Two Months Later
One deep breath and then another.
“Relax, Sophia,” Zack’s voice cut through the air from a few feet ahead of me, his icy gaze scanning the lounge before meeting mine. Since his father’s demise, there were moments when he seemed as cold as ice, thawed only by the presence of the crowd gathered around. “Whether they realize it or not, they’re searching for a leader, someone better than Maverick. Speak with confidence, and they’ll listen.”
“He’s not wrong,” Leo Caddel chimed in with a shrug, the only resemblance to his father being their piercing eyes and lazy grins; everything else, including his golden hair, came from his mother.
“Still, Sophia has valid concerns. There will be those who won’t be pleased with this decision,” Isaiah added, his voice calm and rational as he stood next in line.
Turning to the last member of the High Table, who stood at the forefront, I asked, “What are your thoughts?”
Rosa Maddox, only two years my senior, hailed from a large pack spanning New Mexico and Arizona. Though her warriors couldn’t aid in the battle, her pack had a history of supporting white wolves. As the sole child of an Alpha, she had been ecstatic when I extended the invitation. She swallowed nervously, her wide eyes reflecting her anxiety.
“If he wants to atone for his family’s mistakes, this is the best place to start,” Rosa replied with conviction, her accent lending a musical quality to her words.
“Alright, is everyone ready?” Sharon Hill, an event planner hired by Sebastian’s pack two months ago, entered the room abruptly, her wheat-colored hair pulled tightly into a bun with a pen sticking out. Despite her frazzled appearance, she excelled at her job. Once the twins and our family settled on a secure location for the High Table’s headquarters, Sharon took charge of orchestrating the entire event. The concert hall, renovated just a year earlier, was perfectly sized. While our warriors secured the building, Sharon transformed it.
“Rosa, you’ll go out first. Count to thirty, then proceed,” Sharon said with an encouraging grin, nudging Rosa toward a set of doors leading downstairs to the stage. “Sophia, you’re last.”
As Rosa descended, I took a deep breath. “I hear your Luna ceremony is this weekend,” Leo murmured over his shoulder, his grin reminiscent of Carlos’s. Pretending to be offended, he added, “Why didn’t I get an invitation? Aren’t we friends, Sophia?”
Rosa followed, each step causing my heart to race faster. “I didn’t realize you’d want to attend,” I retorted with a snort, feeling some nerves dissipate at his teasing tone.
“I’m twenty-three and still single,” Peter smirked, and I swallowed hard as it was Zack’s turn now. “Of course I’d want to come.”
“Consider yourself invited,” I replied breathlessly, trying to return the encouraging smile he gave me.
After Leo headed downstairs to the stage, I made my way to the doors as well. “Take deep breaths, Sophia,” Sharon said, clasping my sweaty hand.
It wasn’t her words but the confidence in her demeanor that gave me the strength to follow the other members of the table. I emerged through a pair of double doors, squaring my shoulders as I faced a small crowd of reporters. Velvet ropes and warriors from all three packs formed a barrier between the reporters and me. Their questions echoed loudly, almost drowning out my thundering heartbeat.
Keep your head up and don’t answer any questions until you’re seated on stage. That’s what Sharon had instructed, and I followed her advice as I lifted my chin and descended the stairs. Several guards trailed behind me, their imposing presence sometimes overwhelming, though the twins insisted they were necessary.
My stomach dropped as I descended, feeling the weight of the crowd and their emotions pressing closer. The edge of my mind tugged as they approached.
The sound of my own heartbeat faded, replaced by a deafening silence that made my ears ring. My footsteps echoed against the smooth floor, and the crowd hushed. The bright lights illuminated the stage, and I walked across it to stand at the center, flanked by Zack and Leo.
A million thoughts raced through my mind, the loudest questioning if they could see my nerves, how unfamiliar this all felt, and how desperately I wanted to make things right. Despite the nightmares that haunted me, I had stayed up countless nights searching for solutions.
“You look as composed as ever, doll,” Ethan’s smooth voice broke into my thoughts, soothing the edges of my panic. “Like a natural-born leader.”
“The only ones who can tell how you’re feeling are us,” Kieran added, his voice slightly raspier than his brother’s.
