Chapter 85: Chapter 84

Xander “What about Lanie?” | demanded, stomping toward my mother.

There was that name again.

It had come to Zane and me so quickly, and we still couldn’t explain why.

Was my mother about to give us answers?

“She's a girl,” my mother said. “And she’s the older twin.”

| blinked hard.

What the f uck did that matter?

“She can’t be the heir to the Alpha title if that’s what you’re suggesting,” | said.

The eldest boy is the heir,” Zane agreed.

My mother shook her head.

“The eldest child,” she corrected. She sighed deeply. “G ods, what are we going to do about this?”

“Will anyone know the difference if we say the boy was born first?” | asked.

I'd never heard of a she-wolf Alpha before.

It didn’t seem like a possibility before now.

“Let's hope not. The Constantine pack values tradition above all else. As much as | would love to see a she-wolf leading the pack, | think people would have a very hard time accepting that.”

Her brows knitted together “And the Elders... | can’t imagine how their mating ceremony would go with a female Alpha.”

“Then we keep this a secret,” | said. “Tell everyone the boy was born first.”

“Yes,”

my mother said sadly. “Otherwise you're putting this pup you're calling Lanie in grave danger.”

-My palms were sweating.

So far, my Alpha reign had been easy, especially after the chaos of the Great Wars.

| hadn't had to address my whole pack since the day my father passed the title onto me.

| remembered how nervous | was, my palms sweating, my voice shaking.

Years later, this sh it didn’t feel any easier.

| was about to tell everyone that Alice had died.

And somehow | had to leave out the part where she’d cheated on me and Zander.

“You're gonna be fine, I'll be right behind you,” Zane said.

Beads of sweat had broken out on his forehead.

Maybe it was my own anxiety infecting his thoughts, too.

We both stepped out onto the makeshift stage in the middle of the town square.

| cleared my throat and stepped up to the microphone.

“Zane and | lost someone very special to us yesterday.”

| hated the way my voice sounded in my ears.

Was it sad enough? Was it strong enough?

“Our mate Alice died giving birth. But while we are mourning her loss, we are also celebrating the arrival of two healthy twin pups.”

There was sc attered clapping among the crowd, mixed with shocked and horrified expressions.

They didn’t know what the f u ck to do with this information, either.

Here | was, their fearless leader, just as lost as they were.

“As you might imagine, this is a very difficult time for Zane and me emotionally,” | waved my hand behind.

me toward Zane.

“We ask that you...” My voice broke, and | trailed off.

Hundreds of eyes bore down upon me, scrutinizing me, judging me.

My throat started to close up, and | struggled to take a full breath.

| needed to get the f uck off this stage before | lost it I before someone could ask more questions...

“We ask that you respect our privacy at this time. We're still handling pack business as usual alongside Luna Gabriela. Anything you need, you can still-”

“HYPOCRITE!” a gruff voice called out across the crowd.

Gregory.

Of course that disgusting mo therf ucker had something to say.

Zane and | were the reason he and Lucas weren’t allowed to ever take another mate again. We should’ve known they'd be plotting some kind of revenge.

Here was the perfect opportunity.

But she'd still died with us.

The crowd chittered.

Luca s’s harsh voice rang out next.

“YOU should be the ones investigated by the Council”

The crowd was growing more restless.

Awicked smile slid across Gregory’s face.

“Alice isn’t the only mate they've killed.”