Chapter 236: A Suitable Beta I
"From Fangborne?!" This time, Thorton Elrod could no longer maintain his silence. He slammed his fists against the table surface and bellowed. "How can Thunderstrike be led by an outsider?!"
"Well, unless you have suitable candidates from within Thunderstrike to become Darach’s new beta, he needs to outsource," Alpha Burke calmly rebutted. "And no, as mentioned by Alpha Chester, his sister does not count."
"As if I would agree to be that loser’s beta," Dahlia said with a growl. However, she quickly backed down when she noticed several darkening expressions thrown her way.
"Careful," Luna Cassidy said, grinning rather sinisterly.
Even though she wore a smile on her lips, her words were no laughing matter. She tapped her cheek thoughtfully, leaning her head to one side as she beamed down at Dahlia Elrod.
"Don’t forget," she said. "Darach Elrod is the council-chosen alpha for Thunderstrike. By disrespecting him, you’re also disrespecting every member that made that choice. You’re no longer the daughter of the alpha, Miss Elrod, and unfortunately, just sharing a last name with the alpha will not win you any points after what you’ve put him through."
"Except Darach hasn’t even accepted the position," Dahlia said through gritted teeth. She looked at Darach’s reflection, her voice raised as a red flush fanned over her cheeks as she spoke. "Tell them!" she yelled. "You have no wolf, no training, no knowledge. You’re not fit to be Thunderstrike’s alpha and you know it!"
In the image cast by the moonwater, Darach remained still, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked away from the bowl of water. His silence, however, only further enraged Dahlia.
"No way..." she trailed off. A cold, short laugh left her lips as she shook her head. "You’re not seriously considering it, are you?"
Finally, her words seemed to gain a reaction from Darach. His ears twitched and there was a slight movement in his jaw― that was enough for Dahlia to get the confirmation she needed. Her laughter became maniacal as she shook her head in disbelief.
"Forget it, Darach!" she growled. "You are unfit to be the alpha of Thunderstrike. Hell, you’re not even worthy enough to lead a rundown pack like Hornstead if it came down to it!"
Her words gained the ire of Alpha Burke and Luna Cassidy, though they wisely chose not to say a thing. For now, this was Dahlia and Darach’s problem, and by extension, Thunderstrike’s problem. As an outsider pack, they had done enough to meddle. Any further and it would be crossing the boundaries.
"And what makes you think that you would be any better of an alpha for Thunderstrike?" Darach finally countered.
All of us turned our attention to Darach’s image, watching in silence as his eyes slowly turned to the bowl of water. It looked as though he was staring right at Dahlia in person rather than through this strange and magical video call method.
"W-What... How... Of course I am a better leader!" Dahlia sputtered. "Daddy has been training me since I was young. I am a better fighter than you are, a better warrior. I command attention better than you can, and the people listen―"
"They listen because they’re afraid of you," Darach smoothly cut into her speech. "That’s not really listening, is it? They’re ruled by fear."
"It gets the job done," Dahlia spat out. "How else did you think Thunderstrike became the pack it is today? Through cuddling unicorns and painting rainbows? Please, cut me some slack. Every great pack that there ever was rose to power through fear."
Darach grew quiet, but I wasn’t about to let Dahlia wear that cocky grin for too long.
"Or respect," I said.
"Excuse me?" Dahlia hissed, sharply turning her gaze to me. "I didn’t ask for your opinion."
"And neither did the rest of us," I retorted. "Yet, we’re forced to sit here and listen to you whine about how you didn’t get the spot of alpha, something you do not deserve. News flash, Dahlia, Thunderstrike isn’t a toy that you can whine about when Daddy doesn’t give you what you want."
"You think you’re so big, aren’t you," Dahlia growled.
She crossed the clearing, clambering past the tables, and marched straight for Fangborne’s table. I remained where I sat, my back as straight as a rod as I raised my chin, unflinching. Damon and Blaise were right by my side. Even if Dahlia wanted to, there was nothing she could do.
"Just because Fangborne brought you here as a representative doesn’t mean you’re important enough to speak," she snapped. "You’re just a human. A lowly, disgusting, insignificant human that is right at the bottom of the supernatural food chain. Without your mate and your brother-in-law, you’re nothing!"
"Without my mate and my brother-in-law, I would be in the same position as you," I said, meeting her gaze. "The daughter of a fallen alpha. Stormclaw, to be exact." Dahlia reeled back, surprised by my revelation. "Though," I continued, "what does that make you, if I am nothing? You and I are not so different."
"You―"
Dahlia raised a hand, prepared to throw down a slap despite the consequences she no doubt knew she would face. After all, Blaise and Damon’s bodies were already rigid, ready to return the blow tenfold if Dahlia’s hand truly landed on my face.
However, she was stopped by a mysterious force, her hand frozen in mid-air as her face crumpled in disbelief.
"That’s enough!"
It took me a while to realize that it was Darach who spoke. Strangely, even through the moonwater, his voice held a commanding aura. I didn’t feel as compelled to follow his words, but Dahlia, on the other hand, didn’t seem like she could disobey even if she wanted to.
She struggled to move her hand, her entire arm quivering but unable to move any closer to my face no matter how hard she tried. Beads of perspiration had already started to build on her face and even her veins were starting to protrude against the skin on her forehead. Yet, no matter how much force she willed, it wasn’t enough to overpower two simple words from Darach.
"It seems like your wolf has recognized Darach as your alpha," Damon said cockily, folding his arms across his chest as he laughed in mockery.
"I just need to choose a beta, right?" Darach asked with a huff. "Alright then. I choose Harper Gray."