Straining my eyes, I peered into the crowd and immediately located where my family and mates were seated. Similar to Maverick’s old council room, we arranged the seating in the concert hall to accommodate the various packs that wished to attend. All the Alphas and Lunas sat toward the front, each provided with a microphone to ensure their voices were heard. They would remain silent while the five of us spoke, but this setup gave smaller packs a platform.
It was the twins’ intense gazes that anchored me, preventing the surge of emotions from overwhelming me. The room was filled with people, their nerves still raw from recent upheavals and changes that had rocked our world. Standing tall, I braced myself against waves of apprehension, uncertainty, and concern. A hint of hostility lingered in the air, but the hunger for peace was more palpable.
“Will they revolt?” Kieran’s soft voice sent a shiver down my spine.
With a slight shake of my head, I stepped forward, meeting the eyes of the crowd as Sharon had instructed.
“I understand many of you are cautious,” I began, firming my nerves until my voice emerged steady and composed. My expression conveyed compassion and understanding-qualities Maverick had never possessed. “I won’t speak for Zack Billford, but he has the full support of the High Table. I ask only that you listen to what he has to say.”
“There’s no apology I can offer that will bring back the lives lost or alleviate the pain endured,” Zack’s voice rang out, his face a mask of stone. Though his words lacked emotional turmoil, his eyes betrayed a tumultuous internal struggle, particularly when they strayed to the redhead in the front row. Something had transpired between my best friend and her mate recently, causing Zack’s emotional defenses to crumble. He had retreated to his pack last week, leaving Kat seething with anger. One thing was certain: he had fallen in love with my best friend. “My inaction condemned thousands of wolves, a debt I can never repay. Those I rescued covertly under Maverick’s rule were but a fraction of those I could have saved had I confronted him. I will spend the rest of my life trying to mend the damage my family caused.”
There was little sympathy for Zack, yet he hadn’t sought any. The steely determination on his face, coupled with the shadows beneath his eyes, reassured some but left others unconvinced.
Over the next hour, the five of us outlined immediate changes to be implemented within our respective packs and across the country. It had taken us a month of planning and negotiation to reach this point, but what we presented was only the beginning.
Before the new year, all liberated white wolves would integrate successfully into whichever pack they chose. Children would enroll in schools, parents would find employment and education opportunities, homes would be provided, and families would receive necessary support to begin healing. It would never be enough, but future generations would no longer fear Maverick Billford’s legacy.
We also announced that our borders would be open to all white wolves seeking a new home. Some chose to remain in Zack’s pack, aligned with his vision and the changes he instigated.
One of the most significant legislative changes in our history, and my personal favorite, required considerable time and planning. Henceforth, no Luna would be barred from taking a seat at the High Table. Nor would daughters of Alphas forfeit their rights to their pack-the people they had grown up with and learned to love.
Sebastian and Williams had initially challenged this rule upon meeting me, recognizing that gender mattered less than the well-being of their people. Convincing Zack took five minutes and the threat of Kat’s wrath-she would not have remained silent if he had opposed it. Leo supported the decision with a cheeky grin that made me roll my eyes, and Peter gladly endorsed granting strong Lunas like Louis an opportunity to make history. Rosa cast the fifth and deciding vote, and the law passed.
As the session drew to a close, we invited attending Alphas and Lunas to ask questions. Some were sharp-tongued and scrutinizing, yet none seemed inclined to challenge us. Their queries stemmed from genuine concern, even from packs that had previously been reclusive.
One Luna, with cropped hair and warm brown eyes betraying curiosity tinged with hesitation, rose to speak into her microphone. Her face bore fine lines suggesting she was in her early forties.
“Hello, Luna Sophia. I hope my question isn’t offensive, but where are the former members of the High Table-Griffin Allard, Damion Baron, and Nick Fox? I noticed their absence tonight, and it’s natural for me to wonder, especially given the recent expansion of these new packs following the downfall of many prominent houses.”
Taking a shallow breath, I echoed the warmth and reassurance I felt from Ethan and Kieran. Their supportive gazes bolstered my confidence, allowing me to respond clearly.
“Griffin Allard was rumored to have fled his territory due to unrest. His remains were found two weeks ago within his pack’s boundaries,” I explained solemnly, recalling the grisly discovery. “Damion Baron and Nick Fox have both been relieved of their positions and are currently under investigation to ensure no white wolves reside on their lands involuntarily.”