Repercussions

Chairman Lewis Wolfe’s POV

Copper Mountain Pack House, Alpha Quarters

I was furious, my wolf wanted out, but I had to maintain control. I ended the videoconference before I exploded, and called all of the enforcers in along with the Betas of the Colorado Springs and Grand Mesa packs. “Beta Nick,” I said as I looked at the big man from Colorado Springs. “Contact your Alpha, let him know you are requested to stay here until I can arrange temporary Pack leadership. You are to be the de facto Alpha until replaced,” I said.

“Understood, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.”

“Beta Oscar, the same for you except I’m asking you to stand in as the Pack Beta until relieved. Both of you, inform your Alphas you may be needed for at least three days, up to a week.”

“Yes sir, thank you sir.”

“You’re not leaving a Council member in charge?” My Chief Counsel, Lawrence Kendall, was looking at me like I’d deviated from process. I had, and it was intentional.

“No. Enforcers, place Mr. Kendall and Mr. Mendez under arrest and escort them to the cells.” There was hesitation, Carlos Mendez was their boss. “NOW,” I said with command lacing my voice.

They broke out of their inaction and moved forward, cuffing the two with silver-coated handcuffs designed to foil werewolf strength. “This is outrageous, what are the charges,” Carlos said.

“Suspicion of treason,” I said. “Take them away.” They did, and the two men did not know quietly. The Betas looked at me for an explanation. “Alpha Clark was right about one thing; someone tipped the two Alphas off about the warrants and the raids. I didn’t tell them, so it had to be either Lawrence or Carlos. I’ll figure out which later, I’ll be sending investigators out to get them. Confiscate their belongings, especially their phones.”

“Yes Mr. Chairman.”

“Enforcers, the rest of you will be leaving with me for Tomah. Jerry, notify the pilots to prepare a flight plan and be ready to leave in thirty minutes.” He ran out of the room to make the arrangements.

I made a few more phone calls as the cars were brought around. “Alpha John,” I said as I called the Black River Falls Alpha. “Change of plans. I need you or Alpha Richard to take over the Tomah pack for the time being. Arrest Beta Mendez and put him in the cells on suspicion of treason. Carlos Mendez is under arrest here for the same charge, of tipping off the Alphas so they could escape the raid. The coincidence of the Beta being related to him is too obvious to ignore. I’ll be sending investigators your way soon. Don’t mistreat him, he might be completely innocent.”

“I understand, Mr. Chairman. I’d be shocked if he condoned this.” He mumbled something off mic. “Richard and I are still in the Pack House. There are no objections to my staying on as acting Alpha,” he said. “If I may ask, sir, what are the long-range plans here? The Pack is very upset by the revelations of tonight. They want a Stillwater as Alpha again.”

I sighed, I knew this would happen. “Neither is mated, John. Talia Stillwater is a wanted fugitive for good reason, and Tania does not have a wolf. That would seem to be a prerequisite for the position.”

“At this point, I don’t think the Pack cares. They want Tania to return to them, she’s still family, and they never liked how Talia was forced out of here.”

It was giving me a headache. I got the signal the cars were ready, so I walked out of the office as I talked. “There’s still a lot to deal with first. Keep the Pack stable, let’s find Todd and find out if Alpha Clark can get any more information out of Justin. I want to know who my traitor is.”

This day had been a disaster. The Council was formed at the behest of the Alphas and could be dissolved or replaced with a simpler vote of them. Alpha Clark’s words had shaken their faith in him and the Council, I could see it in their body language. I had a day, maybe two to turn the narrative around before ‘council incompetence and corruption’ became the next issue, and then I would be out. I wasn’t going to let that happen.

Randall Meechum’s POV

La Crosse Pack

The La Crosse warriors came down, placing all the Copper Mountain warriors in handcuffs and seating them by the road. Only the Alpha, who was being escorted, and the Beta who was bound hand and foot, were different.

Of all possible outcomes, this is the one I really wanted. All these men didn’t need to die, only specific men did. When Alpha Justin came out of the car and accepted the challenge, I knew I would get my wish.

“Alpha Eastwing,” Alpha Clark said as he walked forward. “Are you all right?”

