The Replacement Alpha

Chapter 3 - The state of things

Ethan POV

We pulled up to the packhouse behind Alpha Brock. I could feel my anxiety rising. I was never really one to like being in front of crowds. Goddess, how the f**k am I going to be able to do this?

We will learn. – Hugo said, pushing all the strength and belief in us that he could through our connection. I took a deep breath and, knowing that I had the support of my wolf and my best friend’s family, I opened the door and walked towards Alpha Brock. There was already a good portion of the thousand pack members. I saw my brother’s Gamma Charlie already waiting for us. Do I keep him or do I leave him? I don’t know if I can trust any of them right now. Not after what Eric did to my brother.

“Ethan, what’s going on? We all felt the link to Alpha Jason break. Where is he? Why did he give the Alpha title away?” Charlie asked.

“I will explain everything momentarily. Please take your place with the rest.” Alpha Brock answered for me.

“I’m the Gamma. In Jason’s and Eric’s absence, I am in charge. I demand to know what’s happening.” Charlie tried to puff his chest out.

“I am your Alpha now, so technically, Mark here is the Gamma of Spruce Forest Pack, as he is my Gamma. Join the rest before I see your disrespect as something that needs to be made an example of for the rest.” Alpha Brock let his aura out just enough for Charlie to feel it. He instantly submits to him and steps to the front of the crowd. Yeah, I’m definitely going to need another Gamma, I think.

‘I would suggest another Gamma. This one seems like a bad choice.’ Alpha Brock links me and I can’t help but laugh through the link, making him c**k an eyebrow at me.

‘I was just thinking the same thing, is all,’ I explained.

‘Good. That means you are a better judge of character than your brother.’ He mentioned before he added, ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to come out cruel.’

I simply nod, not knowing if I should feel happy that I did something right. Let’s take our wins where we can. I have a feeling we’re going to be doing a lot of things wrong for a while, – Hugo said jokingly, and I had to agree. We were in for a humbling year, for sure. Five minutes later, there were only a few more wolves trickling in. Once the pack doctor arrived, Alpha Brock decided it was time to start.

“Thank you for making your way here. I know there are a lot of questions about what’s happening and I will answer them all as best as I can. My name is Brock Weston. I am the Alpha of Blood Song and currently the new Alpha of Spruce Forest. Yesterday, your Alpha Jason, his Beta Eric, and Ethan here arrived at my packhouse to speak of a treaty. The treaty talks were not concluded, and they decided to spend the night. During the night, I found my chosen mate and Luna in bed with Alpha Jason. My Luna, decided to lie and tell Alpha Jason that I was abusing her, using my reputation as a strict Alpha to sow these lies to your Alpha Jason.” His hand went to his chest as if remembering something painful.

“Why she did this, I am still not sure. She is currently missing and once she is found, I will do everything in my power to find out what her reasons were for trying to turn our packs against each other.” He puts his chest down and looks at everyone, “Alpha Jason, thinking he was protecting the woman who he claimed was his mate before she rejected him to become my Luna, challenged me for her and my title.” Alpha BrockBrock heaved a deep sigh and the pain in his face was evident to everyone as he began speaking again. “I tried to talk to your Alpha. He wouldn’t listen. I would have severed our bond of chosen mates, but both refused to listen. The challenge took place this morning, where I gave him yet another chance to back down. I am sorry, members of Spruce Forest. I was not able to convince him and Alpha Jason lost his life fighting for what he thought was right. Take solace that he died thinking he was fighting for what he assumed was a noble cause. Alpha Jesse and his father, retired Alpha Jack, witnessed all that I have explained here.” Alpha Brock paused to let everyone talking and crying calm down as they saw Alpha Jack and Jesse nod. They were all familiar with both men since they visited me often.

Alpha Brock called everyone’s attention back to him after a minute. I tried to pay close attention to the manner in which he commanded the crowd. Would I be able to do that? Could I even learn that?

“We have treated his body with honor and have brought him home for burial. But you should know that during the fight, his Beta Eric and my Luna ran away together. The more confusing and disturbing fact is that, since I was unable to officially reject her as my chosen mate and Luna, I have been able to feel her… being intimate… with someone. As they are on the run, I can only assume at this time that it is with Eric.” There were a lot of growls at the news, including the one I had been holding back since earlier today. “I don’t know why this is happening, but I will find out. Until then…” he continued, taking a quick glance at me as if giving me one last chance to back out. I nodded back.

