Chapter 226- Chris’s Face

Chapter 226: 226- Chris’s Face

Arabella Westwood POV:

"You’re serious, Ara?"

"Of course I am!"

He glanced at Chloe, who nodded enthusiastically, confirming that I wasn’t making any of this up. "Ara, what do you mean you’re the Alpha?"

"Toby." I caught both his hands before he could fire another dozen questions at me. "I promise I’ll tell you everything. But can you please do me one favor first?" He fell quiet. "Can you just congratulate me?"

I tried to smile, but for some reason my voice had grown softer.

"This is something I’ve wanted for so long, Toby. I’ve worked so hard for it, and now that it’s finally happened, I just..." I paused, struggling to explain what I needed from him.

Goddess! I didn’t want to cry again.

"I just want someone close to me to be happy for me..." I never got to finish. Toby suddenly pulled me into his arms, making the certificate nearly slip from my fingers.

I tried to hold myself together, but the moment Toby tightened his arms around me, I couldn’t anymore. I buried my face against his chest and started crying, the tears I’d been holding back since leaving the council office finally spilled out.

Toby didn’t seem to mind. He simply held me, gently rubbing my back while I cried against his shirt.

***

A little while later, I asked Chloe to gather all the omegas working in the Alpha’s residence. Within minutes, they were standing in the living room, exchanging confused looks and whispering among themselves.

I couldn’t blame them. Most of them had known me as Arabella Toussaint, the girl who had once lived in this pack without any status. And now I was standing in front of them with a certificate declaring me their new Alpha.

"There’s something I need all of you to know," I began, holding up the certificate so they could see the council’s official seal. "As of today, the council has officially recognized me as the Alpha of Blackthorn Pack."

A few of them gasped, while others looked at one another in disbelief. I gave them a moment to take in the news, but before I could continue, Toby appeared beside me carrying a large picture frame.

"Alright, you’re going to wear it out before the day is over," he announced, gently taking the certificate from my hand.

I watched in amusement as he carefully fitted the certificate inside the glass frame and secured the back. Then he looked around the living room until his attention settled on the wall behind me, where Chris’s Alpha certificate had been displayed for years.

"Oh, there we go!" Toby marched over, took Chris’s certificate off the wall, and casually tossed it into the wastebasket beside the cabinet.

"Toby!" I exclaimed.

"What?" He turned toward me with an innocent expression. "We don’t need two Alpha certificates hanging in the same house, do we?"

He hung mine in its place and adjusted one corner before giving a satisfied nod. "There! Now that’s where it belongs."

I looked at the framed certificate hanging on the wall. For years, that wall had displayed the name of the man who had taken my mother’s position, and now it carried mine.

Toby, however, wasn’t finished.

He turned toward the omegas and cleared his throat. "Now, listen carefully, everyone. I used to be an omega myself, so I know exactly how things work. When your Alpha gives you an order, you follow it. No unnecessary arguments, no pretending you didn’t hear, and definitely no running off to gossip around."

He gestured proudly toward me.

"Arabella is your Alpha now, and you’d better treat her accordingly. Otherwise, you’ll have to answer to King Lucien, and trust me, you don’t want to end up on the receiving end of King Lucien’s spanking."

I rolled my eyes. "Toby!"

He glanced at me. "What? I’m only making sure everyone understands how important you are."

"Toby," I repeated, passing him a warning glare. He grinned, completely ignoring it.

"Can I please talk to them?" I asked before he could embarrass me any further.

"Of course, Alpha." He gave an exaggerated little bow and waved his hand toward the omegas. "They’re all yours."

I turned my attention back to the servants. "Alright, everyone. First of all, I don’t want any of you to feel uncomfortable around me. Most of you already know me, and I have no intention of making your lives difficult just because I’m the Alpha now."

When their expressions relaxed, I continued. "However, there are going to be a few changes in this house. From today onward, you’ll take your instructions directly from me. If you have any problems, whether they’re related to your duties or something else, I want you to come to me. You don’t have to be afraid of speaking up."

I glanced around to make sure everyone was paying attention.

"There’s also one rule I expect all of you to follow without exception. No one is allowed to enter this residence without my permission. It doesn’t matter who they are or what position they hold in the pack. If someone wants to come inside, you inform me first. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Alpha!" they answered together.

I still wasn’t used to being addressed that way, but I had to admit, I liked the sound of it.

"Good. Now, there’s one more thing I need you to do." I turned toward Chloe, who was standing near the staircase, and then addressed the others.

"I want all the personal belongings of Chris, Ava, Vanessa, and Dante collected and packed properly. Clothes, shoes, accessories, everything that belongs to them. Make sure nothing is damaged or left behind."

One of the older omegas looked surprised. "Alpha, where should we put their belongings?"

"Send everything to Quarter 307," I replied. "Make sure the rooms are cleared, and their belongings are delivered there."

The omega nodded, and I watched as Chloe began assigning the work to the others.

For the first time, I wasn’t standing in this house waiting for someone to tell me where I belonged.

I wondered what Chris would say when he returned and found another Alpha’s name hanging on his wall.

For years, my mother had been denied her rightful place in this house. Today, her daughter had finally claimed it.

I couldn’t wait to see Chris’s face when he found out who had taken his place.