Candidate

Book:Ruthless Mafia's Innocent Mate Published:2025-2-16

Maya flinched as she heard Lucas’s words, her composure flying without her wanting to lose control of it. “If you don’t know, I am the sister of the dead queen. What do you feel about that, Alpha Lucas? If I don’t leave, the pack’s next ruler will be me in line, as I hold the same blood as the royal queen.”
The living room went silent as soon as the words left Maya’s mouth.
Priya felt a bit proud, then scared, seeing how Maya was giving it back to Lucas, who was trying to show that he was the supreme power.
When this position of Alpha doesn’t even permanently belong to him.
He is the Alpha until the royal blood doesn’t gain power, and Priya knows one thing – when she gains power, it will be difficult to handle this man.
He looks like a far more scheming person than anyone else ever can.
He is giving dangerous vibes for sure.
“I know you are, but you left, and I got this position in a fair and square way, Maya,” Lucas gritted his teeth, feeling sore about the so-called comment Maya dared to pass on him.
When he got informed that a lady entered the pack, with three more people with her, and Jackson gave permission for their entry, he was not expecting Maya. But now, seeing her, his blood boils. He feels threatened, and the way this lady has the audacity to taunt him like this…
Of course, he did feel threatened. For the last 18 years, he tried to find her so he could kill her, so his position wouldn’t be threatened.
Now she is here, looking so high and mighty, and she is trying to look down on him.
“I don’t know about fair and square, but I don’t think I can’t be here. Why do I need the pack members’ permission? I’m not a stranger,” Maya stated, her eyes narrowed.
“Alpha Lucas, Maya doesn’t mean to offend you, but somehow she is right. Without anyone’s vote or permission, she has every right to stay here,” Jackson said, not wanting this situation to escalate any further.
It’s already enough, and the more it is dragged out, the worse it will get only.
Maya is just making it bad. He knows she is right, but Lucas is always gaslighting. That doesn’t mean it’s necessary to fall for it.
“I understand, Jackson. I was not trying to disrespect her. It’s just that Levi and Rish’s ban lifting needs time, and I thought pack permission would be appreciated, as they will be happy to see the runaway sister of their queen,” Lucas forced a smile, his eyes filled with malice, his voice filled with taunts in his words.
Maya scoffed at Lucas’s words. “Happy to see the runaway sister? You seem more worried about losing your position than welcoming a member of the royal bloodline.”
Lucas’ eyes narrowed.
“My sister became queen through noble bloodline, not by nomination or vote. I have just as much claim to lead this pack as she did. Though I don’t want to lead anything.”
Lucas’s fake smile dropped as his jaw clenched. “You abandoned your responsibilities long ago. The pack has thrived under my leadership these past years.”
“You think I care?” Maya retorted.
Jackson stepped between them, trying to be a calming presence. “Please, both of you, there’s no need for hostilities. We are one pack, one family.”
“If you don’t want to lead the pack, then what are you doing here?” Lucas asked, completely on edge.
“I am here because I wanted to be. I don’t feel like I need to answer you. I don’t want any position,” Maya answered.
In reality, she didn’t even belong to this position. It was Priya who was the royal heir, the last child of the queen and king. But as they needed to protect her, this seemed like the best decision after seeing Lucas’s behaviour.
Now it would be better if Priya discovered her powers first, and only then would it be right to expose her true identity. That’s why Maya was taking Lucas’s radar on herself.
“Okay, if you want to stay here, you can, but this adopted kid can’t. She is just a human, and no way can she stay,” Lucas announced.
“She is human, but now she knows about the wolf world. Don’t you think it will not be the best decision to send her back, Alpha Lucas?” Jackson reasoned.
Lucas scowled at Jackson’s reasoning. “Her knowing doesn’t change the fact that she’s an outsider. We can’t have humans running freely among our kind.”
He shot a disdainful look at Priya. “It’s too risky. Who knows what kind of trouble she could bring.”
Priya shrank back, intimidated by the Alpha’s harsh gaze. Maya stepped protectively in front of her.
“She’s just a girl,” Maya stated firmly. “And under my protection. You’ll not kick her out.”
“Your protection means nothing here,” Lucas snarled. “I am the Alpha. My word is law!”
“Surely, we can have a compromise then.”
Lucas opened his mouth to protest, but Maya cut him off.
“I’m not asking for your compromise or permission, Jackson. Priya stays, end of discussion.” She stared Lucas down defiantly. “Unless you want to try forcing us out?”
A tense silence fell over the living room. Lucas’s eyes burned with barely constrained anger, but he seemed to realise he was outnumbered if it came to blows. With a hateful glare at Maya, he sighed.
Maya let out a breath she didn’t realise she’d been holding. This was just the beginning of her troubles with the Alpha.
She knew he was feeling threatened, but this was not how an Alpha should behave. She hadn’t even asked Jackson who he was and how he became a candidate for the Alpha voting, and why he even won. She had never seen him in the pack before.
So how did he suddenly pop up and become the Alpha? She needed to dig into this deeply. She was just shocked before that there was now an Alpha, but she had thought it would be fine since the pack chose him. However, after seeing him, he was the worst.
“So now we can stay here, right? Is there something more you need from us? Or can we leave, Alpha Lucas?”