When we finish showering, Eli calls Alpha Rik. He wants to meet, but | have Eli put him off. | haven’t even settled into this


    environment, and | don’t know what to expect from those two Alphas. They seem to have expectations of me as a Guardian, and


    I''m not ready for that yet.


    When he’s done, he takes my hand, and we go in search of Carlos. We arrive at a door that is cracked open and we hear raised


    voicesing from inside.


    “| don’t care that he’s back, this pack is mine!” An unfamiliar voice yells.


    “And | told you before, you are not Alpha here. You do not make the rules and | will not step aside for you to ruin everything that


    we have built.” | recognize Carlos’s voice. It is strong and unwavering. Eli made a good choice making him Beta, wolf or no.


    Eli walks in without knocking. “Is there a problem here?” He asks.


    | take in the room. Carlos is standing behind a desk. Three other men are in the room, standing around his desk in an


    intimidating stance. The leader turns and looks at Eli.


    “You''ve been gone for too long. You are no longer Alpha here.” He says to Eli.


    “Is that so?” Eli says and | feel his aura push out. Once again, | have to wonder if he has Alpha blood. His aura is stronger than


    any Beta | have ever met, and | met a lot when | was a child.


    | watch the other man flinch when Eli''s aura hits him. Eli steps up to him, getting in his face. “I''ll be more than happy to ept


    your challenge of my position as Alpha if that’s what this is.” Eli says in a quietly menacing tone.


    The man looks from Eli to me. “Big words from a man who can hide behind a Guardian.”


    | scoff. “Why would he hide behind me? He’s obviously the stronger fighter. | have no doubt he would put you down easily.” | say,


    letting this man know that there is no question in my mind that Eli could defeat him on his own.


    “So, what''s it going to be?” Eli asks him. It would be impossible for him to not be intimidated by Eli. Eli stands nearly a head taller


    than this guy and is at least four inches wider at the shoulders, and that’s not even talking about his muscle mass. Eli is all hard


    muscle. This guy looks like his only exercise is when he lets his wolf


    run.


    +15 BONOS


    “Fine.” He turns to his friends. “Let’s go.” He says and they begin to file out. He tries to shoulder check Eli as he passes, but it


    ends up back firing as Eli doesn’t budge and | watch the guy flinch from the contact.


    When they leave, | reach over and close the door. Carlos sits heavily in the chair, running his hands over his face. “This is what |


    wanted to talk to you about.” He says, looking at Eli.


    Eli pulls a chair out, standing behind it, waiting for me to sit. When | do, he takes the seat next to me. “So, talk.”


    “There have been rumors of several wolves who n to vie for the position of Alpha. You’ve been gone a long time and I’ve been


    able to fight some and maintain the peace, but without a wolf, | can only do so much. Christopher isn’t the only one.” He says


    motioning to the man who just left.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    “How many?” Eli asks.


    “Three to five, I’m not sure. And some may back off now that you’re back.”


    Eli nods, thinking. “Set up challenges for anyone that wants to fight me for the right to be Alpha.


    “Eli.” | say. This is not how | had hoped our first days would go.


    He turns to me. “It’s the only way to get the pack in line. If there are questions about hierarchy, it will cause chaos. The sooner


    we work this out, the sooner we can begin to rebuild. This time, we''ll make it official with an Alpha, Luna and Beta ceremony,


    having each member pledge themselves to us and the pack. | want to make this an official pack. | have other things to talk to


    Alpha Rik and Alpha Liam about, so I''ll find out from them how we can do that.”