Once the male was removed Jess says to the pack, “Form a circle and the fight will start. I wish all to see how a female can be your leader. You shall see how I will defend you and yours.” The pack members whom are not fighting form a circle around the three whom were. All three shift to their wolf forms.
The fight was not a long one for which Jess was thankful. She watched them for a moment or two seeing that they truly did not know how to fight. Zane informed her they were the Gamma and Delta of the pack. She nods letting him know she understood what he had said.
She takes them both out in a matter of minutes. She was tired but knew they still had to handle the matter of the man in chains. For he is a man at the moment. Silver can take the wolf from you. If it has wolfsbane mixed into the matter before the forging is done. The reason Jess had David chain him was for that very reason. Shifting to human again she looks at her new pack. “We have one final issue to handle before you may head to your homes. On the morrow we shall meet again and handle any other issues at that point.” They nod happily to see how strong this new Alpha truly is. She then turns to David, “Please bring him here. We will be handling him now.”
David and Annoce have to drag him to where Jess stands since he will not comply. “As you can see he does not think he deserves what is being handed out. Though I am sure more than one of you have suffered at this man's hands. Yes, I know I have said man and not wolf. The reason behind this is the chains he is in. David and Sunny are very talented blacksmiths. They have the knowledge to ensure the chains we will use take the wolf from the person while they are worn. Archibald, I will now grant what you have asked for while we were travelling.” She steps back and allows him to step up to the bastard.
He stares into the man's eyes before speaking, “You may have been my father but no more. You are nothing but a disgrace to the meaning of the word. How could you be such a vile and despicable man. How could you do what you did with a smile and laugh on your lips. I do not care to know your answer. But now I will strive to do what my people need. I will protect them as you should have. I will still have my mate to cherish. No thanks to you.” He then lets his claws come forth before taking the man's head.
Jess gasps as she hears what he has spoken. She did not know the man was his father. Though she understands the need he had now. Archibald turns from the body and walks to Gisela whom had shifted to human. He wraps her in his arms and lays his head into the nook between her neck and shoulder. Zane lays a hand on his shoulder. He looks to the pack members. “I believe we have all had a few rough days at this point. I will talk with the warriors in a few moments to set a border watch. The rest of you go rest and we will see you all on the morrow.” They bow to him and those whom were not warriors left.
Seeing the number left did not make him happy. They would have to train the pack to fight if they were to thrive. He goes and talks with the warriors and sets up a time frame so some can rest while others work. Once done he asks Raken to clean the mess from the fight and the body up so Jess does not see them again. Raken agrees. The group goes to rest for a bit with the time still being so early in the day.
Once the group has rested and eaten something they sit down and talk about the work needed to make the pack capable again. This goes on for a few hours. Once a plan is formed David smiles. He sees Jess will truly help the pack become a force to deal with once things are in place. He nods to Sunny and walks outside to wait for her. She joins him with a smile. “I will be heading back for our horses and cart. I will take Latsol with me. Should I leave Annoce with you or would you prefer he comes with me?” She thinks for a bit. “I will be safe here. You should have him go with you so you both come back to me unharmed.” “Very well he shall come with me. Here is the ring you wanted for him. Though do not look at this until you are placing it on his finger.”
. The three set off and promise to return within the week. Sunny and Jess watch them until they are not in sight. Jess turns to Sunny, “You know they will come back to us and may have a tale or two when they do.” Sunny just laughs, “Yes, I know this Jess. For now we must work on this pack of yours. When will you start training them? If they are not against me working with the young pups. I will teach them to use bows.” Jess nods and thinks before saying, “I believe this is a wonderful idea. Even without their wolves they will be able to help the pack. We will hold a meeting this evening. I wish to get the pack's opinion on this. I have to do a joining of the packs as well.”
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That evening the pack has come together for a meeting. They are thinking they will be told how they live their lives from now on. They think the killing of the bastard was a show. They do not know Jess, but soon they will learn how wrong they truly were.
