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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
LEXI. “Lady Lexi, let me take David. He’s already sleeping…” “No!” I snapped at the Omega and turned my body sideways so she couldn’t touch David, who was drinking milk from me, but he had fallen asleep already. I was in a private room in the ballroom where the union was supposed to take place. It had been over an hour, and Austin was still nowhere. My anxiety was already over the roof, and the only reason I was not snapping yet was that I was holding David in my arms. “It’s okay, you can go. I will call on you if we need anything. Just wait in the other room.” Mom told the Omega before she approached and sat beside me. “Lexi, sweetheart…” She spoke warmly as her hand smoothed over my back. “You can give me David. He’s asleep already.” “I need to hold him, Mom, or I would freak out.” “I understand, but he can feel your emotions. He keeps waking up.” I let out a sigh and handed him to her. I wanted to hate on Austin already, but I couldn’t because everyone around here was still
ALPHA JACE. ‘This is Tony. Bartender at the Sports Pub near the academy. Gamma Austin just walked in here.’ ‘Are you sure it’s him?’ I asked as I connected both our heads to Tyler. ‘Yes. He’s wearing a black coat ensemble.’ ‘Is he with someone?’ ‘Alone, and he just ordered a beer.’ ‘Keep him there and let me know if he moves or speaks with someone.’ ‘Yes, Alpha.’ “They found him,” I told Aunt Janna before I tapped Tyler’s back. “Let’s go…” I connected my head with Amara and told her what I knew and where we were headed before requesting that she drive Lexi back home if she wanted to. I left the car with her, and we used Tyler’s car to go to Austin. We were already in the car when another mindlink reached my head. ‘Alpha?’ ‘Yes, Mike.’ He was one of our newest warriors. He just turned eighteen six months ago. “I’m sorry, Alpha. I didn’t know you were looking for Gamma Austin. I was at the southeast border when Gamma Austin was requested there. He met someone, and they lef
AUSTIN. “What are you doing here? You have a union to attend!” Mike asked when I jumped out of the vehicle that took me to this border. One of my men would be leaving the territory using this route, so I asked him to drop me off here on his way out. “I’m just here to pick up my gift for the lady!” I chuckled as I pointed at the car parked beside the small cabin that was my office on this border. It was a family SUV that I bought and put under Lexi’s name. She gave up her car when she moved to Orleans and didn’t buy a new one, even with the money I was giving her. She was saving most of the excess for an emergency. But I knew she was keeping it in case I ever messed up again. But that would never happen. I was all in now, and I was more motivated to be a good provider for our family. I was about to go inside the office to grab the key that I left inside my locked drawer when I heard an approaching car. This was the southeast border, and it was rarely the entrance for guests or
AUSTIN. “Tell Alpha Jacob to withdraw his candidacy for Council Head!” Alpha Gray spoke confidently as our gazes met. “No!” I scoffed, but my heart was thundering. “No one has to know. It’s just between us. If you can convince him, we will simply leave this secret to the grave. No one will know she’s an Alpha Female, and you can be together and have more pups.” “No!” “An Alpha’s oath, Austin! If he withdraws, Alexandria is all yours!” “What’s the point of letting him back down? Your father is still not coming back as the Council Head!” “Yes, but someone else from our side will.” “Are you scared and peeing on your pants now because you know Alpha Jacob will win this? And you will all fucking rot in hell!” I couldn’t stop my mouth this time. I never hated anyone in my whole life except for Scott, but this man in front of me would soon share ranks with him. “But you can save us. It’s a win-win, Austin. Or we will take Lexi away from you.” “You can’t do that!” “I’m starting a
ALPHA JACE. “You need to fucking explain, Gamma! Or I will make sure you will never see Lexi and your kid again!” I was so close to rolling off my Alpha command, but I was glad I didn’t have to because Austin began talking and crying at the same time. Tyler asked him to stop the car so he could drive, but he didn’t want to. He said he couldn’t just sit and wait until we reached Lexi. I didn’t even know what to think or where to begin at all. I just listened as, one by one, Austin told us what happened to him since he got to the southeast border. ‘We know where Austin is.’ Dad’s voice rang in my head while Austin was still trying to explain. ‘I got him, Dad. We’re driving home.’ ‘What do you mean? Aaron and I are picking him up at the bar outside the academy.’ ‘I got him from there. Just drive home.’ I told him. ‘Is he talking?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Okay, just calm him down. I’ll see you at the packhouse. Aaron and Aeon are with me. Gavin and our mates are all there to help out with the
AUSTIN. “You will never regret giving me a chance to explain,” I mumbled under my breath. I was holding her face so close, our foreheads resting against each other. I could feel her breath fanning on my skin, and it was taking a lot of control for me not to kiss her. I wanted to do just that. After the agony of knowing I could never claim her and the thought of her leaving me, there was nothing in this world I wanted right now but an assurance that she still wanted me. But I had no right to ask her that. Not yet. Not until I tell her everything. “Tell me, Austin…” She took a deep breath before continuing without withdrawing from my hold. “What was more important than this union that you think it was okay to let me wait for you?” “You, Lexi. You…” I said without thinking. “You’re more important than this union.” I didn’t know how to break the news to her. I was so used to dropping bad news to Jace and to my warriors as a Gamma, but I was cowering at the moment. But it was now o
LEXI. “I’m not an Alpha or a Beta, Lexi. I’m just a Gamma.” Austin’s voice broke, and the memory of my conversation with Grandma Jessica flooded my head. I remembered her telling me that she was glad Austin would never have to go through the Claiming for me. And before I knew it, my heart was already breaking, and soft sobs escaped my throat. I could not fully understand how the Claiming worked because it was never explained to me in detail, but I understood what he said: he was not allowed to be my chosen mate. “Lexi… baby…” Austin’s voice was still broken, so it made me cry harder. “Look at me.” He cupped my cheeks as a forced smile crossed his face. “I’m not going to let you go. Just tell me you want me to claim you, and I will do everything to have you.” “It’s impossible. Isn’t it?” “Nothing is impossible with the Black Shadow Pack, Lexi. Even if it means reaching for the stars, I will do it. For you… Just say the words that you want me, and I won’t stop until you’re mine