SWNOVELS Chapter Problems, Problems, Problems
“Bishop, if we merge our two packs then I don’t have to go back to Georgia and prove anything. Think about it, my father would be so happy to know I found my mate so that his legacy can continue he would do anything.”
“And how would he feel about moving his pack, which has been established in Georgia for hundreds of years, to Tennessee where he doesn’t know a single person?”
“As long as a man is running his pack, he wouldn’t care one bit.”
“And his pack members? What about them? Do you really think they would uproot their entire lives to move two states away to be under my rule?”
“Anything would be better than the option they have right now. Look, just consider it, please.”
“What your proposing is impossible, Red. My pack has never had federal rule, yours on the other hand has been tormented by a generational corrupt system of Alpha’s who refused to give up their power. Seldom has it ever been a good idea to combine packs let alone two that have been governed so differently.”
And just like that, we were back to square one. He was right our packs were two different to join together and if I even mentioned this to my father without a solid reason as to why it was the best idea, I could send him running to Anderson’s rule without a second thought.
“You’re right. It wasn't the very best idea and I'm sorry for suggesting it, I just don't know what to do anymore Bishop. My heart belongs here with you but my mind is still so hurt that my father wouldn't even give me the chance to take over and help grow us into the amazing pack that I know we could be. We could change the barbaric way it has been dictated to a well ran organization but no one wants to listen. It's like they're brainwashed into thinking being chained to this governed law is the right thing for us."
He pulled me into his arms and said, "I know you want to fix things, Red but sometimes you can turn it into a disaster real quick if you suddenly change things. It has to be a slow ease, a transition of sorts that will involve your pack members. You cannot make big decisions like this without including them."
"But isn't that my job? Aren't I supposed to do what's best for them, to keep them progressing into the future and not stalling. If they don't move forward, they will become trapped in a fantasy world that only exists in the fragile minds of former leaders who never considered change."
"One of the greatest Alpha's of all time once said, Change can be a monumental thing or it can cripple us. How you choose to progress, dictates the response. What he meant was if you make decisions without thinking of the consequences, you will destroy what you tried so hard to build."
This man was too wise for his own good and he didn't even realize it. He would never know how much I appreciated him trying to get me to think with my heart and not my hard head.
I stood up on my tipped toes and kissed his cheek then looked into his eyes and said, "You are a true leader, Bishop." I stepped back out of his hold and walked towards the woods saying, "I think I need to figure things out. Do you mind if we take a break from all this Alpha business until I get my head straight?"
Nodding slowly, and with a understanding smile, he let me leave his borders. Of course it was like me to run instead of asking for help but I needed to weigh the options of what my life would be like if I stayed here with him or if I left and conquered my quest to become Alpha.
Once I reached Chase's house, I noticed there weren't many people around and for once I was grateful to be alone with my own thoughts. My head had begun to pound as I dreamt of our future together, seeing him rise to greatness with me by his side as our children grew into great leaders of their own.
Then again, the bratty voice inside my head always popped in with it's two cents. You can be a great leader too, you know? But what if it was wrong? What if my lack of attention to details, impulsiveness and stubborn streak would cause a great fall? I could single-handedly ruin a pack that has been doing just fine all these years with one decision. So I guess the only question left to ask is, would it be worth it?
I reached the door to the pack house and pushed it open only to find it empty as well. Normally, I would have been freaking out that no one was around but I didn't want to see anyone right now, all I wanted to do was go to bed and hope that when I woke up, I would have the answer I had been searching for all this time.
Laying across the comforter, I pulled my knees into my chest and curled up into a fetal position. Never had I ever felt so defeated and pitiful in all my life, yet here I was contemplating leaving the mate that I had fallen in love with just to prove a point to a bunch of old, cranky men that, if I'm being honest, would never give me a chance.
On the other hand, I had a mate who was willing to give me the world if I stayed here. A man who would probably give me the chance to lead alongside him just to make me feel needed. Would being his Luna really be downgrading or would it be exactly what I was made for?
I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling, hoping a revelation would fall on me but nothing happened. It was then that I realized I had been looking at this whole situation wrong. I was trying to make something happen that shouldn't be happening and my recent trip to my father's pack proved that.
He was never the greatest Alpha but he always did right by his people and kept us safe. Maybe Anderson was what they needed to bring them back to life, I mean he had trained my father's pack to fight off prowlers and from what I could tell it had worked.
Then my thoughts traveled to my mother and how horrible her life was growing up. My father was never as bad as hers and I was proud to say that he never pushed me to find my mate or arranged one for me and yet she was satisfied with how her life turned out, even though she never used her Luna title for good.
And in that moment, it hit me, the piece to the puzzle I had been missing all along. If I stayed here, I could be the Luna she never was. I could use my skills for good and show the women of Bishop's pack that just because they were born with a vagina, didn't mean they had to lay down and just be used. They could be warriors, scouts, anything they wished to be, they just needed a strong female leader to show them how.
Her idea was good but it lacked true confidence. Maybe she could have presented it to her father and pack before presenting it to Bishop. What do you think?
Thankfully she didn't take Bishops answer to heart. She acted a lot more maturely than I was expecting but maybe it's because she is coming to a realization that being Alpha isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially to people who wouldn't take her seriously.
Do you think she could truly be happy being his Luna or will the voice in her head that wants power take over? I do believe she needs some soul searching before she makes a decision and when she is ready I hope she includes Bishop in it.