“I have asked everyone of you here this evening to discuss how the pack will be run before I take my oath to you and join my two packs together. First the way of life you had under your former Alpha will not happen with me. I refuse to be that evil of a person let alone wolf. So to the first item. I wish for everyone whom can fight to start training on the morrow. This is to strengthen the pack. I do not care if you are male or female. I also wish for the pups without their wolves to learn to use a bow. Sunny will be the teacher for this. Yes, she is not a wolf however she never misses in the time I have known the woman. I will open the floor to all of you so you may speak your peace.” Jess says before sitting in the Alpha chair. She waits for them to speak, wanting to truly know what they thought.
The males think she is joking. They sit there with their arms crossed over their chest. No one seems to want to speak, they are all still afraid to believe what she has said. Seeing this Raken steps forward to speak with this group in front of them. “I am here to speak since you lot do not seem to think things will be different. I can smell your fear. You are thinking you will be smacked down for voicing what you want. I can tell you this will not be the case. What she has spoken is true. She truly wishes to know how you feel on what has spoken. I joined her pack not long before the fight with your old Alpha. I did not think I would join a pack again due to how my old pack was run.” He says.
One of the old males scuff at him, “Why the hell should I believe an ex rogue as yourself. I doubt your old pack was as bad as you think. You are still young and arrogant.” Raken gives the old male an evil smile, “You think I would want to stay in a pack where if you were not wolf born or wolf blood you die. If you were bitten and turned you are a slave and nothing more than something to be bred if female.” He snarls.
One of the females gasps at this and starts to cry. A male holds her hand and comforts her to quiet her. The old man truly looks at him. “Those standards are not allowed anymore. The wolves have formed a court to stop what you have said from happening now.” This makes Raken laugh, “The court you speak of does not head to the area in which the Blood Moon Killers pack is. I left that pack due to the Alpha turning a blind eye to his Beta turning a human. He thought the Beta was making a breeding slave. In reality the Beta wanted her for a mate. He threw the dwarf David onto the pack lands to stop him from stepping in to stop the turning. I saw and took the dwarf to safety to heal. The Alpha found out and had David brought before him to take his head. I stopped this by fighting in wolf form. I managed to free David and take him from the lands. As I kept one paw on the lands I broke from the pack and left. I joined her pack due to David. If not for him I would still be a rogue.”
The whole pack is watching him for lies but see none. The female whom had been crying had calmed down. She looks to Raken. She knows he speaks the truth. For she was the female whom had been turned and kicked from the pack once the Alpha learned she would not be shared. She stands and walks toward him before turning to her pack mates. “Everything he has spoken about Blood Moon Killers is true. I know this due to being the female that was turned. The Beta wanted myself for his mate. The Alpha killed him when he learned this and gave me the choice of serving the pack on my back or to leave by sunset. If I was still near or on lands he would hunt me. I for one seeing this male again trust the new Alpha and will do what is needed to help our be good and strong again. Will you not do the same? Or will you scuff, turn your noses up, leave since you think nothing shall change?”
Those whom know the female sees she has made her mind to trust their new Alpha. Most know she does not trust easily due to what had happened to her. The pack takes turns speaking what they wish to see happen with the pack. Jess stands near the end and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Thank you for speaking up. I know this was hard for you. Know I do not think less of you for being a turned wolf. You will do great things in this pack. What is your name? Do you wish to have word sent to your family if any still live?” She blushes at the attention from her new Alpha, “My name is Melanie. As for a word sent to my family I do not think they still live. The Alpha of Blood Moon Killers made sure to slaughter the village I came from.”
Jess nods to her and is about to speak when one pack member asks what they will do with the undercroft. Zane and Jess look to one another. He asks, “What undercroft do you mean?” The old male whom had been giving the lot a hard time speaks, “The one with those secrets were known only to the higher ranks. I will show you shortly though you still need to do the ritual so you are the Alpha.” Zane chuckles, “I am the Beta. Your Alpha will be Jess. I am her right hand. But you are correct we still need to do the rite in order to be the pack at ease.” The male looks surprised by this news. He had thought they were just allowing the female to speak to put the women at ease.
The supplies for the ritual have been gathered and brought to Jess. She smiles and thanks the ones whom had brought them to her. Jess, Zane, and Raken stand before the pack. They each take a turn and pledge themselves to the pack. Once this is finished the pack seems happy with the group.