Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 99: Chapter 99

Johann’s declaration sent a jolt through the gathered alphas. It was immediate pandemonium.
The alphas shouted over each other. Some were calling for Leo’s head. Some wanted every wolf present banished. Interestingly, many of the alphas were cheering in agreement.
“There hasn’t been a wolf king in generations,” Titian pointed out when the shouting finally slowed down.
“Then it’s about time we had one,” Jasmine said.
“All of this happened because the packs are fractured,” Johann added. “The Rogues only gained so much ground because the alphas were too busy fighting among themselves to care what was happening to their wolves.”
Ethan added, “You created the Rogues, by unilaterally banishing anyone who didn’t march lock step with your wishes.”
“You’re an alpha,” Alpha Raine pointed out.
“And when have I ever banished one of my own?” Ethan asked.
“Leo banished his own brother!” Alpha Drake said.
“I had no other choice, at the time,” Leo admitted. “It was a mistake. I should have listened. I should have understood.”
“Leo’s grown a lot in the last few months,” Ethan declared. “I’ve seen it. He’s going to be a great alpha. And yes, I think the wolves are right. I think he will be a great king. I raise the motion for a vote!”
That brought more shouting. But the vote had been called, and the alphas couldn’t ignore it.
“Do you have anything you would like to say, Alpha Leo?” Titian asked.
“I, well,” Leo looked around. “I thought I was coming here to explain my intentions. Why I wanted to keep the pack army together. I don’t know that there should be a king. I just wanted to keep my promise.”
“And what promise is that?” Titian asked.
“A home. I promised the wolves who fought side by side with me a home of their own. A pack that would support them and be there for them. An alpha who would listen.”
“And he’s given us that!” One of the former Rogues shouted.
“Yeah!” A wolf who had joined our new pack from Alpha Drakes, concurred.
“It seems the wolves have spoken,” Titian said. “And a vote has been called. Alphas, this is a grave but simple matter. We will recess for an hour, and take the vote upon our return.”
The alphas chorused their agreement.
Leo leaned against the wall of the amphitheater.
“Well,” he muttered to me, “I guess this is better than standing trial.”
I nodded. “Even if they don’t vote you king, they won’t be able to force you to disperse the pack.”
“That’s something,” Leo agreed. He chuckled. “Can you imagine, though? A wolf king? Me?”
I nodded. “Yes. I can see it.”
“Really?” Leo sounded surprised.
“Really. You’re kind. You care. You cared about me when I was just a servant. You care about your wolves. You even care about the Rogues,” I said.
“I’m not sure that’s enough to make me a good king.”
“It’s a start,” I said. “The rest is wisdom and experience. You’ll gain those with time.”
“You sound so sure,” Leo said.
“I am.” I grinned. “I’ve learned to listen to my wolf.”
The alphas returned within the hour.
“For a matter of such gravity as the selection of a king among all wolves, a vocal tally of votes is not sufficient,” Titian declared. “You will write your decision on one of these tokens,” Titian continued, holding up a small wooden token. “Each of you was given one as you entered. Write your vote, yes, or no, and place the token in this box.”
Titian motioned to a box set on a small table next to him. I wondered where they kept these things, and why he had the tokens and box ready to go so quickly. Had Alpha Titian expected something like this to happen? Maybe so. He was old and wise. And I’d learned that he was the one who taught Ethan how to gather information and train spies and scouts.
The alphas cast their votes. Titian tossed his wooden token in last, just after Ethan.
After that, the tokens were shaken, so that no one knew who voted what, and the tokens were poured out and counted.
“Well,” Titian said once the count was finished. “We have a tie. Half yes, half no.”
“Do we vote again?” Alpha Raine asked.
“No, we need a tie breaker,” Alpha Drake countered.
“The only alpha who didn’t vote is Leo,” an alpha I didn’t know pointed out. “We know what he’d vote, so it’s not fair. He can’t be the tie-breaker.”
I wasn’t so sure Leo would vote for himself, actually, but I had a better idea.
“The wolves should vote. All of them. This affects everyone, so everyone should have a say,” I spoke up.
Titian turned and smiled down at me.
“The Healer speaks with wisdom,” he declared.
“You want us to poll every wolf in every pack?” Alpha Drake scoffed.
“It’s not so hard,” Ethan said. “Hand out tokens, one to each of your wolves, and seal them in a voting box. Simple.”
“We will take a week,” Titian declared. “That is plenty of time to hand out the tokens, and collect them again. Be certain to seal the token boxes well for travel.”
The alphas dispersed after that. A tense week passed. Leo didn’t precisely want to be king, no, but he worried that if the packs voted against him, it might damage his standing enough that he wouldn’t be allowed to continue with his new pack.
We returned to the amphitheater after the week was up. This time, my mother and Sable came with us.
Titian called the meeting to order. One by one, the alphas brought up their vote boxes. Each one was sealed, and the seal signed by their betas.
Titian opened and counted the boxes one by one. It took over an hour, but the result was clear much sooner. There was no tie this time.
By an overwhelming majority, Alpha Leo was declared the King of All Wolves.
Leo decided that he would stay in the compound, the new home we were building. He had no intention of living in some palace.
His coronation was a simple affair. The alphas gathered, and lined up to bow and swear loyal service to the wolf king. In return, Leo promised to lead with wisdom and compassion. He swore to always listen to the concerns of his wolves, from the alphas to the outcasts.
At the end of Leo’s short speech, he pulled me up onto the dais of the amphitheater.
“I accept your acclaim as your king,” he declared, “but I cannot rule by standing alone. An Alpha must have a Luna. And it is my great fortune to declare that I have found my Luna.”
He took my hand in his. “This is Healer Tessa. Many of you know her, as she has saved many lives. From here on, she will also be your Luna and my wife!”
He paused, and added with a chuckle, “As soon as we can get around to holding our wedding, anyway.”
I could only hope there wouldn’t be anymore delays.
The same wolves who had once sneered at my human blood clapped and cheered. It felt strange, to stand in front of them as their future queen.
But I stood next to Leo, and I couldn’t imagine anyplace I would rather be.