Chapter 84

Todd’s POV
“What is with you? I’m the one who is pregnant and meant to be bitchy” Joanna says, sitting next to me on the couch. I sigh and look at her; “Matthew and Oliver want me to join our pack with Danny’s” I tell her.
“Is that why you didn’t sleep last night? I could feel you kicking and carrying on. How could anyone sleep when the bed is moving all the time” she huffs at me. “I thought I was starting to make an impact; getting away from being the same sort of Alpha as Dad. Now they want to take Alpha away from me and hand it to Danny” I tell her, a tear trickling down my face.
I have always been taught to take what I want; never backing down. Alpha Henry taught me to be who I am and don’t force my way onto people. If their choices are taken from them, they will end up hating me. I am learning a lot from him; but I get the sense they don’t want or trust me as Alpha.
**“Is that what you think?”** Vince says to me. **“Isn’t it what they want? Why else will they tell us to join our packs together?”** I snarl at him.
“Todd, they don’t want to take Alpha away from you. I’m glad you convinced me to not be a part of the pack just yet; so, I can still mind link Claudia; her and Danny will be here shortly. From what she said, it was a suggestion for both of us to run our own packs, still combining the packs together. We will be two separate entities under one big entity” Joanna says to me. “You and your business degree; you are speaking gibberish to me” I whisper to her.
“Look at it this way, Todd. You have a Starbucks at the mall here. They offer you, your favourite low fat, caramel latte with and extra shot. Someone owns Starbucks here, but they don’t own Starbucks that gives you, your low fat, caramel latte with an extra shot at the mall near the River Pack. Two people running the same business; giving the same coffee in different locations” she tells me.
“What does that have to do with me being Alpha?” I ask her. “You and Danny own the same two businesses in two different locations. Under the same name. You know when you go into a Starbucks, you will get the coffee you want; no matter where it is. It will be the same with you and Danny; go to either territory, you will get the same thing; only different owner” she explains and I smile at her.
“It can work then?” I ask her. “For the most part; yes. It will come down to you and Danny agreeing on things. That’s not as easy as it seems” Joanna smirks at me as a knock come on the door.
“Come in” Joanna calls out as Danny and Claudia come into the room.
“Todd, we don’t want you to stop being Alpha. Hell; I couldn’t put up with having Anastasia and Josie as part of my pack” Danny says to me, as they take a seat across from Joanna and I. “I can barely put up with them” I chuckle back at him.
“When we were told, the Silver Pride and Sapphire Pack were joining together, what were you thinking?” Claudia asks me. “They will be a force to be reckoned with” I answer her. “What makes you think, us joining; we are not going to have the same impact?” she questions further. “I could always see the strategic point of it. It was never an issue with that” I tell her as Vince comes forward.
“Vincent?” Danny says, gasping. “Todd won’t tell you because he was always taught, he is weak if he showed fear. James would punish him if he didn’t go for what he wanted; Danny you weren’t the only one on the tail end of James’ fists. Todd is finally starting to feel like a decent human being and a good Alpha and feels he won’t have the opportunity to show it” Vince tells them and slinks back into my mind.
I look at Joanna and sigh. Vince explained how I am really feeling to a tee. “I don’t want your pack with mine, if that is how you are going to feel. You have become a strong Alpha and I had no idea James would hit you too. I thought he took his anger out on me. I was not only your punching bag but the whole packs” Danny says to me.
“It started when I was younger and you were with Grandma. If I went against what Dad was teaching me; I would get hit. I think that is why I always thought you actually killed mum. He stopped when Grandma died and you were chained to the wall. I thought if I showed aggression; Dad would never hit me again. I didn’t like it at first; but I got used to it after a while and really believed you needed punishing. He started again; the day after my ceremony, after I told Ana to piss off. I didn’t want a Luna and you were taken to the Cedar Pack. Dad started laying into me for letting you to go. I was stunned; it became a regular occurrence again from there on in, every couple of days he would find something to hit me about. You locking me up, was no exception” I explain to him, giving Claudia a smile with the last sentence.
