LEXI. “Now, stop being bossy and be a good girl. Let me boss you around tonight.” His breath fanned against my skin, making me swallow hard. I discreetly clamped my legs together. His words sent shivers down my spine and my core, and I was sure something leaked in between my thighs. Austin needed to stop doing this. I just found myself shutting my mouth and nodding my head. “Good girl.” He kissed my cheek before brushing the spot with his thumb. “I will just check on them. You can come with me.” I shook my head. “I’m fine here.” He nodded, and I watched as he walked toward where the Alpha and the Beta were standing with Marshall. I sank myself into the shadowed area of the clearing as I watched young male pups begin screeching in pain. There were seven pups shifting — two females and five males. It was a rare occurrence to have this many, as shifting happens on the last full moon before a shifter turns eighteen. Not many pups were born in the same month, so Austin was excited
LEXI. Watching them shift made me long for my own wolf, something I had not felt in a long time. Meeting Austin again and having a baby with him changed my perspective on life. I thought I was already okay without a wolf, probably because in human territory, no one needed one. But then I wanted to be here, and I didn’t want people to think that I was a liability to Austin. I knew our relationship was not the typical one, and I knew one day, when his mate arrived, I would have to go. I would be preparing myself for that, but until then, I wanted to be deemed worthy to stand beside him. I may not be the official Gamma Female of this pack, but Austin was someone handling the security of this territory, so I had to at least be someone of that caliber, even if just by association and not because we were mated. But without a wolf, I was just as clumsy and unreliable as any human in the middle of a raging storm. “That was a deep sigh you let out.” Austin chuckled. His arms were sti
AUSTIN. We rounded the perimeters we usually run to for newly shifted pups before making our way back to the clearing where we started. We typically have longer routes, but if we were with she-wolves, we had to use the shorter ones as they tend to get tired easily and would shift back involuntarily into their human forms unless they’d been training themselves for stronger stamina. Although we had female warriors in our pack, we never made it compulsory for females to attend warrior training as we would for males when they turned fifteen. As old-school as it may seem, although we knew females were capable of being as strong warriors as males, we still wanted to be the ones to protect them. But of course, we present them with the opportunity to be trained if they want to, once they turn seventeen. But so far, the two pups with us tonight haven’t trained at all, except for the last few weeks when they had to attend training to prepare for their shift tonight. ‘Where are we headin
LEXI.“I can’t promise you a perfect life, but whatever life brings, I will be here. We can grow stronger and learn together. We can be lazy and stupid together.”Austin’s words were drowning me. I couldn’t even categorize if I was dreaming or if this was reality. But either way, I didn’t want this moment to end.“Is this a prank?” I chuckled softly, but I was still crying. He shook his head, and his eyes softened as his thumbs wiped my tears. “I’m done playing games, Lexi. I want to take care of you and David. So please let me…”“I don’t know what to say.”“Say yes that you will take me as your chosen. Say yes, that you will officially be my female, the Gamma Female of this pack. My partner in the family that we will build together. Say yes to you and me.”“You are promising a big thing…”“I know, but this is what I want. Having you here with me, in my arms, in my life is just perfect, Lexi. I’m not sure anymore if I can go a day without you.”My lips quivered, but I bit them to sto
AUSTIN. Two days went by swiftly, and everything between Lexi and me was geared in the right direction. We first confided to my parents that we were officially a couple, and my mother burst out crying. She told us that Aunt Lea and she had always thought it would be wonderful if they became in-laws. She admitted they always wanted to pair Lexi and me together until they gave up because we never got along. So our announcement made her happy and sad at the same time. It was a bittersweet moment. But nonetheless, it was a special one. I was already sure I wanted Lexi even before I asked permission to claim her, but seeing the love we were getting, I knew I made the right decision. Being a couple should just be between us, but the support we were getting was overwhelming. She was not my fated mate, yet my whole family and the friends I grew up with were genuinely happy. Although I knew I wouldn’t change my mind, I was still hoping her wolf would surface, and she was my fated mat
LEXI. Luna Amara, Beta Catherine, and I were sitting on the patio just beside the packhouse. I just came back from training. David was taking a nap, as was Colton, the Alpha and Luna’s son, and they were both being watched by their omegas, so we were just relaxing outside. “Lexi!” A voice rang in the air, and my body shot up from sitting. My head snapped in the direction of Austin’s voice as my heart thundered. So many bad thoughts ran through my head, worrying for Austin, but the moment I saw his smiling face as he ran toward us, my shoulders relaxed. I rushed out of where I was and walked to meet him halfway with a smile curling on my lips. “Slow down, or you might…” I was not even finished with my words when he reached me and scooped me off the ground. My arms flew around him as I hugged him tightly while bursts of giggles erupted from my throat. After the full moon, Austin was not even an inch shy of showing his affection anywhere and at any time of the day. Of course, we
