Sarah was crying in earnest and Ben’s eyes were closed at the realization. “Just let me fix this, Nicky,”

she sobbed.

Josh reached out to touch Tracy’s arm when she made a move at the use of the endearment. He shook his head subtly. She knew, she knew, but oh how she wanted to take that bitch down.

“Don’t. You’re nothing to me now and the only reason you’re still breathing at all is because of my niece and nephew.”

“Nick, let’s focus for a moment on what we need to do here,” his father said. “You’re within your rights to challenge Ben. But that won’t change this f**k-up. I’ve just lost a son in many ways, I’d prefer not to lose him all the way. I’m asking you for mercy on his behalf. Not because he deserves to lead this Pack, he doesn’t. But because he’s my son and your brother and the father of my grandchildren.” He turned to Tracy. “We’ve wronged you. I apologize for that. You’re also within your rights to challenge Sarah and I know you’d win and she does too. So I guess I’m asking you for your mercy too. Again, not because she deserves it. I’m ashamed of her and what she’s done to this Pack and my son. But she has children and those children need a mother.”

Josh shook his head. “And what are you proposing? That we just all turn a blind eye to this? Their forsaking of their oaths as Alpha because they have kids? I’m sorry, Charles, but I can’t get behind that.”

“Stop talking about us like we’re not here!” Sarah exclaimed.

“Shut up,” Gabe ordered. And she did, reminding him once again, that Sarah and Ben were not fit to be Alphas of Pacific Pack. “You have no idea what you’ve done, have you? You never should have been

Alpha, neither of you. Stupid. So f**king

stupid. Do you realize what Warren Pellini is? What he’s capable of? And you’ve given him the keys to the front door of this Pack. The Pack where your children live, damn you. You’re going to fix it? How’s that? Do you think he’ll just let you walk away after you’ve laundered half a million dollars for him? With all you know?

“Normally I’d counsel you to go to the National Enforcer. Except he’s in Pellini’s pocket too. There’s no system in place to protect youbecauseof Warren Pellini. There is no fixing it , Sarah. You’re f**ked and you’ve dragged your entire Pack down with you. All for money. I hope it was worth the lives of everyone you were supposed to be caring for.”

“What do we do, then?” Ben leaned forward, wiping the blood from his nose on his sleeve.

“You’re unfit to lead this Pack. You will step down and take Sarah with you. Nick should have been Alpha all this time. I shouldn’t have kept my mouth closed about it,” Nick’s mother said quietly.

Ben flinched but nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. God. So sorry. But I still want to help. This mess is our fault, I want to help clean it up. I still love this Pack.”

“Ben! You can’t just give in to this. They’re all crazy. Pellini can help us. He can help us keep control here. He’ll send people, he told me.”

Ben turned on her, despair in his eyes. “What? Sarah, what have you become? You want to sic thugs on our family? You want them to infiltrate this Pack even more than they already have? My god, I’m sick with this. I’m sick because I’m bound to you and you used to be something so much more and now you’re rotten on the inside. And I don’t know how to be quit of this connection to you.” He put his head in his hands and wept.

Tracy moved to Gabe’s side, sitting on the arm of his chair. She desperately wanted to go to Nick but he had to do this on his own, handle it his way.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to challenge Ben, do you?” Gabe spoke quietly to Nick. “Ascend, it’s your birthright. Tracy will sit at your right hand like a real Alpha female.”

Nick turned to him. “And you at my left hand. Three Alphas to rule this Pack. I won’t ask you to turn away from National, your job is very important. But if I’m Alpha, so are you, just as Tracy is.”

“Stop talking about this like it’s going to happen. I’m not giving it up,” Sarah snarled.

“Stop talking crazy, Sarah. You don’t have a chance in hell of winning a challenge against Tracy and you know it. You’ll be dead, and what about Chris and Haley then? Are you such a callous mother that your greed surpasses that too? When did this happen to you? How could I have missed the change?” Nick just looked at her with disgust on his face.

Nick stood and began to pace. “No. As of this moment, I am Alpha of Pacific. Your ties, along with Ben’s, are severed. You are shunned. You have a few hours to get your stuff and leave. I’ll allow you to take ten thousand dollars to start a new life elsewhere. You’ll have to lay low for a while.”

Ben stood and went to his brother. “I am so sorry, Nick. Please, let me help you. He won’t just leave you alone. He told Sarah that he’s got evidence on the Pack that he’ll turn over to the National Enforcer if she tries to back out.”

Nick looked at Ben for long moments and the two of them embraced. Tracy’s heart ached for Nick. If Lex or Cade ever did something that betrayed Cascadia, she couldn’t imagine the betrayal she’d feel.

But they’d still be her brothers and she’d still love them.

Ben went to his knees and lowered his head in obeisance to Nick and Nick put his hand out to touch his shoulder. Tracy felt whatever magic that bound an Alpha to a Pack slam into her. Felt the responsibility of all her wolves nestle in her soul. It was heavy, but it felt right too. She turned and looked at Gabe, who blinked slowly and then relaxed back into his chair, and she knew it had happened to him as well. She wondered how he would deal with the dual responsibilities he’d hold as Third in National and Alpha in Pacific. What a complicated road he faced.