Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Morning Leadership
Victoria
The sharp rap on the door pulled me from sleep far too early. Dawn’s first light barely filtered through the curtains as I reluctantly opened my eyes, finding myself still wrapped in Leo’s protective embrace on the study sofa. My body ached from the awkward sleeping position, but I couldn’t deny the comfort his presence had provided through the night.
"Alpha Victoria?"Omega Dolly’s gentle voice came through the door. "The council members are beginning to arrive for the seven-thirty meeting you scheduled."
I bolted upright, momentarily disoriented. "What time is it?"
"Just after six-thirty, Alpha," she replied, the title still strange to my ears.
Leo was already awake, his eyes alert despite our uncomfortable night’s rest. "You need to shower and change," he said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You’ll want to look the part today."
I nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of what lay ahead. "Tell them I’ll be down at seven-fifteen," I called to Dolly. "Have coffee and breakfast ready in the conference room."
"Already arranged, Alpha," came the reply, and I could hear the smile in her voice. Dolly, at least, seemed to have no doubts about my capacity to lead.
Leo’s hands framed my face, his thumbs gently brushing my cheekbones. "Remember what I told you last night," he said, his voice low and intense. "They’ll respond to strength and certainty. Even if you have to fake it."
"Fake it till I make it?" I asked with a weak smile.
His lips quirked upward. "Something like that." He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I need to check in with Tiny about the border search. I’ll join you at the meeting."
Thirty minutes later, I stood before the mirror in my father’s—now my—suite, hardly recognizing the woman who stared back at me. I’d chosen a tailored charcoal pantsuit that conveyed authority without trying too hard, paired with the Howlthorne pendant that marked me as my father’s heir. My hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and I’d applied just enough makeup to hide the shadows under my eyes from the sleepless night.
Leo had changed as well, into a crisp black suit that somehow made him appear even more dangerous than usual.He crossed to me, adjusting the pendant so it sat perfectly centered. "Your father would be proud," he said quietly. "I know I am."
The simple statement fortified me more than any lengthy pep talk could have. I squared my shoulders and nodded. "Let’s go show them who’s in charge of Howlthorne now."
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The conference room fell silent as Leo and I entered. Around the large oak table sat the core management team of Howlthorne Pack—department heads, senior advisors, and two representatives from Leo’s Shadow Pack who were helping with security. Jackson, our injured Beta, was there too, his arm in a sling and dark circles under his eyes speaking to his own sleepless night.
"Good morning," I said, keeping my voice steady as I took my place at the head of the table. Leo sat to my right, his presence both supportive and intimidating. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice."
I surveyed the faces around the table—some curious, some skeptical, some openly hostile. Garrett sat near the far end, his expression carefully neutral after last night’s rabble-rousing. Our eyes met briefly, and I saw something shift in his gaze—perhaps surprise at seeing me so composed.
"As you all know, Alpha Enzo is currently away on diplomatic business," I began, sticking to the cover story we’d crafted. "During his absence, I will be serving as acting Alpha, with full authority to make decisions regarding pack matters. This arrangement has Alpha Moretti’s full support."
Leo gave a slight nod, his expression formidable as he scanned the room, silently daring anyone to challenge this statement.
"I understand there may be concerns about this transition," I continued, "but I want to assure you that Howlthorne’s interests remain my top priority. My father raised me to understand this pack’s needs and values, even if tradition kept me from a more visible role until now."
I opened the leather portfolio in front of me, revealing the agenda I’d prepared in the early hours before dawn. "We have a significant backlog of issues requiring immediate attention. I’ve prioritized them based on urgency and impact."
For the next two hours, we methodically worked through the most pressing matters—territory security reports, financial statements, personnel issues, and community concerns. With each item, I demonstrated the thorough understanding of pack affairs that my father had instilled in me, despite my previous exclusion from formal leadership.
When our financial officer, Mr. Wilkins, presented the quarterly report, the room temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
"As you can see," he said nervously, sliding documents across the table, "our reserves have been significantly depleted over the past eighteen months. Several major withdrawals were made to offshore accounts with Alpha Enzo’s authorization, but the purposes weren’t clearly documented."
"How much are we talking about?" I asked, though I already knew the answer from my late-night research.
"Just over twelve million," Wilkins replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Several gasps and muttered curses filled the room. Jackson’s face darkened with anger.
"That’s nearly forty percent of our emergency fund," he growled. "What the hell was he thinking?"
I held up a hand to quiet the growing murmurs. "Mr. Wilkins, I’d like a complete audit of all pack accounts and investments by the end of the week. We need to know exactly where we stand."
"That’s... that’s a massive undertaking, Alpha Victoria," he stammered.
"Then bring in additional staff," I replied firmly. "This takes priority. And I want all financial transactions over fifty thousand dollars to require dual authorization moving forward—mine and yours."
Leo watched me with approval in his eyes as I continued addressing the fiscal disaster Enzo had left behind. I outlined immediate steps to shore up our finances—freezing non-essential spending, reviewing all contracts for potential savings, and leveraging some of my personal trust funds to restore critical reserves.
"The eastern border reinforcement project cannot be delayed further," I said, moving to the territory map displayed on the wall screen. "It’s both a security vulnerability and an opportunity to provide employment to pack members who might otherwise be tempted to relocate during this... transitional period."
"With what money?" asked Garrett suddenly, his voice challenging. "You just said we’re in a financial crisis."
All eyes turned to him, then back to me, waiting to see how I’d handle the confrontation.
I met his gaze steadily. "Alpha Moretti and I have arranged private funding for this project. It will not impact pack reserves."
"So we’re indebted to Shadow Pack now?" Garrett pushed, leaning forward. "Letting another Alpha fund our basic security?"
The room tensed, everyone sensing the real question beneath his words: Was I selling out Howlthorne to my mate’s pack?