LEXI. Weeks went by swiftly, and before I knew it, I was getting married. Or, in the shifters’ world, I would be officially mated and claimed. Austin and I scheduled our union a month away from the Gamma Camp that would be held in the territory. With him busy gearing the pack for the said training, he left the union preparation to me, with the help of Luna Amara, Beta Catherine, and, of course, Mom. Mama Janna asked me to drop their names and just call her Mom and Dad Aaron, Dad. And I was more than happy to do that. Despite letting me have all the reins for our union, Austin was very supportive of everything I needed from him. He was just perfect, and on days I was overwhelmed and frustrated, he never forgot to remind me that the union was just a symbol, but whether it turned perfect or not, the important thing was that I would never forget or disregard the person I was going through with it. How could I not love him more for that? I still hadn’t heard the L word from him, b
LEXI. This was it. It was happening. Austin would officially claim me as his mate. Grandpa David and Jason would walk me down the aisle until we reached the stage where I needed to walk up alone and meet Austin. In the beginning, Mom told me that if I was okay with it, she and Dad would walk with me toward Austin, and Austin would stand with his grandparents, but I declined. Not that I didn’t want to, but as much as I loved her and Dad, I didn’t want to take that moment from Davina and for them to miss out on standing beside their only son before he took his mate. In the end, I chose David and Jason, as they’d been there for me when my own grandparents couldn’t. I was happy that they didn’t even hesitate. I knew I was missing Grandma Louise tonight, but we didn’t have time to tell her about shifters. We visited her, but we were not able to make our move. But Austin promised me that we would do something about it to make it up to her. “You look so beautiful, Lexi.” Mom hugged me
*This is a free chapter and should not cost you any coins.* PACK HIERARCHIES AND FAMILIES As of LET THE GAMMA FALL FOR ME (Lexi and Austin’s Union)(FUTURE PUPS WILL BE LISTED UNDER THEIR NAMES IF THEY HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN THE FIRST 3 BOOKS OF THE ALPHA BLOOD CIRCLE)This world is definitely big so drop questions or comments if you think I missed something/wrote something wrong. 💖 ¤¤¤BLACK SHADOW PACK ALPHA and LUNA: Jackson “Jace” Galhart and Amara Grace Mikaelson Galhart (SHE'S THE LUNA I WANT) PARENTS: Jace - Alpha Jacob and Luna Clair (HE’S MY ALPHA) Amara - Alpha Aeon and Alexa of the Blood Moon Pack SIBLINGS: Jace - Catherine Amara - Alonso “Uno” or “Scooby” PUPS: Colton, Amelie Jasmine “AJ”, and Jackie -- BETAs: Tyler Bryce Salvatore and Catherine Gertrude Galhart Salvatore (THE BETA AND I) PARENTS: Tyler - Beta Gavin and Alia Salvatore (THE BETA IS MINE) Catherine - Alpha Jacob and Luna Clair of the Black Shadow Pack SIBLINGS: Tyler - N/A Catherine -
ALPHA JACE.We let our wolves run around the territory, rounding the whole area, border to border. Zero should have been tired, but for some reason, he was not. Black and Atlas also did not show any signs.Maybe it was the adrenaline or the fact that our wolves knew that this would be the last moment we would rule this place, as tomorrow, we would pass on to our sons the responsibility of taking care of this territory.We had a good run. Most of the shifters out tonight who saw us asked permission to join us, and I couldn’t be more proud to share this run with them. The longer we ran, the more wolves ran with us. We all shared stories along the way. Our people recounted tales of our assistance and how we touched their lives.It was a bittersweet moment, but nevertheless, it made me proud. What more could an Alpha ask for before he retired? Having his people personally thank him for his service was an honor I didn’t know I needed. But I basked in it and let it warm my whole soul. After
GAMMA AUSTIN.I sat at the boulder on the highest point of the forest on this side of the territory, letting my eyes look at the beauty of the land that thrived under our reign.Tomorrow night, my son David will finally claim the fate that was rightfully his. He would step up as the new Gamma of the Black Shadow Pack, alongside Colton as the Alpha and Enzo as his Beta.This was a bittersweet moment. I was proud of my son, but I couldn’t help the sadness that I would be letting go of the rank I’d spent my whole life perfecting. No, I had no regrets. And no, I had no plans of prolonging my service. I was just being me — being emotional. I almost lost this rank because of one mistake. I almost lost it for David and for the generations after him, but I was glad that I was given a chance to do better. A chance I surely didn’t take for granted. I spent my whole service proving that Alpha Jace didn’t make a mistake in still putting his full trust in me even after that grave mistake. I s
