Eric's POV

Tauren Knox is finally out of my life.

By rejecting is worthless ass, I was free to finally choose Liz as my Luna.

By slashing his throat, I kept my promise to my best friend and right-hand Trenton by eliminating the flaw of his family.

And even now, as the Knox family carried out the bloodied and dead corpse of the pathetic Omega outside while I led the charge; I had to make it all clear- no Omegas or anyone that is a detriment to my vision of a powerful. It didn't matter that I saw most of the pups who loved him crying upon seeing the dead runt. It didn't matter that some of the warriors were glaring me down. And it didn't matter that my own parents and sister now saw me as a cold-hearted killer.

Hey, it's better to be feared than loved, am I right?

Anyway, it's time to lay down the law. Trenton tossed his brother's dead body to the stage while I faced the crowd- only a small handful admiring my handiwork. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Red Blade pack," I began, shooting a glare at the dead body and motioning for everyone to stare upon it. "This is what the gods chose to pair me with- a disgusting Omega who is nothing more than a worthless human. I happily rejected it."

My loyal followers clapped and applauded while the sympathizers remained silent.

"And now, the sole runt of the pack is now dead and will become the wedding cake for me and my chosen Luna known as Liz," I continued. "After that, the runt will be tossed into the Red River where the alligators will eat his remains if the vultures don't get to him first. But let me make this known before my celebration as your new Alpha begins. I will not allow anyone who is against my vision of power, dominance, and glory remain- that means any Omegas, loners, or sane rogues seeking asylum will be put down on sight. The future calls for merciless domination and strength, not showing any sympathy or love for the weak. And I intend to make sure that all who are in my pack are extremely loyal to me.

"Now, I know that almost all of you loved this runt right here, but let's face it. Tauren Knox is an abomination as what a REAL werewolf should be. Almost all packs would love to have an Omega as part of their family. But mine won't allow it. Here, an Omega means trouble and distraction. Which is why I will make sure that no future Omegas remain, including the pups that have yet to shift."

Liz, Trenton and his parents joined me at my side while my parents, Anissa, and Elisse refused to join me. "As for anyone who is loyal to me, make it clear that you will be lauded and rewarded as long  as you are sincere about your loyalty," I continued. "As for the rest of you, I will allow you all to leave this pack if you think that I am not worthy. But let it be made known that if you do stay and continue to show contempt against me, you will be executed by my hand with no questions asked. You will be given two days to leave this pack completely."

I faced my parents and sister. "And that goes double for you, my loving family," I sneered at you. "You all knew of this day, didn't you?"

"We didn't have to tell you," Elisse spat menacingly. "But that's how you think."

"Where did we go wrong with you," Dad said, shaking his head in disdain. "Enjoy your rule as Alpha, Eric. If you want to play the king of this pack, then you can wear the crown. Just don't expect your mother, sister, and I to watch once things go downhill."

I turned to the silent Deveraux family, grinning at a stone-faced Evan as I motioned for him to come forward. "I believe that you have a blessing for me," I drawled. "Now, will you give it to me...or will you risk death?"

Francis stared me down before huffing a deep breath. "May you and your chosen Luna live long and prosper while ruling this pack as you see fit," he said formally. "May you be blessed with a legacy like none other."

"Excellent," Trenton crooned. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"No, and neither will me and my family leaving this pack," Mr. Deveraux replied. "May you and your pack live long and prosper."

With that, they headed for their waiting car and drove off.

"Anissa," Mrs. Knox crooned to her glaring daughter. "Darling, you mustn't feel angry at our new Alpha. He did what needed to be done. The weak must be culled out of this pack, and the runt's death was long overdue. We did you a favor. Now, you can focus on being the perfect bride for your destined husband."

"That won't be necessary, Mother," Anissa growled. "I'm leaving this pack tonight and will be far away from Stillwater as possible. I hope you're happy."

"Then leave," I demanded formally. "All who are against me have until tomorrow night to leave."

My followers watched as mates lost mates, parents lost children, and children lost parents as the division took place. By the end of the departure, only one-hundred pack members out of a grand total of five-hundred remained as my followers. I saw my parents and Anissa leave together with a waiting moving truck among others leading the charge of cars and trucks which would escort the naysayers out of my pack.

Once the last vehicle was gone, I turned to my remaining pack members as two of my trusted warriors brought over Tauren's dead body. Smiling at Liz, I reached into the runt's body and pulled out his heart, breaking it in half before gifting one to my lady. "To the new era," I toasted. "To the new dynasty that will come."

"To the new era!" my followers cheered as my mate and I ate the runt's heart before I tore open his body and led the charge of eating his organs.

And just like that, my reign was about to begin. And the Red Blade pack is now all mine!

I couldn't be happier.

**********************

Third-Person POV

Meanwhile, in a hotel room outside the town of Stillwater...

"It's time," Francis intoned to his parents as they, now dressed in comfortable sweatsuits, gathered in the middle of the family-sized room of the Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel after confirming their reservations made the day before. After witnessing the address of Eric Girbaud and hearing from Elisse how she and almost all of the pack have been exiled, there was nothing more to do. Tauren Knox was indeed dead and Eric Girbaud rejected the late Omega wolf as his mate, as predicted by the gods and goddesses of the supernatural.

"Tauren was ready to die and had no regrets," his father intoned. "The poor Omega. I wished that we could've done more for him."

"As do Mom and I, Dad, but the damage is done," he said, feeling a cold breeze settle in. "But Artemis and the other gods and goddesses will soon know as soon as we cross over. From there, it is what it is."

"Yes," his mother agreed.

After seeing his parents take their rest and bidding them a final good-night, Francis headed to his room and got on his knees to pray. "You all know my heart, Cronus and Rhea," he said softly as the waves of death began to cascade over him like a blanket. "I've fulfilled my mission as promised, my family and I doing all we could do. The rest is up to you." With that, Francis got up, turned off the lights, slid under the covers, and let the fingers of Aurora close his eyes...for the last time.

Coming up next, Eric celebrates the death of Tauren and tosses him into the river while Francis relays what has been said and done to the gods and goddesses as the deities plan to greet Tauren and begin their judgment on the Red Blade pack. And since we're two chapters away from the end of act one, these two chapters will set the stage for what happens next in a whirlwind of secrets revealed, sins committed, and those who were exiled find new life in another pack. And yes, folks, we'll still hear from Tauren himself!

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