“I never wanted to take on another pack. I may seem a ruthless leader, but I never intended to take what belonged to another. There were only a few options. I could absorb the pack, but these pack lands are too far away for me to successfully absorb it, so I would have to look at purchasing land nearer to mine and moving you.” Everyone began murmuring at this. “I could disband the pack and help you relocate.” There was a wail from one of the older ladies around the back. This was their only home. Some had no one left to take them in. “As I pondered which decision was best, I noticed another option sitting across from me in my office. Alpha Jesse and Alpha Jack came to my packhouse to see if they could help resolve the conflict in support, not of Alpha Jason, but of his brother Ethan.” There were a few laughs and a lot of murmurs as everyone tried to figure out what he was getting at.

“Throughout the entire conflict, Ethan tried to make his brother reason and stayed by his side until the very end, despite knowing that I might kill him after the fight concluded. His Beta, as I mentioned before, not only ran away mid-fight but ran away with his supposed mate.” His face was full of fury at the thought of a Beta abandoning his Alpha.

“I’ve spoken to Ethan, Alpha Jack, and Alpha Jesse in depth about how to proceed in a way that will disrupt your lives as little as possible. This is what we’re proposing. I will not be disbanding the pack, but I cannot leave you without an Alpha. Ethan is the second-born Alpha of this pack, but he has no training other than secondhand knowledge of what it takes to be an Alpha.”

There were people nodding along with his words. “But while I can’t stay here to make sure he would make a good Alpha, Alpha Jack has agreed to spend the next few months here to evaluate his knowledge and teach him what needs improvement.” More murmurs. “I will be here for the next two days, but I can’t stay. His pack is close, and he is retired. Ethan will be in good hands. We are not trying to change the way things are run. That’s for Ethan to decide.”

He turned again to look at me, silently asking if I was sure about the next part. I nodded once more. “Ethan asked that anyone not willing to be patient or be under his rule, not be forced to. For this purpose, if you choose to leave the pack because of this change, I can help you find a pack to relocate. I have already reached out to several Alphas who are all willing to take a few new pack members.”

“What’s keeping someone from attacking? No offense to Ethan, but he was never much of a fighter. How is he supposed to protect us?” Someone from the back shouted out.

“That’s a very good question and one that Ethan himself raised, but just because he’s never shown dedication to it before, doesn’t mean he’s not capable of learning. I and Jack will be assessing him and determining the best training regimen for him.” There were a few snorts, but before anyone could get any jabs in, he continued. “As part of the agreement, I’m also not cruel enough to leave you defenseless. I will be leaving two of my best fighters and we have a treaty in place that will be signed once I pass the title over to Ethan. Spruce Forest will be under the protection of Blood Song for a full year after today. Should you need it and within reason.”

I saw a lot of faces change from worried to impressed at this news, “As a new Alpha, Ethan is not able to be challenged for a full year as well by council decree. I will be keeping track of progress here. If at the end of the year, Ethan proves to be a competent leader, I will leave the pack alone. Our treaty will remain as allies. If at the end of the year, Ethan or I decide that he is not suited for the role, we will continue with options one or two, and the Forest Spruce Pack will be no more.” He gave them all a few minutes to talk amongst themselves.

“Ethan, Alpha Jack, Alpha Jesse, and I will be touring the pack to begin our assessment. My Beta and Gamma will remain here. Decide tonight if you wish to remain here or join a different pack. We will have a private Alpha Ceremony tomorrow morning. Are there any questions?” When no one answered, he turned back to me. “Let’s start at the Alpha Offices?”

We walked into the packhouse. It looked different somehow now. This had always been home, but I never felt the weight of what that meant before, as I do now. I led everyone to Jason’s office. I have never really been in here that often since he took the title. He didn’t like being interrupted. The offices were a big conference room that had been renovated into the Alpha and Beta offices. He always said that it would be more efficient for him and Eric to be in the same space. I pushed the double doors open and paused at the entrance. What the f**k is this bullshit? – Hugo said, disgusted at the sight before us.

There were two large desks full of papers on top. The big conference table that I was sure had been removed had been re-added and slammed against the wall. It was full of coffee cups, dirty plates, and more paperwork. I walked over to the filing cabinets. It looked as if they hadn’t been opened in months or years. I pulled the first file out. It was a census of the pack. 2017. What the f**k? I looked around, exasperated. There must be a newer one in this mess, right? There’s no way he hasn’t done a census to keep track of the pack in 5 years.

