31

From a young age, Mom always instilled in me that doing the right thing, no matter who was watching, was important. She never wanted Solomon or me to be followers or bystanders. She wanted us to be able to stand on our own two feet and care for those around us.

As I stood on the stage, preparing to go talk to my pack, I thought of her words.

I inhaled deeply one last time just as the sound of the door shut, telling me the meeting was now starting. I walked out onto the stage, looking at all my friends and family I'd grown up with over the years, and even some of those who'd only recently joined us, and smiled.

"Hello, everyone. I'd first like to thank you all for coming! I know there have been a lot of changes and situations happening recently, so I thank you all for your patience and accommodating nature."

There was a chorus of acceptance among the crowd which already had me feeling better about continuing. My eyes found Indiana who was sitting in the front row. She flashed me a thumbs-up with that lopsided smile of hers that almost had me playfully rolling my eyes.

"I'd like to start our meeting with the situation I'm sure you all have the most questions about: the recent banishment of my younger brother, Solomon."

A low murmur broke out, but when I raised my hand they slowly calmed down.

"I understand that this decision may have come as a shock to some of you. Solomon was my brother, and he was raised alongside many of you. But family is not just blood. It is the choices we make, the bonds we build, and the loyalty we show to one another."

I let my gaze sweep over the crowd, recognizing the mix of emotions on their faces. Some were relieved, some were uncertain, and others, like the elders still in attendance, looked downright displeased. I expected as much.

"My mother always taught Solomon and me to stand for what was right, no matter how difficult. She believed in justice, in accountability, and in protecting those who could not protect themselves. And yet, Solomon made his choices. He put his own desires above the safety of this pack, above the safety of my mate. He broke our trust, not just mine, but all of yours as well."

I saw a few heads nod in agreement, while others still wore hesitant expressions. That was fine. I wasn't here to win over everyone in an instant—I was here to tell the truth.

"I didn't banish Solomon because I wanted to," I continued. "I did it because I had to. I love my brother, I do, but I will not continue excusing his behavior which has only grown worse over the years. He is smart, capable, and knows right from wrong. I, as well as all of you, have given him plenty of chances over the years and he decided to not take any of them. I know this might be hard for some of you to hear, considering how rooted his presence was in our community, but I need you all to understand that this was not an impulsive decision. It was not made lightly. Solomon had every opportunity to correct his path, to prove that he was willing to stand with us rather than against us. But he didn't. He chose his own ambition over loyalty, over family, over the well-being of this pack."

The murmurs in the crowd shifted—some quieter, some more accepting. I wasn't here to turn them against Solomon completely. I knew there were those who still cared for him, just as I did. But they needed to understand that love and loyalty didn't mean tolerating betrayal.

"I know many of you have fond memories of him," I said, my tone softer. "I do too. I wish him nothing but the best and I hope he does find himself once again, but that will unfortunately not be here, a part of this pack. I do hope you can all respect that decision even if you do not fully agree with it."

I looked at Samuel as I said this. His lips were still pressed into that thin, disapproving line which told me his stance hadn't changed but that was okay with me. I wasn't here to win over his heart.

I shifted my gaze back to the rest of the pack, focusing on those who looked uncertain.

"This pack has always been built on trust, on unity," I continued. "And it is my job as your Alpha to make the hard decisions that will protect that foundation. My loyalty is to all of you—to our future. That is why, as painful as this decision was, I stand by it."

The room was quieter now, the tension settling into something less sharp, less combative. Some wolves still looked hesitant, but I could see understanding creeping in, replacing blind resistance with contemplation.

I inhaled deeply. "Now, I know change is difficult. And there's something else I need to address."

I straightened my shoulders, bracing for the reaction I knew was coming.

"As of today, the elder council has been disbanded."

The impact was immediate. Gasps. A few sharp whispers. The older wolves in the room stiffened, some looking downright furious. Samuel's lips thinned even further, but he stayed silent, waiting.

I raised a hand, commanding silence before any real outbursts could start.

"This is not a decision I made lightly," I stated, my voice firm but steady. "I respect the wisdom our elders have offered in the past. But for too long, this council has stood as an obstacle rather than a guide. It has clung to outdated traditions, to power plays that serve a select few rather than the whole pack."

I let my words sink in, let them carry through the room.

"We cannot move forward if we are shackled to the past. Leadership should not belong to those who seek to control it but to those who earn it, who work every day to strengthen this pack—not just in status, but in action."

The murmurs among the crowd started to shift. Not just shock now, but consideration. Some wolves were nodding, while others still looked wary. I had expected resistance, but I also knew this wasn't a sudden change. It was a long time coming.

"I am not rejecting the wisdom of those who came before us," I clarified. "But wisdom should be shared, not hoarded. Decisions that affect all of us should be made by all of us. That is the future I want for this pack."

There was a scoff from the back of the room and I halfway expected it to be Samuel, but it wasn't—it was his son. He glared at me with those same angry eyes his father had and without hesitation, he stood up and left the room. I wasn't surprised when a few more of the former elders and their families stood up as well. They walked out with their heads held high, clinging to what once was.

"I will be happy to write transfers for anyone who wishes to leave the pack if these changes are not to your liking, but do know that this is the path we are taking, and I will not waver in my decision."

I let my words hang in the air, watching as those who remained shifted, exchanging glances. Some looked relieved, others still uncertain, but no one else rose to leave. The divide was clear—some would resist change no matter what, and those willing to embrace a new way forward.

Throughout all the commotion, I saw my Milo, staring at me with this look in his eyes as if I were the best person in the world, and seeing that—seeing how he'd changed from being distrustful to loving—told me I was making the right choice.

I stepped off the stage and was immediately swallowed into the crowd, asking questions. I answered each one I could and as I did so, my decision never once wavered.

From now on, we were moving forward, not back.

Finished.

AN: It took some time, but this book is finally finished! I know there are still some unanswered questions and such, but don't forget this is just book one of three. Each story is meant to tie into each other which is why I have made the decision to not give this story a traditional epilogue!

Each of the main books in this series focuses on a different rescue wolf. In this case, that was Milo and in the next story, we build off what happened here with a new character. As of now, I don't have a date for when the next book would come out but I am glad this one is finally able to be wrapped up! As I said, there won't be an epilogue since there will be very little time passed between the stories, but I will likely post some bonus chapters of Milo and Slater eventually.

I know this story is a little different from some of my other works since Milo and Slater's relationship wasn't as "spicy" compared to other couples, but these two were always going to have a light relationship in this book, considering how Milo's character currently is. That is not to say I won't write spicer scenes about them, but these would take place in the future rather than in the present when they're still in the early stages of their relationship.

Finally, for a little clarity, Solomon will NOT have a book in the main trilogy of these stories. It was a thought at one point, but it ultimately did not fit with the vision I had for this book. However, I do want to do something else with his character, so there is a very high chance he will either appear in a spinoff or a story set in the same universe.

That's all for now! Thank you to all who stuck around to finish this story and those who found it recently! I'm glad to have finally finished it.