alphas. “The child is Alpha Logans‘ and with this sudden announcement, we have to consider the matter carefully. The possibility of a
true–born Alpha heir cannot be dismissed.”
Alpha Myra leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, her gaze narrowed in thought. “Even if we accept the legitimacy of this claim, Luna Vanessa,” she said slowly before being interrupted.
“Are vou trving to accuse me of infidelity? Is that what vou’re trying to do right now. Mvra? To
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tell me that I cheated on my mate?” My mother’s lips thinned as anger darkened her eyes.
“That’s not what I meant but it could also be a thing.” Alpha Myra shrugged. “What I am saying is the child is not born yet, let alone of age. We cannot leave Blue Ridge leaderless until then. A Regent would be necessary, as well as someone to protect the child and ensure its safety.”
My mother straightened; her voice filled with determination. “Then I will assume the role of Alpha Regent until my son is ready. I am more than capable of leading this pack and protecting my child.”
“I’m afraid we cannot allow that,” Alpha Grant suddenly said. He has been quiet for a while. “Alpha Logan left instructions to be followed which was updated only a month ago before his passing and he has consistently maintained one person to be his heir. We cannot do otherwise.”
“Alpha Grant, are you even listening to what I’m saying?” My mother bristled. “I am carrying the heir…”
“No one is contending that but this council cannot act on whims. The only reason we’ve preserved this leadership for decades now is because we do not act on whims. Your child is still in the womb and yet to be born. You should concentrate only on having a healthy baby…”
“Are you looking down on me?” my mother shouted, she was angry.
“Far from it,” Alpha Grant shook his head “But we must at all times do the right thing. Since an Alpha Heir has already been named, how about we name your son the next Alpha after Nathan?
I’m sure that would not be difficult to settle that.”
“Why not give it to my child when he’s here already?” My mom cried angrily. “Why do you need him to wait for years to become the rightful Alpha? This is not what justice is or what it looks
like.”
“How about we conduct a vote, The majority wins,” Lenny said from where he sat down quietly. “Those in favour of appointing Luna Vanessa as Regent would indicate by lifting their hands and those in favour of Nathan Tanner would also raise their hands.”
The Alphas considered Lenny’s suggestion for a moment before they nodded.
“Oh please!” my mom scoffed. “Beta Lenny, you know they’ll choose Nathan. He’s already being favoured by all of them. I do not agree with that method.”
Lenny nodded and rose to his feet. “Fair enough,” he said but I need to understand why you have Miss Lyla standing in the middle of the hall. Is there some purpose to it?” he pointed at me.
“Yes!” Alpha Calder nodded. “She’s Alpha Logan’s firstborn and since Alpha Logan is not here to officially hand over the reins of power to Nathan, she would replace him.”
“Is that so?” Lenny nodded. “That’s an important role,” he commented again, staring at me. “Does that mean she also has an absolute power to agree with who is appointed as the next Alpha?”
The Alphas exchanged quiet glances before Alpha Renwick shot out of his chair, an excited look
on his face.
“Not just that, she could cancel whatever or whoever claims to be an Alpha and appoint a new one. Right now, she’s not standing as Lyla, she’s standing as her father, Alpha Logan and she has
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the absolute power to do anything.”
“Then it’s settled,” Lenny shrugged. “Let’s ask, Miss Lyla who she thinks deserves to be Alpha. Her unborn brother or Nathan?”
My palms began to sweat as I stared at the men, biting my lips nervously. I could see my mother gazing at me fiercely from the corner of my eyes as if daring me to choose Nathan. I swallowed hard, wiping my wet palms on my clothes.
“This is too sudden,” I managed. “I don’t think…”
“I’m afraid, you’re our only solution, Miss…” Alpha Calder interrupted me. “You must choose and
now.”
I swallowed again, this time sensing a look at my mother. “Can I think about it for a few days?” I asked again.
“No! The decision must be made now. So, hurry up, Lyla and choose who you think your father would have wanted you to appoint.”
“Okay!” I nodded, inhaling my shaky breath, trying to fight the anxiety mixed with fear, pounding in my heart at the moment.
“I choose…”
My father would have wanted me to choose Nathan because he has always said it to my hearing. But here I was, stuck between choosing my mother who has always disdained me for the longest time and my friend… my friend who protected me for four years stuck in a dungeon.
I must make a decision…
“I choose…Nathan.”
