Chapter 12 Twelve

Calista’s POV

It had been a week since my meeting with the elders.

And my uncle Darius didn’t seem willing to give up. He claimed the pack was his to rule, especially since my father didn’t have a male child.

His restless moves weren’t hidden from me, and I was trying everything to form alliances with other alphas. But so far, no alpha was willing to enter into an alliance with me because I was a female.

They all thought the same. They thought females weren’t meant for politics. Too weak for power. Unfit to carry the alpha title.

I had delivered letters from one pack to another. Different alphas, yet none replied. The ones that did said nothing other than pleasantries and requested time to review when there was nothing to review.

Crystal Pack was what it was today because of my five years of contribution.

But throughout this time, I didn’t see alphas rejecting alliances. Rather, alphas picking sides.

They had definitely heard of my uncle's arrival and his intention to claim the pack. I wasn't surprised when none of them wasn't willing to form an alliance with me.

I hoped they wouldn't regret the side they picked. Because I wasn't planning on handing the pack over to my uncle without a fearsome fight.

Alpha Ronan from the North Pack.

The only alpha who shook my hand and agreed to my alliance without thinking twice or looking down on me for being female.

"The pack security has been tightened. The patrol teams are working double shifts as you requested," Ray, my beta, explained and I nodded.

We have had two attacks in a space of one week and I have every reason to think what I was thinking.

If they think because I was a female so they would trample on me, then they have it wrong.

"How are the injured warriors doing?"

We have a few injured warriors in the course of the attack, and they were receiving treatment in the pack's hospital.

" They are recovering. Slowly." He replied, and I knew what he meant.

Their injuries weren't healing as fast as they should, and that only meant one thing. We weren't dealing with just rogues.

The good news was that none of the warriors lost their lives.

" Did you find anything regarding the attack?" Ray shook his head.

" They didn't leave traces." I knew what he was talking about.

It was just like what happened five years ago.

The attack that took my father's life, but not immediately.

It seems the attack came from the same shifters.

And this time they had a different target.

" I think we its time we squeeze the truth out of him," I said firmly, referring to the rogue who has been in the dungeon for five years.

" Whatever you want."

My eyes turned cold.

Did they really want to use the same method they used on my father on me?

" I think he knows everything we don't," I whispered in a stern voice.

Five years and he has refused to speak or give names.

I looked up at my father's picture against the cold wall, and something cold slid through my heart.

The memory of his slow death.

The pain he went through before he died. The night he made me promise him to take over the pack and never stop fighting for the pack.

The same night, he passed. I was running in the woods when I heard him speak in the mind link.

I felt his wolf scream my name.

My office door suddenly burst open and my gaze shifted.

Darius Rukers, my uncle, walked in with a cold, arrogant demeanor surrounding him.

He has always been like this.

Arrogant and hungry.

My eyes turned fierce as they settled on him.

"What do you want in my office, Darius Ruckers?" I demanded, and his expression shifted.

" I'm your uncle, or have you forgotten?" He halted, his eyes slowly clouding with irritation.

" That doesn't answer my question." I stood up on my feet.

"I want us to talk," he stepped closer to my desk, meeting my gaze.

The room suddenly turned silent. My gaze didn't leave him.

"I don't think there is anything for us to talk about," I said in a clear tone, breaking the silence.

"If you are here to convince me to hand over the pack to you, then I advise you not to waste your breath," I added in a clipped tone.

He moved to sit down in the chair opposite me."I think we have a lot to talk about, Calista Rukers." He leaned toward my desk and whispered, his hands resting on it.

is dark claws pulling out slowly. A sign that his wolf was irritated by me.

"First. Let's talk about the pack." He said, looking down at his claws.

Nobody told me he was a feral animal.

"There is nothing about the pack that I want to discuss with you," I said in a strong tone.

"Unfortunately, there is a lot to talk about, especially since you are the alpha." He leaned back in the seat.

"If you don't like me being alpha, how about you leave the pack for good this time?" I proposed, and he growled, standing up on his feet.

His dark claws fiested on the desk.

" Leave if you can't stand me being the alpha of this pack," I said again. His eyes turned dark.

"You really are everything he was." He breathes in air and slowly shuts his eyes.

I knew who he was talking about.

My father.

"I understand you are protective of the pack, but I want you to know that if you hand over the pack now, I would consider letting you live here till you find your mate," he proposed.

My wolf roared in my head.

"Dream on, Darius Rukers," I said, and he stepped back from the chair, his eyes not leaving mine. "You are stubborn, Calista."

"And I hate to break this to you, Calista. The pack needs a real alpha, and I'm what the pack needs."

"You are a female, and no matter how good you are as an alpha, the pack will never accept you."

The truth in his words hit me, but I refuse to let it get to me.

Ray tried to step in front of me, in between us, but I lifted my hand to stop him.

"This pack has always been mine, Calista," he declared.

"I don't think so, Darius. This pack is my father's legacy, and you will never be alpha," I said through gritted teeth.