Yasmin

Three hours.

Three hours of men with too much testosterone in one room, yelling across a table at each other. This is why I would never want the Alpha title. Too much power or even the chance of having that power turns mankind against each other.

"I will say it one last time. The alpha position is decided by a death match." The overly hairy man with a tiny face yelled, spit flying over the table.

Timothy was his name. I always hated that name.

With a heavy sigh, I leaned forward on my elbows rubbing at my temples trying to defuse the oncoming headache from getting any worse.

My eyes scanned the eighteen men in the room once more. I wished Caine was here with me, but he had to feed, and to do that he had to leave pack lands.

An older man hiding more towards the back of the room and not actually at the table caught my eyes. He hadn't once spoken since he entered the room, yet I few times I noticed him shake his head when one of the power-hungry males would say something totally out of the question.

"At least we are all in an agreement a male should be Alpha." Simon, the third in command chuckled out. A low rumble of laughter rang out amongst the room. Yet one man seemed to disagree.

"I have heard enough," I spoke, a few sideway glances were thrown my way before they continued to talk acting as if they didn't hear me.

I pushed to my feet, the chair scraping loud before toppling over backward with my sudden movement. "I SAID ENOUGH!" My hand slapped the table with force as a rich deep tone escaped with my words. Reluctantly the men all bent their heads to me in submission. Only the one in the back had a small smirk on his face. I was starting to like that dude.

"Three hours I have had to sit here and listen to this nonsense. What makes you think that any of you are more worthy to be Alpha of this pack than a woman. From what I have noticed of the men in this room only one of you even seems to be acceptable enough to take on this role." I drew in a sharp breath while glaring at each of the pigheaded males who believe themselves better because of a chunk of flesh between their legs.

My eyes locked onto the male standing at the back of the room. "What's your name, Sir?" I questioned.

He didn't answer immediately, a little taken back from my question. Standing a little straighter, his rich masculine voice filled the waiting silence, "My name is Tyson, Alpha. Most just call me Beast." Tyson offered me a half bow before standing straight once more.

"Why haven't you offered an opinion at all?" I demanded of him.

He looked a bit confused, his eyes dancing around at the other men in the room. "I am head guard Alpha. I'm only here to break up any fights and to keep you safe."

"Yasmin, he has no say in this matter. This is to be discussed only by the pack council." The same hairy man from earlier talked. Disrespect in every word.

My wolf side was already on edge, and the clear disrespect just shown by not using our title tipped her over the edge. Before anyone had a chance to move, I had lunged across the table, claws extended and tightly wrapped them around his neck. My foot kicked out the back of his knees dropping him to the ground. "You will show me the same respect you showed the previous Alpha. That goes for the rest of you too." I could feel my canines extending and my vision sharpening as I glared at each of the men.

One by one they all dropped to a knee, heads bowed in submission.

Then the idiot in my grip had to open his mouth. "You are not my true Alpha. Your father was right to sell you off."

My blood boiled in my veins, as my grip tightened around his throat.

"You're just a vampire's whore." He managed to choke out.

My fingers dug deep into his neck as I grabbed his windpipe. With one firm tug, it was flying across the room making a splat noise on the opposite wall. My eyes never left the other men in the room as this one's limp body fell at my feet. His warm blood soaking my shoes and dripping down my arm.

"Does anyone else has an opinion about my mate?" A menacing growl accompanied my words.

A chorus of "No Alpha," was heard through the room as I walked back to my seat and sat down.

"Now Tyson, what is your opinion on who to make Alpha of the pack," I asked him as the men quietly seated themselves.

Stepping forward a little Tyson slightly nodded his head to me before speaking. "I do not believe any man in this room is deserving of the title. They have been pushing their own agender for many years. Our pack may be the best but it has come at the cost of the lower ranks."

Low angry growls could be heard, only stopping at a look from me. "Go on Tyson, explain what you mean."

I could tell the sixteen men seated at the table wanted to stop Tyson from talking but none dared to.

"A few years ago, everyone would eat like a pack in the large dining hall. None would go hungry even if you didn't earn much for the pack fund. Once this council of men started, pack members were left to fend for themselves. Widows had no way of earning money to feed their pups, the elderly left to die without care. It has been a fight for survival in this pack. If you weren't strong enough to fend for yourself then you were shunned. If you travel west about five kilometers, you will find the old settlement. This is where the old and poor are kept. Food is scarce, and they're still forced to put forward money to the pack. The council calls it protection money. The guard feeds them when we can, but the last Alpha found out and I lost half my men to the dungeons because of it."

I was disgusted. How could anyone be so cold as to do that to another person? "Leave." It came out as only a whisper but everyone in the room heard it.

My gaze remained on Tyson, and a hurt look crossed his face. Yet no one moved. "I said LEAVE!" Tyson quickly bowed his head and stepped towards the door. "No Tyson, not you."

Now the other men at the table looked confused, hush whispers breaking out between them. "What don't you all understand. Get up and leave this room before I rip every last one of you apart."

Tyson continued to the door, holding it open as the horrid men scurried out of the room. Closing the door Tyson waited for me to speak.

Breathing deep to calm down, I placed my hand on the seat next to me. "Sit Tyson."