Both Danny and Claudia look stunned; nope, this is an understatement. Danny looks like he wants to kill Dad over again. “I don’t need you to feel sorry for me; I deserved it after what I put you through. I understand your hatred toward him; he is still my dad and raised me. I don’t want to be like him and I am fighting this, every day. Dad would always say I was too weak minded to be Alpha and the suggestion made me think you all thought the same” I inform them.
“Todd; we don’t think this way” Claudia answers me and I let out a breath. “You do stun me sometimes. I think it’s because you do, do things differently to James and it shocks me” Danny includes, looking at me.
“We will never see eye to eye. You don’t trust me” I tell them. “No, I don’t. I’m not going to sugar coat it for you. You are trying and that’s enough for me” Danny tells me as his eyes glaze over.
“We have already spoken with Simon and Dad this morning. They gave us the pros and cons of joining our packs and unfortunately the pros outweighed the cons. Danny is getting them to come here to talk to you as well” Claudia informs Joanna and I.
“You want to do this?” Joanna asks us. “It’s for the greater good” Danny answers her as Simon comes into our room. “How are you feeling this morning?” he asks me. “Eh; ok, I suppose” I answer him as Alpha Henry comes into the room.
“Todd; you are learning and I think this could work” Alpha Henry informs me, sitting down next to Danny and Claudia. “I don’t want to run your pack; but I do have a few questions about James’ business deals I would like to discuss” “The strip club is going, Danny. I told Todd to change it into a steak house. I don’t want a strip club as income” Joanna pipes in.
“I might even purchase a Starbucks; free low fat, caramel lattes with an extra shot” I tell everyone as Joanna giggles next to me and looks of shock cross the room.
“How do you want to combine the two packs? It will take more than waving a magic wand and poof two become one” I ask, looking around the room. “We will need to come up with a name for our pack and we can have an east and west pack” Joanna inputs, looking at me for confirmation.
“It’s your pack too and you studied business economics. You will know more than I, when it comes to this sort of thing” I tell her. “Did you really? I didn’t know that” Danny says, surprised. “Yes, I will be able to go over James’ books to see where we can improve. And given it was James, there will be a lot of improvements” she smiles at him.
“How about… Nah, it’s sounds stupid” I begin to say. “Throw it in there; what was your thought?” Danny encourages me. “I was thinking the Chosen Moon Pack. We have chosen wolves in our packs… See; I told you it was stupid” I tell them, shaking my head. “I like it; but I don’t want to bring attention to us. I don’t want to delete Dad’s legacy either. How about we combine the two pack names. Cedar River Moon Pack” Danny voices, smiling at Alpha Henry.
“I love that; it was Grandpa Leo’s legacy as well; we should combine the two names” I smile at Danny.
“We have a name; now let’s see if we can work together without killing one another” Danny says sarcastically.
“I suggest; you get everyone up here, Todd. We can look at telling everyone when they get here. Give those an option to leave if they chose, before you combine the packs. Explain to everyone what is happening and why it is happening. Show them we are willing to put our differences aside to become one pack” Simon tells us and Alpha Henry nods his head in agreeance.
“We will all go and help you pack and put the safeguards around your territory. We all need to stay together; remember” Claudia announces and Joanna nods her head in agreeance. “I’m already packed and ready to go” Simon adds, giving a small chuckle.
“You’re not coming” Danny tells Claudia. “I most certainly am” she growls back, staring him down as Danny looks to Alpha Henry for help. “I’m not getting involved. You are on your own, son” Alpha Henry says, through snickers and Danny backs down, conceding defeat.
“Looks like I am packing for a trip south” Joanna smiles. “You’re not coming” I tell her, realising I sounded just like Danny. “Oh, yes I am” she snaps back at me. “You’re pregnant; I don’t want you moving the packhouse” I snarl at her. “I’m pregnant; not fucking useless. I am going and that is final. Besides; I want to be the one to tell Anastasia where she will be sleeping” she huffs back at me as I too admit defeat and Alpha Henry and Simon both hide their laughter.
“Welcome to having a mate; gentlemen. You think you own the pants in your relationship when you suddenly find out; you don’t. I will be the first to tell you; Lorry has my balls and if I want them back; I need to ask her first” Simon chuckles.