Page 172 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince

They originally called out for Liam, but now I can also hear them cheer me on suddenly. Liam looks at me for a moment. There is a lot in his eyes. Pride, love, worry… but also the knowledge that doing what they ask us to will put a new responsibility on us. Something we might not be ready for yet. Liam was supposed to be Silverlake’s Alpha. This wasn’t planned. There is no discussing it, though. Ready or not. We have to do it.

I assume Elden saw it coming already the moment Liam’s priority was to save this pack and not just take revenge. It was the new option he and Flora talked about. They hinted at it when they told me that I would need to make a decision soon.

I turn my head slightly to search for Ella, wondering if she'd be all right with this turn of events. She looks at me full of hope.Please,she forms with her lips.

Everyone has gone silent by now, looking at us expectantly. At this very moment, I realize it. Liam is not just asking for my opinion. It’s a challenge, a test. He is putting the fate of this man into my hands to see if I can be a judge. As a Lycan’s Luna, I need to be strong and firm when needed. I need to co-lead a pack, and my pack needs to know that I will always have their back and that protecting them is my utmost priority.

I lock my gaze with Liam’s and give him a curt nod before looking at Marcus. “Your pack members have spoken.”

I can see the terror in his eyes now. Liam would have challenged him for his position in a normal turn of events, but he lost that right by attacking Flora and me; he lost it further by his crimes against his pack and hiding while they fought.

A challenge means honoring your opponent.

To my surprise, however, Liam steps closer to Marcus. “Unchain him,” he commands.

Dante and Aryanna follow his orders, freeing him from his chains. Marcus drops back down to his knees. “No,” he blurts out. “Lord Liam, show mercy!”

Elden’s mouth almost drops open at his words. The look on his and Jace’s faces would be comical if the situation weren’t so grave. It’s a look of sheer disbelief. Celine shakes her head, too, a look of disgust on her face. An Alpha begging for his life instead of asking for a challenge… it is probably even harder to grasp for the fellow Alphas here.

“Come and fight me,” Liam growls. “I won’t shift into my wolf form to fight you.”

I smile slightly, well aware of what he is up to.

Marcus doesn’t disappoint – or rather, he disappoints, as expected. He shrinks back from Liam, not even trying to fight him. Marcus was just drunk with power, and once he realized he was going down, he was determined to take his whole pack down with him. He's a coward and a bully

Liam furrows his brows. “You officially chose not to fight. You are hereby stripped of your rank and position. Your pack has sentenced you to death,” Liam says calmly. “And in front of a Crown Prince of the Council as our witness-” He looks at his father, who nods. “I accept their verdict.”

He grasps Marcus’ head and twists, snapping his neck.

For a split second, it’s silent, then the crowd yells and cheers. My ears start ringing because of all the noise around me.

“Long live Alpha Liam!” Jun blurts out with newfound excitement and joy. “And Luna Annalise!”

Chapter fifty-one

Chapter 51 A father’s insecurities

*ANNALISE*

ThewolvesofRedClaw cheer and celebrate the whole night. It’s like they have waited for so long to be free. No one can hold them back tonight. Ari and Dante are outside together with Jun and Emmet, watching them for now.

Most of the warriors from the other packs have left by now, but not before congratulating us. They also voiced their interest in making new alliances, probably well aware of how strong Liam is, and that Red Claw, together with Silverlake, will be almost invincible. Jace, in particular, seems to be happy about this new outcome. He even stayed behind to help us a bit. Elden and some of his warriors will stay for a bit longer too.

Liam, however… he retreated as fast as he could. I take him to one of the better-looking guest rooms in the packhouse, horrified at what's going on with him. I can hear him pant, groan, and through the mind link, I can even hear him scream occasionally. The blood in his veins seems to burn. Elden and Jace are still there, but it’s not like they can help.

All I can do is to be there for him, sit next to him, hold his hand, and wipe the sweat off his forehead. Eventually, he falls asleep, but it’s not a normal sleep, a passage between waking and drifting away.

“What’s going on with him?” I ask Elden. I use a towel to wipe the sweat off Liam’s forehead.

“It’s his body turning him into the pack's Alpha,” Elden explains quietly. “We are Lycans. For us, the change is even more intense. I would have prepared him for it had I known it would happen so fast.”

“How long will it take?”

“A few hours,” Elden answers honestly. “It took me the whole night, almost ten hours. For Jace, it was eight.”

I take Liam’s hand, pulling it towards my lips and kissing his knuckles. “Will it help if I stay with him? Or does it strain him more?”

“No, definitely stay,” Elden says softly. He pulls a chair next to me and sits down as well.