“Call the so-called Gamma. We need to know where s**t is.” Alpha Brock mentioned. I finally looked at my companions and the same look of disbelief was on their faces. Even I knew this wasn’t what an Alpha’s office should look like. This was not how you ran a pack.

“Maybe he hasn’t been working from this place in a while?” Jesse said hopefully, picking up a stack of papers and putting them down. “Nevermind. This is an email from last week.”

“How did your brother do anything in here?” Alpha Jack asked.

“I don’t know. I was never really allowed in here. He and Eric liked to keep hush-hush about everything. He had completely shut me out by the end of 2018. I offered to help…” I said, still looking around in disbelief.

“It looks like they could have used it. Maybe his Gamma will have more information for us. I hope anyway.” Alpha Jack said.

When Brock’s Beta came in with the Gamma, the Gamma was fighting him. “Enough!” Alpha Brock used his Alpha command. “Can you tell us how,” he motioned to the mess on the tables, “this mess works? Is there an order or process to how it’s sorted?” He asked.

“I don’t know. I’m the Gamma. I train the fighters and I keep track of the patrols. Everything else I was not privy to,” he answered.

We all looked at him, flabbergasted. The Gamma was more than just the patrol schedulers and trainer. He was the left arm of the Alpha. “What the hell was your brother doing all this time?” Alpha Brock voiced the question in everyone’s mind. “Keep doing your duties for the time being. You will remain as pseudo-Gamma until we find a suitable replacement. Is that understood?” Alpha Brock instructed the angry man. I saw his jaw tick, but he nodded and departed.

Alpha Brock turned around to look at the mess. “Now what?”

I looked around and decided to take over. Organizing documents, I could do. I called over one of the Omegas. “Bring us a bunch of trash bags and about twenty cardboard boxes.” I looked around and found a stash of pens. Once the Omega returned with the items, I handed them out. “We’ll remove all the trash first. Then we’ll sort through the documents. We’ll do a rough sort. Financial documents, pack related, business related and whatever else we find, we can assign to boxes as we see a need.”

Alpha Brock and Jack simply smiled and took off their coats. Jesse groaned. “There's a reason I pay you to do my books. I hate paperwork.”

“I’ll give you a carry run through that dungeon you need for your gear set,” I tempted him.

“Oooh. Yes. I need the sword.” He said, and he grabbed a black bag and began to pick up discarded cups and plates.

“Well, you know how to negotiate, so there’s that.” Alpha Jack laughed while Alpha Brock looked a little confused at the exchange. “It’s a video game they have been playing for years, Alpha Brock. Don’t try to understand it. I barely do, and I have been hearing about it for the better part of two decades.”

“I’ll take your word on that,” Alpha Brock said as he rolled his sleeves up and grabbed a bag.

We all worked silently as we removed all the trash from the room. We ended up filling three full bags and a partial fourth. I can’t believe Jason had been working like this. Didn’t someone come in to clean? I made a mental note of asking Olivia, the head Omega at dinner. Once the place was somewhat clean, we began the task of sorting through the paperwork.

I couldn’t believe the amount of paperwork there was. Some were complaints; a lot of them were bills. Overdue? I was getting really worried the more the overdue bills seemed to pop up. I really hoped that they had been paid by now. I may know nothing about the pack business, but I do hold a board position as well as an accounting job in the pack business. It is doing well. I received my paycheck as a part-time employee and got paid for my share of the business on time every month. I owned twenty-five percent, and so did Jason. The pack owned the remaining. The company was mostly self-sufficient, with no need for either of us to do anything. The CEO and board took care of most of it. I only worked there part-time as a means to keep an ear on the company and because I enjoyed my accounting work.

“Is anyone else getting a little concerned about the amount of debt collector letters they are finding?” Jesse broke the silence.

“You too? s**t. I hoped I was the only one with the stack.” I said.

“It doesn’t appear like your brother was on top of his bill payments. Is the pack broke?” Alpha Brock asked.

“It shouldn’t be. The pack business is doing well and the pack accounts received fifty percent of the profits. There’s no rational reason why there should be any unpaid accounts. I went through the accounts when dad first passed away. They were comfortable, to say the least.”

“I think I know.” We all turned to Alpha Jack, who had a somber look on his face. We walked over to Jason’s and Eric’s desks. He was holding a stack of fliers and receipts and a lot of bank statements. I took the bank statements while Jesse grabbed hold of the receipts.

Are you f*****g kidding me? – Hugo asked as we looked over them.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Next chapter is on Thursday.