Page 157 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)

I gulped adding, “But my REAL name is Melanie McAlister, daughter of former Beta and Beta Female Drake and Sam McAlister from Red Run. When I tell you that Ezra is NOT a man to follow, I mean it… from my soul. He has raised you like lambs to the slaughter. You are nowhere near prepared to take on Alpha Theo Bartlett or any of his allied packs.”

“You are BARELY trained in combat because this idiot doesn’t want you to have the ability to overthrow him.

The time to stand IS NOW! You have been complacent far too long.

That time is over. Stand up for your daughters, your sisters, your mothers, your nieces, your cousins, your sons, nephews, and your friends who this man treats like an object to be auctioned off. ”

“Do this for your mates who you were forced to mark because this man said so. The mates who stood before you, crying, begging you to do something to help them. While you had no choice but to mark them or watch your family and hers die.”

“Do this for your mates who you had to WATCH as your Alpha RAPED THEM on the first day of their heats after you’d marked them while he sedated you. He forced you to be powerless to stop him from hurting your mates for the second time.”

Several of his pack members were looking around at each other.

I threw Ezra to the side and kept talking, “Stop following an Alpha who doesn’t know the meaning of the word.

A true Alpha protects his or her people.

A true Alpha knows that a pack is a family, and it’s his or her JOB to protect them from everything. ”

“He nor she sells them to another wolf or sends them to Hunters to die. He nor she is to force their people to mark someone as their mate. That’s a personal choice, and it should be up to the couple in question.

Speaking out against what is wrong is NOT subject to demotion and beatings. Having punishing fields is not normal.”

“You HAVE a pack member who is the leader I’m describing, and he’s been protecting you all along.

He’s been training behind his father’s back with me, to prepare for the day it was time for him to step up.

He’s wanted to so many times over the years, but his sperm donor back there kept him weak.

He has been training hard, and his moment is now.

” I nodded to Crush, and he smirked in response. I knew he’d tell Virgil to come now.

I told them, “So stand down because you are NOT a lamb… you are a wolf, and the time has come to reclaim that! Stand with your true Alpha. Alpha Tao.” Virgil and Tao shimmered beside me. I nodded to both of them.

Xander popped to Tao and then reached for me and pulled me into him. Julian popped to Valentina the second her and Paige shimmered back to a visible area, and he declared her his. Xander stuck his face into the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply.

I told Tao, “It’s your pack now, Alpha Tao.” Tao nodded and I tapped my cheek where Virgil could see so he’d know to bring the next player here. Eric linked me, “Did you guys steal ALL the Hackura signs in the field?” I answered, “Huh? What? How? Why? What?” He snorted in reply.

Virgil laughed, “I’m off again. The Demon shimmering express is at your service.

” Xander linked me, “Where did you send him?” I answered, “To get Tao’s mate.

They’ve been apart long enough.” Xander gripped me tightly and linked, “I thought I explained this to you before, but we fight together.” I explained, “I couldn’t be in Red Run…

It made me sick. Plus, I needed to get to Alpha Theo.

” I could tell my mate didn’t like my answer, but there was solid logic to what I’d said.

Tao addressed his pack, “You all know me. You know I wasn’t here because my sperm donor ordered thirty of his men to silver me and throw me in the dungeons so I could not help you.

” The jerk. Tao continued, “You know my mother has Alpha blood, and that’s why my sperm donor keeps her locked away in the dungeons along with her mate, my dad.

We have no quarrel with these people and never did. ”

He declared, “The Ducant Alpha deserved everything he got. Hell, if it were me, I’d have tortured the fucker for years.

We have suffered and been put down as a pack long enough.

I know many of you are bitter over those you have lost. I’m here to tell you that since I met Melanie those you thought you had lost are not truly lost to you. ” Several gasped.

Tao explained, “We merely placed them in other packs to keep them safe. I promise you, I will work with those packs to bring our people home if that’s their wish. If they found their mate or wish to stay where they are then I will get you in touch with them.”

“ I vow to facilitate their contact with you and the ones we’ve lost. I won't force anyone to leave any pack they were placed in. That card has been played enough in our pack history. As your Alpha, I’m telling you to stand down because this is not our territory.

