The Reluctant Alpha (West Coast Wolves #1) - Susi Hawke Page 0,21

Now I'm doubly glad about calling you home. Let's get to the war room. The Gamma Council meets in the conference room across from your father's old office. Horace didn't like the lighting in there, so he kept a desk in the war room. Personally, I think he was afraid the gammas might secretly meet and vote to overthrow him. There's always another alpha to be found if a pack is desperate enough."

"It sounds like my uncle didn't trust anyone. Based on what's left of our town, I can see why. You don’t get to treat your people like shit and then expect them to respect you. Fear you, sure. But true respect comes from trust, and it has to be earned." Jerking my head from side to side, I stretched my neck and took a deep breath as we approached the door to the war room. "Okay, Jared. Here goes nothing. Let's see if the gammas are willing to give me a chance to show them I can be a better alpha than my father and uncle."

"Don't worry about it, Matt. Anyone who spends three minutes with you will see you are nothing like our two former alphas." He patted my shoulder, then opened the door and led me into the room. I recognized every last one of the four gamma wolves sitting around the table. If I hadn't gone to school with them, I knew of them through one of their younger siblings or from town. Jared was right; the pack was much younger now, and our generation had stepped up to the plate.

Although, since two of these men had bullied me when we were kids, my immediate acceptance of alpha wasn't guaranteed. Especially since I hadn't challenged Monty yet. This was gonna be fun. Straightening my shoulders, I held myself to my full height and let them feel the weight of my alpha pheromones while Jared introduced me.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen. As a newly mated alpha, I'm sure you will understand Alpha Matthias wasn't available as early as we'd hoped. He's here now, and I formally petition as pack beta for the immediate acceptance of Matthias Longclaw as the new alpha of the Lucerne Valley pack. Do I hear a second to my petition?"

Marcus Favre, another old friend from childhood, rose to his feet. "I second the petition."

As officious as I'd ever seen him, Jared nodded and looked around the table. "Do I have a third, or does someone have another petition they wish to nominate for consideration?"

I was surprised when Bradley Shaw, a guy who'd kicked my ass more times than I cared to remember, was the next to stand. "I'm happy to back you up as third. Matty Longclaw is one of us, and I know he will do what's right by Lucerne Valley."

"We have the two support votes needed to secure my petition. Are there any objections? Bear in mind our pack was Matthias' birthright. He left to escape the same brutish behavior we all witnessed with our last two alphas. Not only did he come back to a pack who failed to support him as a pup living in an abusive home, but he has already claimed our Alpha Mate Elisha. Furthermore, Elisha is his true mate, which means the fates have had a hand in bringing both of them here."

While they digested his statement, everyone was quiet. Jared opened his mouth as if to move on, but a nerdy guy with thick glasses and a shapeless mop of hair slowly raised a trembling hand. "I think I want to raise an objection."

More than one person in the room rolled their eyes. Jared looked mildly irritated but managed to sound patient. "You think you want to object? I'm sorry, Fredo. I'm going to need more information before I can accept. Especially since you're uncertain whether you even want to make it in the first place."

Fredo sat up straighter. "Forgive me, but I have to question why someone who would run away rather than accept his birthright of alpha heir should automatically be up for petition. Also, the previous Longclaw alphas put their own needs ahead of the pack. How do we know this one will be any different?"

When Jared looked ready to jump to my defense, I touched him on the arm. "Jared, if I might be given a chance to speak on my own behalf, I think I can answer Fredo's concerns."

Nodding, Jared motioned for me to speak. The little