Dawn wanted to go to George, but Keith blocked her way.
"The fight ends when one of them dies or forfeits," Keith reminded her. "If you go there, people will doubt the validity of George's victory. Is that what you want?"
Dawn bit her lower lip and shook her head. She didn't think about the stupid challenge. Her mate was there, injured and bleeding, and she wanted to be by his side.
"Conor Shaw and Eliana Shaw," George said. He didn't speak loudly, but everyone heard him. "My parents. They died because of you."
Alpha Edward blinked while trying to focus. What did George say? The pain was numbing all of his senses.
"I never heard of those nas," Alpha Edward responded weakly.
George's jaw ticked. "Alpha Conor Shaw and Luna Eliana Shaw, of the Frostcrest pack. The Red Moon pack invaded us, your father killed my father, and my mother died of heartbreak soon after. Your warriors plundered my treasury and did unspeakable things to the females. You took my territory, imprisoned my people, and whoever dared to object was killed on the spot."
George spat a mouthful of blood on the ground next to Alpha Edward. "I was a toddler, and not many knew what I looked like, so you took in as an orphan."
George sneered. "The reward for surviving diabolical conditions was another hell you called training to be the warrior of the Red Moon pack and die with bullshit nonsense how it's for the glory of the pack. There is nothing glorious about dying!"
"I raised you. Without , you would be no one!" Alpha Edward sprayed blood from his mouth.
George squatted and looked at Alpha Edward mockingly. "Now you know who killed you and why."
"Traitor!"
George released so of his aura and Alpha Edward groaned. "In order to be a traitor, one must be loyal at so point. You never had my loyalty. If there is such a thing as hell, tell your father that I look forward to the day when we will et."
Alpha Edward's mouth opened in a silent scream as George increased his aura, and the cracking sounds were heard like soone was snapping twigs.
Alpha Edward's body contorted as his bones and internal organs burst, and the pool of blood under him was rapidly increasing even though the thirsty soil was soaking it in.
George looked at the lifeless body. He imagined this mont many tis, and in his mind, it was more dramatic. Music? Fireworks? Special effects? There was nothing extraordinary about Alpha Edward's death. It was unremarkable.
George stood up and looked at the moonless sky that was speckled with countless stars, and George wondered if his parents saw this.
He did it. He avenged their deaths. Now what?
Soft fabric covered his midsection, and he felt a pair of arms snaking around his waist from behind. He didn't need to look back to know it was Dawn. Only she slled of cinnamon, and her touch ca with the addictive sparks of their bond.
"It will be alright, George," Dawn said. "Alpha Edward is gone, and we don't need to hide anymore."
George wished it was so simple. He looked around to see many Alphas staring at him, and he rembered where he was and why.
"Alpha Damon," George called. "As your Champion, I defeated Alpha Edward. It was my right to decide if I will show him rcy, and I decided against it."
"You did good, Alpha George," Damon said. "In the na of the Dark Howlers pack, thank you. If you ever need assistance, you can consider us your allies."
George lifted his chin. "Thank you, Alpha Damon, Alpha Natalia." For keeping his secrets and for allowing him to avenge his parents. George had Dawn now, and he had no regrets.
Jas stepped forward and addressed the people gathered. "For the ones who didn't hear it clearly, Commander George is the son of Alpha Conor and Luna Eliana. He is the Alpha of the Frostcrest pack." Jas turned to George. "Alpha George, do you know what you will do now?"
George wrapped his arms around Dawn. Other than being with her, he didn't plan anything else.
"I think the bigger question is what will happen to the Red Moon pack," Alpha William said, and everyone turned to look at Damon.
Damon's eyes moved in slow motion over everyone present, and he paused when he saw people erging from the forest on the North side of the training grounds.
Mindy, Gideon, and the Shaman of the Red Moon pack were at the front, and Arya, Tatiana, and Kalina were with them. Little by little, a dozen people beca hundreds, and they all had the sa lost expressions of uncertainty. They felt the pack bond breaking when Alpha Edward died and were unsure what to do.
'People need a guarantee that they won't be abandoned and that they are not moving from one thralldom to another,' Gideon's voice sounded in Damon's head.
"This is a lot of land for to manage, and I don't need more mbers," Damon said loudly so everyone could hear him.
Jas frowned in disapproval. "If we just leave this, it will be chaos. Other packs will fight for the territory, and people will either be enslaved or beco rogues."
Damon raised his hand, indicating to Jas to be patient. "The Dark Howlers pack territory is far away from here. It doesn't make sense for to modify the borders of other packs to connect two territories or to have two separate regions to manage. Since it's in everyone's interest to suppress rogues and avoid chaos, I suggest that all Alphas present join in discussing an acceptable solution."
Damon looked at Alpha William and Alpha Richard. "Based on the rules of the challenge, this territory and everything on it is mine. If you agree to compensate , I am willing to trade you for it."
Damon turned back to Jas. "As for people, I want to give them the freedom to choose which pack they want to join. If they want to join the Dark Howlers pack, they will need to relocate. I have a lot of unused land. Accommodations and jobs will be provided."
Jas nodded in agreent and turned to the crowd that was still swelling.
"People of the Red Moon pack!" Jas called in an official tone. "As you can see, Alpha Edward fell. The Red Moon pack as we know it is no more. I accepted Alpha Damon's offer to be his Gamma. The Dark Howlers pack is known to provide fair treatnt to all mbers, and they accept anyone who cos in peace. I won't tell you what to do next. Think for yourself. This is your chance to decide which pack you want to join. You can approach the Alpha of your chosen pack and ask if they will take you in. If you have family elsewhere, you can go to them. If you don't have anyone, you won't be discarded." Jas glanced at the ti. "I expect to see your decision by eight o'clock in the morning. We will arrange for people to write down lists for each pack, so you can co and give your nas and occupations…"
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