Chapter 462


    Chapter 462


    Mason


    “Ste! Show us Ste!”


    At the sound of my daughter’s name in the voice of the crowd, Colt stirred inside me and rose with a


    growl. I felt my eyes zing, and my ws and teeth were both descending. If they tried to harm


    her, I’d fight them all to the death.


    My brother held up his hands again, although the audience had gone quiet. I could feel their


    anticipation rising, along with an edge of anxiety. It wasn’t that I med them, but I still wasn’t going


    to let anyone hurt her.


    “It is not the custom for the pups of the Alpha and Luna to be paraded around like show dogs,”


    Xander said firmly in a clear voice. “If you have questions about Ste—”


    “I heard she’s the one who killed the entire High Council!”


    “She’s not a wolf!”


    “Someone said she’s not even Alpha Xander’s pup!”


    Xander and I shared a look. His fists were clenching, and his snarl was loud enough I could hear it


    even over the crowd. I knew he was going to lose his shit if they kept up with the usations, even


    with Zane pulsing out his calming Beta energy.


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    “She can control people’s minds!”


    “She ate the High Council!”


    Thisst shout sent ripples all through everyone in the audience. I could see Xander raising his


    fists, but who did he think he could pound first? There were so many of them, and what they were


    shouting pissed me off, too, but we had to keep our heads clear.


    When I stepped up again, I made sure to make eye contact with everyone in the front row, one at a


    time, along with a reassuring nod and smile. Then I addressed everyone else. I kept my voice


    steady, but firm. I might not have been raised to be an Alpha, but I was one now.


    “Friends!” I shouted. “We’re all getting a little worked up. Let’s not allow unsubstantiated rumors to


    fly around, okay? Ste Constantine is the daughter of Xander and Lanie, but I consider her my


    own, as well. As many of you know, in order to save our Luna’s life, she spent some time in


    Stillwood, where she and I met.”


    This had the possibility of getting sticky with exnations that I didn’t want to shout out to a crowd,


    but I had to keep my brother from shifting into his wolf and tearing into the restless pack. I didn’t


    me him for being upset, but we had to keep ourselves under control. Lead with example. Protect


    our family while also honoring ourmitment to the entire pack.


    “I saw her! I saw Ste, and she’s an adult!” The woman shouting this turned to herpanions


    with a frightened look. “Those twins look like they doubled just fine. How can she have grown up so


    fast?”


    “She’s a freak!” someone shouted in response.


    “A hybrid!”


    “The High Council warned us about hybrids!”


    “The High Council were bigots who deserved everything that happened to them!” Xander growled.


    His Alpha fury rippled out into the crowd. Some fell back, but not everyone did. “Their campaign of


    hatred will not happen again! Look around you. I guarantee you in this crowd you’ll find your friends,


    your loved ones, might also be hybrids.”


    I added my Alpha energy to his, but used mine to pull his back a bit. I spoke up again. “Our Ste is


    unique and unusual, that’s the truth. She’s also not used to being in the spotlight like me and


    Xander are, so I’m going to ask you to respect that and give her some time and space. But she is


    the descendant of Xander, she is not a freak, and yes, she is now an adult. When she’s ready, she’ll


    address you. But on her terms!”


    I could tell they weren’t exactly happy with this response. I couldn’t really me them, either. This


    pack had been lied to for so long, I couldn’t be shocked if they had trouble trusting in any kind of


    authority figures. Plus, I knew that if I were among them, I’d be wary and scared by rumors, too.


    Xander and I stood shoulder to shoulder, with Zane slightly behind us. Lanie stepped up beside him.


    The four of us would be no match if the pack rushed the stage…at least that was the expectation.


    None of these people had any clue about what we’d faced. How we’d conquered. They were afraid


    of Ste, and I understood their concerns, but they were afraid of her for the wrong reasons.


    “We demand to see her!”


    “You said no more secrets!”


    “What are you hiding, Alpha Xander? Why won’t you show us your daughter?”


    “What’s wrong with her?”


    As more shouts and usations rang out, Xander, Zane, Lanie, and I formed a line. Our wolves


    rose, ready to fight if necessary. We’d faced the High Council.


    We were about to find out if we had to fight the entire remaining pack.