Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 331

"That's not exactly what I meant," Krys says.

Bri raises an eyebrow.

I stop breathing.

"Showtime, people!" Coach Kenet claps her hands.

Carson turns to me. He mouths, 'Ready?'

No, but I nod. For Ethel, Onai, and all of us. I take a deep breath in and walk towards the double doors. Aiden's to my left, Carson's to my right, and their presence makes this just a bit more bearable-not by much, though. The second we hit open air, it's a rush, a frenzy. There are people as far as the eye can see. The only thing separating us up on the landing and them swarming around the building is the set of steps that lead up to Town Hall. I don't know if I should look at the people or look away.

Carson puts his hand on my back. It's a gentle, firm reminder to stand up straight. To stand up tall. To own my place up here. Right, got it. Is it too late to run back into the building? I swallow and settle in between Carson and Axel as Aiden begins to speak. The second his voice projects over the open air, the crowd stills, silences. The same goes for Axel and Carson. They take turns informing the public as to what exactly is going on.

The answer is simple: we're trying to create another peace deal between the five largest packs in the area.

The explanation is not.

Not even five minutes after Axel opens the floor to questions, people are bombarding him with accusations.

"I'd rather die than beg them to stop attacking us," a random voice screams out in the crowd.

Axel nods, turning in the direction of the voice. "That's completely understandable, but we're not in any way begging."

"If we're not begging," a voice closer to the steps starts. "Why don't we just go to war now? At least then we can have our dignity."

Cheers and hums of agreement spread.

Carson narrows his eyes. "Who said I'm giving up my dignity?"

Axel blinks at him.

Carson raises an eyebrow as if to ask, 'What?'

"Who proposed this idea?" Another not-so-random voice calls out in the crowd.

I snap my head towards Coach Kenet. She looks away as if she didn't say anything.

That question catches fire in the crowd. Now everyone's asking, 'Who proposed this?' 'Surely not Alpha Carson.' 'Well, it definitely wasn't Alpha Aiden.' Eyes start shifting to me.

I nearly choke.

Nobody says a word.

He nods, standing tall. "Good, because what we said is what's happening. Deal with it. Now, should we move on to the strategy?"

Aiden nods. Axel does too, reluctantly.

I see the eyes fall in the crowd as the conversation shifts to what everyone's going to do and not why they should do it. I hate being ordered around. Some part of me always imagined that it was just part of werewolf nature to listen. To follow the pack. And maybe in a way it is, but I don't think it's any different from the way humans do it. We follow the masses when we feel like we have no other choice, but ruling through fear...

"I have something to say," I whisper.

The brothers falter. Their eyes turn to me.

Axel takes a step closer, as if that alone could make this conversation in front of thousands of people any more private. "What's wrong?"

"I..." I look at the crowd, then away, then at them again. "I wanted to say it to them."

Horror flashes across Aiden's face. Axel blinks a few times. His eyes battle between 'Are you sure?' and 'Are you really sure?'

I nod. He nods too, gesturing in front of us.