“Nothing that happened to you was your fault,” Alpha Brent said from the driver’s seat.


    “You aren’t going to be alone in this if you decide to take it,” Patty said from the passenger side. “We will make sure you two have all the help you need, and you will have strong allies around you. All of the Packs in this region want a Stillwater back in charge.”


    “Plus, youe bearing a gift,” Brent said. “It’s only fair that Todd Aldridge’s trial and sentencing goes on in the Pack he did so much damage in.” Todd was in the trunk, drugged and bound with silver. It had been a long drive up from Texas, but the trunk was morefortable than the cramped cell he had been kept in since his capture. Alpha Brent had given up his right to try him for the attacks on his Pack, instead allowing the Tomah Pack to have their justice. Kidnapping, conspiracy tomit the murders of my parents, and stealing Pack funds were more than enough to have him executed.


    My wolf was looking forward to it.


    The drive up from Texas had been eye-opening for me. I stayed in the back while Bobby, Brent and Patty alternated driving, stopping only for gas, food and bathrooms. We kept our speed down, not wanting to chance getting pulled over with a man chained in our trunk. Todd wasn’t going anywhere; in addition to the silver, a pump was maintaining a sedative in his system so he wouldn’t wake. He also had an IV drip to stay hydrated, and a catheter to remove urine.


    I smiled as I recalled Bobby talking about how much he had screamed and pleaded as they put that in while he was strapped to the table. Somehow the sedative hadn’t been started yet, and the nurse took three tries to get the tube inserted in his penis and inted properly.


    None of this was a shock, in fact I was transported in simr ways during my captivity. No, what amazed me was just how much work was involved with being an Alpha pair. Unless they were driving, Brent and Patty were always busy on the phone or theirptop. Brent spent a lot of time lobbying for the Council Chairman position, but also dealing with issues back home. Patty was paying bills, negotiating withpanies that provided services and goods to the Pack, keeping up the books and checking on the investments and the running of our ranch. I remember my parents always being busy, but I wasn’t the heir and I was too young to be trained.


    We all thought I had years before I’d be of age, and I should just be a kid a while longer.


    Tears started running down my face as I thought of my parents and all the things I didn’t get to experience with them. My life had been ruined, theirs taken, because of greed and a lust for power.


    Bobby didn’t say anything, he just unbuckled my seatbelt and pulled me into hisp. I cried on his chest for a while as he rubbed my back, letting his love for me flow through the bond. “You’re going to be great, just don’t think it will be easy or quick,” he told me. “We’re young, but we have lots of people who can help us find our way.”


    “You want to be Alphas?”


    “I want you to have your destiny. You were born for this, just like I was, Alpha bloodlines on both sides. Your Pack refused to consider anyone else unless you decide to abdicate. The Tomah Pack has been guided by a Stillwater for centuries, and you will continue that line.”


    “I’ll be a Meechum though.”


    “Nothing but human tradition says a woman has to take her husband’s name. Our children, the heirs to the Pack, will be Stillwaters because I will take your name instead of my own.”


    My eyes watered as I looked up at him. “You’d do that? What about your father’s name?”


    “He’s got five other sons, he’ll be fine,” he said and we both burst outughing. Patty looked back, then smiled and went back to her work.


    “I need to talk to my sister,” I said. He handed me his phone and I called her. “Talia?”


    “Tania! Hey, how are you?”


    “Bobby and I are talking about our old Pack. It’s yours if you want it, you are the elder sister and you were the heir.”


    She answered right away. “I don’t want it, I want you to lead them.”


    “Why?”


    “Because Randall and I aren’t destined to run a Pack. If I was, I’d have been there already. Instead I can’t give them away fast enough.” We both had augh she’d been an Alpha four times already. “I have something else lined up if things fall into ce. If not, I’ll be the wife of an FBI agent.”


    “I’m nervous.”


    “You should be, it’s a big job. Don’t let anyone blow smoke up your ass, it’s a lot of responsibility and a cubic buttload of work. It’s also the most rewarding job you can have in this world. The Pack is your family, you take care of them and help them be the best they can be.”


    Iughed at hernguage. “Don’t sugarcoat it, give it to me straight.”


    “You’ll grow into the job, Tania. I’m proud of you. No matter what they did to you, you survived and you’re going to be back where you belong. I love you, little sis.”


    “I love you too, Talia.”N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    “Don’t do the ceremony without me. Now I have to go, this ce is a madhouse and I can’t wait for a new Chairman to be elected so I can get out of here.”


    “I won’t.” I hung up the phone, a smile on my face. They were right, I was born for this, and in my heart and my wolf I knew I was Alpha.


    Tania’s POV


    I-90E near Tomah, WI


    I listened as my father-inw used the voice dial in the car to call John, the Thief River Falls Alpha who had been filling in as the Tomah Pack Alpha since Todd was deposed. “John, we’re ten minutes out, we’re exiting the freeway now.”


    “We will meet you at the gate, Brent. There are a few people who would like to be there with me, if that is all right.” He looked back at me and I nodded; maybe some of my friends? “That will be fine. I’ll see you soon.”


    I held onto Bobby’s hand with a deathgrip as I looked at thendmarks that I hadn’t seen in four years. I could see the bluff I used to hike and run on with my friends, the hills that surrounded theke we yed at, even the roads that wound towards the Pack House. “Tell me about your home,” Bobby said as he looked at the ces I stared at.


    I told him stories and memories, and soon I was calm and rxed, and we were turning onto the private road that led to the ess gate. “Wow, even in Texas that’s more than a few people,” Patty said. I looked ahead and my heart leapt in my chest. Behind the gate, behind the tall Alpha, stood my Pack.


    Every member of my Pack, from the oldest Elder to the baby in her mother’s arms. They all hade here to see me and wee me home, and at that instant the emotions all hit me. I started to cry, happy tears, tears of relief. “My PACK,” I said as we pulled to a stop.


    “Our pack,” Bobby said. “Come on.” He opened the door and stepped out, reaching back with his hand to help me out. When they saw me, they erupted in a cheer that almost knocked me down. I was crying and shaking, burying my face in Bobby’s broad chest. “You’re an Alpha, lean on your wolf. Go greet them like the strong woman you are.”


    He was right. I wiped my tears and snot on his shirt, then stood up straight and looked at them as they approached. I let go of Bobby’s hand as I recognized my best friends from school, and ran towards them until we were hugging and crying together.


    I was passed from one hug to another, my wolf reforming the bonds as I smelled them and they submitted to me. I looked back at Bobby, he was watching me with pride as the Pack members introduced themselves. John and Brent were leaning against the car, catching up on Alpha business, while Patty was holding one of the babies and talking to a group of older women.


    The sun set, and my wolf wanted out to meet them all. “Do you mind?”


    “Go run with them again,” Bobby sent back. “We’ll meet you at the Pack House.”


    I smiled at him, he was so perfect for me, patient and strong and supportive. I was the luckiest wolf around. I asked if anyone wanted to run back in wolf form, and there were lots of volunteers. They all started pulling their clothes off, tossing them into vehicles with those who would drive back. About forty wolves waited for me when I had given Bobby my dress and shoes and shifted. I trotted forward, meeting the excited wolves in the middle of the road. I rubbed against them, smelled them, licked their faces and finally moved through them. Standing tall, I let out a howl and started for home, taking the shortcut through the woods.


    I felt free atst as I ran with my Pack.