Chapter 41 Part 2

Chris's POV

I sighed into my paperwork, sitting in my office and staring down at the documents with a struggle to form even a cohort sentence. I felt the stress of the past couple of weeks since the return of Danny begin to build, my head and eyes heavy as I tried my best to deal with the situation at hand.

I can't do this...

It had been around three weeks since my mate's return, and not even a stir could be had from the girl. She merely lay in bed, staring into nothing without seemingly a care in the world. It was unnerving really, seeing her stare lifelessly into the abyss. I craved for the day where a spark would once more appear within her eye, when she'd acknowledge me as I called her name and begged forgiveness.

I can't do this...

According to McKenzie, our new Pack doctor since the death of Yvane, Danny was in a catatonic stupor due to shock and most likely severe depression. When she first opened her eyes I remember feeling ecstatic, for a second believing that she'd returned to the world. However, that euphoria was short-lived when I realised after a few seconds that she wouldn't respond to anything I said or did, her eyes empty and vacant as she stared into the ceiling above with the only movement being her chest rising and falling from breathing.

It had been the same for almost two weeks now.

Two weeks of emptiness.

Sighing once again, I ran a hand through my hair and leaned back into my worn leather roller-seat; slumping against the chair and closing my eyes in an attempt to ward off the impending headache. How long would it be until we'd be allowed to live a normal life? Would we even be allowed to do so? What if—"

"... Chris?" A soft voice croaked from the doorway, my entire body freezing at the sound as I was suddenly torn away from my thoughts.

My head snapped towards the door, my heart beginning to hammer in my chest as I spotted the frail figure leaning against the doorway— her face and clothes stained in blood with tear lines down her cheeks. My heart practically jumped in my throat at the gory sight, my body instantly jumping to overdrive as I stared at her in shock.

"It hurts—"

Eyes slowly sliding open, the depressive feeling of life seemed to drown me as I lay half on and half off the bedside, my hand still enclosed with Danny's as I gradually realised that her awaking was just another nightmare.

Slowly straightening in my seat, I felt the stiffness within my neck and back and winced, rolling my shoulders in an attempt to get the feeling to go away. I subconsciously began running my thumb across the back of Danny's hand, bringing it forward and kissing it briefly before standing to go to the bathroom. As much as I didn't want to leave her side, I don't think she'd appreciate me peeing next to her.

Making sure that nothing had changed, I checked her machinery and scanned her face, her eyes closed as she'd fallen asleep. Once again kissing her forehead, and taking note of the diamond engagement ring that slipped from beneath my shirt and dangled from the chain around my neck.

Something to remember her by when she leaves at least...

I sighed straightening my posture before leaving the room while running my hand down my face, quietly shutting the bedroom door behind me with a soft click.

Taking a few seconds to gather myself in case I ran into anyone, I made my way to the first floor where the bathroom was located; taking extra care to keep my ears open in case someone was nearby. I managed to reach the toilet and do my business with ease, flushing afterwards and washing my hands before stepping out with a sigh.

Only to stop in my tracks.

In front of me were a good dozen people, all looking at me in a mixture of concern and determination. My eyes widened at the sudden gathering, my mind not fully registering how that many people could gather in such a short amount of time in front of the bathroom.

And how weird it actually was...

"Umm... hi?"

"Alpha..." Frankie stepped forward, her gaze resolute as she crossed her arms over her chest, "We need answers. You've kept us in the dark long enough and some of the pack members are growing anxious. Heck, some are considering leaving the pack and trying to make it by themselves because they're so scared."

"...And what? You thought that cornering me in the bathroom was the best way to approach me?"

"Chris... some of the members haven't seen you in almost a year. Half the warriors only saw you two weeks ago when the McDonald couple came up with... my point is, people are getting worried. You have a duty to this pack and lately people think you haven't been living up to it."

"...And is that how you all feel?" I asked, looking at the group behind them consisting of the majority of my closest assets. My question was replied with a series of murmured agreement and awkward nods, the results causing me to stiffen in slight annoyance.

I mean yes, I understood that I hadn't been doing much public appearances lately; but the shit I'd done for this pack in the past two years and they have the nerve to look awkward about their confrontation. They're could atleast—

"SIR!" Joel suddenly cried, bursting through the front door and cutting across the awkward encounter, "We've got a situation in the church!"

"How bad?"

"Fighting amongst members, Sir; it's growing fast. Lucy's trying to calm them but it's not helping much."

"Fighting? Over what?"

He pursed his lips, "Over you, Alpha."

