Chapter 58: The Supreme Alpha Vote

Adrian Vale announced his retirement six months earlier than expected.

The entire Council panicked.

I found out while eating breakfast.

Rowan nearly inhaled his coffee.

"What?"

His father appeared on the PackFeed broadcast.

"After twenty-seven years of service, I will step down at the next full moon."

Rowan stared.

"He didn't tell me."

"Maybe he wanted to see your face."

"This is betrayal."

His phone rang.

Adrian.

Rowan answered.

"You couldn't warn me?"

"I just did."

"On public television!"

"Character building."

I liked Adrian.

The Moonwell Charter changed the succession process.

Previously, the recognized Nightvale heir would almost automatically become Supreme Alpha.

Now every sovereign Pack received a vote.

Rowan had to campaign.

He hated that word.

"I am not campaigning."

"You need votes."

"I'll explain my policies."

"That's campaigning."

"No banners."

"Fine."

"No slogans."

"Fine."

"No baby kissing."

"Do wolves kiss babies during elections?"

"I don't know. Rhea suggested it."

"Never listen to Rhea."

The major issue was whether Rowan supported permanently ratifying the Moonwell Charter.

He did.

That cost him support among powerful Packs.

Ironclaw surprised everyone by endorsing him anyway.

Alpha Brenner explained publicly:

I disagree with Rowan Vale on approximately half of governance. I trust him not to imprison me for the disagreement.

Not exactly romantic political language.

Effective.

Silvercrest endorsed him after internal reforms.

Stormridge followed.

Lunaris's vote was complicated.

I was Rowan's mate.

Voting personally would look like a conflict.

So I put it to the Pack.

Rhea was delighted.

"Democracy."

"Stop enjoying this."

Lunaris voted eighty-eight percent for Rowan.

He pretended not to be emotional.

Terrible liar.

Orion also entered the Supreme Alpha race.

That surprised us.

His platform was more aggressive.

He supported the charter but wanted faster decentralization.

Several smaller Packs liked him.

The debates were intense.

For the first time, Supreme Alpha succession wasn't ceremonial.

It was competitive.

I watched Rowan become better under pressure.

He stopped trying to answer every question perfectly.

When he didn't know something, he said so.

When Orion made a good point, Rowan admitted it.

Political commentators called that weakness.

Ordinary wolves seemed to like it.

Election night arrived.

No one slept.

Rhea created a giant results board in the Lunaris hall.

Cassian brought food.

Tessa came from campus.

Knox and Elodie joined through video from Stormridge.

Even Brenner sent messages complaining about slow reporting.

At midnight, the final Pack submitted its vote.

Rowan won.

Fifty-eight percent.

Orion received thirty-seven.

Five percent went to independent candidates.

For three seconds, Rowan didn't react.

Then everyone screamed.

I hugged him.

His arms locked around me.

"You did it."

"We did."

"No."

I pulled back.

"You did."

His eyes were wet.

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"Your face."

"Innocent."

He laughed.

Orion called.

"Congratulations, Supreme Alpha-elect."

"Thank you."

"You're going to hate the job."

"Probably."

"I expect my reform council seat."

"Unfortunately."

"Good."

Adrian arrived the next morning.

He handed Rowan the old Supreme Alpha signet.

Rowan didn't put it on.

"Not until the ceremony."

Adrian smiled.

"Good."

Then he turned to me.

"Luna Supreme tradition—"

"No."

He stopped.

I had prepared for this.

The old system automatically gave the Supreme Alpha's mate the title of Supreme Luna with vague ceremonial authority.

I didn't want it.

"I already have a job."

Adrian laughed.

"Yes, Alpha Lunaris."

Rowan looked relieved.

We had discussed it.

The charter allowed mate titles to remain separate.

At the inauguration, Rowan stood before representatives from every recognized Pack.

He swore to uphold Pack autonomy.

Protect mate consent.

Prohibit involuntary bloodline research.

Respect confidence votes.

And enforce the Moonwell Charter.

When he finished, the Council hall erupted in howls.

Then he looked directly at me.

Not his Luna.

Not his subordinate.

His mate.

An Alpha in my own right.

I smiled.

Later, when everyone expected us to attend a formal banquet, we escaped to the roof.

Rowan loosened his collar.

"I already hate ceremonial clothing."

"Supreme Alpha problem."

"Can I resign?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I voted for you."

"Your Pack voted."

"Exactly."

He leaned against me.

Below us, Packs celebrated a peaceful transfer of power.

"Scared?" I asked.

"Terrified."

"Good."

"Why good?"

"Means you understand the job."

He kissed my forehead.

"What if I become unbearable?"

"I'll vote against you."

He stared.

I smiled.

"Moonwell Charter."

"You're enjoying this too much."

Maybe I was.

The morning after the election, Rowan's schedule began before dawn. Mine did too. We ate breakfast together while two assistants stood at opposite ends of the room waiting to brief us on completely different governments. It was absurd. At one point Rowan reached for my toast while reading a security report, and I slapped his hand away without looking up from a Lunaris budget. Both assistants pretended not to notice. That tiny ordinary moment reassured me more than the ceremony had. Titles could become enormous if we let them. We needed places where Rowan was simply Rowan and I was simply Nessa, arguing over breakfast like everyone else.