A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Eighty–Two 

*Swear your oath,” I said, my eyes marrowing at the man before me. 

His body still lowered in submission, he placed a hand over his chest in respect. 

“), Alpha Tristan Green, of the Onyx Rock, hereby pledge my pack to the alliance offered by Alpha Ariadne of the Winter Mist. May our packs continue to prosper together under your guidance and protection.” 

Good. 

Satisfied with his words, I stood up and walked over to clasp my hand in his. 

“I accepi.” 

And with thai, another pack had joined the alliance. Though, more accurately, another had sworn to continue their alliance. Something that was seemingly slow going lately, the days dragging out. 

So much so, it was hard to believe that two months had already gone by. 

Two months since I‘d killed Tytus, imprisoned Aleric, and became Alpha of the Winter Mist. 

And things were... okay. 

Not to say I was doing anything wrong. On the contrary, I had the pack running like clockwork, making us more efficient than ever before. 

No, the issues were laid more externally. Specifically, other packs, 

I had been prepared for opposition to my rise in rank however, it seemed I‘d miscalculated just how many would be against pledging to an alliance with a female Alpha. 

The ways of our kind were apparently still too archaic, too set in stone with old beliefs. 

But I‘d been wearing them down slowly. 

Little by little, I was showing them why it was in their best interest to continue, proving I was far more fearsome than most had believed. Not the helpless Saintess I‘d initially built my brand to be... but rather a foe you didn‘t want to find yourself suddenly facing. The only issue was there were still so many packs left to go. There wasn‘t one simple way to get them all to agree at once so it had been a painstakingly slow process. 

“You‘ll have access to your supply route again within the day.” I continued to the Alpha, my lips slowly twitching into a triumphant smile. “Pleasure doing business with you.” 

“Now they‘ll never forget how easy it was for us to cut them off. How much they still need our support,’ the voice said inside. 

And I agreed. 

The Alpha didn‘t stick around for much longer once the requirements for the alliance had been finalised. Not that I blamed him. I was far too busy to care though, needing to focus on other problems. 

Behind the scenes of my new operation these last few months, Iris had been utilising her network of followers across the country to support me but, since hardly any of those extended to the ranked members of those packs, the results were not instant. Not to say those contacts didn‘t have their other uses though. Uses like uncovering information for me on their packs‘ weaker points. 

It hadn‘t been hard to figure out that most of these Alphas were never going to respect me unless I forced them into some sort of submission. Proof that I really was as formidable as the new rumours had hinted a 1. All they had wanted to see was a young, naive girl... right up until I suddenly had their whole pack in a 

checkmate. 

Some were still trying to play a waiting game though, holding off to see if I would crumble under the new responsibility. They wanted me to prove them right, prove that I wasn‘t cut out for this. A gamble that some were even now risking their own packs for. Though soon they would start to feel what the loss of our alliance meant. 

I wasn‘t entirely ignorant though. I knew under the surface that even my own pack was somewhat divided. They were forced to respect me because of the Alpha bond but I knew what some of them were thinking deep down. Or, at least, what some of them were hoping for. 

...Hoping for the rising of their Alpha heir. 

The one who had been living within a cell these last two months. 

If only they knew the kind of person he really was. 

“This is going too slow,” I grumbled to Elder Luke as we entered back into my office. “At this rate, we‘ll start declining too far in status if we can‘t make enough progress.” 

“I don‘t disagree,” he said, grabbing a few documents from the desk. 

just... I don‘t get it,” I said, sighing in my chair. “I know it‘s only been two months but I thought by now we‘d be seeing a small upward trend of people joining. Except it‘s stayed about the same. It‘s almost like … like they‘re dragging their feet. I get that they‘re waiting for me to slip up but this is just getting

to break traditions than you might

wasn‘t of any

the list,” I said, holding my hand out for the documents he‘d been looking after for me. “We‘re missing something, I‘m

packs still pending for the alliance

saw. 

this completely accurate?” I asked sceptically, continuing to flick through the pages to ensure it hadn‘t been mistakenly written

he answered.

couldn‘t be right... could

the Silver Lake pack still hasn‘t sent word about whether they‘ll

“That is correct.” 

from the page, though now only further confused. “But… why? mean... have they provided a reason? I didn‘t think they, of all people, would

of what happened between us? It seemed so petty to bring in personal problems when it was both

meant something far worse too....

downward. “Well, after Caius was imprisoned here for so many months, to the point of almost inciting a

the one trying to free Cai that entire time.

olet Enghe two 

the reason

inside of my cheek,

enough to where an alliance would only aid in avoiding war,” Elder Luke continued. “If we were to fall in status now, they would just stand to gain becoming

know what path you‘ve calculated ahead and I

were far worse than

much push back to join the alliance right now, even putting aside prejudice.

Silver Lake would rise up, challenging us for our

to choose a side and, in doing so, they would be deciding who would next become the strongest territory; gaining the ability to manage and impose

just that. If we really did fail to regain our position, the Winter Mist would then only

we submitted to the Silver Lake, hoping that they didn‘t refuse our request to fall under the umbrella of their alliance. Though,

our pack would be outcasted. Without the support of an alliance to strengthen us, we wouldn‘t be able to maintain our status for long. It meant putting ourselves in the hands of Alpha Tobias

the death of our pack.

might lay ahead for us. I saw what Elder

have to implement an approach that had the best chance of success. A path that reduced the most risk of ending up in that vulnerable position.

...War. 

approach since, if we failed to acquire the numbers within the alliance, it would be

best time would be when the packs were still being divided between us, before any one territory could become a clear victor. It would be only during that moment that we would still be able to utilise the entirety

On 

not we could convince the Silver Lake

mused aloud. “Has anyone had any official confirmation yet? Any indication for when we‘ll receive

yet. Though Tobias has been busy these days, handling rogue disputes along

with Cai,” I replied.

can make the final say. He‘ll have enough senso lo realise this won‘t benefit either of us S katter everything we‘ve been through, he will

Several times, in fact,” Elder Luke started the response was that he didn‘t want to get involved

for almost five months.”

a nerve

What are we children?” I asked, incredulously. “This feels

didnt leave things on the best of terms, but making excuses to get

I wondered if this was because of his mate. Because she didn‘t want us to meet again

is true, I‘m unable to verify,” Elder Luke said. “Though I would agree that this does appear to

few steps by the window, thinking of what to do in this

history so my best chance at success

message to Cai from me. Tell him... tell him that I need his help,” I said. “I want a meeting before the end of the

Luke simply bowed his head,

I needed to exploit his affection a little. I still could vividly remember how he‘d looked at me eren once I‘d try to

Luke remained seated, almost as if he had more matters to discuss. Matters

was asking for you