Chapter 6
Hours later, Kane stood beside the podium facing the members of his pack. In some ways it was surreal, the events of the past week like a blur. He’d never imagined himself in this position at such a young age. Someday, but not now. In other ways, it was all too real. The expectant faces before him, the gauze on his side protecting his stitches.
Nadia, their nurse practitioner, had nearly had a fit when John had dragged him into the infirmary. His knees had kept giving out on him as he swam in and out of consciousness.
“What the hell happened to you? I go away for a few days and this is what you get up to?” She cut off the remains of his bloody shirt as he lay on the gurney, fighting to draw air into his lungs.
“I’m the new Alpha.” He gave a crooked grin as he struggled to form the words.
“More like the half-dead Alpha.” She hissed as she saw the wound. “Damned fools. Where is your opponent? Already in the grave?”
He shook his head. “No idea. He left.”
“I saw him leave,” John added. “He was limping but looked better than our new Alpha here.”
Kane gave a sigh of relief. He’d been worried. His goal had been to win the fight while causing the minimum amount of damage. Seems like he must have been successful.
“Ouch!” He winced as Nadia probed his wound. Too bad Ryne hadn’t been following the same principles.
“Well, if he shows up here, I’ll treat him as well. Medicine doesn’t discriminate against stupidity.” Nadia scowled, mumbling to herself as she enumerated the injuries. “Laceration to the side, approximately two inches deep, a probable pneumothorax—”
“Is that bad?” John asked.
“Well it sure as hell isn’t a walk in the park picking daisies! Don’t ask idiotic questions,” Nadia pushed John aside and wheeled an oxygen tank over to where Kane was and then made her way to the cabinet that contained some of her medical supplies. “Kane, I’ll give you some oxygen to help you breathe while I prep for surgery.”
“Surgery?” He coughed as he tried to sit up. “I have to address the pack tonight.”
She pressed him back down and fit a clear plastic tube for oxygen over his face. “And you need to be alive and breathing to do it. Now stay put or I’ll give you a sedative that will knock you out for a week!”
There was a glint in her eye that had him subsiding. “What kind of surgery?” His voice sounded stronger, the oxygen from the nasal cannula making it easier to breathe and talk.
“I’ll know better once I get x-rays of your lungs and I can examine the wound better. Right now, I suspect I’ll need to insert a chest tube to get rid of the air that’s accumulated between the inside of the chest and the outside of the lung. Stitches to close the gash in your side. And I’m hoping nothing else was nicked or I’ll be patching up your insides as well.”
She continued to mutter and berate him right up to the time she knocked him out.
It had been a battle to get her to disconnect his IV so he could attend this meeting. He looked to where she was now standing, watching him like a hawk. As soon as he was done here, she wanted him back at the infirmary. Truth be told, he wished he was there now. He felt as weak as a newborn pup. With any luck, this would go down as the shortest pack meeting in history and he’d be able to get his ass back into bed.
He shifted his weight and barely managed to hold back a wince as pain shot from his side. Another glance at Nadia revealed she was giving him a look that screamed ‘I told you so’. The corner of his mouth twitched. Her acerbic attitude was entertaining…in small doses. On a permanent basis, he’d prefer a sweet, gentle woman.
Like the girl at the movies? His inner wolf queried.
Perhaps. If we ever met again, she might prove to match the mental fantasy that had developed around her.
The wolf thumped its tail in approval and then subsided. It too was worn out from the fight earlier in the day.
Kane left off his mental musings when the sound of the gavel banging drew his attention. William was calling the meeting to order. The older man had been Alpha before Zack and was viewed by many in a grandfatherly light.
“Members of the pack, as you know a challenge was issued for the position of Alpha. Under the supervision of OPATA, the fight occurred just before noon and Kane Sinclair emerged victorious. I bow before you, Alpha Kane.”
The membership stood and as one followed suit. “We bow before you, Alpha.”
Kane nodded and William stepped to the side as he took his place behind the podium. An odd thrill washed over him. It would now be his spot at every meeting until his death or he abdicated.
“I am Alpha.” He spoke the phrase loudly, using the same power and conviction of all the Alphas who had held the position before him. There could be no doubt in his voice, no wavering in his gaze as he swept it over those assembled before him. “I will serve you, guide you and guard you with my life.”