"I'm sorry Alpha if I have upset you," Tyson spoke while sitting next to me. "I didn't mean to overstep, I just wanted to let you know the truth."

"Yes Tyson, tell me everything."

***

A week had passed since the council meeting. Tonight, every pack member was invited to a BBQ. Tyson was in charge of organizing the whole thing and making sure the outcast pack members attended. The week had been long. Problem after problem had to be fixed. The strongest pack on this side of the country was filled with corruption and brutality. The strong got stronger and the week left to die.

I was only new to pack life, but I was sure it wasn't supposed to be like this. Caine's mother and Marcus his son, I guess you can call him that, had left the day after the meeting.

The council constantly sort me out and spewed crap about how they would be fit for the title of Alpha.

A knock at my room door snapped my eyes away from the mirror and the burgundy dressed wrapped around my body. "Come in," I called sliding on my flats. As Alpha, I was required to dress nicely for the BBQ.

"Everyone is ready for you Alpha," Tyson spoke bowing his head as usual when he addressed me.

Caine moved from the bathroom dressed in casual clothes, jeans, and a shirt. "Hey Tyson, no trouble with that thing I asked about?"

My eyes snapped from his amazing looking ass to jump between the two of them. "What thing?" I demanded.

Ignoring me, Tyson spoke to Caine. "Yes Sir, all done, just as you requested."

"Great." Caine laughed slapping Tyson on the back. The pair had struck up a good friendship in the last week. Still laughing with his arm around Tyson's shoulders, the two of them walked out of the room talking amongst themselves.

I stood staring at the door, confused and slightly pissed off they left me here. Folding my arms across my chest I waited, managing to count to thirty before Caine flashed back into the room, a sheepish look on his face. "Sorry love." He said wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing the side of my head.

"Do I need to be worried about you and Tyson?" I questioned trying to quirk my eyebrow up and failing miserably.

With a soft laugh, Caine replied, "No Yas. He's just a great guy. I'm going to miss his sense of humor once we leave.

With a sigh, I nodded my head. "Yeah me too. But I can't be here any longer. I want to start my life with you."

Caine stopped us before the large doors leading to the yard. "And I, with you." Planting a kiss on my lips, Caine took a step back just as the doors opened and Tyson announced me.

"Kneel for Alpha Yasmin." Tyson was the first to drop, followed by the rest of the pack.

Stepping outside, I was shocked to find the pack almost three times as large as it had been when I had taken the Alpha title from my father. Alpha Ruby's pack had left a week ago, so I knew all these people had to be only the Bristol Pack.

"Rise," My voice rung clear across the pack members. "Thank you all for coming out tonight. As you all know, changes are being made within the pack. No longer will it be survival of the strongest. To become unbeatable, and to make our pack the strongest it has ever been, I have decided that as of tomorrow all pack members are to be moved."

Murmurs rippled like a wave along the sea of people. Holding my hands up to quieten the growing noise I continued. "The elderly will be moved to the houses closest to the packhouse. All sick will only be treated at the new medical center here. The old center is to be shut down immediately and renovated back up to standard. Then it will be used as an overflow. The packhouse is only to be for pack between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five. The strongest of the pack will be housed towards the outer ring."

At this, a large uproar started up. I had to raise my voice to be heard. "THIS IS NOT A PUNISHMENT. You are our strongest, therefore, are the protectors of the pack. This is an honor. You are the first line of defense in an attack. You protect the young, the sick, and the elderly. You protect your pack. I have also authorized Tyson to start work on a new training facility. A new training program will be put in place, and anyone, male or female willing to join will be housed in the new barracks joined onto the training grounds."

Excited voices could now be heard.

"The changes put in place will be hard at first but I have faith in this pack. Now I know you are all eager to enjoy the food so the last thing I wish to talk about is the Alpha title."

A hush stole across the night air. "As you all know, I will be leaving soon. Actually, I will be leaving tonight. The traditional way of becoming Alpha will not be happening. The pack should not fight each other to the death. So, I have decided to name Tyson as Alpha of the Bristol Pack."

Tyson stood frozen in place at the edge of the stairs I was standing on. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

"Tyson has shown me what true pack should be. Strength, heart, soul, loyalty, and wisdom. Tyson, please step forward."

I smiled as he stepped forward, bowing his head to me.

"Tyson 'The Beast' Dark, chosen Alpha of the Bristol Pack. From this moment on do you accept the title of Alpha? To rule the pack with honesty and fairness?" My voice even as I spoke the words I found out other packs said when passing the title on.

His strong clear voice spoke, "I accept the title with honor."

Caine stepped forward pulling the dagger I removed from the family safe, hidden for generations, but needed just for these moments. Sliding the blade slightly from its sleeve, Caine held the handle out towards me.

With a wink, I drew the blade clear slicing it across my palm drawing blood. I handed off to Tyson where he copied my actions before returning it to its sleeve.

Gripping hands so our wounds connected, "I Alpha Yasmin, the blood of the Bristol Pack, pass my title and power to Tyson Dark, worthy leader, in my steed."

It only took a moment but I could feel the shift of power from my body to his.

Our hands released, and Tyson howled loud into the night. His pack dropping to one knee before echoing his howl.

With one last glance at Tyson. I joined hands with Caine and ran from pack grounds.