Chapter 235: The New Alpha
’Darach Elrod will be Thunderstrike’s new alpha.’
There was no doubt about it. Everyone present in the clearing had heard the Oracle’s announcement loud and clear. Just as ever, her tone was entirely impassive. That also meant that the words she had spoken were firm and had no room for argument.
"Impossible!" Dahlia screamed.
She stood up abruptly, the legs of her chair catching in the dirt and knocking the entire seat over as a result. However, Dahlia paid it no mind― her eyes were red and trained on the moonwater’s reflection, glaring hard at Darach as though her brother was present and watching.
In reality, Darach probably hadn’t even heard the announcement. He and Nicole were still offscreen, and every once in a while, Nicole’s voice could be heard muttering unintelligible words.
"I am Thunderstrike’s only possible successor!" Dahlia screeched, clawing at her own chest as though it helped prove her point. "Darach could never be a suitable leader for Thunderstrike!"
She glared at the crowd, her index finger sweeping across everyone present as she stared at them with her beady eyes. Finally, her gaze landed on Hornstead’s table, and she squinted her eyes.
"You are all only doing this to weaken Thunderstrike’s influence!" she accused. "Darach will be Thunderstrike’s downfall, but that’s what you’re all hoping for, isn’t it?!"
"That was not taken into consideration," Alpha Burke calmly replied. "If that was our intention, we would’ve voted for you instead."
"It is precisely because we wished for Thunderstrike to remain prosperous that we voted for someone else," Luna Cassidy added, placing a hand on her mate’s shoulder. "I am sure everyone who voted for Darach Elrod agrees."
Chatter quickly filled the clearing, the various representatives of the packs turning to one another and nodding as they discussed amongst themselves. Whatever they said, it was clear with just one look― Dahlia Elrod would not only bring Thunderstrike to its doom, but she could also prove to be a catastrophic leader for the surrounding packs.
While the other packs did not necessarily wish for Thunderstrike’s downfall, they certainly did not wish to endanger themselves anymore so than they needed to.
Dahlia gritted her teeth indignantly. "Darach has no wolf," she said. "How can a wolfless alpha lead a pack? That is unheard of!"
"And whose fault do you think that is?" Luna Cassidy snapped.
"Why don’t we hear from the man himself?" Blaise asked, raising an eyebrow. "Nicole? You still there?"
There was a rustle and the sound of a few metal plates hitting the ground. I could even hear the sound of a slight yelp, and it wasn’t before long the water’s surface trembled, causing the image to blur. When it stilled again, Nicole had remerged. She had somehow pulled Darach along, forcing him to sit down with her in front of the moonwater.
"Here," she replied. Then, she turned to Darach, nudging him. He jolted when her elbow knocked into his arm, his eyes widening like a deer caught in a car’s headlights. "They’re talking about you," she said.
"What..." he asked, his voice still trembling. Darach looked as though he had calmed down significantly. I had no clue what Nicole had said — or done — to him behind the scenes, but at least Darach did not look as though he was on the edge of a mental breakdown. "What is it?"
"Thunderstrike needs a new alpha," Blaise calmly said, taking the initiative to explain, knowing that if Damon was the one to do so, Darach might just relapse. "The council has voted for you to take your father’s place."
"M-Me?" Darach pointed at himself, looking back and forth between the moonwater and Nicole. "But... how? Why? I can’t be the alpha!"
"For once, we are in agreement," Dahlia said with a snort. "At least he is self-aware."
"But even if Darach doesn’t think himself suitable as the new alpha of Thunderstrike, that doesn’t mean that he thinks you are," Luna Cassidy sweetly retorted.
She then turned to look at Darach’s projection.
"The council has decided that you are most suitable for the position," she kindly said, her tone much softer compared to when conversing with his sister. "Unless you have a different candidate in mind, you would be appointed as the alpha, even if only temporarily."
"I..." Darach trailed off. He bit his lip and then looked away from the water. "I am not ready. How can I― How can a werewolf with no... wolf... lead a pack as its alpha?"
Nicole sighed before leaning in, whispering something in Darach’s ear. His face lit up just a fraction, but it quickly regained its downcast look.
"You don’t know that for sure," he murmured. "It might not work."
"Does Nicole have a way to cure him?" I quietly asked, looking at Damon and Blaise, wondering if they had the answers.
"It’s possible," Damon said. "Nicole is a highly capable healer. She might have a few methods that could be tried and tested."
"I am assuming she doesn’t want to share the news in case it doesn’t work," Blaise said. "Or, if Darach’s enemies caught wind of a possible chance of his recovery, they might find all sorts of ways to prevent it."
"Makes sense." I sighed.
I couldn’t even imagine what Darach must be feeling right now. Perhaps he had only made peace with his current state because of Nicole’s promise to help. Yet, judging by his reaction, perhaps even he did not believe he might ever recover his wolf.
"Might I suggest a stronger beta be selected for Thunderstrike, in that case?" a different representative said. "That way, Thunderstrike would still have Darach Elrod as its new alpha. Brain is as important as brawn when it comes to leading a pack. His beta simply needs to fill the position of brawn."
"But who?" another asked. "We can’t possibly suggest his sister? She will overthrow him at the first chance she has!"
"I am still right here!" Dahlia yelled, clenching her fists tightly in rage.
"But he doesn’t know anyone in his pack," yet another representative added. "That was discussed previously, wasn’t it? Darach Elrod had been outcasted by his family since young. He spent more time in Fangborne’s packhouse than his own!"
"In that case," Alpha Burke said thoughtfully, "why not suggest someone from Fangborne?"
