A Gift from the Goddess by Dawn Rosewood novel Chapter 36

Chapter Thirty-Six Alpha Tytus smiled between Alexander and I, clearly eager for whatever was about to ensue. In response, I couldn‘t help but squirm a little under his gaze.

Naturally, my father had to leave me to sit by Tytus given his rank. I watched him go and tried to not outwardly express just how nervous I was about him leaving me. But he needed to show that he was unbiased in this decision, and I needed to show that I didn’t require my father to fight my battles for me.

“Okay, Aria,” Tytus started. “Why don‘t you begin by telling us why you’re here today?”

It was clear by those selected to attend that they all knew already what I was about to say, and yet he wanted to hear it from me anyway. Once again, I found myself having to tread carefully, stuck in the game I knew Tytus was laying out for me. I knew he wanted me to become Luna but I didn’t know yet what he thought of my desire to be Beta. Would it be enough for him to feel I was contained and not a threat? Or did he see through my plan to make myself immune, trapping his son should he ever cross me? “Alpha, I’m here today to appeal a process that has for too long been an outdated tradition of our kind,” I spoke out confidently. I knew if he sensed any weakness in me that it would be game over. “I am here today to request you hear out my petition to succeed my father in his role as Beta when the time comes.”

There was a small murmur amongst the Elders but it wasn’t their whispers that worried me; it was the feeling of a cold stare on me, something I was too familiar with. I spared a glance to the Alpha’s right for only a moment and caught Aleric’s eye. As I‘d thought, he wasn‘t happy with my announcement and was staring daggers at me.

My natural instinct was to shy away and submit to his icy gaze, but I held my own, only breaking eye contact to return my attention to the Alpha.

“Mmm… definitely an intriguing prospect coming from you, young Aria,” he mused. “And Alexander? What say you about all of this?” 

“My son is the most qualified person in this pack to succeed my older brother upon his retirement,” my Uncle William replied. 

“I believe I was asking Alexander, not you, William.” 

Tytus stared down sharply at my uncle enough to make him bow his head apologetically. The awkward silence that fell was only broken moments later by Alexander clearing his throat, clearly nervous over how badly this had already started.

“Alpha, it would be my greatest honour to support our pack by becoming Beta one day. I am at the service of you, Aleric and our fellow pack members.” Tytus inhaled deeply in thought having listened to the replies on both sides. His eyes then turned back to me.

“Aria, tell me something…,” he said, reclining into his chair. “The last time we spoke you mentioned having no desire for the Luna position… or any other role of substantial authority

for that matter. What has finally changed your mind?” 

I looked to my father and saw him nod at me in encouragement. “…My father has, Alpha,” I said after a pause in thought. “He has shown me the kind of strength I am capable of possessing and how my body doesn’t need to define who I am allowed to become.”

It wasn’t a lie but it wasn’t the entire truth. If it hadn’t been for my father accepting who I was, who I am, and who I could be, there would have been no possible way I would be standing here now before Tytus. His training over this last month had proven to me that I was capable o f changing who I was if I worked hard enough. That there was no reason to let others choose m y fate for me; not even a Goddess. “I am the only direct descendant of the house of Chrysalis,” I continued. “As you know, we have been the only family for hundreds of generations now to produce Betas time and time again. Our family’s wits and strength have guaranteed our position, never failing in any challenge issued for our rank. It is our family‘s right to hand over this title to the next in line.” 

“Ridiculous!” Uncle William called out. “By your logic then, there should be no issue if my son takes over. We are your family too, after all.”

“Your son is not the direct descendant of this house,” I reminded him. “...I am.” 

“Alpha, you’re not actually listening to this are you?” he laughed. “There has never been a female Beta, and for good reason too. They do not have the strength required to defend the pack against larger male wolves. By extension, my Alexander is still of Beta blood and already started his training over a year ago. To jeopardize our pack’s safety for the sake of taking a chance on her is ridiculous. We have a perfectly good heir right here.” 

He patted his son on the back who looked embarrassed that his father was still speaking on his behalf.

But I could barely pay attention to anything he was doing as my blood began to boil. His arrogance and blatant disrespect for me was evident. Without even knowing what I was capable of, he had already written me off for the sake of his own greed. He most likely only wanted his son to become Beta to better his own chances of being accepted as an Elder one day. Anything to feel important, for once.

I stepped towards him, a fire now burning within me, and spoke of the one thing I knew he would not be able to refute. It was something I had never wanted to use, something I had refused to invoke before now, but I knew that it was my best hope. When it came to breaking old habits of stubborn fools, sometimes you needed to take extreme measures. “Need I remind you who I am, uncle?” I yelled out, a chill in my words. Instantly, the room became dead silent.

the genitals i possess?” His face had paled considerably as he stared at me, unable to make even a single reply. 

I laughed cynically at his pathetic appearance. “I didn‘t realise our deity’s decrees would be met with such exclusive prerequisites these days. Since when have we held more faith in outdated procedures over the word of our great mother, Selene?”