Chapter 10: Succession of the Alpha
**Benard Walter’s POV**
Mrs. Zane’s grief was endless, her sobs filling the space like a haunting melody of despair.
“My poor Thelma,” she choked out, her voice trembling with unbearable pain. “Yesterday, she was so happy, telling me she’d wear her best dress to the party today. How could she be gone now?”
“Lucy, stop,” Mr. Zane interjected softly, his tone a futile attempt to bring solace. “What’s done is done. Dwelling on it won’t change anything. We have to move forward.”
Her cries only deepened, her anguish too great to contain. “I just want to understand why she left us why, on such a joyful day, she decided to leave without a single word.”
The sound of heavy footsteps crunching through the forest floor drew all eyes. Rhode. emerged from the shadows, his hair disheveled, his clothes soaked as if he had just waded through water.
‘Mother!” he called, his voice heavy with emotion.
Mrs. Zane rushed toward him, wrapping him in a desperate embrace. “Rhode,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Please don’t leave me too. I can’t take this anymore.”
“I won’t, Mom,” Rhode reassured her, gripping her hand tightly. “I’ll always be here for
you.
Even Mr. Zane’s stoic composure faltered as tears welled in his eyes. He blinked them away quickly and spoke with quiet determination. “Come, Lucy. You need to rest. Let’s not burden the children further with our grief.”
My father stepped forward then, guiding Mr. and Mrs. Zane away with a gentle firmness. As he left, he gave me a look–a silent command I understood perfectly.
Rhode and Thelma had shared an extraordinary bond, and though Rhode appeared composed, I knew his emotions churned like a storm beneath the surface. While I couldn’t grasp the depth of their connection to someone as fragile as Thelma, I respected their bond. Rhode had been my unwavering ally during my darkest times, and I owed him my support now.
“Hey, man,” I said, catching up to him as he wandered along the riverbank. A few werewolves passed us, giving space to the grieving Beta–to–be. “How are you holding up?”
He didn’t meet my gaze, his voice raw with regret “I wish I hadn’t drunk so much today. I should’ve been with her. I’ve been waiting for this day, but I was so blind. She told me she’d be late, and I should have known something was wrong.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder, my voice steady but unsure. “You couldn’t have known. You’ve done enough for her.”
Chop To Succession of the Alpha
Rhode’s breath hitched, and a soft sob escaped him. “I always protected her, you know? It’s not easy for a human to live here, surrounded by wolves, but she adapted. She was even thriving. She told me she was going to bake cookies for me tomorrow. Aunt Susan just taught her how.”
I remained silent, letting his words hang in the air. Sometimes, silence spoke louder than any
comfort I could offer.
“She was so excited for today,” Rhode continued, his voice thick with emotion. “She bought a beautiful dress and new shoes. She was going to show them to me. But now… now I’ll never see her in them. Something must have happened.”
My pulse quickened. I kept my face neutral, avoiding Rhode’s piercing gaze.
“You’re overthinking,” I said carefully. “No one in our pack would harm her. It’s impossible.”
Rhode stopped abruptly, turning to face me. “You don’t understand. She’s always been under immense pressure. She didn’t belong here, not really. She tried to leave once, but I stopped her. I swore I’d always be by her side.”
His voice dropped, trembling with both sadness and fury. “But she’s been so happy recently. This doesn’t make sense. If something upset her, it wouldn’t drive her to this. Someone must’ve hurt her or said something cruel. If I find out who it was…” He trailed off, his eyes blazing with unspoken threats.
I shivered under the weight of his anger. Rhode wasn’t bluffing–his loyalty to Thelma was absolute, and he’d stop at nothing to defend her memory.
Yet, deep within me, I carried a secret that threatened to burst forth. Unless Thelma herself could rise from the grave, no one would ever know the conversation we shared that day.
By the time we reached the house, my father was waiting for me, standing still as a statue.
“Benard,” he began, his voice steady but somber, “we’ll need to postpone the succession ceremony for a few days. The Zane family is grieving deeply, and the entire pack mourns the loss of Thelma.”
I glanced at Rhode, his face a mask of sorrow. “Yes, Father,” I replied “I think that’s the right decision.”
Father gave a brief nod before retreating, leaving me alone with Rhode.
“You don’t have to do all this for me,” Rhode said softly as we walked toward his home.
I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Of course I do. You’re my brother, aren’t you? I want you by
my side as my Beta. Together, we’ll protect the pack.”
Rhode stared at me, his disbelief giving way to gratitude. “Me? You really mean it?”
“Absolutely. I need your strength, Rhode. I can’t do this alone.”
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His expression softened, and he gave me a firm nod. “Then I accept. Thank you for standing by me today. Thelma meant everything to me.”
We embraced, a brotherly bond forged anew in the fires of loss. I watched as he disappeared into his house, his shoulders still heavy with sorrow.
Three days later, my Alpha succession ceremony proceeded as planned. The entire pack gathered, including the Zane family, their grief a shadow over the otherwise joyous occasion.
My parents and I stood at the center of the circle, the night sky ablaze with stars. My father handed me the ceremonial dagger with solemn reverence.
When the moon reached its zenith, I drew the blade across my palm, letting my blood drip onto its edge. This was the blood of countless generations of Alphas–a legacy of leadership and strength.
With the ritual complete, I shifted into my wolf form, my black fur glistening under the moonlight. Throwing my head back, I let out a powerful howl, a declaration to the heavens. The pack joined me, their voices rising in a symphony of loyalty and unity.
I was the Alpha now. This was my pack, my family, and my responsibility. I swore to protect them with everything I had. For Thelma. For Rhode. For us all.
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