The Broken Wolf
Chapter 119

Seth tilts his head at his old friend, confusion on his face. Peter stands and the three men gather close, speaking quietly so that no one can hear him. Seth has a very unsure look on his face and looks around at the crowd.

“Jacob,” he says loudly, looking around. “Jacob, I need to speak with you.”

A tall, skinny boy steps out wearing a wrinkly old shirt. His eyes are wide with fear as he walks forward to Seth.

Seth looks back at me and offers me his hand, helping me stand. This young man, Jacob, reaches us without a word. “The Princess and I need to speak with you for a moment,” he tells him and leads us behind the chairs we had been seated in, off to an area away from everyone.

“Stephen does not want to assume your father’s pack,” Seth says, quietly enough that no one else would hear him. “He has suggested that you take the pack. How old are you?”

“I just turned 17, sir,” he says, looking shocked.

“Have you shifted yet, Jacob?” I ask kindly, feeling so terribly for this kid who looks shocked.

“No, I haven’t. My older brothers have, though,” he says. “They were trained. I wasn’t born from his mate, just his mistress. Our father said I was too small and didn’t want to bother with training me. My brothers are both older and stronger. They’re who you want.”

Seth shakes his head. “They are not who we want. Stephen says that you are not like your father. He assures me that you’re calmer and more level headed. He feels that you would be the best choice, and having his b***d, we can name you the Alpha.”

“Sir, my brothers are bigger. They’ll be able to protect a pack. I can’t,” he says, a terrified look on his face.

“Jacob,” Seth says, placing his arm on my lower back. “Do you think Princess Molly is incapable of protecting the kingdom?”

Jacob’s eyes widen and he slowly shakes his head, unsure what to say. I’m also unsure what to say, because I’m not sure why he’s even asking him this.

“Princess Molly has the smallest wolf I have ever seen,” he says, but looking at me with a fond smile. “But I would trust this kingdom in her hands even more than my own. Your size doesn’t matter, and your size doesn’t equal the size of your wolf. Weren’t you shocked when you saw Alpha Stephen shift today?”

“Yes sir,” he says to Seth, starting to look more comfortable. “I didn’t think anyone was capable of killing my father.”

“We will have you trained, and we will have neighboring Alphas check in on your pack while that happens,” Seth tells him. “I’ve known Stephen for a long time. If he tells me you’re the best man for the job then I trust him. I can name you as Alpha now, and it will force your first shift at tonight’s full moon.”

“We want someone to lead this pack that will care for everyone in the pack,” I say, hoping that this young man will agree. There’s something about him that I can feel that tells me he will be kind and fair. “Alpha Stephen will be right next door and willing to help you, and I’m sure that many of the surrounding packs will, as well.”

“My father ruined our relationships with most of them. He was not a kind man,” Jacob tells me, concerned.

I smile at him. “Then it will be up to you to help repair those relationships. I have a feeling, though, that it won’t be too difficult.”

“The Buck Moon that your pack is named after,” Peter says, walking up behind us, “is named that because at that time of the year, a buck’s antlers are in full growth. Deer shed their antlers and regrow new, bigger ones each year. It’s time for you to step in and take your place, growing stronger than the previous Alpha.”

“OK,” Jacob whispers. “I can do it.”

Seth smiles, his hand gently rubbing my back. “As Alpha, it will be your responsibility to make decisions that are best for your pack. But I would also ask, that you make decisions best for my family as well.”

“Of course,” Jacob says, confused. “You’re the Prince of Werewolves.”

“You will not receive the traditional Alpha ceremony, so you must swear to us now that you will protect your pack, even with your life,” Seth says to him, and I can feel the energy shift as he’s officially naming this kid Alpha of the Buck Moon Pack.

“I will,” he says, his eyes wide.

“You will bring honor to your pack, and will uphold the laws in place by the counsel and the King.”

“I will.”

“You swear to protect your King and his family through the succession of generations.”

Jacob kneels down as I’m sure he can feel himself becoming Alpha. “I will, sir. I swear to give my life for your family.”

“I name you Alpha Jacob of the Buck Moon Pack,” Seth says, his words holding all authority as Peter stands behind Jacob, smiling with pride at his son as he names a new Alpha. Jacob rises but doesn’t say anything. The poor kid still looks a bit scared, but he’s holding himself higher now.

“You will shift tonight,” Peter says. “Given the situation with your father, I can come be with you, if you’d like.”

