Lola’s pov,
Lola had followed Noah to his meeting and listened to the conversation from the open window. Her hands got sweaty when the conversation quickly turned to shit. She realized quickly that the Alphas were never going to support their new plans. Her mind was racing and then it hit her that the Alphas would be nothing without their full pack supporting them. Even if they didn’t like the new plans maybe everyone else would.
Full of adrenaline she raced to the stage where the speech would be given. She walked to the big horn on the side of the stage and blew into it with all the air she had left. A loud sound blasted over the fields, and everyone immediately started to assemble in front of the stage. Lola breathed in and out until she calmed her nerves before she walked on the stage. She made sure she stood tall and confident like she knew exactly what she was doing. Most people seemed surprised to see her on the stage and when the Alphas arrived, she saw the confusion in their eyes.
She heard someone whisper, “What is she doing?”
Lola closed her eyes for a second and when she opened them again, they were full of determination. She picked up the microphone and let her voice blast over the audience,
“I AM SURE YOU ARE ALL WONDERING WHY IT IS ME STANDING HERE. A WOMAN SPEAKING TO YOU ON THIS SACRED DAY. YOU SEE THE FACT THAT IT IS STRANGE THAT A WOMAN CAN HAVE A VOICE IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG IN YOUR PACKS. THE CORE VALUES YOU ALL LIVE BY ARE TRADITIONS, RULES, AND RESPECT. BUT IT MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE YOU ONLY RESPECT THINGS LIKE PHYSICAL STRENGTH. LET ME TELL YOU THERE ARE SO MUCH MORE THINGS THAT DESERVE RESPECT LIKE INTELLIGENCE, RESILIENCE, KINDNESS AND SO MUCH MORE. YOU VALUE ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE PACK WHILE YOU COULD BE VALUING EVERYONE. THIS PACK WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT THE STRONG MOTHERS, SMART WOLVES, AND EVEN THE KIDS. WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS OKAY FOR A SMALL FEW TO ABUSE AND RAPE OTHERS WHILE YOU ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER IF YOU ONLY GOT THE CHANCE. I THINK IT IS TIME WE EVOLVE INTO A NEW WAY OF LIVING WHERE EVERYONE HAS A PLACE AND A VALUE. WHETHER THAT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE STRATEGICALLY SMART OR JUST PHYSICALLY STRONG IT DOESN’T MATTER. THE FACT IS THAT WE ARE FACING NEW THREATS OUTSIDE OUR PACK BORDERS. WE NEED TO UNITE AND BE READY FOR WHATEVER WILL COME FOR US. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS STRONGER A DIVIDED PACK WITH A FEW STRONG INDIVIDUALS OR A UNITED PACK WHERE EVERYONE CAN FIGHT AND CONTRIBUTE?”
She stopped for a moment and one of the Alphas interrupted her by asking mockingly, “I heard you want to cancel the mate hunt. How would wolves still find their mates in your new world?”
Lola just smiled politely and answered, “Just because I think a tradition that enables rape and violence should be canceled doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be opportunities to find your mate. I would say we have a festival for it with different activities so all the young wolves can get to know each other. Of course, there should still be ways to find your mate. All I am saying is that the process should be equal instead of females being hunted.”
She raised her voice, “BUT THOSE ARE ALL DETAILS THAT WE CAN WORK OUT TOGETHER AS A PACK. WE ARE WEREWOLVES FOR FUCKS SAKE. WE CAN HAVE THE WORLD AT OUR FEET IF WE ARE UNITED AND STRONG. SO, WHAT DO YOU ALL SAY, DO WE WANT TO HIDE IN THE SHADOWS OR DO WE WANT TO RISE STRONGER THAN EVER?”
The crowd looked at her in utter silence until Tristan started pumping his fist in the air and shouted, “LOLA, LOLA, LOLA!”
Quickly others followed and before she knew it the whole crowd was chanting her name. Then they all started to transform and wolf howls filled the air. Lola’s heart was beating rapidly, and it almost felt like she was high. She stared at the other Alphas who were looking at their packs uncertain and confused. It was clear they had no idea what to do against their whole pack agreeing with Lola.
Lola looked to the side and saw Noah standing at the side of the stage. He looked at her with total adoration and pride. She grinned, ran to him, and jumped into his arms.
He buried his face in her hair and whispered, “You did it.”