Page 20 of New Blood (Werewolf Alliance #1)
T he living room was packed with people, so many in fact that the pocket doors leading into the large dining room had been opened up so that there was enough space for everybody.
The sun had long set, and the living and dining rooms were illuminated brightly with old chandeliers and wall sconces that sent shadows dancing on the ceiling.
A fire burned in the large fireplace more for atmosphere than warmth since the body heat of dozens of werewolves was sufficient to turn the place into a sauna.
Normally, the oath ceremony was conducted first, followed by food and drinks, but given the fact that the pack members didn’t really know him and his men, Jude had decided to mingle with them first over drinks before making them swear an oath to him and the Werewolf Alliance.
Just like the members of his team, Jude walked through the room, introducing himself to those he didn’t know yet.
He shook hands with many of them, striking up conversations with them to get a sense of who they were and what they did within the pack.
Most worked at one of the Gallagher businesses, often in managerial positions, supervising human workers at the vineyard, equestrian estate, shipping business, and the bail bonds offices across the Bay Area.
The impression he got from them was that they were decent men and women who were loyal to their pack and happy with their circumstances.
Even though by now they all knew that their alpha had been removed and was about to stand trial before the Werewolf Alliance, they didn’t seem to be too concerned about the shift in power.
In their minds, nothing would really change for them.
It was different for the family of the deposed alpha.
And perhaps also for those pack members who lived and worked on the estate.
Jude saw Heath getting himself a beer and taking a swig and approached him.
“Heath,” he said with an outstretched hand. “We haven’t really had a chance to talk yet.”
Heath shook his hand. “That’s alright. You’re a busy man.”
“Well, I’ve got time now. Tell me what you do on the property.”
“I’m in charge of the cars and any heavy machinery used on the estate.
I’ll soon have to start cutting tree branches away from the powerlines.
Fire danger is always high here. We haven’t had much rain this winter.
Everything is bone-dry. So we gotta make sure there’s enough defensible space around the house and the garages. Chase helps me with it.”
“That must be a big job, cutting down vegetation around the house,” Jude replied. “I can’t imagine two people alone can do all that.”
Heath shrugged. “We manage.”
“I can assign an additional person to it, if you want.”
“I’m not complaining.”
“I didn’t say you were, but you’ve got a lot on your plate. I saw you with the cars earlier today.”
“The cars aren’t that much work. I make sure they run smoothly and fix what needs to be fixed. Most of it is just good maintenance.”
“How many cars are on the property?”
“A dozen. But Violet helps me when I’m swamped.”
“Violet? You mean she cleans them when you don’t have time?”
“Actually, she fixes them when it’s stuff like flat tires, timing belts, or the fuel pump is clogged. That kinda stuff.”
“I didn’t realize Violet knew how to do that.” It was quite a surprise. He hadn’t expected her to be well-versed in finance and accounting, and also in car mechanics.
“Oh, she’s quite a tinkerer,” Heath said with a smile.
“She’s multi-talented,” Flora suddenly said, inserting herself in their conversation.
“I’m impressed,” Jude said in reply to Flora’s words. “How did she learn all that?”
Flora smiled. “George, my late husband, taught her. He was a practical man who liked to work with his hands. Different from William.”
“How long has it been since your husband passed?” Jude asked politely. If he wanted to bring Flora to his side, he needed to show interest in her life and her position in the pack.
“Almost eight years. It feels like yesterday.” She sighed, then continued, “The boys miss him the most. But life goes on, right? At least I have them and Violet. She’s become such an accomplished young woman.”
“You must be very proud of her.”
“Violet is such a sweetheart. So bright and so warm. Any man would be lucky to mate with her. But I want the best for her. She deserves it. She will be a wonderful mate to any alpha she sets her sights on.”
It appeared that Flora had high ambitions for her daughter.
No matter how he replied to her statement, it would get him into treacherous waters.
Was she implying that she would offer Violet as his mate instead of Eve?
Or was her comment simply the statement of a proud mother wanting the best for her daughter?
