Chapter 32: Chapter 31

The tide loves nothing more than

washing your love away just so she can

watch it return. She might belong to water

but, oh my, that girl loves to burn.

-s.r.w.

“Henry.”

No one moves. No one speaks. I watch as slowly, the pack parts to let him through. I feel nothing as he kisses the top of Reign’s head, passing his daughter to his mate before kissing her forehead also.

Fear is clear to see in Katie’s eyes as she watches him walk to the center of the circle and stand next to me.

Lilah wears a wicked smile, a savage look of pure bloodlust as she eagerly watches him.

“Henry. I don’t know you. You’re not someone who stands out.”

Henry doesn’t say a word to her. Instead, he turns to me, lowering his head.

“What the hell was that,” he points to where dad laid, Leo working furiously on him.

“I’m Alpha.”

It comes over me. Waves of power rushing into me. I raise my hand, looking at the red limb.

“I’m Alpha.”

Wonder is in my tone. I did it.

I’m Alpha.

I look up at Henry, a laugher spilling out of me. A dazed sort of dream that I’ve accomplished something that everyone told me I couldn’t.

“I’m Alpha.”

He is staring down at me, his eyes conflicted at his gaze flickers back up to his mate, before resting on me.

“Will you be my Beta?”

We stare at each other. Dominance and power flood through me. I can’t feel any of my injuries. Instead, I’m euphoric. Like I have conquered the world and watched it crumbled under my feet. I’m victorious. The power of the moment was blinding me, making me intoxicated from the feeling.

“Yes. Yes Soraya. I’ll be your Beta.”

Lilah laughs at our interaction.

“You’re Beta only if you beat me.”

Henry steps forward. I watch, small reality hitting back into me as it occurs that now Henry was the one fighting for his position and title. Now Henry was the one fighting for his life.

“Let’s do this.”

Lilah needs no other encouragement.

She darts forward, shifting in midair. I move out of the way, avoiding her snapping jaws as they clamp around where I stood a second ago.

Henry’s hand shoots out, his fits colliding with Lilah’s snout.

“I’m your opponent.”

Lilah snarls, her golden eyes moving to focus on him as she darts forward again. This time he’s ready. He shifts also. Two brown wolves fight. They are a mass of saliva and blood.

Henry grabs Lilah’s leg, faster than I can register and pulls with all his strength. A gasp comes over the crowd at the sickening crack that can be heard.

Mom is shaking her head, unable to take in the scene of violence.

I hear Aunt Quinn scream in the distance. Watch as Uncle Mark moves to hold her back, away from the fight.

I stand, arms crossed, watching them.

Henry looks at me. One fleeting look before he goes back to the fight.

Lilah is limping. Her front leg damaged, but she still puts weight on it.

Henry is not the strongest. I knew that when I picked him. I didn’t need strong. I had enough of testosterone filled males. I didn’t need that.

I needed thought. Wisdom.

And that is what Henry is.

He calculates every more. Every action.

He slams his body into Lilah’s, a howl leaving him as she grabs onto his shoulder and rips away flesh.

His weight though causes her to fall upon her injured leg. He uses that leg against her.

Henry showed clearly that if you couldn’t find a weak spot within your opponent- then you made one.

He slams into her, again and again. Each time she tries to fall back, avoid it or slam with him.

Each of those actions only causes more damage to her body.

When she falls, she crumbles. When she avoids it, she twists- her paws almost giving out.

And when she collides with him she faces agony by creating a larger pool of pain for her body to feel.

“Submit Lilah.”

She growls away from my words, a new savageness coming over her as she rips more flesh off of Henry. Blood pours out of him. But he only shakes his fur, using his pain as a source for power.

“Finish it Henry.”

He growls and slams back into her. She falls. Only this time Henry catches her.

His jaw circles around her throat, holding her up from the ground as he tightens his hold.

A whimper leaves the light brown wolf.

“Submit.”

Henry’s grip upon her neck tightens. He can easily finish her, but I know that is not in his nature. He is not cruel and savage like her.

He doesn’t want to be causing this pain.

He probably is wishing, more than Lilah, for this battle to be over.

“Submit Lilah.”

She claws against him, her paws raking against his chest, back legs kicking out to push him away. Each struggle she provides only leaves him to slowly bring more pressure to her neck.

I think it comes to all of us, at the same moment, that Lilah will not submit.

A horrible choking noise starts to leave her.

Henry looks up at me, panic in his eyes.

I stare at him, unable to make a decision on what to do.

Before I can say anything though, I hear mom’s voice.

“Lilah...please...”

Lilah’s wolf immediately sags. A low whine leaves her as mom walks slowly up to the two wolfs.

“Please...” a single tear falls on Lilah’s fur.

Her brown eyes, ringed with gold, look at mom- before closing in defeat.

Henry sets her down.

Mom cries, her arms encircling the wolf’s bloody neck.

I tear my eyes away from the sight, waiting for Henry to stand by my side before I turn to face the pack.

“Listen to me!”

Some shutter against the power that is now in my voice. Others flinch from the harsh tone.

I slowly circle, letting my gaze go around to the whole group.

I pause on Orion.

His grey eyes cut into me. I already felt pain. But that was nothing compared to the feeling I felt when his sight met mine.

I look away.

“I am your Alpha!” I point to Henry, his wolf sitting next to me.

“This is your Beta!” A low growl leaves him.

“You look to me now. I will do what is best for the pack. I will do what is right for the pack. I am your leader.” I pull myself up to my full height, letting my power flow out. Letting my absolute fulfillment come forth as I close my eyes and raise my hands to the sky in victory.