Chapter 104


    #Chapter 104 – G


    The hall is truly gorgeous, candle-lit chandeliers hoisted high in the ballroom, casting a glowing golden


    light down on all of the attendees.


    Victor stands at the entrance to the hall, his mother and father on one side, Rafe and Bridgette on the


    other. Victor has his hands in his pockets, surveying the room. It’s a big night for him – one which


    could, perhaps, make or break him.


    His mother gives his hand a small, subtle squeeze. “You’ve got this, my boy,” she whispers. Victor


    gives her a quick smile, and then, as one, they walk into the room.


    It’s a charity event, like so many others for Alphas from theirmunities. This one supports widowed


    wives and their children, an honorable cause which Victor has famously supported before.


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    While he’s here to support the charity, it’s also an opportunity for Victor to make further connections


    withmunity leaders, solicit further donations for his school project, and to feel out his reputation


    with the other wolves after his disastrous almost-wedding.


    A few steps into the room and Annabeth Prath sweeps over to him. “Victor!” she says, giving him a kiss


    on the cheek. “So lovely to see you.” Victor gives her a warm smile, d to see that she, at least, is still


    on his side.


    “Hello Annabeth,” he returns. “You remember my mother?” The pair engage in a quick exchange of


    introductions before his family leaves him to fetch drinks from the bar.


    “Who is that little piece of meat your brother has shown up with?” Annabeth says, grimacing. Victor


    shakes his head. “Bridgette,” he exins. “Rafe’stest me, though I don’t know why he thought it


    appropriate to bring this one home, when he’s never bothered with anyone else.”


    Annabeth raises an eyebrow. “Is he going for your seat?”


    Victor blinks, startled at her perspicacity. Sheughs at his shocked expression. “You’re single now,


    Victor. With Amelia gone, half the men in this room are either looking to depose you or marry you to


    their daughters.”


    Victor grimaces, looking around to see that many eyes are, indeed, on him. Annabeth takes his arm


    and leads him towards the bar as well. “I hope you have some tricks up your sleeve, Victor,” she says.


    “I believe the hyenas are circling.”


    They walk up to the bar behind Rafe and Bridgette, the former talking loudly, theter leaning heavily


    on his arm. “- Completely shattered by the betrayal, hardly gets out of bed,” Rafe says to a gathered


    group of Alphas. “If he wasn’t my brother, I’d say –“


    “You’d say what.” Victor interposes, his voice calm andmanding.


    Rafe turns quickly, clearly surprised. “That…that –“ he stutters, his eyes darting as he searches for


    words. “That you’ll never be taken down by something so frivolous as a cancelled engagement.” He


    gives a broad, fake smile.


    “Thank you, Rafe,” Victor says, joining the circle and speaking for himself. “But I believe that anyone


    would be shaken, at least slightly, by the loss of a beloved mate, even if it was my decision. But that


    shouldn’t be seen as a blow to my leadership. If anything, my pack is stronger now without that weak


    link.”


    Some in the group nod, considering the truth in that statement. Others frown, or, stone-faced, walk


    away unwilling to let him see their reaction. As the group breaks up, Victor graps Rafe by the arm.


    “Whoa, brother –“ Rafe says, attempting tough it off.


    “If you speak another bad word about me,” Victor snarls, “I will end you, and your pathetic grab for


    power. You would destroy this pack in a day, were it under your control.” With that, Victor shoves Rafe


    away from him. Rafe wraps his hand around Bridgette’s waist, pulling her away and trying to joke, but


    Victor can see that he’s shaken. Good.


    The evening passes slowly, with Victor seeking to speak to every Alpha he can, letting them see that


    he’s as calm, controlled, and powerful as he ever was. It’s hard work, keeping his head straight when


    half of these men sneer at him when they shake his hand, thinking him an i***t for dumping Amelia.


    The other trial of the evening – which Victor did not anticipate, but Annabeth did – is the number of


    women who have begged a moment of his attention that night. Mothers, mostly, who find a reason to


    casually mention their daughter’s aplishments, and then just happen to have a lovely picture of


    her on their phone.


    Less frequent, but more anxiety-producing, are the small number of Alpha-born young women who


    slink towards him and make subtle (and not-so-subtle) hints that they’d be willing to consider a date, or


    more. Or less.