“If it’s OK, sir,” Jacob says, turning to him. “I think I’d just like to have a friend with me.”

Peter nods and walks away, but doesn’t return to his seat and stays close. I can see his eyes glass and a moment later, Albert is at my side, grabbing my elbow.

“Molly, we need to go,” he says softly, but his voice firm and I realize that something is wrong.

I look up at Seth and he nods as I can feel how alert he suddenly is through our bond. Albert is escorting me to the car as casually as possible, but I can feel how urgent this is. As we approach the car, a large, dark gray wolf appears in our path . Albert steps in front of me, making sure I’m behind him as we both stop walking.

Seth must have seen because I can feel how scared he is. I feel a large hand grab my arm and realize that it’s Benjamin, there to help protect me.

“Very interesting,” a man dressed in a fine suit says, stepping towards us, unphased by the growling wolf as he approaches us. “Very interesting, indeed. A secret daughter.”

An instant later, Altair is growling next to me, a threatening look on his face.

“There’s no need for that, nephew,” he says with a sick grin. “I only wanted to see the challenge, replace out how it went.”

“Leave,” Peter says, his voice authoritative and booming.

“I will not, I’m an honored guest of Beta Reginalds!” the man says, acting confused.

Peter walks forward, straight to the man that I realize now is his brother. “Lucas, you need to leave.”

“Why? Because the princess is with child?” he asks, loudly enough that many around can hear.

Altair growls loudly and I can feel his ability to control himself waning as we hear murmurs from the people around. This man, a threat to Seth and Me, can smell my pup. He knows.

Albert turns around and grabs my arm, pushing me towards a different car where I can see Gus waiting. Benjamin never releases my other arm, staying close by my side. I hear a sound behind us and the next thing I know, Albert is being knocked to the ground.

I realize that it was the wolf with Lucas who had taken him down, and I see Altair jump on top of him, biting his throat and ripping him apart as Benjamin all but lifts me into the air, dragging me to the waiting SUV. Gus has opened the back door for us and left it, climbing in the front, when I see a wolf jump from the woods, biting down on his leg and dragging him.

“s**t,” Benjamin mutters. “Stay close, Kiddo,” he directs me, throwing off his suit jacket and removing his shirt as he shifts.

He doesn’t move, just stays close. I turn and look back, seeing Albert, who thankfully appears to be OK shift and stand next to Altair. 3 large wolves appear and walk slowly towards them as Altair doesn’t wait for them to arrive and charges into them at full speed. Albert’s wolf is right behind them and they’re able to take down the wolves quickly, probably because he ran straight into them.

I look around and see many wolves coming into the clearing as other people are shifting to try to protect themselves. I see my parents’ wolves trying to come towards me, but they continue to be blocked as they try.

Altair approaches me, his worry clearly evident through the bond as I see Reginald shift and run up behind him. Altair hasn’t seen him, and he’s right on him. I quickly shift, running towards him, leaping up and tackling him before he can reach my mate. Unfortunately though, we land with Reginald on top of me. He leans his head down, attempting to bite my neck. I wiggle and squirm as much as I can and free myself just enough that his teeth land on my shoulder, in a non-lethal bite.

He’s knocked off of me and as I jump to my paws, I realize that it was my mom’s wolf who freed me. She’s standing over him now, growling and she leans down, biting his throat, taking his life. My dad’s wolf is beside her in an instant, nudging her away, trying to protect her any way that he can.

Altair comes over and stands above me, growling and howling so menacingly that I’m fairly sure he’s scared anyone away from coming near me. I look around from under the safety of my mate to see wolves everywhere fighting.

I need to get you to the packhouse, Seth links me. They’ve surrounded the cars. Can you walk in your wolf form that far?

I… I don’t know. I can try.

OK, Love. Benjamin will take you. Your only job is to keep our pup safe, understand?

I know. He was going to hurt you, though.

It’s alright, Love. You did great, but I need you somewhere safe so I can concentrate on helping everyone else.

Benjamin’s wolf approaches us as does my mom’s, and they tilt their heads, indicating for me to follow them. Altair moves to allow me to leave, but not before leaning forward and nuzzling my neck.

I love you. Now go. Lock yourself in the room until I’m back.

I love you. Please be safe.

I walk away between the father that hid me for my safety and the mother who took me in and loved me like I was her own. As we reach the line of trees we meet a light brown wolf and a white wolf that I realize from their scent are Daphne and Lydia and they lead us into the woods, away from the chaos behind us.