Chapter 5

T his pack is a fucking mess.

I’m scrubbing a hand over my face as I look over their financial statements and a list of all the members of the pack.

“Ten Alphas in two decades,” Jonas complains, as he goes through the paperwork with me along with key members of the pack. His dark brows furrow as he rubs his thumbs over his temples, his light brown skin heating with frustration. “What the fuck has been going on here?”

“We’re low on the totem pole here,” A man with long russet colored hair, and a beard says. “Maddox,” he says his name, like he knows I forgot it. “The witches own the town. Not to mention it’s fucking riddled with vampires and a few werewolves who like to give us a bad name.”

“Witches?” I question.

“The main coven in the area is the Celestial Coven. We’ve been at odds for centuries. I don’t think anyone knows the real lore at this point, but they’re a bunch of self-righteous cunts. They own half the businesses in town, and keep encroaching on our territory.”

“How?”

Maddox swallows thickly, he’s clearly nervous having my complete attention and one word questions.

“Magic brings a lot of fortune, and with that comes the ability to purchase land, homes, and businesses when they go up for sale.”

“Has peace been offered?”

“Peace is for the weak,” Thorin rumbles, and I tune him out quickly.

“There is no peace when it comes to this coven. Their High Priestess has been in charge for nearly forty years. Their coven is strong, and they want us gone.”

“How many witches are in this coven?”

Maddox looks at a few other members, and they shrug their shoulders. I rub the bridge of my nose.

Morons have been running this pack into the ground. Financially incompetent, weak Alphas have been leading this pack into destruction. Luckily for them, I have amassed a great deal of wealth in my efforts to find my pack. And by that I mean, what was previously Mr. Mander’s fortune is now mine.

“I want a list of everything for sale in the area, information on both the witch and vampire population, and I want every single member of the pack present tomorrow at ten a.m.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Maddox bows slightly, getting out of my newly appointed quarters and leaving with the other scared shitless shifters in tow.

“This is a clusterfuck,” Jonas says, running a hand through his buzzed black hair, his dark green eyes scanning all the pack’s financial documents. “Things seemed to get really bad about thirty years ago. Looks like that’s when the long-standing Alpha and his son died.”

“Since then?”

“Everything’s gone to shit. They haven’t been able to keep a steady leader. Matings are down. Mortality rate is up. We’re still eighty members strong, but this is going to take a lot.”

I rest the back of my head against the leather chair that’s just the right size. My blood ties to the pack are through my mother, who never arose as Alpha. From finding her a few weeks ago, it’s clear her being a low-tiered wolf is what got her kicked out of the pack and why she decided to give me up.

I didn’t feel much when I found her. There was no strong connection or feelings. If anything, she seemed sad and pathetic. But when I’m here, on this land, with this pack? I feel something so intense I’m not sure how to describe it.

This pack might be a disaster. But they’re now my disaster.

For the first time in my life, I understand my purpose. I was born to lead this pack out of desperation and into a new era. One where we’re not suppressed by other supernaturals.

Ideally I’d like to consider peace as a first option, but if it’s not on the table, then other tactics will have to do.

“Violence?” Thorin chimes in and I shake my head.

Jonas grabs us both a beer from the small fridge and hands me one as he sits across from me and we both take a heavy sip.

“Witches,” he grumbles and I grunt in agreement. “Shit isn’t going to be easy.”

“Everyone has a weakness,” I tell him, holding my beer up as he does the same.

“To Pack Moon Walker.”

“To Pack Moon Walker,” I reply with a smile. “We’re finally home.”

Jonas gives me a rare smile as we gather everything for the meeting tomorrow.

The chatter is loud as I hold up a hand. “Quiet,” I say in a booming voice, silencing everyone in the hall.

All eyes are on me as I stand at the podium and rest my hands on the edge.

“If you weren’t at the challenge the other night, I’m sure you heard about it. My name is Silas, and I’m the new Alpha of the Moon Walker Pack. If you have an issue with this, I have no qualms accepting challenges for the position at any given time.”

No one speaks, and I nod my head, enjoying the submission.

“Now, I’ve run through the financials, I’ve spoken to involved pack members, and I’ve come to some conclusions. First and foremost, this pack is running dry on funds. I will be using my personal finances to get this pack on track, but that requires hard work and dedication from everyone. If you are a business owner, I would like you to schedule an appointment with me to discuss your current business model.

“Second, I hear we have a problem with the local supernaturals in town…”

That one has the volume rising as pack members lean into one another to whisper and discuss the ongoing problem.

“While I’ve been advised that peace is not possible, I’d like to see for myself. I’m going to be holding a meeting with the leaders of each clan in the area. Witches, werewolves, and even the vampires.”

“There’s no point!” someone shouts from the back of the hall and I lean into the podium.

“Know thy enemy and know yourself,” I say, quoting general Sun Tzu. “I understand that I haven’t grown up here, that you don’t know me. But what you will learn to understand is that I’m dedicated to making this pack what it once was. If we can’t come to an agreement with these other beings, then I have no issue keeping them our enemies.”

There are chants of excitement, and it’s clear the hatred runs even deeper than I realized for the other supernaturals.

What the fuck have I just gotten myself into?