LEXI.I held on to the kitchen counter as I listened to the family mindlink. I wanted to say many things, but my words failed me. Instead, I cried, letting out all the emotions that had shattered my heart for many months, ever since David didn’t shift on time. I felt the burden lift off my chest.All these years, I thought Austin and I did well raising our pups. Each of them had a different personality that they inherited from me and him. But all of them were disciplined, and they grew up with so much love that they knew how to give it out as well. I had everything I ever wanted. I shouldn’t be complaining.But then David didn’t shift. And I wanted to question why. I wanted to be upset because he didn’t deserve it, but I couldn’t. Because I was given a good life. I was given a good family and given a good pack. I felt questioning the Goddess about his wolf might be too much. So when he told everyone he had shifted, I didn’t know where to channel my gratitude. I kept crying on my ow
DAVID.I had been hit with a headache in the last hour, so I told Dad I was bailing out earlier than I should. After I took a shower, I said goodbye to the people in the locker room and headed out of the building. The sun was already setting, but there were still many people in the quadrangle. Dad was also there as he debriefed the warriors that would be sent off to the next Gamma Camp two days from now. Alexis was supposed to join them, but since he declined the post, only the warriors would be sent off this time. I walked away from the area without making any noise. For some reason, I didn’t feel good today. I barely get sick. Well, shifters barely get sick, so it was strange that I was having a headache. I doubted if it had something to do with the many sleepless nights recently, but then these were not the first nights I didn’t sleep at all.I was probably hungry as I missed lunch. I also exerted too much effort in training and sparring today, so it could be the reason my calv
LEXI.It was only six in the morning, but I had been awake for the last hour. Luna Amara, Catherine, and I went out early and threaded the forest to go to the spot where the Luna would always leave mangoes to the god of the wolves, Eros. After our pups decided that they would not break the bond between them and would still want David to become the next Gamma, I had been crying nonstop, but I tried to do it in the privacy of our room. I felt responsible. My actions almost twenty years ago resulted in my son’s pain. If I hadn’t been compulsive and too trusting, maybe I would not have let Randall get too close to me then. I know there should be no reason for regret because Randall turned out to be a wonderful person, but a part of me was dying every time I looked at my son.David, despite everything that had been going on lately, still exhibited the values Austin and I had taught him and his siblings over the years. And it made me so proud of him. He didn’t deserve this fate, but I neve
JACE&AMARA: Colton - 19 years old AJ - 14 years old Jackie - 6 years old --- TYLER&CATHERINE Enzo - 17 years old (turning 18 in a few days) Summer - 17 years old (turning 18 in a few days) Autumn - 14 years old --- AUSTIN&LEXI David - 19 years old Alexis - 17 years old (turning 18 in 3 months) Dermont - 14 years old Ashlynn - 11 years old YOUNG ALPHA COLTON (ALPHA JACE & LUNA AMARA'S SON) If there was anyone devastated that David had not shifted, it was me. I tried not to show that I was affected, but it was getting harder, especially when Enzo got his wolf already. He was supposed to be the last one to shift among the three of us. According to the plan, after Enzo shifted, we should be preparing to take over the pack.But without a wolf, David would not be deemed capable as my Gamma. Our parents thought this was something beyond our control already and that we should still push for my Alpha ceremony together with my rank wolves. This time, without David.But I refused
18 YEARS AFTERDavid - 19 years old Colton - 19 years old Enzo - 17 years old (turning 18 in a few days)-----------------DAVID's POV (AUSTIN AND LEXI’S PUP)I sat on top of the boulder, overlooking the meadows in this territory, trying to find peace in my heart. But no matter where I looked or what I thought of, nothing could change reality. I was still wolf-less. I was already nineteen. For a year, I had been waiting for my wolf.Enzo shifted last night. He was the youngest, and the plan was that as soon as he shifted, Colton, he, and I would begin to prepare for our ranked ceremonies. Colton was ready to be the next Alpha, and so was Enzo as his Beta. I was ready, too. I was ready to take over the Gamma position from my father, but without a wolf, it was impossible to take over. I closed my eyes as I recalled the conversation we had with Dad, Alpha Jace, and Beta Tyler. They would stay in position a bit longer, waiting for my wolf to come out. But they had already decided tha
LEXI.I was standing in the middle of the quadrangle, watching as Austin went around the area to check on his men and let them know he was about to leave for the day. I was craving grilled food, so we would drive to a grill place near the academy, and I was just waiting for him to finish what he needed to do first. “Lexi…” A sweet voice rang in my ears, and a smile immediately tugged at my mouth. I was sure she and Randall had received the mail that Marshall personally dropped at their home, as they lived near the training building. I turned around, holding my big stomach, and came face-to-face with the very pregnant Marcia. Ours was our honeymoon baby made in Orleans, while theirs was weeks older than ours, conceived on the night of their marking. “Hey there, beautiful,” I greeted her, and my eyes shifted to Randall, who bowed his head toward me in respect before he moved along and went to the group of warriors that were resting in the corner. “Back at you, sexy mama!” She giggle