Chapter 95: Council of Dicks

REIGN

I want to be a nice person. I really do. But some people just push it too far.

It hasn’t even been a day since my mother’s death, and the council has decided to summon me for a meeting with my family. ~Bunch of pricks.~

Maddox and I had completed our mating the night before, and apart from the brief pause where I cried, it was magical. We connected on a deeper level and marked each other.

“We understand and sympathize with your loss, Reign, but we feel that it is time you face the facts that you are not cut out for this job and step down,” Louis, one of the council members, piped up.

They seemed braver now that my family was clearly grieving.

“No.”

“Reign, we under—”

“Alpha Reign.”

“Right. We understand that you’re going through a lot right now, which is why we think it would be in the pack’s best interest for you to allow a male to run the pack.”

“Let me guess. You think Maddox should do it? Hmm? Or Axel?”

“Well, they might be the better choice.”

“I won the title fair and square. And if you’ll recall, I had to take a life to win it too.”

“Well yes, but—”

“So what you’re saying is you think my mother’s death is the best reason to make me step down?

“You plan on using my grief, my family’s grief, to your advantage to get something you’ve wanted all year?”

The council looked uncomfortable in their seats, but one spoke up. One scrawny dark-haired wolf spoke up. ~Brazen, very brazen.~

“In all honesty, little girl, apart from a fancy party that was gate-crashed, what exactly have you achieved this past year?” He had a smug look on his face.

“Well, let’s see. In the past year, I lost both of my parents, almost lost my brother, found my mate, and had to fight practically to the death to win the title of alpha.

“I faced backward sexist wolves like you, threw a party, fought with the madman that threatened our pack, and managed to unleash and contain the White Wolf. What have ~you~ achieved?”

I raised my eyebrows at him. He mumbled something incoherent and looked out the window.

“I’m done with this conversation, and I refuse to keep going through this, so let me put this in terms you will understand. I am the alpha, and I will remain the alpha until I die.

“If you have a problem with that from this point forward, then leave the pack. Either you leave voluntarily, or I will force you to leave and make you rogue.

“The choice is yours. And no, I am not bluffing. Now get the fuck out of my office. I have a funeral to plan.” I waved them away.

They looked stunned at my words, but when they saw neither Pops nor Diego was going to correct me or make me see sense, they reluctantly left the office.

“Was I in the wrong?” I turned to ask them. Maybe I had let my emotions get the best of me.

Diego shook his head. “You said it nicer than I would have. Proud of you, kiddo.”

There was a knock at the door, and Rita popped her head in. “Sorry to interrupt you and your family, Alpha.”

“It’s all right, Rita. What is it?”

“A Miss Brianna is here to see you.”

Milly grumbled in the corner. I shot her a weary look.

“All right, Rita, send her in. Thank you.”

Brianna walked through the door, her eyes all red and puffy from crying. “Reign, I’m so sorry.” She sniffed into her tissue.

I could practically hear the self-restraint talk going on inside Milly’s head. She always hated Brianna.

“Thank you, Brianna. Will that be all?”

She looked up from her tissue, stunned. “Reign, I’m your best friend.”

“And yet, during the hardest year of my life, you were nowhere to be seen. Have a good day, Brianna. I’m a little busy at the moment.”

“You know, Reign, someday when you need a friend, don’t come crawling back to me, because I won’t be there,” she snapped.

“Okay,” I responded and turned my back to her.

She stormed out of the office, slamming the door shut behind her.

“Just one more thing, Reign.” Louis burst through the doors.

“It’s Alpha Reign,” Diego growled, standing in front of Louis.

He went white in the face. “Yes, right, of course. Alpha Reign. I’m sorry, I thought—“

“You thought that she was alone so you could attempt to bully her?” Maddox stood up from his seat. “She literally disintegrated a man, and you want to try your luck at intimidating her?”

He shuffled uncomfortably. “Well, no, it’s just… Never mind. My sympathies for your loss, Alpha Reign. Your Majesties.” He nodded to all of us and left.

I sank into my chair, letting out a heavy sigh.

Grams rubbed my shoulders, planting a gentle kiss on the top of my head. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown, darling. Remember that.”

I nodded, opting not to say anything. Maddox reached over and stroked my hand gently.

In all honesty, I couldn't think about anything else except that we needed to bury my mother.

~Another parent has gone… Now I really am all alone…~