Pack Mates (Were Chronicles) by Crissy Smith Page B

into her.
    “Please join me at the circle as we welcome our new Pack members and begin the Alpha ceremony,” Cameron invited.
    RJ led Nikki around and through the crowd until they stood next to the circle beside Brandon, Justin and Ben. Dylan knelt in the middle of the circle with his head bent.
    “Woodrow Wilson once said, ‘The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people’. I have tried to listen to each member of this Pack and always advise with all of your best interests in my heart. My time has passed and another’s has begun.”
    RJ looked at his brother with pride almost bursting from his chest. Nikki slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze. The feelings of happiness threatened to overwhelm him.
    “I know in my heart that my replacement will be able to lead the Pack in the right direction and protect you as the shifter world moves forward with plans on going public.”
    There was a stirring behind Cameron but RJ’s view was blocked.
    “The future of the Pack will rest on the shoulders of this man before me. I want each—”
    “Excuse me, Alpha Cameron!” someone shouted from the crowd.
    Pack members shuffled around while Samson led a small group forward to stand at the edge of the circle across from them.
    Samson was backed by the elders and their families and a half-dozen men he’d never seen before.
    There was a gasp in the crowd and he heard the murmur of words like ‘feline’, ‘cats’, and ‘shifters’.
    RJ searched for Mike and saw him moving forward. He looked down at Nikki’s pale face.
    “You and Ben go with Mike,” he whispered to her, waving a hand at the man.
    “RJ, no!” She gripped his hand tighter.
    “Please, baby.”
    Mike arrived to pull Ben and Nikki back. Both fought but a look from Brandon had them grumbling back into the crowd.
    “What is the meaning of this, Samson?” Cameron demanded and he faced the other man. Dylan stood and RJ, Brandon, Justin, Max and a few others fanned out behind him and Cameron.
    “You have your pick for the future and we have ours,” Samson told him, motioning to one of the big strangers next to him.
    “You have no authority to choose the next leader. I am Alpha and the choice is mine,” Cameron stated, bracing his feet apart and standing to his full height. While aged, the man was still a powerful force.
    “You just said you listen to your Pack,” Samson challenged. “Your Pack has a different vision than you.”
    Cameron took his time looking around his Pack. All of the Pack members that had already been at the ceremony had separated away from Samson, leaving a wide area between them. “I believe the majority of the Pack respect my wishes.”
    “But not all. This is a Pack decision, one that will affect us for many years,” one of the elders spoke up from behind Samson.
    “So instead of following my choice you bring forward a man, a feline shifter we know nothing about?” Cameron inquired with a nasty twist of his lips.
    “Fred has led his small group of felines for several years,” Samson argued. “He is just as qualified as Dylan Cross.”
    There was more rumbling in the crowd but Cameron held up a hand.
    “What exactly do you suggest?” the Alpha asked.
    “Simple. A challenge. Dylan and Fred. Winner takes Alpha position.”
    RJ went to step forward, having heard enough. There was no way he was going to let his brother fight some feline they knew nothing about. Dylan cut his eyes over to him and shook his head. He was going to ignore his brother when Brandon gripped his shoulder.
    “Dylan needs to handle this,” Brandon said quietly.
    RJ shook his head. This was unbelievable. They had a problem with Dylan leading so they brought in a cat shifter no one even knew? Dylan had been in town for months getting to know his new Pack.
    And it didn’t matter what anyone said. RJ would not be convinced that the fight would be fair.
    “I accept the challenge,” Dylan stated, his voice strong and proud over the