My wolf didn't hesitate the way I might've. Our laniary fangs were already in position, carrying the Medeina venom. Once I delivered the kill bite, I let him go and stepped back to watch him die. Immediately paralyzed, Monty didn't go out with a whine or a yelp. As the poison spread through his blood stream, he looked me directly in the eye, snarling and growling the whole time. At the end, his body became a confusing mess of skin and fur, shifting back and forth between forms, unable to hold either one.
When his heart beat its last, I was glad he was back in wolf form because it was easier for Elisha. Through our bond came a hint of sorrow at his sire's passing, but nothing more than a hint. His prevailing emotions were pride, joy, and relief.
Shifting, I held my arms out and stepped forward to meet Elisha, running into the ring to fling his arms around me again. His face was wet with tears I quickly kissed away. Shuddering, he submitted to my touch, smiling sweetly as I brushed the back of my fingers across his cheek. "Don't cry, little wolf. This was the only good outcome today, remember?"
Elisha quickly shook his head. As he planted his hands on my chest, his eyes radiated the relief pulsing through our bond. "No, Matt. I'm crying because it's stupid pregnancy hormones. And because I'm happy. I knew you could do it, and you did. Now we can find my brothers and get on with living our lives. And if anyone thinks I'm callous for not crying over my father's death, they can kiss my ass."
"No they can't. Nobody gets to kiss that sweet ass but me." Winking, I touched my forehead against his and breathed in his scent. I didn't raise my head until Ash reached our sides.
After respectfully nodding to Elisha, Ash turned and clapped me on the shoulder. "Congratulations, Matt. Allow me to officially be the first to say Montgomery Whitetail is dead. I hereby declare in front of all these witnesses: you, Matthias Longclaw, have won the challenge. The Newberry Springs pack and all its holdings are now yours to do with as you will. Obviously, the aforementioned holdings include any pack-owned property, the pack itself, and any personal items or wealth belonging to the deceased. This is fair, accepted by the Supreme Wolf Council and understood by the Newberry Springs pack before the challenge was accepted."
I looked around at the crowd and the few men trembling in their wolf forms. Most of the deltas had shifted back, but those closest to Monty were clearly waiting for me to behave as he would've if the situation had been reversed. With Elisha at my side, I walked to the center of the ring and tried to deliver what I hoped would be a short but succinct speech.
"Good morning. For those of you who will mourn his passing, allow me to offer my condolences for your loss. Understand, I offer this out of kindness because I entered this challenge intending the outcome lying in front of us. And my reason has everything to do with the man standing beside me. Newberry Springs Pack, you know Elisha as one of your own. He didn't ask for the hand fate dealt him when he was stolen by one alpha and left to die six months later by another. I'm only here today because I answered a call from the concerned beta at Lucerne Valley, begging me to save Elisha's life. Everything I’ve won today is secondary to my mate."
The chorus of shocked murmurs spreading through the pack told the truth. Monty hadn't mentioned Elisha’s fate. I let the knowledge settle in before continuing. "Those of you who came to Newberry Springs from Lucerne Valley might recognize me as the alpha heir who walked away ten years ago, rather than accept the leadership of my own father when I came of age. I left because, like Elisha’s, my father was abusive and hardly the kind of Alpha I wanted to serve. I'm not like him, and Lucerne Valley will be run differently under my control, which leads me to my next point of business. I have neither the time nor energy to run two packs, especially with a pup on the way." I waited for the chuckles and soft awws to die down before I got to the meat of it.
"Here’s the most important point of business I have with you today. As you heard our territory chief say, Newberry Springs is mine to do with as I please. I have decided our packs will remain allies, but I'm giving control of Newberry Springs and its holdings to my friend, Nick Jackson. Nick is a good man and an even stronger alpha. I would trust no one else more to have my back in a fight. As a second-born alpha son, he was forced out of his pack and left to be a lone wolf because of our ridiculous customs. His home pack's loss will be your gain."
Turning my head, I motioned for Nick to join me. He stood at my left side with a confident air. I bumped my shoulder against his, then turned back to the crowd. "At this time, I would like everyone who wishes to remain with the Newberry Springs pack to move to Nick's side of the circle. If you wish to return to Lucerne Valley, or move there for the first time and leave Newberry Springs behind you, please stand over here, on my side. And now, I'll give Nick a chance to talk because I've jabbered long enough."
Chuckling, Nick returned my shoulder bump from before. "Thanks, Matt. I want to second everything Matt just told you. There will be no hard feelings if any of you choose Lucerne Valley over Newberry Springs. There will also be no repercussions for anyone who backed your former Alpha today, even if it was at your own choosing. Some major changes will be happening in Newberry Springs. Elisha was kind enough to bring me up to speed on all your operations, but we will deal with that later. After I have a chance to meet with your current Gamma Council when I get over there, I will decide which ones, if any, will remain in a leadership role. Any of you deltas who want to be promoted to gamma level might have an opportunity."
Pausing, Nick glanced at Ash. "Elisha has also informed me Newberry Springs doesn't currently have an epsilon in residence, unless things have changed in the past six months? If not, I would like to catch you after we're done to officially announce the opening and request for one to visit until the position can be permanently filled. If I'm going to transfer gamma powers from the outgoing members to any worthy deltas, I'll need an epsilon to make it happen."
"Sure thing, and I'll be happy to help out. It'll be a pleasure working with you. I can feel it in my bones." Ash radiated pride and contentment, making it obvious he supported my decision.
Nick clapped his hands, then rubbed his palms together. "All right. Pick your poison—I mean, your pack." The sense of intrigued relief from the Newberry Springs people was palpable. "And so you know, when we get over to town, I'll be making this same offer to any pack members who aren't present to choose for themselves."
Speeches finished, Nick and I shook hands, and he promised all new and returning Lucerne Valley pack members would arrive by sunset the following day. As I hugged him, I couldn't help but think how weird riding back to pack lands without Nick would feel. Even though I knew this was a good decision all around, change was hard. Especially after we’d ridden together for so long.
Touching his forehead to mine, Nick clasped my neck and settled my frayed nerves. "We all hate change, Matty boy. But you said it yourself: our packs will be allies, and I'll always be a phone call and a ride away. Thank you for the gift you're giving me. This is going to be fun."
I pulled away, laughing and shaking my head. "Only you would walk into the situation Elisha prepared you for and call it fun."
Nick winked. "You forget, citing the law is fun for me. Fun, fun, fun. Maybe if we say it enough times, you'll believe it."