☽ Chapter 21: Restructuring ☾

?Chapter 21 – Restructuring?

I sigh as Mika and Lace continue to argue over the pack’s finances, with Lace wondering why six-thousand dollars were spent on alcohol monthly as Mika tries to move the conversation into a different direction. I have a hunch on why the money was spent that way, one that causes me immense pain every time Mika decides to throw a she-wolf into bed with him. But I will let Lace figure it out on her own. “Mika, please tell me you did not spend six-thousand on she-wolves?” Lace asks, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “It was Bastian’s idea. He said I needed a mate and would throw lavish parties for me to meet she-wolves!” Mika finally shouts out and I roll my eyes. Of course it would be that bastard’s idea, knowing what happens to a she-wolf when her mate screws around with another she-wolf is something every werewolf learns in sex-ed. “No wonder Geminie hates you! I hate you!” Lace shouts, the room going silent as I look at a fuming Lace who glares at her brother. If looks could kill, Mika would be dead. “What do you mean?” Mika asks quietly, hurt evident on his face as he stares in disbelief. “I was one of the few wolves who never harmed Geminie after she was disowned. I watched you and your friends hurt her, watched as you beat her. She wasn’t the reason our parents were killed, the Blakes were. Fuck, you were there that night and watched our mother get be-headed.” Lace continues, eyes full of tears as she clenches her fists. I can feel the power of an Alpha radiate off of her, something I have yet to feel from Mika, and surprise fills me. Maybe Mika isn’t fit to be an Alpha. But Lace sure is. “You allowed them to make our pack weak, even after becoming Alpha. You stopped allowing Omegas to train, and so I had to secretly train them in order to keep up their basic combat skills. I had to run the pack, something an Alpha should do, since you and Bastian went out to party every month. I had to organize patrols and hunting parties so that we didn’t starve. You did nothing, Mika!” She is screaming by the time she ends her rant, tears of anger and frustration running down her cheeks. I instinctually rush to Lace’s side and pull her into a hug, the blonde she-wolf instantly subbing into my shoulder the moment she feels my comfort. “You ruined our pack, a pack our parents and ancestors worked hard on. You’re not fit to be an Alpha.” She whimpers making me sigh. Lace is right, Mika is not fit to be an Alpha if the paperwork is any indication. Every last sheet - except the finances - has her signature on it, some even with her own handwriting, as I notice rescheduling on some. Even the list of Omegas she kept separate for the secret training was brought and scrutinized. “I am the oldest, that’s why I am Alpha!” Mika exclaims. I frown, glaring at the wolf across the table from Lace and I. “Oldest doesn’t necessarily means best fit.” I point out, seeing a look of defeat on his face. I sigh, motioning for us to take a break. Without hesitation, Mika rushes out of the room, and Lace collapses into her chair. Ariven smiles as he hands the two of us bottles of water before exiting the room as well. [I’ll follow Mika and leave you ladies to talk.] He links me and I thank him, taking the chair beside Lace as we sit in awkward silence. “I never blamed you, Gem.” Lace cuts the silence and I turn to look at the deflated she-wolf, who is now fidgeting with the cap of her water bottle. “I knew that the death of my parents was caused by someone in the pack doing a bad deed. I even looked into the situation and had a witch help me bring up my memories. They were from your father’s pack, weren’t they?” She continues and I sigh, something I find myself doing a lot lately since coming here, before running a hand through my hair as I stare out the window. “Yeah, they were." I admit, remembering the interrogation that happened just before the Luna was killed. "Technically, it is my fault the Alpha and Luna were killed.” “But you were kidnapped and believed you were a Blake.” Lace cuts in, taking my hand and staring at me. I give a small smile as tears fill my eyes. It’s been years since she and I had a conversation, and the emotions welling inside me are bittersweet. “I know that now. But had I not been kidnapped, Alpha Sorus and Luna Reena - your parents - would still be here.” I rebut. “It’s the Blakes’ fault. After they took over, the pack changed. Omegas were treated as nothing but slaves during their rule. Favoured wolves rarely trained, while those who were not close to the pair were trained mercilessly. I watched as pack members left one by one and the power declined. When you rejected my brother, it got worse. I wanted to leave with you and Alex, but I couldn’t let my family’s pack break down.” My heart breaks as Lace explains the things she had to do short of selling her body to keep this pack together, how she had to make money through creating herbal medicines and cosmetics that soon became the business Lacey Face with how popular the products became. I listen as the she-wolf I once considered a sister releases her pent-up worries and resentment one by one, sometimes chiming in with my own memories of an event or handing her a tissue when she cries. By the time our talk ends, an hour has passed. “You should be Alpha, Lace.” I state, feeling the love for her pack radiating off of Lace in waves and her Alpha power slowly growing. I have a feeling that Jasmine tried to suppress her in order to make Mika their puppet, but this she-wolf persevered and came out stronger instead. “I don’t know if I can do it though.” Lace voices and I smile, pulling her in for a hug as our bond slowly rebuilds itself. “You can. You’ve done it for years already and just need a little more training.” A voice cuts in before I can say anything, causing Lace and I to turn to the doorway, where Mika and Ariven stand. Mika walks towards us, coming to stand before his sister as he lets out a deep sigh. “You held this pack together, while Bastian and I nearly destroyed it. You made a business through high school, and instead of going to college, grew that business to support the pack needs. You are a better Alpha than I am.” Mika admits, shocking both Lace and me. The room is left in silence as I watch Lace’s eyes glaze over then Mika’s, the two having a conversation through their link—a conversation I wished to be apart of. [You think he will give up being Alpha?] Ariven asks and I smile, turning to look at him as he saunters over to me to play with my hair. I swat his hand away, still upset with Ariven for tricking me. He lets out a sigh and takes a seat opposite me. I am not ready to deal with Ariven as I still feel betrayed. [Yes. He will do what’s right for his pack. But Lace would make him her Beta. She won't give up on the only family she has left.] I answer. We wait patiently for the siblings to talk until Mika lets out a sigh and walks to his seat. “We will announce to the pack that I am stepping down for Lace to become Alpha. Then, we can start training the wolves the right way.” Mika exclaims and I smile at him, the first friendly smile I have given my ex-mate in years. “You’re doing the right thing, Mika.” I state before we continue the meeting. Lace’s Alpha power radiates off of her as a new found confidence shines in her eyes. Hidden Claws will grow again, and maybe an alliance with this pack will be beneficial for my own.

◆◆◆

“When will you announce stepping down as Alpha?” I ask Mika as the four of us end our meeting. With the plan for Lace to become Alpha in a week, there is a lot to do with Hidden Claws, Starting with mass training today in three hours. “Tonight, during the welcome banquet for your pack. It’s only fair.” Mika answers, sighing as he runs a hand through his hair. “I had no idea the amount of damage to this pack caused between the Blakes and I. They all deserve better.” I hum in agreement, my own torment in the pack coming to mind at how horrible this pack became during the reign of the Blakes. With the way the twins from Hidden Claws behaved on their patrol, this pack needs a large restructuring. “Both of you will be at training, correct?” I ask as I stand from my chair and stretch, catching Mika staring a little too long at me. “Of course, Gemie, and thank you for coming to help. Your wolves agreed to patrol for us, right?” Lace answers, giving me a bright smile that I return with my own. “Yes, they did.” I answer then take my leave with Ariven hot on my heels, intending to use the next three hours to prepare for the training session and prep the four wolves for their patrol.