“She is not of age yet and so the mating signs have not appeared,” Serghei dodged.

“Does she love you?” Vasile did not know what prompted him to ask that question, but he felt sick at even the remote possibility of his Mina loving that mongrel.

Sergehi stood straighter, raising his head but not looking Vasile in the eyes. “She will.”

“What difference does that make?” Emilian snarled. Vasile’s attention was drawn away from the young male back to the larger threat. “Are you claiming someone, Vasile, just as your father did, that does not belong to you?” There was a rumble of agreement across the crowd and nods to go with it, but still no one met his gaze.

“My father is dead and his deeds died with him!” Vasile suddenly yelled out. He stepped back so that he could see his pack, could look at each of them and gauge their reactions. “I am not my father. I will make mistakes but they will not be the same ones he made. I am telling you that this female is free and clear of me. I am not taking any female as my own that does not bear my marks. I would never disrespect a woman in such a way, or her future true mate.”

“Can you prove she is your mate?” Louis, one of the males he had stayed with when visiting the villages, asked ignoring all that Vasile had just said.

“Why should I have to prove it if I am not claiming her?” he countered.

“Would you be willing to let a select group of pack members chosen by the pack see your mate’s markings once you find her?” Anton, another male asked.

“You would really ask such a thing of your Alpha?” Ion growled at the man.

Vasile held a hand up to stop his third from saying more. “I would never allow another to see my mate’s markings, just as no male here would allow such a thing.”

Louise stepped forward. He held no threat in his countenance, but neither did he bare his throat in submission. “We trusted your father and mother. We loved them as our Alpha pair, and for a very long time they performed their role as required. But this is too much Vasile. Even you must see how hard this is for our pack to accept. To lie about something so very vital to our species, how do we get past that? How do we trust you?”

Vasile shook his head. “I do not know.” His answer was as honest as he knew how to be. He truly did not know how to move forward. For most of his life he had felt sure of things, and now everything including himself seemed broken beyond repair.

“Then maybe it is time to let someone else lead.” Louis’s words were not said out of anger or hate. Vasile could tell the man truly wanted what was best for the pack. Vasile could respect that but he did not agree with it.

“All in favor of me stepping aside?” He waited to see how many hands would raise. Slowly one by one the air was filled not everyone but as good as.

“And who will lead you?” Alin asked the pack not wanting to let them assume Emilian should take over but wanting to see if the Beta would actually claim it as his own place.

Emilian stepped forward, his shoulders pulled back, and his head held high, though he still would not look Vasile in the eyes. “I believe this would be considered the same as a challenge. I brought to light the treachery. You are stepping down because of it, therefore, I will take your place as Alpha.”

“This is what you want?” Vasile asked looking to Louis who seemed to have taken the place as spokesperson for the pack.

Louise motioned for Vasile to step aside and then leaned his head in close for him to hear.  “Most of the pack does not even know yet, Vasile. They are going to need reassurance that things are going to change. Maybe the best way to accomplish this is have you step aside for a time. Not for good,” he quickly followed. “I do not think Emilian is the answer, but I think the pack needs time to heal, and you are simply a reminder of what caused the wound.”

Vasile motioned for Ion, Alin, and Nicu to back down and they did so reluctantly.

“I will give you an hour to get what you need out and leave.” He stepped close to Vasile, leaning in and speaking very low. “Then I will give you a day’s head start before I start pursuing you.” Emilian’s eyes narrowed. “I might have said I would let the females live, but I never said I would spare your life. I cannot let you live, Vasile.”

Vasile actually chuckled. “You treachery knows no bounds, Emilian. Of course you cannot let me live. You will never be able to hold onto this pack while I still draw breath, and until I am dead you will constantly be looking over your shoulder wondering when I will be coming for you. You will be sleeping with one eye open, and peace will forever allude you because you know deep in your soul that your life is already forfeited. It was lost the minute you threatened the lives of the precious females.”

Vasile looked one more time at his pack―the pack his father had loved despite his failings and the pack that Vasile still loved despite their decision now. “Things will get worse before they get better. I am stepping back now to protect you, but I will not stay gone. I am still and will always be your Alpha until the breath is ripped from my body one final time.”

He motioned for his top three to follow him and headed back into the castle for the last time in how long he did not know. He had always believed that there was a time for everything. A time for war, a time for peace, a time to stand up and speak out, and a time to step back and wait. He would step back but he would not wait idly by. There was still work to do and still things he could take care of until the time was right for him to strike and take back what was his.