46. Shya

Chapter forty-six

Shya

I sat on my bed and stared at the shoes Edmond had bought me for the mating ceremony. Pale pink Dolce there is food, there are jobs, there is medicine and education for all—all of us thrive. I need to mate with Edmond to show we still have strong leaders here."

"I don't get it. They're saying it because they see Mom as weak, right? They want you to take over, and they want Tristan as your mate not the Edborg, because the Pack thinks Tristan used to be one of us, that he has proved himself to be a strong leader, and that's what we need?"

I nodded. "He is a strong leader, and we are at war with him. If we invited Tristan back to be Alpha with me, the war would end. We would have one less enemy to worry about. But everyone has a choice, Tucker. You have to ask yourself if he is someone worth giving your allegiance to. He is strong, yes, but what does he stand for? Is he going to make life better for everyone or only for those he thinks are worthy? Will he bring a Pack together or splinter it, pitting those he says deserve to be rewarded against those he says don't? I'm sure it will be great if he decides you are worthy. But will you stand by and watch as he treats those more vulnerable than you like they are worse than rats? And if you did, what sort of person does that make you? We all crave strong leadership, Tucker, that's who we are, but I would choose chaos and war every time over bowing down to a person like Tristan, and I would die before I let my family be ruled by him."

"You could run?" Henry suggested. "Go with Mason; start a new life somewhere else."

I looked at him. As our eyes met, I saw the exact moment Henry understood.

"You're doing this for us!" He looked horrified. "If you ran, I'd be next in line. You think I'm not a match for Tristan. You think he'll kill me and then Tuck. You're staying for us. You're mating with Edmond to protect us!"

Tucker blinked up at me, his young face colored by shock and dawning comprehension.

"I'm doing it to protect all of us, Henry," I said softly.

"But, Shya," Tucker's voice was small, "what about your happiness?"

"Being a strong leader isn't about brute strength. It's about understanding the needs of everyone and working to make life better for all; it means putting others before yourself. And right now, keeping you both safe … that's what matters most."

Henry's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "We never asked for this sacrifice."

"It's not a sacrifice," I lied.

"I won't allow it!" Tucker jumped back on the bed with one finger pointed at me. I almost laughed at the stern expression on his face. "You mate with any one you want. You want Mason, you take Mason. You want to be single, I'll make them all disappear! Me and Henry will kick their butts. You just wait and see!"

Goddess, I loved my brothers so much. I'd do anything for them. "I want to mate with Edmond, Tuck. It's the best thing for everyone."

Tucker deflated before my eyes, his shoulders slumping as he stepped off the bed.

"Well, that sucks. I guess I have to put on the horrid jacket Mom got me, then."

I smiled softly at him. "I guess so. Don't worry about me. I'll make sure I'm happy, I promise. I'll see you both there, okay?"

They left the room together, Henry glancing sadly back at me as he said, "You know, Dad also said one more thing. He said a great leader always carves her own path." Then he closed the door.

I took a deep breath, picked up the shoes, and slipped them on.