Sacrifice

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

 

                Gabriel couldn’t believe what Sophia had said. Even only knowing her for a short time, he thought he knew his mate well and couldn’t believe she was capable of such a thing. While he knew she would do just about anything to protect those she cared about, he couldn’t believe she actually would do what she had admitted to.

                “Sophia,” Jason said. “Please tell me you’re just messing with us.”

                “Sorry, Jason,” Sophia said with a sigh. “But I had to do whatever I could to protect you guys. I couldn’t let him remain as alpha. And I couldn’t let him live after I’d taken it from him. He’d have only split the pack apart from within.”

                For a long while, no one said anything and Sophia had never felt so alone. Looking at her friends’ faces, she could tell there was a chance they wouldn’t have her back. She really couldn’t blame them either. What had done had been rather despicable, even if she had done it for the right reasons.

                “In light of the confession,” Quinton said, “I move that Sophia be stripped of her rank and after further review, removed from the pack.”

                “Fuck that,” Talon said.

                “I agree with Talon,” Emma said immediately.

                Sophia was glad to see that she had at least two allies, although a family member and recent, human member of the pack didn’t count for much. Still, it was better than everyone turning her backs on her.

                “Now’s not the time for this,” Jason spoke up. “We still have the lion crisis to deal with. For the moment, at least, we need to focus on taking care of that problem, and we need to do so as a whole. This isn’t the time for changes in leadership.”

                “Then when is the time?” Troy asked. “Once this crisis passes, another well surely appear. When does Anthony get justice?”

                “He already did,” Talon said. “He was a total dick. Are you seriously upset that he’s dead?”

                “It’s not about what kind of person he was,” Quinton argued. “It’s about someone murdering the alpha in order to illegally take his place.”

                “I’m not sure it was really illegal,” Jason said.

                Sophia didn’t hear anything else Jason said, because Gabriel lightly touched her hand and she immediately turned her attention towards him. He had stood up from where he had been sitting and was standing as far from the other wolves as he could while still being able to reach out and touch Sophia.

                “Did you really?” Gabriel asked, still unable to believe it.

                “Yes,” she admitted, once more. Somehow, it was harder to tell Gabriel than it was everyone else. “It wasn’t… honorable. But I had to do it. Losing was not an option. I couldn’t let the old alpha remain in place. I thought he would kill Talon or someone else. So I had to do it.”

                “I get it,” Gabriel said. He didn’t know much about Sophia’s predecessor, but from what he did know, he was very much like his father. “I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same if I had the opportunity.”