I stood by my Grandpa and Grandma, next to the casket of our former pack Beta, and the loss hit me hard. I had already said my goodbye when I had visited him in the hospital, but this made it all seem more real. The pack was hectic, filled with our own pack members and visiting members from other packs here to celebrate the life of Trent Patterson. A truly wonderful man. And, the thing that struck me the most was this man was of the same age as my grandfather. Time was promised to no one.It hurts to think that their lives could so easily end. Nobody had expected the loss of Uncle Trent, despite him being ill, we had assumed he would heal... I guess I was naive to think of them all as being indestructible, even at my age. But this had made me realize that they weren't. That we had to let them go at some point, which terrified me. Of course, I had lost my parents, but I did not know either of them, so had never truly felt their loss. But this, this man, was like family to me, and it w
Hearing the pained sobs of both my Mum and my Grandma was too much. My body was shivering, not from the cold, more from upset I think, but despite my brother and my Dad being sat to the side of me, it was Landon who reached for my hand. His hand enveloped mine in a warm embrace, sending my heart into meltdown. The most unexpected of gestures…Terra made a noise somewhere between a purr and a whimper at the touch of our fated mate. Instantly I felt my wolf pick up. I feared her hopes were instantly boosted by the fact he had reached out and held our hand when he had seen us struggling. I, too, was leaning toward my hopes rocketing through the roof but was trying valiantly to fight allowing that to happen. Trying to tell myself that he was battling with the matebond. Instinct would make him want to support us. Protect us. All things the matebond enforced. This was not the natural actions of Landon, I reminded myself.But as I met his gaze, his eyes looked back at me with a warmth that m
I sat through the many people speaking. Listening was not one of my stronger skills, I have to admit, and my eyes were beginning to wander. I could see Grandma was struggling, but I had expected nothing more. Aunt Talia was by her side, where she had been so frequently since we had arrived.Mum was snuggled into the side of my Dad having done her speech, and from where I sat it was hard to say if she had now succumbed to her tears. I have to say, I was proud of her, she had kept her composure while standing in front of her former pack and said everything she had wanted to in memory of her Dad. I think Grandpa would have been proud too, and I hope Mum knew that.Well, in truth, I think Grandpa would think this was all far too much fuss, and he would hate seeing his mate and his family crying because of him. But, that aside, he would be dissing the over-the-top decorations, not to mention the amount of people that were attending. He had always hated a f
The service had ended and people were now mingling. Grandpa’s casket was laid where we had placed it within the gazebo, so he was able to join in with one last party with his pack, though not in the sense we would have liked, of course. But, this was a party in his memory, and remembering him was exactly what everyone was doing. Hearing so many stories of him only left me smiling as I stood with my family.Cleo was acting all coy, and avoiding any conversation with me, especially now Landon seemed to have vanished into thin air. I would get to the bottom of their weirdness. I swear if I found that he had hit on my sister, upcoming Alpha or not, I would kick his sorry ass… I may have to get my brother to help, but I would make sure he regretted going near Cleo. I had Alpha blood, but I was still likely no match for Landon. That guy was a beast. I had trained with him enough to know that.Daxton had strolled over from his family to join me, and I was glad of someone to talk to, as conv
This was one weird but wonderful conversation. I mean, we have had many of them over the years, the three of us, but this one, I think, may take the biscuit. One minute, we had been ready to kick Landon's ass in order to defend Cleo, and the next minute Landon was asking us if we wanted to be his Beta and Gamma. And, I don't even mean he built up to that question either, he was so casual he may as well have been asking us if we wanted another damn beer! My head turned so bloody fast to look at him, it hurt, and Kaleb did the same, the pair of us now both looking at Landon in shock. He had to be joking, right? That was not something I had expected him to say.We have been friends since we were kids. All of us. Both Kaleb and my mum were from River Ash, and, therefore, we spent a lot of time here growing up, and because of the closeness between Uncle Trent and Uncle Grayson, and Aunt Lilah’s determination for Landon to be included with our families, we spent many hours with him too. Bu
