Chapter 87: Same Old, Same Old

REIGN

^~Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results…~^

I rubbed my forehead in frustration. How many times were we going to keep having the same argument?

In the end, I sent a messenger for Milly, because I couldn’t listen to the same bullshit anymore. It was sad that she had more respect than I did, but then, I wasn’t as ruthless as she was.

~Maybe I should be.~

My council sat across from me, the same backward wolves and old faces. The same wolves who served my father. The same wolves who had been bitching about me being alpha since I took over a year ago.

~A whole year of this bullshit.~

I rose from my seat and stood at the window by my desk, staring out across the grounds of the packhouse.

I could see the small pups playing, some she-wolves having picnics and laughing in the sunshine, trying to catch the eye of the single warriors. Hoping for a strong mate.

Not long ago, that was me, lying in the sun and laughing with my friends, not a care in the world.

“You called for me, Alpha?” Milly had arrived, closing the door behind her with a sharp snap. I didn’t need to turn around to know the old bastards were scowling in their seats.

“Yes, I did, Milly. The council and I have reached an impasse. It seems we can’t seem to agree on anything, and I was hoping your expertise would help me”—I turned around slowly—“~persuade ~them.”

Their faces went white. A couple shuffled in their seats, shooting Milly fearful looks.

~Why can’t I have that respect? I am the alpha, not her.~

Milly smiled broadly before clearing her throat and regaining her composure. “Well, Alpha, the one-year anniversary of your ascension is coming up. Perhaps we should throw a party for the pack.

“It seems the council needs reminding of how much support you have within these borders. Perhaps you should invite the king?” She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

~Ah, yes. The king.~

Milly wasn’t talking about Pops. No, she was talking about King Noah from the Lunar Pack, but they didn’t know that.

~No one knows I’ve mated.~

~If they find out, they’ll make Maddox alpha.~

Councilman Pierce cleared his throat, snapping me out of my thoughts. “A party? How ~female ~of you,” he sneered. The other councilmen laughed in approval. Milly scoffed from the door.

I took a calming breath, forcing my magic back down. They didn’t like me because I was a half-breed. They didn’t want me as alpha because I wAS a female. ~I’d never win with them.~

“Yes, Milly, that sounds excellent. Please ask Rita to start putting plans together for that. Tell her to contact the queen. She loves a good party.” Milly nodded and excused herself.

“As for the rest of you…” I walked around my desk and sat back down in my chair. Leaning back, I studied them all over my fingertips. They sat there with smirks on their faces.

I smiled back. “You’re fired. ~All ~of you.”

The smiles dropped from their faces, and they stared in shock.

“You can’t fire us!” Councilman Pierce piped up, outraged.

“I think you’ll find I can. I see no need for all of you. Therefore, you’re fired.” I looked each one of them in the eye, so they knew that I meant it. “Dismissed.”

They stood up in unison. Councilman Pierce fixed his suit jacket. “This is not the last of this, little girl. I will be speaking to the king. You are not fit to be alpha.”

I smiled at him. “May I suggest you call ahead of time, then? The king doesn’t like to be interrupted for trivial nonsense. I’d hate for you to have a run-in with the Iron Soldier.”

His face went as white as a ghost. “The Iron Soldier hasn’t been seen or heard from in decades.”

I flashed him a dazzling smile. “Precisely. I’d hate to be the one who brings him out of retirement. Wouldn’t you?”

He gulped and nodded.

“That will be all, Mr. Pierce. Thank you.”

He scowled and exited my office, shuffling past Milly, muttering to himself.

“Threatening the Iron Soldier. Nice move.” She winked, sinking into a chair across from me.

“It’s just a pity I can’t be given the same respect.” I rubbed my forehead. ~Man, I’ve a bitch of a headache.~

“Well, word will spread about your mass firing. If people want to keep their jobs, they’ll fall into line.” Milly shrugged

“Oh, by the way, Maddox thinks you’re avoiding him. Don’t worry. I told him you’re just busy.”

I leaned back into my chair, crossing my legs. “I am.”

“That’s what I told him.”

“No, I am avoiding him.”

“What? Why?”

“Because being mated means I will need to give up my title and everything I’ve worked for. Society will deem it so.”

Milly rolled her eyes. “Society will deem it so. Such bullshit, Reign. What's really going on?”

“I told you.”

“And I’m not buying it. What’s going on?”

I got up from my desk in a huff. “I don’t want to be mated. I don’t want to have to sacrifice my goals and ambitions just to provide pups.”

Milly nodded before standing. “Well, when you decide to tell me what’s ~really ~going on, you know where I am.”

I chewed my lip as I watched her walk toward the door. “I’ve killed someone,” I whispered.

“You had no choice, Reign. No one blames you for it.”

I scoffed, wiping my cheek. “I think Samson’s family would disagree, don’t you?“

“We’ve all killed people, Reign. Those rogues that we kill are people too, you know?” Milly looked sympathetic.

“That’s different. That’s to protect the pack.”

“And killing Samson protected the pack. He invoked an ancient tradition that hadn’t been practiced in decades, and he had every intention of killing Axel and then you.

“You gave him a chance to submit. He didn’t take it. You can’t blame yourself.”

I nodded. “Come on. Let’s go train. I need to blow off some steam before I have to go through all this crap again tomorrow.”

Milly opened the door as I grabbed my stuff. “But you fired them.”

“Do you really think they’ll listen? I’ll have to fire them again tomorrow and probably the rest of the week before they finally believe me.

“Rita, let me know if you need anything for the party planning, won’t you?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Milly and I descended the steps onto the pack grounds, the warm sun hitting our faces.

“Maddox was asking about Keir.” I stared into the distance, letting Milly’s words wash over me.

Made sense. It wasn’t like we kept our discussions about him private. I didn’t think I was ready for that conversation, though.

One thing was for certain. Keir was coming. And we needed to be ready for him when he did.