"Way I see it Christopher hasn't even bothered to show his face to us for almost a year, so why the Hell should we continue listening to a man who hides behind Betas and Little Sisters! It isn't right!" A voice cried from within the large crowd, Lucy glaring at the man as she stood behind the priest's podium upon the stage with Amelia not far behind; wings in full view as she scanned the crowd.

"Because! This the man who has saved our lives countless times, and therefore has earned our utmost respect as we have his! I think it is fair to say that he has more than a just reason for his recent absence, and we as members of Orgate owe it to stay by his side!"

"If he respects us so much, then where was he in the Jester Court attack?! He should've been protecting the pack—"

"Which he was doing so from another threat elsewhere! What has gotten into you all? I understand that you are scared but Christopher has done all he can to keep us safe! Or have you all forgotten that?!"

"He has a duty as an Alpha! And he unless he realises this soon—"

"You'll do what exactly?" I called, pushing open the heavy-doors of the high ceiling white church which contained a good sixty people all standing and shouting at my sister's defence, "Hmm?"

Stepping forward, the members parted like the red sea as I made my way to the stage, leaving behind the dozen that cornered me at the house and turning to look at the entire room, "The challenging of an Alpha is still a valid practice, if any of you are that unhappy than why have I yet to be approached?

Awkward look aways and slight coughs were my reply.

What is with people and those replies these days?

"I thought so..." I muttered bitterly, before walking up to the stage and joining my sister at the podium. She watched me hesitantly as I approached, "I'll take it from here, Lucy. Thank you."

"Are you sure?" She asked lowly, stepping away from the microphone as I nodded slightly with a tight reassuring smile and replaced her to face the familiar sea of people.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled my expression as I stared at what could easily be a quarter of my pack members— preparing myself for what better be a speech of a life time if I wanted to win (Something that I desperately needed).

"What seems to be the problem?"

The room was silent, until a voice called out from the crowd, "Where have you been?"

"Out." Was my short reply, the crowd silent as I stared at them impassively.

"Why weren't you here? Protecting us?!"

I shrugged, "I wasn't needed here."

"Yes you were!" A female voice suddenly called in anger, "You were always needed here! You're the Alpha! How are we meant to cope without a leader?"

"But I am still your leader."

"An active leader." She corrected, her face lost in the sea of faces which all murmured in agreement at her statement.

I sighed loudly.

Well I guess the cat's out of the bag...

"...In the past two years, there have been fifty-seven attempts of attack from various outside influences towards this pack." I began, the news seemingly shocking many as they're angry expression turned surprised, "And yet, it is today that you learn of this information."

"In the past two years, our pack has obtained and captured next to three hundred dangerous crossings from nearby portals and therefore successfully stopped any further attacks towards innocent members."

"In the past two years, the wall separating and guarding our territory from outside dangers has been moved and modified closer to our location in order for patrolling and nightly watch towers to be much more efficient and worthwhile."

"Since the death of Cody Santares and the kidnapping of my mate Danielle Perkins two years ago, there has been a total of one death within Orgate's walls, a death that was caused by the member's own intentions. Yvane Santares was the last Orgate member I plan to see dying anytime soon, as within the last two years we have successfully built our territory to be virtually impenetrable with the help of a level nine witch."

"So why is it, that you have all suddenly decided that we are unsafe? That I am unable to lead? That I am not an active leader?" I questioned, scanning the crowd for anyone to reply. When no one did, my anger began to show to the point where I began involuntarily growling in the back of my throat. "I have kept you safe, for near a decade now— so why are you all cowering like infants at the first sight of my keeping to my privacy!"

By this point, my eyes had began to turn black, my whole form shaking as I stared at the sea of people in front of me that had seriously ticked the other guy off. I glared into the crowd which caused everyone to shrink away and involuntarily bow their heads, their stances much less confidant then earlier which led me to believe that what I was saying was finally getting to them.

"Chris..." Lucy murmured, coming behind me and resting her hand on my shoulder, "... Maybe we should tone it down a bit, yeah?"

I gradually nodded, taking a deep breath and rolling my shoulders slightly to try and shake off the anger before turning back to the crowd in slight annoyance, "I have been doing my best to look after this pack since the moment that I came into power, and so far it's been going relatively well. But that is only because I had your absolute trust! If I don't have that, then I don't know how long we're going to survive this fight."

"So..." I began, closing my eyes and knowing that I'd kick myself for this later, "I'm going to let you decide what to do."

A chorus of confused looks followed my sentence.

