Remy shook his head. “I asked her to, but she and Dad don’t think there should be any confusion as to who the Alpha of the pack is.”
“It makes the most sense,” Will added from beside Katy. “These people are backing you, Remy. Not your dad.”
Remy turned, his brows pulled together. “These people are here for Blackwater. For what we can all do for them.”
I laid a hand on his forearm. “They’re here because they believe in you, babe. Just like the rest of us do.” I lowered my voice and lifted my hand to his jaw. “Just like I do. You’re our Alpha, and we’re all behind you.”
He turned his head and kissed the pulse point on the inside of my wrist before killing the ignition. “Let’s go.”
We all got out of the car, waiting until the others got out of the car behind us before we started walking forward.
“We should’ve gotten a stage,” Ryder said with a snort, eyeing the massive crowd. In addition to the newcomers, Blackwater pack members had turned out to welcome the new members and participate in the run after everything was formalized.
Remy grabbed my hand in his, keeping me close. I leaned into him, absorbing some of his strength.
“You’ve got this,” I said softly so only he could hear.
He nodded, flashing me a quick smile. “Just stay with me, okay?”
The flash of vulnerability made me ferociously protective. Yeah, Remy was an Alpha and could absolutely handle this. But he was still only eighteen. He was supposed to be finishing his senior year and focusing on college in the fall. Not handling a pack war and pulling bodies out of a bombing.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I swore, squeezing his hand.
The others joined the rest of the Blackwater council off to the side as Remy brought us up short in front of a group of men that included my father. He gave me a private smile before wiping it from his face, all business as he looked at Remy.
“Thank you all for coming,” Remy said, his tone even and calm. He made eye contact with each man.
“I apologize for coming last minute,” one man said, ducking his head. His bushy beard completely hid his lips as he spoke, and the sadness in his eyes before he lowered them was painful to see.
The man to his left, shorter and younger by an easy decade clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I told Kevin to come with us. He showed up with what was left of his pack a few hours before we came here.”
“What was left of them?” I hadn’t meant to speak up, but the announcement caught me off guard.
Kevin looked up at me. “Flatrock pack. We’re—I mean we were in Missouri. They came into our pack two days ago in the middle of the night. We didn’t have the numbers to hold them off. Our beta challenged Damien. I managed to get a group of us out while they were fighting. I heard last night that the beta died. What was left of the pack is now part of Norwood.”
His gaze turned desperate as he looked at Remy. “There’s only twenty-three of us, seventeen are females. They were my priority. We’ll help however we can to make ourselves useful, Alpha. Please don’t send us back.”
“Of course I’m not sending you back,” Remy told him. He lifted his voice. “Anyone who wants sanctuary can find it in Blackwater. I don’t care what pack you’re from. None of that matters anymore. What matters is stopping Norwood and Damien Valois before they can kill anyone else.”
A wave of approval and even some clapping rippled through the crowd.
Another of the men looked up. “And it’s true you plan to let the packs reform when the threat is handled?”
“Yes,” Remy answered honestly. “I won’t keep anyone here by force, and I plan to help all the packs reestablish themselves if that’s what they want.”
“Thank you,” the man mumbled and fell back into line.
The oldest of them stepped forward, his chin lifted. “Alpha.”
“Alpha Kincade,” Remy said evenly.
My spine stiffened, realizing this was the Stone Valley Alpha. The man who had declared war on Long Mesa when my mom became pregnant with me.
His gaze moved to me. “And you must be his mate.”
Nikolai’s eyes narrowed into thin slits behind him.
“I am,” I replied coolly, lifting my chin.
“You and your mother caused many problems in my pack.”
A low, warning growl rumbled from Remy.
I squeezed his hand to hold him back. I had this.
“I promise whatever you dealt with was nothing compared to what we did. And we hate Long Mesa even more than you ever could,” I replied coldly. “But Remy told me you lost your son in the explosion and your wife recently. For that you have my condolences. But I hope you’re not focusing on a past neither of us can change to hurt your pack’s future.”
His mouth cracked a small smile. “You appear to be nothing like your uncle or your grandparents.”
“I can assure you that my daughter is not,” Nikolai seethed, his eyes flashing.
Kincade’s shoulders went rigid and he turned slowly. “So, you're the man who stole my son’s intended?”
“He didn’t steal anyone,” I cut in, vaguely worried that this might throw a wrench in the alliance Remy had worked out, but I wasn’t able to stop myself from defending my parents. Especially not after what I had learned today.
“They were as much a victim of Long Mesa as you were,” I added. “As we all were. And Long Mesa has made it pretty damn clear that they’re with Norwood.”
Warren was silent for a long moment before he turned back to me. His expression melted into something softer, something full of regret.
“I know,” he said quietly. “It’s taken me a long time to realize that. I let my pride lead me into choices I have often regretted. It was no secret what happened to your mother amongst the southern packs. Maybe we could have saved her then if we had been less stringent on our high protocols.”
His eyes slid to Remy as he told me, “I believe your mate may be the one who can find the balance I never could. Mercy and justice.”
“He absolutely can,” I said firmly. I knew it in my bones. Remy was the one who could lead us all now. The only one who could unite the packs enough to stand against Norwood.
“Then I am honored to cede my pack to him and his mate,” Warren finished. Slowly, he dropped to one knee in front us, bowing his head.
One by one, the others standing with him took a knee, bowing their heads in submission as they committed their packs to Blackwater. To Remy.
Nikolai was the last. He stood still, watching Remy carefully.
“I spoke with the Alphas of the European and Asian packs who are sending more to help,” he began quietly. “After a lengthy discussion, we’re not comfortable ceding our packs to your rule. You are a young, untried Alpha, and while I see great potential in you, the others are not as convinced.”
Remy was quiet for a long moment. “I understand.”
My stomach dropped, and I swallowed the urge to yell at Nikolai. But it wasn’t even Nikolai I was mad at; it was me.
I trusted him. I let myself buy into being his daughter. Into the Dashkov family.
I was an idiot.
Nikolai turned to me, and I braced myself for whatever he was about to say.