My sperm donor’s reign of terror is over. ”

“I have already overthrown him in our territory. Those he left behind to protect the pack either submitted to me, or they were killed. Let me show you how to be a real pack. Let me show you the way a true Alpha should be. ”

Tao pointed at me, “Before I met Melanie, my mother would tell me stories about how to be a true Alpha. I always intended to fight for you all. You have always been my pack in my heart. Let me bring us into the light, and out of the dark.”

Several older members came forward. One went to his knee and the rest followed. The one spoke, “I submit to my true Alpha, Alpha Tao of Rivers End.” Most of their pack who had been fighting came forward except three.

Tao walked over to them saying, “You can challenge me now. I think all of us knew, I wouldn’t accept you even if you’d lied and said you submitted to me.” They charged Tao while I rolled my eyes. He easily killed them and walked back over to our group.

Tao smiled at me, “I guess that went about as well as it could.” I replied, “It did…its’ just that this moment is still not complete. There is a missing piece.” Tao frowned asking, “What’s missing?” Virgil shimmered in with Talia.

Tao growled, “MINE!” Talia cried, “TAO!” She ran at him, and he grabbed her, crushing her to him. I said, “It didn’t really feel like a complete moment without your Luna.” Talia’s family ran over. They cried, “You didn’t lie, Alpha Tao. You really saved her. My little girl is here.”

Xander asked out loud, “Why would just one member from your family be given to Hunters?” Talia’s dad turned around to answer, “Because she was Tao’s fated mate. Ezra didn’t think she was good enough for his son.”

Tao growled, “Talia will be my mate and Luna. I did not spend almost two years staying away from her and refusing to marry my sperm donor’s picture options to be apart from her for a second longer.”

Cassie popped in and walked up to us with EJ. My sister offered, “I can go with Alpha Tao and Luna Talia to make sure they don’t have any outliers. My mate was keeping me up to date on what was happening here.”

Haley and Eric popped to us. Eric said, “Your mom and I will go, Princess.” I linked Xander, “Why don’t they want Cassie to go?” Xander answered, “She’s pregnant.” I gasped, “Really?” He nodded tensely.

I smiled at Cayden and mouthed, “Congratulations.” My brother in law nodded back to me.

EJ announced, “We will send Warriors to assist Alpha Tao in taking over. We will also need to have meetings with you about the future. One of our future Luna’s has vouched for you though so that’s good enough for us. ”

Valentina spoke softly, “I’ll speak for Tao as well. He’s a good guy.” Paige, Avery, and Addison spoke up for him one after the other. Cassie asked Tao, “Do you truly want to be a good Alpha to your pack?”

Tao answered, “Yes. I’d been training even though my sperm donor wouldn’t let me.

I watched Alpha Alexander’s videos in secret and trained when I could.

I planned to challenge Ezra once I had enough people loyal to me.

Mel, Talia, and I had a plan for next year, but I’m not upset about this change in plans at all. ”

I smiled admitting, “I’m so happy for both of you.

” Talia hugged me, “We couldn't have done this without you.” Tao added, “No, we couldn't. I’d have lost my shit and challenged Ezra then and there when he said Talia would be in the east fields the next day. We all knew what that meant. I might have lost the challenge, and Talia would be dead.” He snarled the last part.

Xander asked, “That’s what you think he wanted, isn’t it? You think Ezra thought you might be planning to overthrow him.” I said, “That’s exactly what he thought. He had no idea Tao and I knew each other. He told Booker his plans…. and I…uhhh overheard them.” My friends all gave me a look.

I shrugged at them because I wasn’t about to say I’d overheard the conversation while I was in the hole. That was not necessary information to give right now. I tried to walk over to Addison, but Xander refused to let me go.

I told Addison, “Congratulations… sister in law.” Addison laughed, “Thank you. I always knew we were meant to be sisters.” I told her, “You guys should get back to your celebration. No one gets to take this day from you. ”

Lux chimed in, “I agree. We can handle this. Red Run, we appreciate you coming to our assistance. We will never forget it. Go celebrate your Male Lead Warrior’s marriage.

” Christopher coughed, “He’s my Beta too.

” That would be deeply unofficial then. I smiled at Lux which made Xander growled a little.

Crush kissed Virgil. When they pulled apart Virgil said, “Let’s help them get back to the party, that we are joining! We always planned to make the party, Ads.” Addison laughed, “Of course you did. Virgil never misses a party.” Virgil laughed, “Damn straight I don’t.”