Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 238

The vast majority of people are in endless rows on the grass, but the formation isn't as tight as I saw with Bri and Krys. People are stretching. Laughing. Goofing off. It's a completely different vibe. They pull their act together when they see Carson, though. "Alpha," they say in unison.

It isn't out of fear or intimidation-well maybe it's a little of that. But more than anything, it sounds like admiration. Not, "Ugh, the alpha's here." More like, "Hey! The alpha's finally here." I saw that for Axel in the daycare and Aiden in Town Hall. When the brothers are in their elements, the pack can sense it. They reciprocate.

For a moment, I wonder, what's my element?

"Could you guys act right today?" Carson's voice booms across the open space.

I flinch.

"We have a guest," he says. I would've thought he had a microphone, no, a megaphone, but it's just him. "Don't embarrass me in front of your luna."

"Sir, yes, sir." Like a chain reaction, everyone, and I mean everyone, falls into line. They hold one fist in front of their hearts. Legs hip width apart. Eyes trained in front. Dear god, it's the Attack on Titan soldier salute.

"A question." I put a hand over my mouth. These poor people

Carson hm's.

"Did Axel have anything to do with the way they're standing?" I ask.

Carson nods. "Yeah. Him and Onai were dead set on it being this way. Why?"

I shake my head, trying not to laugh. "No reason."

"Well?" He looks at me expectantly. Like always, he's waiting for some kind of reaction. Some kind of praise. He's a kid with his crayons in one hand and his "masterpiece" in the other. "Look, Mia. Look what I made."

I smile approvingly. "Impressive."

He smirks. "We train a lot."

"I bet."

He waves for them to relax, and they do. He keeps walking in the direction we were going. "Come on. I'll show you the-"

"But since when are you sir?" I ask.

He cocks his head back. "What do you mean?"

Some people cover their mouths.

"The sir, yes, sir part," I clarify, in good humor.

Carson gives me a smoldering look. "I've always been sir, Mia."

When I start to laugh, people take it as permission to do the same. Hesitant chuckles break out in the crowd.

"What is this mutiny?" Carson glares at them. They quiet down.

She drops the laughter, putting on an equally serious face. "Yes, sir." She turns to the masses and starts leading them in synchronized warm ups.

As we walk away, I point out the fact that, "You seem to have a lot of females in high ranking positions."

"I do," he says effortlessly.

I nod, because what else can I say? Not what I want to.

He looks around at everyone with pride. "Equality is a principle in my domain."

His domain? I roll my eyes.

"You won't find that same bullsh- Er." He clears his throat. "I mean, nonsense that you find in other divisions. Here, it doesn't matter who or what you like, dislike, look like, or seem like." He shakes his head at the thought, disgusted. "If you can perform, that's it." He waves his hand. Then his face falls.

I don't ask why, because I can see that he's trying to put it into words.

He rubs his chin thoughtfully in the midst of the chaos around us-people throwing each other this way and that. People trying out battle moves and doing synchronized stretches. "I know how to handle discrimination in my division," he says. "But I also know that it's easier said than done for Aiden and Axel, since they have more civilians."

I nod to show him I understand.

He keeps going. "If someone says a slur on my training grounds." He chuckles. "I'd knock the holy hell out of them. But how do you deal with a twelve year old who's just repeating what their asshole parents said? Where do we collectively draw the line between someone being individually responsible for their behavior, or just a byproduct of systematic failure?"