    After one of these, with a particrly unattractive young blonde, Victor takes a deep breath and


    straightens his tie. He had to deal with this more in his younger years, but since Amelia came on the


    scene…well, women mostly left him alone. A mated man wasn’t worth their time.


    Still, even before her, he had found easier ways out of those conversations. Only once, really, had he


    let himself be pulled into a dark alcove, and then taken someone to bed…


    He gulps, a little, pushing away thoughts of that night. He’s grateful, a momentter, when Annabeth


    sidles up to him with a ss of water. “Speeches, soon,” she says. “Are you ready?”


    He nods that he is and she heads to the podium to start the announcements.


    As one of thergest donors to the cause, Victor has been asked the make a speech. It’s something


    that’s been scheduled for months, but since his marriage failed only days ago, he thinks he’s a bit more


    of a draw tonight. People have been so curious about the fallout from the broken engagement, and this


    is his first time facing the public.


    Determined to give them a strong showing, Victor climbs to the podium amidst apuse.


    “Thank you,” Victor says, pulling his speech cards from his jacket’s inner pocket. He delivers the short,


    canned speech regarding the value ofmunity, the good work of charity, and thanking the tireless


    workers who have brought so much aid to the needy widows and children that the organization


    supports. It’s a speech that was likewise written months ago.


    Then, he folds the cards and returns them to his pocket, speaking extemporaneously. The crowd perks


    up, sensing a change.


    “I’d also like to announce a development,” Victor says, “regarding the rules of the Kensington pack.”


    The room buzzes with noise and Victor sees his father, seated at the front of the crowd, go pale with


    fury. Pack rules are hundreds of years old and rarely changed.


    Victor waits for the hubbub to die down and then continues. “Inspired by the good work that this charity


    delivers to widowed mothers and children, the Kensington Pack seeks to aid other unfortunates within


    the wolfmunity. From this day forward, Rogue wolves – men and women, along with their children


    – will be allowed to apply to the Kensington pack for Beta status.”


    The audience explodes with noise, immediately responding to this controversial idea with exhuberance.


    Some are clearly excited, others are enraged. Two or three Alphas stride from their hall, dragging their


    wives behind them. Victor smirks, watching them. Let them go.


    Until now, only very progressive packs like Evelyn’s old pack – headed by Wird – would allow Rogue


    wolves to join, and then barely as recognized pack members, never in important Beta positions.


    “This choice,” Victor continues, “recognizes that many Rogues deserve a second chance at high-


    ranking eptance. The process will be rigorous, but the rewards will be many, for those who pass our


    standards. We are very excited to be at the vanguard of this kind of societal change, which we hope


    will create a better world for our packs, ourmunities, and our families.”


    With that, Victor gives them all a broad smile, and heads down from the podium.


    As he moves through the room, many sneer at him, but an equal amount shake his hand and


    congratte him on a bold new idea. Victor responds to them all with confidence and poise, showing


    them that he’s not out of the game yet.


    His confidence is shaken only once, though, when he turns to bump directly into John Walsh, standing


    in the crowd with James Wird.


    “Well well,” says Walsh. “Quite the progressive tform you’ve taken. I was under the impression that


    the Kensington Pack was a more traditional, conservative pack, more akin to my own. I must say, I am


    not enthused about the idea of such riffraff being allowed close to my grandchildren.”


    “It’s not a progressive tform,” Wird says, narrowing his eyes at Victor. “It’s a way to build his Beta


    reserves, after I gutted his pack from him.”


    “In a false deal,” Victor says, calmly putting his hands in his pockets. “In which you did not deliver on


    your side of the agreement. Mywyers have already begun legition on this point – or did you not


    receive the subpoena?” He c***s his head to the side, sarcastic, knowing for a fact that Wird was


    served the paperwork at his home two weeks ago.


    Wird sneers, his lips pulling back from his teeth. “It will go nowhere. By the time mywyers –“


    “Please,” Victor says, looking away from the two men in front of him, men who are seeking to gut his


    empire and take the spoils for themselves. “It’s a party. Let’s not talk shop. Besides.” He returns his


    eyes to them for just a moment, giving each of them a steely re. “I don’t have time for you. I have an


    army to build.”


    With that, Victor sweeps from the room.