Page 48 of Pack and Forth
He turned to Kira, his blue eyes shining with pride and love. “Kira Cress is more than just my mate, more than just the woman I love. She is a force of nature, a fierce warrior who has proven time and again that she will stop at nothing to protect those she holds dear.”
A cheer went up from the crowd, a resounding show of support. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, overwhelmed by the outpouring of acceptance.
But just as the cheers began to die down, a lone figure stepped forward from the throng. Jenna, the same statuesque she-wolf with piercing green eyes that attacked her, fixed Kira with a look of pure disdain.
“With all due respect, Alpha,” she began, her voice dripping with barely concealed contempt, “I must object to this...unprecedented decision.”
A hush fell over the crowd as all eyes turned to Jenna. Kira felt Rex tense beside her, saw Nash’s hand twitch toward the knife at his belt. But she placed a calming hand on each of their arms, silently urging them to let her handle this.
She stepped forward, meeting Jenna’s challenge with a steady gaze. “Speak your mind, Jenna. I’m listening.”
Jenna sneered, tossing her sleek black hair over one shoulder. “A feline as our alpha female? It’s unheard of. Unnatural. How can we trust an outsider to understand our ways, to put the needs of the pack above her own?”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, a low undercurrent of unease. Kira could feel the weight of centuries of prejudice bearing down on her, the ingrained mistrust between their species rearing its ugly head.
But she refused to be cowed. She’d spent her whole life fighting the odds, proving her worth in a world that had written her off from birth. This was just one more battle, one more chance to show what she was made of.
“I understand your concerns, Jenna,” Kira said evenly, her voice carrying across the clearing. “I know I’m an outsider, that my presence here goes against tradition. But I also know that I love Rex and Nash and through them, this pack, that I would lay down my life for any one of you.”
She paused, letting her words sink in. “I may be a lioness, but my heart beats for the Blood Stone Pack. You are my family.”
Jenna scoffed, her lip curling in a sneer. “Pretty words, kitty cat. But words are cheap. How do we know you won’t turn tail and run at the first sign of trouble?”
Kira’s eyes flashed, her lioness rising to the challenge. “I’ll prove it to you, here and now. I challenge you, Jenna, to a fight. Woman to woman, shifter to shifter. Let’s see who’s really worthy of standing at our alpha’s side.”
A shocked gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a buzz of excited whispers. A challenge from a new alpha female was rare enough, but for it to come from a feline? Unheard of.
Jenna’s eyes widened, caught off guard by Kira’s boldness. For a moment, uncertainty flickered across her face, her bravado faltering in the face of Kira’s unwavering resolve.
But she quickly schooled her features back into a mask of disdain. “I don’t need to fight you to know you’re not fit to lead us. You’re nothing but a mongrel, a half-breed who doesn’t belong.”
Kira’s anger rose like lava in her chest, hot and fierce. How dare this bitch question her worth, her dedication to the pack?
But before she could lunge forward, ready to shift and teach Jenna a lesson she wouldn’t soon forget, Rex’s strong hand clamped down on her shoulder.
“Enough,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Jenna, you forget yourself. Kira is my mate, my equal in every way. To question her is to question me, and I will not stand for insubordination.”
Jenna paled, the fight draining out of her as she realized the magnitude of her mistake. To challenge the alpha female was one thing, but to openly defy the alpha himself? Unthinkable.
“I-”
“I will give you a single chance to think about it, Jenna. You’re either with the alpha and his mate or you’re not. If you’re not, you do not belong in this pack and you need to go.”
She bowed her head, her posture submissive. “Forgive me, Alpha. I spoke out of turn.”
Rex glared at her for a long moment, letting the weight of his displeasure sink in. “See that it doesn’t happen again. I will not have my mate harassed in any way or made to feel less by anyone.” He growled. “Do you understand?”
The crowd nodded and lowered their heads in submission. “Kira has proven her loyalty and her strength. She is your alpha female, and you will respect her as such.”
Jenna nodded meekly, slinking back into the crowd with her tail between her legs. Kira let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, the tension draining from her body.
Rex turned to face the pack once more, his arm slipping around Kira’s waist in a gesture of unity. “Let this be a lesson to all of you. The Blood Stone Pack is stronger together, regardless of species or background. We are a family, and we will stand united against any threat.”
A roar of approval went up from the crowd, a resounding show of support for their alpha triad. Tears stung her eyes once more, overwhelmed by the love and acceptance radiating from her new packmates.
As the cheers died down, Nash stepped forward, a grin on his handsome face. “Well, now that the posturing is out of the way, what say we get this party started? I don’t know about you lot, but I’m starving.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd, the tension of the moment dissolving into good-natured ribbing and excitement. Music played a lively beat that had everyone tapping their feet and swaying their hips. The mouthwatering scent of roasting meat and spices filled the air, making Kira’s stomach rumble in anticipation.