So, Landon was asking Daxton and I to take two of the most important roles in his pack. Be the two men alongside him to help run his pack. I mean, in recent years we were a close-knit friendship group. Landon had struggled a lot. And Daxton and I had helped as best we could, to get him through those battles. But, never had I imagined this.And, going off the expression upon Daxton’s face, I don’t think he did either. But, right now, we were at my Grandpa’s funeral. I don’t think talking to my parents about this was the right thing to do, and making this decision without their input didn’t seem like the right thing to do either, despite the buzz of excitement rushing through my body. I could inherit my grandfather's title…“Look, Lan, as amazing as it is that you want us to take these titles… “ I began.“Don’t worry about it, I understand, moving packs is a big ask.” He interrupted, with a heavy sigh. I could only guess he was assuming I was about to decline his offer, going from the d
Having to go to another pack Beta’s funeral had not been the way I had expected to spend my returning day home, but my Dad had insisted. He too a Beta, but of Silver Creek Pack, a few counties south of here, had trained alongside Beta Trent over the years and they had remained lifelong friends, so there was no way he was going to miss this, regardless of me returning home today, nor would I have expected him to. I just didn't expect to have to attend alongside him and my Mum.But, spending time with the guys I was now sitting with, all making me laugh, despite not having any real clue who they were, had brightened my day. My parents had wandered off to socialize as they so often did at any inter-pack event, leaving me to my own devices, but the thing was I generally avoided these events, so did not really know anyone, especially when I had left the pack a couple of years ago to study.My studies were now complete, and the time had come to return to pack. Being the loyal and devoted Be
After everything, the memorial ceremony had given me a welcome moment of peace. An escape, I suppose you could say, which is a terrible disrespect to the man we were here to say goodbye to. My grandfather’s response to seeing me with Aria had crushed my spirit, and my heart. I had wanted to be anywhere but surrounded by the people closest to me right now. But, there was no real escape. Any which way I looked, there were people I knew, and I did not know the pack well enough to disappear for any time.While sitting listening to the many memories people shared of Beta Trent, I tried my hardest to stay focused upon their words. Listening to the wonderful man that he was. A man of my grandfather’s age, and a man I had spent time with many times in my frequent visits to the River Ash Pack along with my friends and family. Guilt unexpectedly twisted at my heart that he had gone, and if he could so easily have left this earth, then so too could my own grandfather. The ve
Today had been wonderful. Everything you want from an Alpha ceremony. And, as a mother. I have never felt more emotional as I have sitting and watching as my eldest son was formally made Alpha of the pack we called home. A pack I had become a part of all those years ago. A pack that had welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like one of their own. Meeting Knox was a turning point in my life that I had never expected considering the events that had led up to it. But, looking back those events were things that needed to happen to bring me to him. Bring me to appreciate all that he is and all that we share.In the home that we built we created three truly amazing children and they all now have fulfilled lives in wonderful roles within their packs. But, more importantly, within my mind, I am happt to be able to say that they found happiness. They found their fated mate, and fate was kind. The mates by their sides treat them wonderfully and appreciate them for the truly wonderful, cr
Sitting down as the event drew to a close, I was able to look across to where the kids all sat. Not that they were kids anymore. No. They were all full grown adults, all with mates of their own now, and hell, the scarier thought was, soon enough they could have kids of their own. The pack was also now fully in their hands. As of today, I was a former Alpha. And dang, did that feel strange to think. A little emotional, I have to say.As a young upcoming Alpha, I had been filled with anticipation for the day I took over from my own Dad. Never thinking of the day I would hand over the reins to my own son. It had been hard. But it had filled me with pride too. Emotion hit me in a whole different way.Maybe I was getting soft in my old age. Gabe passed me a beer. “Looking a little misty eyed there old guy.” He winked playfully, making the others laugh.“I swear fuckface, I am never too old to put you on your ass.” I tell him with a smile. "And, if I am not mistaken you are the same age."
