Chapter Union
Kevin told a little more about what it was like to live there, Lucca called the Council team to analyze all the Forsaken documentation. Then we left, not really knowing what to do. We said goodbye and left, but seeing those people stay behind, seeing all those people in need because of the greed of an insane person, at the same time it hurt me, made me boil inside, I needed to change that. I needed to do something...
“That explains the prophecy saying: the end of evil....” Jack said still looking out the window.
I turned to look at him, I was confused.
“We can’t let that happen. You were right.” He now placed his hand on top of mine. And he turned to face me. “As insane as I sound...” Jack smiled and turned his face away. “We need to unite the Packs.”
Jack’s words made me open a smile that didn’t fit in me, something woke up in my heart and I felt a warmth inside, a feeling of certainty, that we were following our path. And the most amazing thing was that I knew Jack didn’t do it to agree with me, he also felt it, he also realized the need we had to help them. To return a dignified life.
“But we have a long way to go Lucca, I need to be on top of the rest of the investigations and administrative work for all of this. And obviously we don’t want a poppy plantation.”
The next few weeks were complicated.
We postponed the inauguration ceremony, because now we have another Pack involved, the administrative work seemed endless and no matter how much Lucca and his Council team helped us, Jack and I were exhausted every night. We spoke with Matt and Anna, of course, they were aware of the situation and agreed with us, they would became our Betas. We went back to the Forsaken Pack to make the announcement, we asked Jonathan to gather everyone in the central square, and when we arrived it broke my heart to see that there were few families, most of them working on the farm. Jack and I positioned ourselves in front of them, and he began to speak.
“People of the Forsaken, as you well know after the passing of the former Alpha Otto, you are without leadership. And the next person in the line of succession was Luna...” He turned to me with a smile. “You know about the disagreements of our Packs over many years, but we decided to leave all that behind, and we chose to unite our Packs as well, but you are a people living here, for so long, that we will understand If you’re not interested in joining our people. So we thought we’d take a vote, whoever wants to stay, we’ll treat them exactly like we treat our people. And whoever wants to leave, we’ll help with the move and they’ll be free to go.
A middle-aged man raised his head.
“When you say unite, you mean we follow the same rules as you, but are we going to have a school for the children?” he asked confused.
“Yes, school for the kids, job, house, and a big family. But yes, we do follow rules to ensure a good relationship.” Jack answered and a old lady looked up at us, but when her eyes met mine she looked down again.
The scene bothered me, it was as if she was afraid of me, as if she wasn’t worthy of looking at me.
“What it was?” I asked directed at her, but she wouldn’t look at me.
“Your eyes dear, are just like his.” She answered me in a whisper, and my heart broke, I felt her fear, and I felt an unbearable pressure in my chest. I look up and said do everyone.
“I don’t know what he said to you about us, or about me. But our rules are not absurd or exaggerated, they just make it easier for us to live together. I imagine he may have badmouthed us, but we want to show you how we work and the opportunities we can offer. Some if you remember my grandmother and father, my goal is to follow their legacy, and as much as my eyes are the same as Otto’s, I am completely different from him. Jack is an incredible leader and I know we can work together and guarantee a good, honest and dignified future for you. If you want to join us.” I said everything I could, everything that was kept in my heart and at the end I felt a tear run down, Jack was smiling at me, it was as if I could feel his pride in his eyes, he wiped the tear from my cheek with his thumb but something caught my eye ahead of us.
The lady lifted her face and looked at me, smiled, placed her right hand with a closed fist on her heart, and knelt down on one knee, bowed her head in reverence. And little by little all, simply all the wolves, made the same gesture. I didn’t know what it meant, but that gesture made every fiber in my body shiver.
“It’s an ancient gesture of reverence to the Alphas.” Jack said whispering in my ear, at the same time Lucca got between us and grabbed our wrists, lifting my hand and Jack’s, one on each side.
“Long Live Alphas.” Lucca gritou.
And in chorus, our newest people responded.
“Long Live Alphas.”
After the administrative procedures, we finally held the inauguration ceremony.
I had to buy another dress, but I still chose a simple and fluid model, we made it in the same place and the decor was similar. When I put my feet outside Hughes’ house and looked at the pergola and the white flowers, everything laid out and so similar to the first ceremony, I remembered so much pain and suffering that happened that day because of Otto, at the same time something told me that all of that was accurate, was necessary for all the transformation it brought about, and a part of me was grateful for that. There were more wolves in the audience, and now we were all one, the two peoples I came from, and the people Jack came from, all our honorable ancestry in one people. Christopher conducted the ceremony, it was simple and beautiful and when he finally said:
“I name you, Alphas of the Northeast Pack.” The chorus of screams and howls could be heard for miles, Jack kissed me gently and after our lips parted he gave me the most beautiful smile in the universe, then he grabbed my hand raising it in the air, celebrating everything here, now we were officially the Alphas of the Northeast Pack.
After the ceremony I felt such great peace, so absurd, genuine happiness, and somehow I felt my parents there with me.
After all the processes we needed to organize everything, we transformed the poppy farm into grain, vegetable and greens plantations. The grains were exported thru the port in the East, and thru the cargo airport that we reused. The vegetables, greens and fish from fishermen from the East supplied our markets and our three communities, which were gradually becoming one, we expanded the logging company and exported it thru the port, and via the airport as well, in addition to freight via truck and train that it was outsourced. We simply put together an incredible logistical scheme and everything went smoothly. We unified the schools, but divided them into children’s and youth centers. Each village maintained its businesses and houses were renovated and rebuilt if necessary. Jack and I divided ourselves into the three villages, but we created administrative positions to help us.
We were in the East, the office had a beautiful view of the harbor, I went out to the glassed-in balcony with my cup of coffee, I felt the sea breeze blowing my hair away from my face and neck, and for a second I could have sworn I felt a hand on my shoulder and a whisper in my ear.
“You did it...” The voice was my father’s, I felt a kiss on my cheek, I looked around and there was no one, I could only look at the sky and smile while a tear ran down my face.
The end....