I stood in the front of the ballroom as Connor grinned at me. Soft music was playing and the ballroom was packed to capacity. The doors opened and everyone turned simultaneously to catch a glimpse of her.Finley walked towards me as Archer held her hand and Griffin held her other hand. He had just started walking and his happiness was bubbling over. I couldn’t breathe properly as I looked at them, the two people that I loved the most in this world.“Members of the Woods Clowder, friends and guests, welcome to this auspicious occasion as our Alpha takes and acknowledges his true fated half for all to see. We gather here tonight to join these two in our sacred union by accepting each other as bonded halves for the rest of their lives,” Elder Matthews said as he welcome our guests and started the ceremony.Elder Matthews had been appointed as one of our Elders just a month ago and I was surprised that I really liked him as he proved his loyalty and his worth to all of us.“By joining you
There are things in life that can’t be explained. Why me? Why do we live and go through all these horrific moments just to die at the end of it? My life seemed right on track. My father was the Alpha of our clowder, the lead Enforcer, a loving husband, a good Alpha and a great father.On my tenth birthday Oracle Bloom appeared at the gifting ceremony, I would finally find out where my place in this world would be. I had prayed and prayed to be an Enforcer like my father, to successfully lead my people when my turn came. Only an Enforcer blessed by an Oracle could be the next Alpha and I wanted this more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.“Damon Woods, step forth child,” she said as her eyes glowed.I took a step forward, my soul brimming with confidence. Tonight I would also be able to talk to my beast for the first time. My father looked at me proudly, he always looked at me proudly and I wanted to be him when I grew up.Oracle Bloom touched my forehead and I felt something po
Four years later… “You can’t cancel your own birthday celebration,” Jared said to me.“Why not?” I asked him. I wasn’t looking forward to it. I would be twenty-one soon and be able to meet my bonded half, or my mate, the one meant for me, the one that would calm my anger and soothe my troubles, the one made for me for eternity.“Firstly, you’ll give Elder Isaac just more ammunition against you and secondly, think of all the girls from sixteen to twenty who would be heartbroken if you did,” he said to me and I laughed at him.“I hate this,” I said to him.“I know but unfortunately this is how it works, you’re an Alpha so everything you do is public knowledge and cause for a celebration, especially if you find your mate on your birthday,” he said to me.“I don’t know if I’m ready for that, a lifetime commitment, settling down,” I said to him.“You don’t have a choice, that bond does the magic for you, once you meet her, you’ll want all those things,” he said.“Please don’t let her be s
“How long will you be gone?” Iris asked me as we stood in my bedroom.“A few days,” I said to her.“Will you miss me?” she asked with a sly smile.“Of course, will you miss me?” I asked her as I placed my arms around her waist.“Not even a little bit,” she said and chuckled as I pushed her backwards until her back met the wall.“Are you sure?” I asked her as I started kissing her.She pressed herself against me and I almost groaned at her teasing. We had another month to go before she turned eighteen and the past eleven months had been pure torture for me since she lived in the packhouse and I saw her all the time.Her scent was intoxicating and the need to spend time with her was just ridiculous. I took more and more assignments just to try and clear my head because I wasn’t sure how long I could keep my hands to myself.“Now I’m sure you’ll miss me,” she said as her hand strayed down my side and she lingered at the top of my jeans fiddling with the button.“You’re a bitch,” I whispe
I showered and dressed in jeans and another t-shirt for lunch and the inspection meeting afterwards. Jared was waiting for me in the hall and we entered the dining hall together as many heads turned towards us.“Good afternoon Alpha Damon, I’m Winston,” the young man said as he stood up and shook our hands.“You can call me Damon, how was your training?” I asked him as he led us back to the Alpha table.“Is that a trick question?” he asked me and laughed.“Who is in charge of training?” I asked him.“I am together with the Gamma, Bruce,” he said and nodded his head to a man sitting at the end of the Alpha table.“Your border guards are lax and unprepared for an attack,” I said to him as his eyes darkened.“They’ve reported the matter to me,” he said.“A suggestion if I may,” I said and looked at him.“Of course, that’s why you’re here right,” he said and I knew he didn’t like this. Alphas liked to think that they were mighty rulers and nobody could teach or tell them anything.“Border
I sent the Omega, whose name was Catherine, with Max who would take her to the Council for relocation and also inform them about our recommendations with regard to the pregnancy and the penalty I had already imposed.“You were very lenient today,” Jared remarked as I drove towards the next location on our list.“Not in the long run,” I said to him with a smile.“What do you mean? You gave him a pass,” Jared said.“Did I? He’s going to pay for the next eighteen years and if that baby’s a boy he can challenge Winston for the Alpha seat one day,” I said as Jared looked at me.“Do you think he realizes that?” he asked me.“Not yet,” I said“Are you going to tell the Omega that?” he asked me.“She has a name Jared. I will most definitely be seeing Catherine again and I might even extend her the courtesy of visiting our pack to train that baby if he’s a boy and reaches the age of ten,” I said to him.“You really don’t like this guy, do you?” he asked me.“Not in the slightest,” I said.“Nei
Two weeks later…We had visited almost all the assignments on our list and we had one last pack left to visit. We were tired and irritated and by now both Jared and I just wanted to go home. I had left Max and Justin with Catherine to help her get settled with the Council and help her choose a new pack.We were driving down a wooded lane but Axel suddenly flicked his tail and sat upright in my head. I caught their scent a moment later and I turned to Jared who had fallen asleep with his head against the window.“Jared,” I said loudly.“What?” he asked me with his eyes still closed.“I’m going to pull off in a clearing up ahead, get ready to shift, we’re being tailed by rogues on both sides of the forest,” I said to him.“Shit,” he said wide awake.It was seven pm at night and we were about five miles from the packhouse of the Goodwin pack. I had no idea why rogues were following us and if Goodwin’s pack had already been attacked. I took my shoes off as I kept driving and threw them on
Iris and Charlotte stood on the steps in front of the packhouse as Jared parked the car. Charlotte ran down the steps and into Jared’s arms as she hugged him tightly and he’d barely had a chance to get out of the car.I walked up the steps as I looked at Iris. Today was her eighteenth birthday and acceptance ceremony. She didn’t look like someone who hadn’t seen their bonded half in three weeks and I wondered if something had happened.“Happy Birthday Iris,” I whispered as I reached her and she finally smiled at me.“Welcome home Alpha,” she said and then she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me hello.She followed me upstairs to my room where I unpacked my suitcase and then lay on my back on the bed next to where she was sitting. I was utterly exhausted and I knew Jared was too. We hadn’t slept much the last week as we rushed to finalize things to be back in time for tonight’s ceremony.“You should rest before tonight,” she said as she gave me a kiss on the cheek.“I’m plann