Chapter 53

DANTE

Alpha Dante toasted a cup to his uncle with a smile on his face as they went down the memory lane. He laughed as his uncle reminded him of all the goofy things he had done when he was young, all the sacrifices he made for the pack and all his parents did for love. He convinced him that no matter what, love always came first for the wolves in their pack.

His father may not have done worse when it came to love but he knew if he was in that situation, he would do it without thinking twice. It was a day before Alpha Dante left the Aurora pack to the Tick moon pack with nothing but a carry-on of his clothes and money. He was going to make a brand new life in the neighboring pack since he had never shown his face, or had a meeting with anyone from the pack.

Whatever relationship the both of them had come as a result of the pack members, and barely ever from the pack Alphas.

“You have always been successful Dante, it wouldn’t be any different this time. I promise.” He placed a hand on his shoulder which made Alpha Dante smile.

“I can’t believe I’m leaving this pack for something as flimsy as love.” He scrunched his face up. If anyone, but him decided to do anything like that, he knew he would paint them as weak because to him, love has always been a sign of weakness. He didn’t like the fact that he had to view himself as weak if he went through with this.

“Love is not that. You would know after you find her and she finds you.” Charles said looking down at his glass of wine.

He made Alpha Dante drink one last time as a wolf because he was giving away all his power to the person that would stand in as the king before he came back. His people were not happy with it, they hated what was happening and even threatened to send out an angry protest, Alpha Dante decided to address them before he left.

“I hope I do.” He slouched down on his sofa before he took a sip of his wine. They sat there in silence, both of them lost in their thoughts before Charles decided to speak up because he knew an angry Louis was behind the door opposite them, eavesdropping on their conversation.

He was very angry as to why Alpha Dante would not let him have the throne while he was the Beta. It was humiliating and sent out a message to the rest of the wolves that he was incompetent of handling the pack for even a short time.

“When are you instating Louis as the new head of the pack Dante?” He asked, sitting up and turning his body to face his nephew.

Alpha Dante raised a brow in question before he thought momentarily and shook his head, “I am not giving Louis the head of our pack Uncle. I suppose you know why.”

Charles felt his vein tick with ire. He kept his glass on the table in front of the sofa they were on and folded his arms across his chest, trying hard to not punch the Alpha’s mouth for telling him his son was incompetent right to his face.

“Why is that?” Charles raised a brow.

“Louis is impulsive. I saw something in him before letting him be my Beta but he certainly isn’t ready to rule a pack the right way. I don’t know how long I will be gone.” He kept his glass back on the table and turned in his Uncle’s direction.

“You won’t be gone for long,” Charles smirked, which hid under a disguise of a smile. He knew Alpha Dante’s days were numbered in this world and his son would be the Alpha, no matter what he thought about him. His son deserved the throne more than anybody else.

“I won’t.” Alpha Dante smiled.

“So who are you going to give the pack to? Because you can’t leave it just like that without an Alpha.” He explained.

“I am going to give it to you Uncle. You’re the only person I can trust with this pack because you have been in it way before I was born. You also have a good sense of judgment and would step down for me once I come back home with my mate.” He said, feeling numb all over at the thought of leaving his home.

He trusted his uncle because his father always valued him before he died and even though he couldn’t be his Beta, he made sure he asked for his advice on everything there is to do for the pack.

“Wow,” Charles’s eyes widened as though he wasn’t expecting to hear what Alpha Dante just said to him. “That is huge.”

“It is nothing Uncle Charles. You would have been in line for the throne if it hasn’t been for my father.”

Charles shook his head, “That’s right.”

“I will send you down a couple of works I have undone for you to continue. I also want the annual hunt to be put to a halt until I come back home with my mate. I don’t want to be left out on an important tradition like that.” He ordered. He couldn’t help but feel bad after he told the committee that he was going to stop the tradition. The looks on their faces hunted him for the rest of the night.

“You don’t have to worry about that Alpha Dante,” Charles stood up from the sofa and Alpha Dante followed suit. He extended his hand for a shake, but the Alpha shook his head and pulled his uncle into a hug. “You will missed,” Charles said, giving him two firm pats on his back.

“I know I will be. Take care of my people while I’m gone, Uncle.” He said finally before he headed towards the door and left.

When Beta Louis was sure his cousin was out the door, he sprang out of the door like a rat and sat down in the spot he's just gotten up from.

“I hope he does all he has always wanted to do tonight because this is his last night in the Aurora Pack. Hell, this is his last night in this goddamn world.” Beta Louis cackled as he got the glass Alpha Dante just used and poured a generous amount of wine in it, then downed it all in a swig.

“Lower your voice son,” Charles warned as he picked up his cup too and poured out the last of the alcoholic drink.

“So I will officially be the Alpha by the end of this week?” He leaned back, imagining himself on the throne Alpha Dante would usually sit dictating to the rest of the senior committee. He imagined coming back home to Cassandra while she treated him like a king because he was not the second in command anymore, he was the first.

He always knew his mate had a thing for power so after he gets this, it would be the best surprise yet she had ever received from him.

“Yes, you would be Louis. But I need you to promise me something.” Charles’s face morphed into a very serious expression.

He smirked, “Anything father.”

“I want you to promise to put this pack’s interest before yours. I might hate Dante and his backstabbing father but I can’t hide the fact that they ruled and they ruled well. They had the pack’s best interest and dedicated their blood, sweat, and tears to it.”

Beta Louis nodded, “I get it, father.”

“You’re not even looking the way of that brothel once you get in power you get me? Life isn’t about women and booze. You have your mate at home that is more than capable of fulfilling your desires am I right?” Charles asked.

“Yes, father. You are right.”

“I thought so.”

Charles didn’t want to be the reason the pack fell apart even though he didn’t want Alpha Dante ruling it. If his son could have a little bit of discipline, he would be a better Alpha than Dante had ever been, and he was very sure about that. If the pack broke apart because of his decision of giving his son the throne, he would never be able to live with it.

But he was still willing to try.

“Let’s get you ready, shall we?” He extended a hand toward his son. Beta Louis took it and his father led him to his home office where every secret trick of keeping the pack in check was kept.

In the long run, it required the person that was given the Alpha to keep the pack running but without those tricks that Charles’s grandfather had written all those years ago, their pack would never have been as successful as it was right now. Now, he was doing what he had been dying to do for a very long time now.

Teaching his son the old tricks of becoming an Alpha in the Aurora Pack.