“Fine,” he said. He was furious at being played for a fool and having his men endangered. “Thank you for keeping this from escalating, Clark. I apologize for involving myself.”

“We’ll talk later. Take any of your vehicles still operating and send as many men as you can back to your Pack with your Beta. You and the rest may stay for the challenge, then we’ll arrange transport to a local hotel for the night. You’re going to need a shitload of new tires,” he said with a grin.

Alpha Eastwing gave a few orders, and men started moving. Alpha Clark had his men move the vehicles in front and behind out of the way so they could turn around and get out. Everyone else, including Alpha Justin who was still between two huge warriors, was making their way to the Pack House.

Beta Jack was cuffed and shackled and being carried back by four men. Talia and I caught up to her uncle. “What’s the plans for him, Alpha?”

“I was waiting to talk to you about it, Talia. He was the one who sold Tania into slavery, so perhaps she will want to choose or participate in his punishment.”

“I don’t know if she’s ready, sir,” I said. “I’ll contact my father, he can broach the subject with Tania and Bobby. I want to know who he sold her to, I plan to take down everyone involved in Tania’s treatment with the help of my lovely mate here.”

“I’ll put him in isolation and let him stew for a while, then. Make Justin suffer, Talia, but don’t kill him just yet.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle Clark,” she said. “He’s not getting off easy.”

It was after dark, but the lights surrounding the challenge circle had been turned on. I lagged behind everyone with Talia, holding her hand as we walked slowly towards the circle. “I’m so looking forward to seeing you fight,” I said.

“You’re not upset that I’m fighting him instead of you? You’re the male, I thought you’d want to fight him for his Pack.”

I shook my head. “I have as much desire to take over his Pack as you do,” I said. “If you asked me, I would do it for you, but you are not some weak female in need of my protection. You’re the most dangerous person I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a lot of dangerous people.”

“I scare you?”

“Hell no, thinking about you out there beating the shit out of an Alpha makes me harder than Chinese calculus,” I said. She laughed and squeezed my hand. “You don’t scare me because you are mine and I am yours. I am the lucky one, I have a mate who is just as strong and fierce as I am.” I looked over at her, she was looking at me in love and wonder. “Plus, I bet you’ll be a tigress in the sack.”

“RANDALL!” She hip-checked me, knocking me off balance. “I’m still a virgin.”

“And I look forward to making you mine in all ways after this is over.”

The banter had the effect I wanted, it took her mind off what was coming up until we reached the circle. I was her second, responsible for ensuring no one tried to interfere with the challenge. Alpha Clark, as the host Alpha, would referee the challenge. There wasn’t much to do in a no-rules fight to death or submission, though.

I could see phones out ready to record the fun. Curiosity was high, as she left plenty of bodies behind but no one saw her fight. She stepped into the circle, glaring at Alpha Justin. He had stripped nude, ready to shift. “I hate that everyone is going to see you nude before I’ve fully mated you,” I said. “Hopefully they see your neck and hold back comments.”

I saw her link, and Alpha Clark made an announcement. “Fair warning, males. Talia is marked but not mated, and her mate might rip out throats if you stare or make comments about her.” Eyes immediately averted, no one wanted a jealous Alpha blood after them.

“Don’t worry, baby, I’m not shifting until the end,” she said as she smiled back at me. “Have a shirt ready.” She stripped down to her fighting clothes, a sports bra and compression shorts.

She looked amazing, her body was an intoxicating blend of hard muscles and soft curves. Her ass was sculped by the Goddess herself, I concluded as she stretched. I was a lucky man.

“The Alpha of the Copper Mountain Pack, Justin Heranus, has been challenged for his position by Alpha blood female Talia Stillwater. The challenge has been accepted and is to death or submission. If submission, the fate of the defeated is solely up to the victor.” He walked to the edge of the circle, where large boulders separated the grass and dirt inside from the gathered people watching. “Any last words?”

“You’re going to die for taking my family,” Justin said.

“Funny, that’s what I was going to say. By the way, Rhoda knows what you did and it sickened her. She threw up on her minder, right before she was given a heavy dose of wolfsbane. Her wolf has been killed, just like Tania’s wolf was taken from her.”

“I’LL KILL YOU!”

He started moving forward, as Alpha Clark said “Begin.”

