bChapter /bb262 /b

    bYorick /b

    Watching my mate battle with her father, I felt so much pride that she’s mine. I know it’s not standard for a female to take over a pack, bbut /bbit /bdoesn’t matter to me. I never expected to be Alpha of my own pack. That’s why I went to the Academy. Now, with Dad btraining /bbCyra /bbto /bbe an Alpha, I have no doubt that she can run this pack while I, hopefully, work for the Council.

    Although, we still need to figure that out. A lot will depend on whether or not my mate is pregnant. If she is, she’s not far along since she bwas /bable to shift.

    I stand beside my mate when she gestures us over. She takes my hand as my father and our friends surround her.

    “My pack, this may seem sudden to you. I know you were not aware that my father was forcing me into an alliance agreement. I know none of you were aware that I met my fated mate when I went to the Academy nor that my father didn’t care that I found my mate. He still insisted that stay true to the alliance agreement, an agreement that I had no say in. It was created when I was seventeen and had no chance of finding my fated mate,” she says, turning to smile at me.

    “When I met Yorick, I thought I had no options. I believed, as I’d been told, that if I did not go through with the alliance agreement that it would mean war for this pack. I was willing to give up my freedom to protect you from that. However, at the Academy, I made friends who helped me to see that i did have other options, options that included me taking my fated mate as my life partner and stepping in as Alpha of this pack.”

    I squeeze her hand, and she turns back to the pack.

    “So, while this may seem sudden to you, it is not for me. I have been working with my friends and a tech team at the Academy to figure out why my father entered into the alliance agreement. When the information about his underhanded dealings came to light, I knew it was time to act. Through my new family, Yorick’s family, Alpha Christer’s pack has been overthrown,i” /ishe says, causing the pack to gasp.

    “Alpha Sten has been taken into custody, and you all saw that your previous Alpha has also been taken into custodyi,” /ishe continues, ignoring the surprise in the pack. She’s so steady, so confident, that my heart swells once again with pride.

    “While I fully intend to take over this pack, with Alpha Yorick at my side, you all know that I’m still a student at the Academy. I intend to continue my studies this year while also training to be Alpha of this pack. I’m sure you all know how your previous Alpha felt about a woman running a pack. Since he did not find me worthy, I am hot currently confident in my ability to manage this pack in the way that it should be managed,i” /ishe says, turning to my father. I realize that she isn’t calling Alpha Arden her father, she’s calling him ‘your previous Alpha‘ as if she’s distancing herself from her father as much as possible. It’s a smart tactic.

    “Alpha Warren,” Cyra says, gesturing for my father to step up on her other side. Piper and Zach step back, allowing him to step forward.

    “This is Alpha Warren Hill, Yorick’s father. He is a retired Alpha of a very profitable, healthy, and stable pack. Alpha Warren has offered to be my mentor and teach me how to be the kind of Alpha that I want to be, the kind of Alpha that you, my pack, deserve. As I mentioned, I intend to finish out my year at the Academy. I will be at the Academy during the week and here on the weekends, learning from Alpha Warren. While I finish my time at the Academy, Alpha Warren will be the acting Alpha of this pack. He will have full authority over the pack while I am away. I know that this will be a big shift for everyone, but I hope that you will give us some time to show you that byou /bhave nothing to worry about. The pack will be safe, we will make it financially stable again, and this will be the kind of pack that you will bbe /bbproud /bto be part of,i” /ishe says.

    I know why Cyra is saying these things. When packs change leadership, oftentimes, pack members leave, afraid of what will happen to them and the pack. She is encouraging them to stay, at least long enough to see that this will be the type of pack that they want to be a part of.

    “Alpha Warren, would you like to say anything?i” /ishe says, turning to my father.

    “Thank you, Alpha Cyra,i” /imy father says, stepping forward. “What your new Alpha says is true. I know change is difficult. I bknow /bbyou /bexpected to go from Alpha Arden’s rule to Alpha Sten’s. I can guarantee you that living with Alpha Cyra as your leader and Alpha will make byour /bblives /b

    bChapter /bb262 /b

    bInfinitely /bbbetter /bthan an bAlpha /bbwho /bembezzled and wasted millions bof /bbdors /bof an bAlpha /bbwho /bbused /bthat knowledge to manipte bInto /bbbing /bbyour /bbAlpha/b. bIn /bbmy /bdealings bwith /bAlpha Cyrab, /bI’ve found her to be honest and sincere. bBoth /bof those bqualities /bare ne bform /bba /bbpack /bthat bis /bbuilt on trust. You bmay /bhave trusted Alpha Arden to run this pack efficiently, bbut /bhe did bnot/bb. /bYou may have thought t?, bstrong /benough to protect you from outside attacks on this pack, but he was not. Alpha Cyra is. She has bproven /bthat bby /bbnot /bbonly /bgathering t bInformation /bneeded to remove two Alphas from their packs, but by defeating Alpha Arden in a battle of strength for bthis /bbpack /bbFam /bexceed ta assist Alpha Cyra in bing an even greater Alpha than she already is. We will be well acquainted over the next byear/b. bI /bknow you need bto /bbget /bto know me, but I am a fair and just Alpha, i do not tolerate abuse of any kind, and I will not hesitate to discipline banyone /bbwho /bgoes against me or Alpha Cyra. However, if, as Alpha Cyra suggested, you give us time to build that trust, develop an understanding of how we will change this pack for the better, I think you will all be very pleased with the result. I look forward to getting to know all of byou /bbetter over bthe /bnext year,” he says stepping back.

    I’m so thankful to my father for reinforcing what Cyra said. Not that I’m surprised, my father was my first choice to help Cyra because I bknow /bhe’s an excellent Alpha.

    Cyra steps forward again. “Our first order of business is for the pack to ept me as your Alpha and Alpha Warren as your acting bAlpha/bb,/bb” /bbshe /bsays, then turns to me, smiling again. “You will also be epting Alpha Yorick as your co–Alpha. He will be looking into other avenues of employment, working for the Council and bringing money into the pack, but he is my partner, my equal, in all things. He is the reason bthat /bbI /bam standing before you today. So, I will not take my ce as his Alpha, I will stand at his side as we lead this pack together.”

    “Cyra,” I say softly, overwhelmed by her words. I had no idea she intended to do this. I’d had every intention of being first in line ito /iept her as my Alpha today.

    She puts her finger on my lips. “I know your life will take you away from the pack, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t equals, Yorick. bI /bbam /byour mate, and you are as much my Alpha as I am yoursi,/ii” /ishe says.

    “I will always stand at your side, Cyra,” I tell her, my love for this woman overwhelming me.

    “Good,” she says, turning back to the pack. “We will have the Alpha ceremonies after lunch, then tonight, we celebrate!”

    The cheers from the pack aren’t quite as excited as they would normally be, but that’s to be expected with so many changes all at once.

    I pull my mate to me, kissing her in front of her pack.

    ‘You know I intend ito /i“celebrate” by de–flowering that virgin bed of yours tonight, right?‘ I ask her in the mind link as I kiss her.

    i‘/iiI /iexpect my new co–Alpha to keep me up all night reminding me why he’s the best and only man for me,’ she purrs back.

    Damn, I can’t wait for tonight!