Chapter 86-A New Gamma

Three hours later
We watch as fight after fight ends, and the defeated warriors fill the sidelines of the training field, joining the rest of the pack in cheering and enjoying the spectacle.
We watch Michael closely as he defeats opponent after opponent.
“He hasn’t lost any of his strength,” Cassia says, and I think I see something flash in her eyes, but whatever she was feeling quickly disappears when she notices me staring at her.
“Or his viciousness,” Ryna adds.
“Nothing wrong with some viscousness in your Gamma, Beta,” Harry says.
“As long as it’s towards our enemies...” Gino mumbles.
I focus back on Michael as he defeats another warrior, trying to ignore the guilt I feel from Gino’s comment.
“Maybe you should have just named him Gamma, Alpha,” Tony says. “He has the advantage of being a born Beta. I don’t think anyone will beat him.”
“It is looking that way. But maybe that will earn him back some of the respect he lost.”
“Doubtful. But we’ll see,” Ryna says.
“Cole could give him a run for his money,” Harry says, pointing towards the back of the field.
Cole picks up his opponent and slams him into the ground, and I wince. “I don’t miss training with Cole. He never holds back.”
“That could be a mistake. He could exhaust himself before he gets to the final rounds,” Tony says.
“He never tires either,” Ryna says. “There’s a reason he’s one of our head warriors.”
Two hours later
We’re finally down to the last two contestants, and as predicted, it’s between Michael and Cole.
I stand between them on the field, both glaring at each other.
“Congratulations to both of you for getting to the final. This is the first time in recent history that we have held an open challenge for a position in our pack, and it comes as no surprise that it’s the two of you standing in front of me now. You both know the rules, and I wish luck to you both. Beta Ryna and I will referee your fight. Keep it clean and make me proud.”
They both nod and take their fighting stances. Michael makes the first move by running at Cole and landing quick jabs on his face and stomach. Cole blocks some of them and returns the favor with jabs of his own on Michael.
Ryna and I circle them as they fight, watching for any cheap shots. But an hour later, neither man has taken the lead. I look at Ryna, and he seems to be thinking the same thing as I do, as he gives me a nod.
I howl, signaling an end to the fight. Both men drop to one knee in front of me, panting and exhausted.
“You have both proven something here today. And that’s that you’re both fierce and determined warriors. Both of you are capable of being Gamma. Of leading our warriors and teaching them. That is why I am naming you both Gamma.”
Michael and Cole both look up at me with questioning looks.
“You are both as stubborn as the other,” I say with a laugh. “And I have no doubt that we would have been here until the early hours of the morning before either of you even considered giving up.” My suspicions are confirmed when they both grunt at each other. “So, the only conclusion is for you both to fill the open spot. To work together and make our warriors the best they can be.”
After a few moments of silence, they both nod their heads and agree. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Excellent.” I turn to the rest of the pack that has gathered around and address them. “Please give a round of applause for your new Gammas, Michael and Cole.”
Everyone cheers, and Andreas and Ryna come and stand beside me.
“As almost everyone is here, I think we should hold our rank ceremony. Are there any objections?” I ask.
Everyone claps in agreement, and I smile and motion for everyone to settle down.
“We will start in ten minutes to give everyone who isn’t here a chance to come. Please find everyone who isn’t here and ask them to meet at the stage.”
*
I walk across the stage, and the pack settles down. I smile over them and clear my throat. “Welcome everyone. I know this is short notice, but with Christmas in just a few days and our guests arriving, I felt it was important to attend to immediately now that we have filled the Gamma position. Although the pack mostly knows about these positions, we haven’t officially announced them. Ryna, and Harry, please step forward.” I say with a smile.
They walk over and kneel in front of me.
“Ryna, do you officially accept the role of Beta?”
“I do, Alpha.”
“Do you swear to the moon Goddess to fulfill your duties to the best of your abilities, and to always put our pack above anything else?”
“I swear it.”
“Please rise as Beta,” I say, holding back tears.
Ryna stands with a broad smile and stands beside me.
“Harry. Do you officially accept your role as Delta?”
“I do, Alpha.”
“Do you swear to the moon Goddess to protect Luna Cassia at all costs, to sacrifice your life for hers if the need arises?”
“I swear it.”
“Please rise as Delta.”
Harry stands, smiling proudly, and stands next to Cassia.
“Cole and Michael, please step forward.”
They both kneel in front of me.
“Do you both officially accept the role of Gamma?”
“I do,” they say in unison.
“Do you swear to the moon Goddess to fulfill your role to the best of your abilities, to work together in training your fellow warriors and protecting our pack at all costs?”
“I swear it,” they say in unison.
“Please rise as Gamma.”
They both stand and stand next to Ryna.
“This next position is a rank our pack has never appointed and is usually reserved for times of war,” I say to the pack. “However, whilst there may be a war looming, I would like to use this rank for something slightly different. As you all know by now, there is a group of warriors that work with me directly, known as the Crescent Warriors. I have decided to promote two of them to the rank of Epsilon. Noah and Rich, please step forward.”
They both smile as they kneel in front of me.
“Noah and Rich, do you both accept the role of Epsilon?”
“We do.”
“Do you swear to the moon Goddess to fulfill your roles to the best of your abilities, to protect the crescent warriors the same way you would protect your Alpha?”
“We swear it.”
“Please rise as Epsilons.”
The crowd applauds as they walk over and stand next to the Crescent warriors. I motion for everyone to settle again.
“Our pack is the first of our kind to have a female Alpha. This has caused some confusion about how to address my mate. Most of you already address him as Alpha, and it is my wish that you continue to do so. He will help me protect this pack, and you should address him with the same respect that you show me. So, I ask this, do you all accept my mate, Andreas, as your Alpha also?”
There are some murmurs amongst the members of the pack for a few moments before Ryna, Harry, Michael, Cole, Noah, Rich, and Cassia all kneel before Andreas and me.
“We accept Alpha Andreas as your mate and our Alpha,” Ryna says, and everyone repeats it.
Everyone in the pack follows their lead and kneels with their heads bowed.
I look at Andreas with a teary smile. “Do you have anything you’d like to say, Alpha Andreas?”
He takes a moment to compose himself before clearing his throat and kneeling. “Thank you all for accepting me. I swear to the moon Goddess that I will do everything in my power to support our Alpha and my mate, and to protect this pack with my life.”
I clap proudly, and everyone stands and applauds with me. “Please rise as Alpha.”
I kiss Andreas, and he hugs me tightly. “Thank you,” he whispers in my ear.
“There’s nothing to thank me for. I’m proud to have you by my side.” I pull back from his embrace and place my hand on his cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he says with a smile.