Justin immediately shifted, his wolf was black in color with a tan patch on his chest and brown and white socks. He charged her as she stood there, legs shoulder width apart and hands on her hips, seemingly unconcerned with him. I watched nervously as she waited until he was in the air, his jaws inches from her throat, and then she wasn’t there anymore.

Moving faster than I thought possible, she had moved a few feet right and spun around and landed a fist to the side of his chest. I heard a rib break as it thumped home, and suddenly he was spinning in the air. He crashed to the ground and rolled to his feet. I thought Talia would push the advantage, but she just watched him as he got back up. He shook his head, looked at her and attacked again, this time going for her left leg.

She spun away, continuing the move she kicked her left leg out and caught him in the stomach. The air left his lungs as he was knocked sideways, and when he recovered, she kicked him in his left thigh. She let him continue, but now he was limping noticeably.

She focused, letting her hands shift slightly as deadly sharp claws pushed out from her hands. “Death of a thousand cuts, and he’ll only get nine hundred and ninety,” she sent.

“Focus,” I responded. She laughed and went to work. He continued to attack, and every lunge towards her was met with a jawful of air and a slice of his fur. I was shocked; it was clinical, she was toying with him, never in danger. Alpha Justin was not a bad fighter. I knew he was stronger and far more experienced than I, but he had zero chance against my mate.She was skilled and blazing fast, and his hide paid the price for his actions.

Ten minutes turned into twenty, and she wasn’t even winded yet. He was so covered with blood and torn up fur it astonished me he was still upright. Still in human form, Talia was breaking ribs, slicing flesh and tossing him around like he weighed nothing. He didn’t have much longer.

He gathered himself for one last try, painfully moving closer to her. He lunged for her right knee, and he was shocked as she suddenly shifted into her wolf form and leaped high over his back. Twisting in the air, she landed and bit down on his right rear leg until a loud snap was heard.

He howled in agony as she dragged him backwards to the middle of the ring. She let him go. He was panting in the dirt, unable to rise. She shifted back into her human form; she was covered with blood, none of it hers. I took off my shirt and tossed it to her as she walked around the torn-up mess that was Alpha Justin. She pulled it over her head, the T-shirt more like a dress on her, and I smiled as she took a sniff of it as the neck pulled down.

“Submit or I start breaking bones from tail to tip,” she said as she knelt down in front of him. He glared at her, but his body wouldn’t respond. His head dropped to the ground and he exposed his neck to her.

“Challenge is over by submission,” Alpha Clark said. “The new Alpha of the Copper Mountain Pack, Talia Stillwater. May her reign be just and prosperous.” She stood like the warrior she was as the men of her new Pack exposed their necks to her, signaling their acceptance of her as Alpha. She went down the line, establishing the bond and searching their minds for signs of duplicity. The two that refused to submit were killed instantly, a single claw stroke behind the left ear severing their artery and leaving them to bleed to death.

“Thank you for your assistance, Alpha Clark,” she said as she walked to stand as an equal to her Uncle. “I would request you release my Pack members and provide them transportation to the airport. They will be returning home immediately.”

“Of course, Alpha Stillwater.” He looked over at Justin. “What is your wish regarding him?”

“Do you have any cages suitable for transporting a wolf?”

“Of course, glorified dog kennels, but silver plated and reinforced.”

She grinned a little. “That is perfect. Bring one here and lock him into it. Bring him water, but do not feed him or provide medical care. If he wants that, he’s going to have to answer questions. I also want him to see what I have in store for the Beta who sold my sister into slavery, but that’s tomorrow.”

“The guest Alpha suite is yours,” he said. “I will have dinner sent up later.”

I moved closer to her, pulling her into my side. “She needs to clean up and do a few things first, we’ll call the kitchen when we are ready,” I said. “Thank you again. We will rest tonight, and tomorrow we continue with her blood oath. Everyone involved is going to die,” I said.

We walked back towards the Pack House, hand in hand. Members of all the gathered Packs made space for us, their eyes kept down in respect of a superior rank and warrior. No one had ever seen someone like her, and we all knew she could take down any Alpha she wanted.

I picked her up in my arms as she giggled and carried her back to our room. We’d be out in the morning.