Out Running the Alpha

Bastien's P.O.V

I howled in glee as we stood over our vanquished foes. We had annihilated the Moon Stone pack. Their Alpha had refused to submit to me and instead chosen to fight. They had been a large pack, but they were no match for us. All the Weres in our pack were the fiercest warriors. We managed to annihilate what little resistance they put up quickly. Now I had to meet with the survivors who were huddled together at the edge of the battlefield. I needed them to see their dead so they would know to take me seriously and what would happen if they refused the deal that I was going to offer them. I shifted back to my male form pacing in front of them still covered in dirt and blood. "Listen up" I shouted waiting until every last one of them was looking up at me in terror. "The terms of your surrender are simple. You may choose a new Alpha, but they will defer to me. Every ten years you will offer up ten Were's as a tribute to be trained and join the Silver Blood pack. If you fail to do this we will come back and wipe out your pack completely. If you challenge or defy me in any way we will wipe you out is that understood?" I barked.

"Yes Alpha" The remaining members of the moonstone pack mumbled unison.

I nodded appeased "When you pick a new Alpha I will be expecting their presence at my compound in Portland". With that, I shifted back into my wolf form and began the run back home. I could have flown, but the run served as a good workout to keep my warriors strong. As I ran I thought about my mate. She was proving to be difficult, but I had to admit I liked the challenge.

After Delilah had left me I'd vowed to never let anyone have that kind of influence over me again. When I'd marked Brittney I'd known it would create a bond between us, but I had thought that I could use that to my advantage and it would make it easier to bend her to my will. I hadn't anticipated the effect that it would have on me. I found myself wanting to please her, to make her happy. When I'd caught her dancing in the library the day that I had left I'd wanted to just watch her. She'd looked so incredibly beautiful, but also incredibly sad. It was haunting and if I closed my eyes I could still see her. I decided to throw a party. It might make Brittney happy and would give me a chance to reward my pack.

When I reached my compound I heard those who were still there howl signaling my return and I howled back before shifting back into my human form. I could smell my mate even from here and I needed to be with her. I threw on a pair of basketball shorts before heading upstairs where I found her waiting for me. Her Golden hair was messy and she'd never looked more beautiful. I took her in my arms kissing her. God, I wanted her so badly. I could feel my wolf begging me to do it. As Brittney pressed herself against me I almost gave in, but something occurred to me. She would hate me forever if I took her mow with the bond forcing her to do this and I couldn't stand the thought of her hating me. I forced myself to stop and explain to her why we couldn't. She looked embarrassed, but I knew that she was grateful. This bond had changed me more than I had thought. I'd wanted this girl from the moment that I'd smelled her and had been waiting for this moment since I had first brought her here. And yet now that she had not only been willing but had actively wanted me and I had wanted to wait because I thought it would make her happy.

I slept for a couple of hours with Brittney sleeping peacefully in my arms, but I was up early to begin planning the part. I had gotten the word out and Were's from all over the west would be here by tonight. Things had been tense in the pack since I had started my campaign to become king and everyone needed a release. This was the perfect release and a celebration ensuring my pack that not only that it was possible, but that it was our right. We are the strongest pack and now I had a true born female Were from the Baudin line for a mate which would go a long way to making some of the more traditional old-world packs fall in line. Eventually, though, I would have to deal with the vampires. Not only would they oppose me being the Alpha king, but I knew they wanted my mate. No one knew what for, but it couldn't be anything good.