The pack responded in the age-old tradition. “We will follow your dictates, respect your wisdom, serve you and guard you with our lives.”
William stepped forward again. “As Kane is already a member of our pack, there is no need for a symbolic mixing of our blood.” He scanned the room but no one protested.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kane saw Nadia making a face likely thinking he’d already shed enough blood that day. The corner of his mouth twitched again. She came across as hard-nosed but he knew she had a quirky sense of humour that few realized.
“Kane,” William spoke his name. “Please sign your name in the front of the Book of the Law.”
Kane stepped over to the table and watched as William took the ancient tome from its place on the shelf. The book was centuries old, dating back to the time the pack was first formed. The front pages listed all the Alphas that had served before him; Caius, Gregor, Primus, Theo… He wasn’t ashamed that his hand trembled slightly as he picked up the pen and added his name to the list. It was now his duty to ensure the pack continued to grow and thrive. His decisions and actions would impact future generations. He swallowed hard hoping in centuries to come his years of rule would be looked upon favourably.
William witnessed his signature. “It is done.”
Everyone applauded and Kane returned to the podium to address his pack. His pack. The phrase made his heart swell.
“I thank you for your welcome and know I can count on you for your support. I’m sure many of you have questions, perhaps personal concerns you’d like to bring to my attention. Rest assured, I will try to be available to all of you. Unfortunately, a pressing matter prevents me from having a Q&A right now.”
“Is this to do with Ryne?” Someone shouted from the back. “You didn’t kill him as protocol dictates.”
He tightened his lips. It was an issue he planned to address, just not today. The heckler, however, was testing his authority and a response was needed. “Step forward and address me properly.” He growled the words letting all present know he was displeased.
A young man walked to the front of the room and stopped a few yards from the podium. He was barely beyond a pup. His face pale, he kept glancing behind him. No doubt he’d been dared by his friends.
“You’re Joshua, correct?”
“Yes, Alpha.” The boy nodded and swallowed hard.
“What did I say before you shouted out your question?” Folding his arms, Kane rested them on the podium and arched one brow.
“That…that you had pressing matters to deal with.” Joshua’s voice cracked mid-sentence.
“I’m pleased to know your hearing isn’t faulty.” He raised his eyes to the membership knowing they were wondering if he’d answer the boy’s initial question. To do so would be a sign of weakness, a contradiction of his statement that questions would be answered another day. He’d not be tricked in such an amateurish manner. “The meeting is concluded. Questions will be answered as soon as my schedule allows. You are all dismissed.”
He pushed off from the podium and began to walk to the door where Nadia was tapping her foot. Neither his posture nor stride showed he was feeling weak or in pain. As he passed the young man who seemed frozen in place, he gave him a nod. “Have a good evening, Joshua. And remember, friends who dare you to do something stupid aren’t the friends you need.”
“I will Alpha. Thank you, Alpha.”
Somehow, he managed to avoid being detained by anyone and slid gratefully into Nadia’s car. A sigh escaped him as he relaxed into the cushioned surface. “I’m exhausted, just like you predicted.”
She didn’t say anything, merely raising a brow and starting the car. It was a short drive to the infirmary, completed in silence. He didn’t mind, being too tired to talk. Once they reached their destination. Nadia ushered him inside.
“Shirt off.”
He bit back a groan as he removed his shirt, the movement of his arm pulling on the wound. Throwing the garment on a nearby chair, he sat on the side of the bed.
Nadia checked his bandages, her hands steady and professional as they skimmed over him. “No bleeding. Good.”
“I tried not to move too much.” He toed off his shoes, eager to lie down and rest.
“You handled the meeting well.”
“Thanks.”
“I heard what you said to Joshua. Good advice.” She handed him two pain pills and then a glass of water. “Take these.”
His side was throbbing enough he didn’t even quibble over taking the medication. “He’s a good kid. He just needs to learn to think for himself.”
“It can be hard to balance; pack mentality is important—”
“To a certain extent.” He leaned back, sighing as his head touched the cool pillow. “Blindly following a stupid idea is just—”
“Stupid?”
“Yeah.” He laughed and then winced.
She smiled. “Goodnight…Alpha.”