In either case, it was best to change the topic.
“Flora, Heath, if you’ll excuse me, I think it is time to start the oath ceremony.”
With a quick nod, he pivoted and walked toward the fireplace where Wendell had placed a small pedestal earlier so that everybody in the room would be able to see him.
Jude stepped onto the pedestal and looked at the crowd.
His eyes roamed the room until he finally spotted Danielle.
She was in the back, standing next to Priscilla, the two of them talking to each other.
For a moment, he allowed himself to watch her while she didn’t look in his direction.
Just looking at her from a distance, he felt an ache in his solar plexus and a need in his loins.
He’d been with many women in the past to satisfy his elevated sex drive, one every werewolf possessed, and any human could only dream of.
But despite his sexual experience, he felt like an uncontrolled randy teenager when he looked at Danielle, barely able to rein in his desire.
One day, he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself and would do something stupid, something they both would regret.
Well, maybe not regret, but pay for dearly.
He pushed the thoughts away and ripped his gaze from Danielle’s tantalizing sight. Several people had already spotted him, having taken the pedestal and stopped talking. Slowly, the conversations ebbed, and silence descended upon the room.
“Thank you for coming tonight on such short notice,” he started. “I’ve had a chance to speak to a few of you already and hope to talk to the rest of you after the ceremony.”
He made a brief pause and looked at the faces that stared at him in anticipation.
“As you all know by now, William Gallagher has been removed as your alpha and is facing charges of accessory to murder and endangering all werewolves by potentially exposing our existence to human law enforcement. The Werewolf Alliance, which has sent me and my team to bring order back into this pack, takes this behavior very seriously.”
Most pack members looked calm and unaffected.
The Gallaghers didn’t share their fellow pack members’ calmness.
Their facial expressions were tight and ranged from downright angry—Byron, of course—to ambiguous.
Flora’s expression was unreadable, but he hadn’t expected anything less.
She was a woman with an iron will and the emotional strength only a mother of headstrong sons could muster.
Eve looked slightly flushed, whether because she had spent the day on the horse farm or because she had consumed several glasses of alcohol, he couldn’t tell.
Perhaps it was just the heat in the room that painted her cheeks rosy.
In any case, while she was beautiful and her pants and top displayed her alluring figure to its maximum advantage, nothing stirred in him.
He couldn’t help instantly comparing her to Danielle.
To an outside observer, it would undoubtedly be evident that Eve displayed more physical beauty than Danielle, whose girl-next-door looks might make her appear ordinary.
Yet Eve’s model looks couldn’t get anywhere close to the fire that seemed to smolder in Danielle’s eyes.
Could only he see this? It had to be, because otherwise Danielle would be beleaguered by every single werewolf in the room, vying for her attention, for a chance to mate with her.
Fuck! He had to stop these thoughts and concentrate on the task at hand.
“The Werewolf Alliance has chosen me to become your new alpha. My duty is to lead this pack for the benefit of all of you, to keep you safe, to make sure this pack continues to prosper, and to lead you by example, protecting us all from exposure to humans. In this task, I need all of you to have my back. An alpha alone cannot prosper without the support of his pack. You, all of you, are this pack, and I need each and every one of you to help me succeed for the good of all. I therefore ask you now, if you have any reason why you can’t support me and be loyal to me like you were loyal to my predecessor.
Nobody shall harm you for speaking up. I will respect your decision and give you the time you need to leave without fear of persecution. Speak up now.”
Jude swept his gaze over the crowd and waited. Several seconds passed. Only breathing and the crackling of wood in the fireplace filled the large room. Nobody said a word.
“Good. I’m happy to know that you’re ready to take the oath.”
He glanced at the members of his team and nodded.
“Repeat after me,” Jude started. “In nomine Lupinotuum Societatem…”
The crowd began to repeat his words, his own team speaking with them to help with the Latin words.
Like a chant, the pack members recited the oath word for word, led by Wendell and the others of his team, finally closing in English with one last phrase.
“We vow to be loyal to you, our alpha, Jude Beaumont.”