Thankfully the celebrations were quietening a little, and the amount of people coming to greet us was lessening. As I looked across to Bella walking by my side, my poor mate looked shattered. “I think I am calling it, beautiful, we are going to go over there.” I motioned to the large group of chairs that were pulled together where all my closest friends were now gathered. “And chill out with the people we should be enjoying the day with.”Bella smiled back at me. “That sounds good to me, babe.” She winked. “Though, if I fall asleep on your shoulder, do not blame me.”I found myself chuckling. “I think after the amount of polite conversation you have had to endure today I could forgive you that.” I offered her a playful nudge with my elbow. We had barely stopped, other than for food and drink. We most certainly deserved a break.“Even if I drool on your shirt?” She teased, m
Rocky and who I could only assume was his new mate had rushed off to leave me standing with this beautiful blond haired goddess my by side, and suddenly every ounce of confidence had seemingly slipped from me. My wolf was spinning around within my mind like some hyperactive puppy, and my mind seemed unable to function like a normal person… heaven help me, my fated mate was likely to think I was broken.Lyra looked over at me with those almost hypnotizing eyes, and offered me a warm smile. “Are you okay?”I nodded, apparently unable right now to do much else other than to admire the she-wolf I had been blessed with for a mate. Her honey toned hair was in a sleek bob, cut off at her shoulders. She was dressed in the cutest little combination of a simple black, fitted pencil skirt and a pale pink tank top. And those damn perfect silvery gray eyes were almost magnetic, because they sure kept attracting my gaze…“Luca
That smell was divine, and I knew in that instant what it meant. All thought of my drink being spiked were gone. The weirdness of my wolf made sense. My mate was here and I had to find her, but then an unease settled over me as I recalled my brother saying he had felt the exact same way and panic settled too, as my eyes slowly moved back to meet his. His dark eyes mirroring my own.“What the fuck?” He questioned.“I swear to the high heavens Luca, we best not share the same mate.” I snapped. “Sharing toys and having your hand me downs was bad enough, I am damn near certain not sharing a mate!”“Erm, excuse me, do you not think I feel the exact same way?” My brother’s face screwed up in a disgust. “I shared a bed with you once on holiday because there was nowhere else to sleep, I never intend to do that again. Waking up in a pool of your pee was far from a pleasant experience.”
There were people everywhere now. Many of whom we did not even recognize. Not that it mattered, it was not down to us today to be meeting and greeting. We had done our expected bit. We had been there as family and proudly supported Kai as he was made Alpha, and now was our turn to enjoy ourselves. And enjoy ourselves we were doing. Drinks had been flowing. More than a little freely...I had lost count the number of drinks we had drunk, but that was why there was so many drinks laid out. They were there for people to help themselves to. Each time we finished a drink my brother and I replaced it swiftly with another. Rocky and I were walking over toward the table where the drinks were to grab yet another. We had spent a little time with family, a little time with friends, some time with the warriors that were currrently off duty, and now we were wandering looking for any available she-wolves to work our charms upon. There were still many hours of the celebration to enjoy, so we
It was hard to know where to look, there was so much going on. The party was in full swing now, and I think it was safe to say everyone was enjoying themselves. Aunt Lilah had outdone herself in organizing the event, as she always did. And, I knew that it was something people would be talking about for some time to come.These were the sort of events I loved to come to. Where the entire pack came together to celebrate. Although, I was doing very little celebrating... well, in the physical sense at least. Under strict instructions from the pack doctor to rest, I was sitting down with my feet up, enjoying watching people drifting by, drinks in hand. That was about as exciting as my evening was going to get. The joys of pregnancy.But, I had Dario by my side. My handsome, and ever attentive mate. Though right now his eyes were anxiously darting my way every few minutes. Ever since I had suffered unexplained pains and some light bleeding and had to be rus
I had to admit, I was more than a little surprised at the invite to attend the Alpha ceremony with Kent today, but he told me he was bored of playing third wheel to Joey and his new mate, so I guess I kind of understood that. Most of my friends had been settling down with fated mates in the last few years so I did sort of understand how he felt.Joey and Kent were some of my oldest childhood friends, and I love them dearly. Seeing Joey all loved up, was taking some getting used to, I have to admit. Both guys had always been so dedicated to their warrior training, and had never really mentioned mates. But, Angel was a sweetheart, and seeing her with Joey and you just knew they were meant for one another. They were the sweetest couple.Visiting them in River Ash for a few days had been fun, their pack is so nice, and hearing the excitement in both Joey and Kent’s voices as they talk about their new roles in pack tells me that their moves there wer
The formal part of the ceremony was over, and it had been great. I was now officially the Beta of my pack. Beta of Midnight Forest Pack. Damn, that sounded good... but, ceremony complete or not, my duties were evidently far from finished for the day. Uncle Knox had told Kai, Finn and I that it would be best for us to circulate as many of the attending guests would be wanting to meet the new leadership team, and that meant us all taking the time to chat and get to know the leaders of the other packs across the country. It was going to be a long, long day...I had already began over recent years, to begin to learn names of packs and their Alphas, Betas etc, but I did not realize just how draining having to make irrelevant conversation with somebody you don’t even know could be. Thankfully, my Dad was by my side, clearly a seasoned expert in this role, and I was taking his lead. But other than a short break to grab a beer earlier, I think I was beginning to falter. It was