Chapter Nine: Bleeding Out

ZOVADA

Simon Parker Horne, Alpha type now. Stood at the podium and looked out across the crowd before him. His face was a mask of confusion, excitement, and confidence—despite the undercurrent of uncertainty I could see. My heart pounded in my chest, my body trembled with anticipation. All eyes were on him as he watched everyone he’d known his entire life watch with bated breath. “Wow, had I known, I would’ve prepared a speech. This is wild work, Dad.”

“Thinking on your feet is part of the job, consider this your first lesson son.”

“Gee thanks.”

Everyone chuckled but didn’t dare look at him any less for unpreparedness. Simon shook his head and offered a lopsided grin. “That doesn’t mean I don’t have anything to say, I have so much to say, I simply don’t know where to start.”

Simon immediately recovered from the awkwardness and transitioned into the powerful leader I knew he was as he crossed his arms and raised a brow. “The pack will always be first to me. I plan to pick up right where my father leaves off. Nothing is broken, so nothing needs to be fixed.”

The pack cheered, obviously happy with the acknowledgement of our current standing in the way of our life. He ran his hands through his hair before he continued. “However, I do know there are things that need to be adapted for the future. I plan to do that. I do not have a traditional upbringing as an Alpha; I only have a handful of people that I have chosen and grown with since childhood. That is one way I wanted to be different. I have my Beta, which is obviously my best friend Rex, who is obviously not here today of course because I sent him away on business. A few warriors I trust, they know who they are. You don’t get to.”

He smiled as he took it all in. “Other than that, I will be filling other cabinet positions fairly with outside sources–not all of them, but some of them. I have studied other packs, and would like to bring new ideas and ways of life to ours. I don’t believe we can achieve new heights without new thoughts and new blood. I will send out more details once I have evolved the plan further—it’s something I have studied and researched. Alpha Medonis has achieved more innovation in the last three years than we have in ten by adding more walks of life and races to his pack, for instance.”

Alpha Medonis…. The name made my entire body vibrate at the mere mention of his name for some reason…

My attention was brought back to the task at hand when I noticed the reaction of the crowd, not much of it was positive. Many of the older wolves in the crowd winced, but nodded, younger wolves seemed to agree emphatically. The disparity between fear of change and rush to change paused as Simon continued. “I have researched similar patterns in the human business world, and within our own shifter dynamics, more diversity, more growth. Even the Elderant Council operates differently than a normal pack. But, more on that later.”

Everyone cheered excitedly, I smiled proudly as I watched him address our pack. My heart filled with warmth as I clapped loudly. Luna Mother Claudia and I nodded at one another but said nothing as Simon continued to speak.

I zoned out and watched him embrace his moment. He was born for this, and it truly showed. 

For the first time in years, it felt as though Simon was truly ready to come into his own. “Now, as for securing the Horne legacy. It is not lost on me that there have been many whispers about that. Understand, I will not be bullied. Nor will I be rushed. I am well aware what my duties are to this pack. To include an Heir.” 

Everyone looked as though they didn’t know whether to cheer or complain, but ultimately decided to clap. Regina’s smirk did not go unnoticed out of the corner of my eye. A small sense of dread filled my heart. I looked at Luna Claudia, my face fixed in a professional smile. She patted my arm with a soothing smile. The anger in her eyes told me ‘we’ll deal with this later, don’t you worry’ and I swallowed hard, despite the crack in my heart. I fully believed she’d happily eviscerate her son on my behalf. 

Simon’s voice brought my gaze back to him, and just like always, I buried the emotions. This is his moment. We can sort out our issues later. The pack needs this. 

“There will be more announcements and important dates coming. I’ve trained my entire life for this position, but now that my ascension is imminent, I will need to dive deeper into everything with my father.” He placed his hands on the podium, his muscles constricted with the movement as he continued. “With that, we will need time, and resources. I will also need to know if there are any specific issues anyone needs me to start addressing, a needs assessment would be a great start so I can allocate funding, forces, and energy as necessary. Where have we been silently bleeding out? We are all Horne pack, and without you, we have nothing.”

My mind reeled. Bleeding out? Me. Look at me. Look at our fractured Mate bond. Say something…anything? Can’t you feel my pain? 

Everyone nodded and clapped.

“Last but not least, I know the questions on everyone’s mind right now are when am I getting a mate and when will my coronation be.”

Simon’s gaze drifted to Regina, who stood on the other side of the stage next to Lisa and her daughter Charity. They looked like a fleet of blonde-haired blue-eyed barbies of varying degrees and heights. Lisa in deep blue, Charity in white, and Regina in baby pink. Instead of sensible Alpha royalty like Luna Claudia, they looked like pampered princesses. The difference between ‘our side’ and ‘their side’ was staggering.

The crowd howled in reply. My attention snapped back to reality as he grinned and looked at me, anyone else would think he looked at his mother from that angle, but his gaze made my cheeks flush. “The truth is, I have already found my mate–”

Before the crowd could react, Charity Renee, his younger sister broke through the speech and yelled, “Regina has already planned the Coronation!”

Simon looked at Regina in confusion, she smirked but recovered quickly, Charity grinned victoriously. My heart dropped into my stomach as I watched the way he looked at Regina, Claudia pulled me to my feet as she climbed to her own.

