Rise of the Dark Alpha

READER SHOUT OUT: Thank you, DespinaNY, for being literally my biggest supporter this year. I didn't imagine generosity like yours existed in today's world. Thank you for being an example of love and giving! I hope you have a Christmas full of love and joy.

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~ ZEV ~

"So once you're mated, and you've had your solitude, you will return to take Xar?"

Zev nodded, and a little flame of thrill lit in his chest.

"And you'll loosen the grip of the humans," Lhars pressed.

Zev nodded again. "There is much I need to learn, but I will begin that process the day I take power, you have my word on it," he said seriously.

Lhars held his gaze. "He will be expecting your attack," his brother warned. "You'll have to be either very stealthy, or completely transparent. Either walk the village calling your challenge and demanding he come to meet it, or take him alone at a time he least expects. He will be surrounded by guards though, I'm sure, from the moment he learns that you're Alpha of the Wolf Clan. It's an argument for you trying to take him right away, actually. He won't expect that. He wouldn't have believed you could climb the ranks so quickly."

The brothers met eyes again then and Zev nodded, acknowledging that Lhars had assisted him intentionally. The other wolves grunted their approval of the brothers unity in this.

Then Lhars, being Lhars, had to up the stakes. "I assume you don't plan to challenge the other Alphas?"

Zev frowned and shook his head. "Not for power. I'll beat them if I have to, to get Sasha safe. But once I get the mating out of the way, they'll get no trouble from me unless they bring it. I'm thinking about what you said about Xar not expecting me to climb so quickly. Is it better to try and take him before the ritual? Simply because he won't expect it? Skhal?"

Skhal shifted his weight, his face thoughtful. "Strategically, yes. But the solitude is a necessary part of the ritual and I can't see how you could take it if you'd just taken Alpha of All. It would be far better to establish one, then the other. Take your mate, Zev. Being mated will show your growth and provide greater assurance to the people, as well. It isn't a bad thing."

Zev breathed easier then. He really didn't feel good about taking any delays with Sasha. That little voice piped up again—that he needed to be certain of her, and her of him. Not to rely on a ritual to provide that for them. But he shook it off. He didn't think walking the ritual would make her love him more. He just… he just wanted her to see his commitment.

And he definitely wanted the other males under no deception about Sasha's status as a mate.

None.

Jhon raised an eyebrow at him. His scent must have changed with the fierceness of his thoughts. Zev cleared his throat and moved on.

"Okay, then we're agreed. Sasha and I will mate first, then I'll come for Xar. While we're in the solitude, I will rely on the rest of you to gather support and prepare the hearts of the people. I will need every heart on that field, not just the wolves."

"You want us to warn the other clans?" Lhars looked shocked.

Zev shrugged. "I trust your judgment. The wolves in this cave know how to read the people. Dunken already knows. Yhet will soon enough. I'm happy for others to know that you would measure as those who would stand with us."

"That's just about everyone," Lhars growled. "Honestly."

Zev frowned. "How can that be?"

"It wouldn't have been true a year ago," Skhal said. "But we've all watched Xar's descent. Now we're watching our people be destroyed at the hands of a madman."

Lhars nodded. "Thana is now full of lone wolves, it's not healthy for any of us. Something needs to happen with the humans. Something that gives us more freedom. More ability to build families and packs again."

They all looked at Sasha again and she looked at Zev, clearly trying not to look nervous, and not remembering they could all smell it on her.

"The only way that can happen is if we get the females back," Zev growled. "I still don't understand why everyone has just rolled over for this!"

"You don't understand because you weren't here," Lhars snapped. "Xar has never had your strength with the humans, and even less so since the females were taken."

"But why? Why wasn't Xar challenged? Why didn't YOU challenge him?"

Lhars growled, but it was Skhal that spoke over all of them. "Burying ourselves in the past will never help any of us. We have all made choices—choices that seemed wise at the time, whether they were or not. But now we face a new future. Let go of what has happened and look ahead. Zev, don't ask why no one else has done the job, ask how you can do it."

A low growl puttered in his throat, but he knew Skhal was right. And bringing up the past was only going to remind people of how he had let them down, as well.

Zev sighed. "Okay, tell me what happened today when the humans came and made everyone stay in the square. Did they take anything when they searched? Were there any obvious plots? Anything that wasn't related to Sasha and I that they did?"

Lhars shook his head. "They really were looking for you guys," he said sullenly. "Especially Sasha."

Zev's teeth wanted to snap. They prioritized her because she would be easier to take and they knew if they had her, they had power over him.

"Tell me what they did, step by step," Zev demanded.

Lhars rolled his eyes. "You want a list of the homes we examined? All of them! They were looking for two large prey—you two. We went from home to home, they searched possible hiding places around the village and woods… they truly believed you were here—and left believing that, I'm certain of it."

"Did they leave you to search without them?"

Lhars shook his head. "No, Xar and I were always with at least one human. And the only time we split up completely was when the humans took Xar to give him their medicine."

"What is this medicine everyone keeps mentioning. Xar looks strong, not sick."

"He's sick in his mind," Skhal said bluntly. "He's beginning to lose touch with reality—it's part of the reason he banished you. They give him a drug that helps him be more… present in reality."

"They give him a drug to make him stronger so that no one can challenge him, at least not easily," Lhars added quietly.

Everyone went still.