Here goes nothing...

"We have reason to believe, that in a few months time Orgate will be attacked... and this won't be something that we can just invisibly staunch." I declared, revealing something that has been a systematic problem for the pack for a while, "I'm afraid this attack would result in our full participation in the Jester Court currently receding in the south."

More worried murmurs began.

"We have two options. We can vacate the territory and attempt to return to the Mainland with a good three hundred people in our company... or we can stay and fight which would ultimately lead to the risking and possible loss of all our lives. You decide."

"Spread the word, I'll give you one hour to come to a decision. Once you do so, we'll decide what to do then. But just in case it wasn't made clear, I'm not going back. I will defend this territory to my grave as it is expected, so if you leave— I won't." I declared, staring at the crowd with decreasing anger, "Let's see how you like making the tough decisions."

After that, I stepped away from the podium and turned back to Lucy and Amelia, nodding for them to follow me to the back room. They obliged near instantly, Amelia closing the door behind her with a soft click as Lucy began to worriedly pace the room, "Please tell me what happened back there was just a figment of my imagination..."

"I don't know, what do you think happened?"

She looked at me gobsmacked, "Oh, I don't know, how about the fact that you just gave the decision of going to war to about three hundred terrified people?"

"I trust them to do the right thing."

"Which is?"

"What do you think?" I replied with a second question, flopping down on a ragged couch in the corner of the room and closing my eyes from exhaustion.

"That you've gone mad! That's what I think! Amelia, tell him!" Lucy cried, turning to the angel for help but she merely shrugged in response.

"The Alpha trusts them, so do I."

"Oh you!" She exclaimed in frustration, practically beginning to pull her hair out before flopping down next to me on the couch with her head in her hands in defeat. "It's not that I don't trust them, it's just..."

I sighed loudly, "What Lucy?"

"People do stupid things when they're scared Chris. You of all people should know that." She replied, watching me from the corner of her eye as I lay back on the couch.

"Well then just imagine what three hundred people are going to do, eh?"

I stood before the group of people once more, the numbers having grown since the news had been spread for the upcoming war. I stared at my members with an unemotional mask, my mind beginning to spin as it suddenly hit me that whatever happens now, would change my relationship with these people for good.

Whether it would be a good or bad change was up to them.

"So, have you made our decision?" I called, addressing the crowd which now consisted of not only the members but also Finn and other close friends of mine— all waiting to find out what the outcome would be on this latest occurrence.

Several seconds passed, and still no one stepped forward to answer. Oh no...

"Well?" I called once more, the sound echoing across the high ceiling as the room remained silent and still in a pregnant pause. Everyone remained motionless, however just as I was about to speak once more a spurring began amongst the people; as one stepped forward and made his way towards the podium through the parting crowd and kneeled below me.

"I will stay by your, Alpha." Jessop, a young man from the Robinson family spoke— his voice strong as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head to me. I stared at him in slight shock, the whole room staring before another stepped forward.

...What?

"...Aye, I suppose I've nothing better to do." Finn declared, stepping forward and joining Jessop at the front.

"I will stand by our, Alpha. And do all that I can to protect our pack." Steve suddenly stated, pushing through the crowd with his now missing arm being his most prominent feature. He too leaned next to Jessop, before the first female voice rose amongst the crowd.

"I second that notion!" Frankie cried, shoving through the crowd before coming to a stop in front of me with a slight smile on her scarred face, "I mean, we've come this far, right?"

"Me too!"

"Count me in!"

"Aye!"

Suddenly, the entire room kneeled in front of me, howls being heard from the outside as I stared in slight shock at the sea of people in front of me. I had predicted that they'd leave and protect themselves, seeing as a war with the Jester Court was no small feat. But here they were, kneeling before me and pledging alliance to what could well be their deaths.

They definitely chose the stupid option...

"Well then..." I began awkwardly, clearing my voice slightly before declaring it officially, "I guess we're going to war."

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I'm kinda disappointed with this one guys, but eh... I got it out...

Last exam is on Thursday so expect a lot more uploads after that... but we're reaching the end of the book guys D: Let's see who can predict the ending, baring in mind all that has happened so far and that not everyone gets a happy ending ;)

No Danny action in this one guy :P Ah well, she isn't that important to the book anyway so... :P

O! BTW, I have le instagram. <———————————- SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTING

Go check meh out boo, give us a follow, I'll spank ya bottom (Ya know you like it)

Its at IggyWasTaken

See you on the flip flop y'all

Iggy