Alpha Richard looked like he had swallowed something sour. Whispers of confusion rippled across the crowd. I crossed my arms and studied Simon, his gaze finally cut to me. Panic, horror and uncertainty swam in his expression. “Z—" I raised a brow as he began to speak but was stopped by his mother.

“Interesting. Was there a posting for the outsourcing of my son’s Coronation? How many applicants were there? Why was I not notified?”

It was so silent, you could hear a pin drop. Not even Simon did anything to correct the situation. He knew the implications of Regina planning his Coronation—and did nothing. My heart twisted in my chest as I recalled every single time I defended him, his business, or his position, without question. Has this always been this one sided?

When no one said anything, Lisa cleared her throat. “If you want to vent your anger anywhere Luna Claudia, you can vent it to me. I was the one that invited Regina to handle the preparations. Had I known you would be well enough—”

“Silence.”

“Claudia, can we please not do this in front of the pack?” Alpha Richard whispered. He was terrified. The Luna Mother’s glare settled on him.

“You too, Dick.” She walked over to Regina, who bowed low to her.

“Luna Claudia. I did not mean to overstep. I apologize for offending you.” Regina said immediately.

“Offending?” Luna Claudia scoffed. “As if you could. As if you are so important you could go toe to toe with ME.”  

“Luna, I really meant no disrespect. Simon means a lot to me and I just wanted to—”

“Alpha Simon.”

She stopped and looked at her in confusion.

“His. Name. Is. Alpha. Simon.” Luna Claudia emphasized every single word as she tilted her head threateningly.

“Mom this isn’t necessary—” Simon tried to defend her, but his mother placed a hand in front of him without removing her threatening gaze from Regina.

“Say his name.” Luna Claudia ordered.

“Alpha Simon.” Regina replied with a deep bow.

Luna Claudia nodded and walked over to Simon, Charity, and I. Her glare settled heavy on her husband’s daughter. “Luna Claudia.” She whispered, unsure if she should bow or not.

“Choose your allies wisely Charity. Your life depends on it.” Luna Claudia whispered.

“Don’t threaten my daughter—” Lisa growled and stepped forward. 

Luna Claudia turned her gaze on her and her Luna aura pressed down on both of them, they dropped to their knees. “Never forget that your existence in my home, and my husband’s bed is because I allow it. Not because you earned it. Now remove yourselves. I don’t want to see you again until the coronation.

Lisa and Charity scrambled back into the mansion, angry and humiliated. Alpha Richard ignored them when they shot him a pitiful glance. My heart thundered in my chest while I watched them retreat. I waited for Simon to address the pack, to finish his mate announcement, to correct Regina. To claw back some semblance of the narrative, to stand up for me, just once.

My gaze was pleading as I stared at him. Choose me, Si. Just this once, please choose me. 

“Zovada, I truly had no idea. I—” Simon whispered low enough for me to hear.

“Then do it now Si.” I said quietly.

“I’ll arrange a formal announcement later. Regina has already been humiliated enough for one day don’t you think?  If the pack finds out that you are my mate and she—” I shook my head and raised my hand to silence him, just like his mother had. He looked at me in confusion as I turned and walked toward the exit. “That’s what I thought.”

My gaze met his mother’s who had a hint of pride in her eyes as she stared at me. 

“Congratulations Alpha Simon. Luna Mother, Alpha Richard, please excuse me. I am not feeling well.”

They both nodded as I stepped down from the stage, the rage uncoiled in my stomach. My fists clenched, but I knew better than to show any of my emotion in front of our people. I could feel my energy fight for release as I made my way past the pack while they sneered but respectfully moved out of the way. They knew better than to challenge me in front of the Alpha family.

“Zov—" Simon yelled from somewhere behind me.

As I passed them, Regina smirked once more, it told me everything I needed to know. 

This wasn’t a moment of misjudgement by a young and naive Charity. It was a coordinated offensive attack launched by Lisa and Charity to set up the perception of Regina as the future Luna. It was a political subterfuge. Each of them played their parts beautifully. I played right into their hands. The perfect little Wolfless Orphan that clung to Simon since we were young, played for a fool before all the pack.  

Based on his reaction in the aftermath of the carefully constructed dance, there was no way Simon was going to announce me as his mate. If anything, he would have sidestepped the entire thing like he had in the earlier part of his speech.  

I don’t know which was worse, his ignorance of the powerplay that had just happened right under his nose, or the continued lack of support for me as mate. 

One thing was for certain. The Mate bond was now held on by a thread. My sanity had started to fray at the edges. Maybe I should just let it snap, and go on with my life. For all the support Luna Claudia gave me, it meant nothing if Simon didn’t claim me. 

Gamma Didi was at my side at an instant. “Say the word and we’re gone.”

Tears stung my eyes. 

The words should’ve terrified me, but instead, I was simply tired. 

“Shouldn’t you be celebrating your new Alpha at the bonfire with everyone else?” 

“Gammas belong to the Luna. Where you go, I go. Period, My Luna.” 

I nodded, emotion thick in my throat. 

“Then let’s get back to work, My Gamma.”