Wait. Had Dad said “alpha” to Charlie??
“Wait, what?” Charlie asked at the same time I breathed, “The new…?”
“But the Test of Endurance?” Charlie said. “I had to forfeit.”
“You never forfeited,” Dad said. “You were both going through the Test of Endurance the entire time. It began the day you arrived, Charlie, and found out everything you’d have to go through in order to win. And Regan,” he said, turning to me. “Everything you’ve done. Putting the pack’s interests ahead of your own. Being willing to marry for the blood treaty, for duty… All of it was part of your own endurance challenge. But the key was rooting out the traitor.” He gestured to Lane. “And you did that, Charlie. Alpha is yours, if you want it.”
Dad turned back to me, regret painting every single line of his drawn expression. My heart dropped to my ankles. My knees threatened to buckle as I realized he was serious. And it wasn’t jealousy or defeat that threatened to suck me under. It was fear. And just like that, I knew marrying Owen Rossi was only the second worst thing that could ever happen to me.
I rushed Charlie and threw my arms around her, squeezing until I felt her wince. I remembered her injury and eased up. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whispered. “And I’m honored to serve you as beta.”
“But…” Charlie stared back at me, her mouth hanging open. “You want alpha more than anything.”
“No.” I shook my head and gave her a genuine smile. “There’s something I want more. I never want to lose you again.”
“Well, hopefully, you won’t have to,” Dad said. His eyes lit up in a way I hadn’t seen in months. “What I mean is … You both completed every task so you both win according to the terms laid out in the competition’s guidelines. Alpha belongs to both of you now.”
“But—the rules state only one can win,” I said, shaking my head in confusion and disbelief.
“No.” Thill stepped up, his gnarled fingers reaching to squeeze my shoulder. “The rules for each competition are written by the council.” His eyes crinkled at the edges as he turned to Charlie. “We wrote the rules. You both completed all necessary tasks. That makes you both an alpha. It’s your choice what to do with it.”
“We knew forcing you to compete would draw out the killer, so we created a situation that forced them to act somehow.” Dad’s brow rose. “Did you really think I would pit my daughters against each other like this if it weren’t vital to locating a murderer and a traitor?”
It was probably wiser not to answer that. Instead, I stared up at Thill, disbelieving, until finally turning back to my sister. Charlie’s grin was slow to spread. “Regan, we did it.”
“We did it,” I breathed and then grunted as Charlie caught me up in a tight hug.
“William, stop being a tease and tell them everything,” Sheridan said.
Charlie and I broke off and found Dad frowning. “Sheridan’s right. There’s one other thing. The treaty was … well, it wasn’t exactly laid out like we told you.”
“Dad,” I warned.
“There’s a provision in it.” His gaze flicked to Charlie. “I never thought you would develop … Charlie, you surprised us all with your capacity for love and acceptance. You might have to choose.”
“Choose?” Charlie echoed.
Blaine Rossi smirked as he pushed his way through the crowd, a knowing twinkle in his gaze. “Before she died, Myra came to me. She wanted peace. We both did. I was tired of fighting over something that shouldn’t have happened.” He flicked a gaze toward Thill who stood, hardened and unmoved.
I remembered what Sheridan had explained to me the night Charlie was poisoned. How Thill had witnessed Blaine feeding—but hadn’t stopped long enough to realize he had no intention of killing his lunch. Even now, Thill couldn’t admit he’d acted rashly. Maybe the changes to the competition, the fact that he’d allowed two alphas to emerge, was his way of acknowledging change was needed.
Blaine adjusted his shoulders and went on. “After Myra’s death, William and I did create a treaty, but the terms are … not quite so intimate.”
I glanced between him and Gretchen—whose expression showed only the slightest hint of relief. Owen didn’t give away anything. Beside him, Charlie looked pale.
“What are the terms?” I asked, chest tight.
“A joint council, shared decisions. Peace talks. Regular interaction from both sides,” Blaine said. “Democracy,” he added, giving me a pointed look that reminded me of my scathing comments regarding his politics during the Test of Knowledge. “It’s one of the reasons you are now a two-alpha pack. No more dictatorships. No more monarchy having the only voice.”
“We’ll work together now,” Charlie said, so much hope in her voice it made my chest ache. I’d already read between the lines.
“So, no marriage?” I asked.
“No marriage,” Blaine confirmed.
“Specifically, no marriage between the monarchy and the alpha—ever,” Gretchen Rossi put in, and I realized her relief was for me not being allowed to marry her son. Blaine frowned at her and then looked back at Charlie, brows raised in question.
“If I’m going to be alpha, I’m not allowed to marry Owen?” Charlie asked, even paler than before.
“That’s right,” Sheridan said. “It’s expressly forbidden in the treaty documents. Which are, in fact, enforced with blood,” she added, glaring at my dad anew before turning back to Charlie. Her expression softened. “I had no idea you would have feelings for each other when we allowed William to seal the treaty. An engagement alone would disqualify you immediately.”
“And then what?” Charlie asked. “Would Regan have to—?”
“Choose someone else,” Sheridan said just as a familiar hand slipped into mine. I looked over and found Carter staring down at me and my heart threatened to overflow.
“The choice would be entirely Regan’s?” Charlie asked, but her tone had changed and I swear I could hear the laughter in it. Still, I didn’t break away from Carter. I held my breath waiting for Sheridan’s answer.
“Yes,” she said after what felt like an eternity.
And with that single word, all of my greatest fears turned to happiness. It was exactly as Charlie had predicted. We would have them both: duty and desire. And we would have each other. That was everything.