A little while later, Wade came to collect them and brought them back to the room they had previously been in, six of the chairs full once Wade took his seat. Cain was already sat behind his table. The two guards now stood behind him. “Miss and Mr Howthorne, you made excellent cases, well done. Of course Alissa, I should really be calling you Alpha, but I shall wait until after the ceremony, which I'm excited to be attending. Alpha Luca, you're doing an excellent job and the siblings next to you are a testament to that. I'm happy the Wuffaman pack is in excellent hands and wish I would live to see the day you take your position as High Lykos.” Luca sat straighter and exuded pride at Rufus' kind words.
“Now, Cain, all I can say is you're a disgrace. Even if these allegations hadn't been made I'd be revoking your position with the council”
The darkness wrapped around the woodland when they finally drove up their road. Alissa was about ready to drop and Michael was snoring the back. Luca rubbed his eye as he reversed into the car shed, squeezing beside the other car. Turning off the engine, he just had to sit for a minute. He’d been ignoring what had just happened.Or maybe he was just not processing it properly.He wouldn’t talk about it though or let Alissa know. No way. He needed to be strong for her and she was already stressed with the ceremony preparations. He didn’t need to add to anything she was feeling.His issues were his own, they always had been. They always would be.“We home?” Alissa asked sleepily.
Alissa and Kristen had been getting ready for hours. Luca was close to banging down the door to get them to hurry up when Jack laid a hand on his shoulder “They're not late,” he reminded Luca. Luca had overestimated how long it would take him to get ready in his white three piece suit, he had liked it in the shop but liked it more now. The black lapels complimented the black shirt. Unbeknownst to Alissa he had added a red tie.“Got your rope?” Jack asked, Luca gave him a stiff nod, he was nervous but not wanting to show it. He checked the gold pocket watch he had attached to the black buttons of his waistcoat, he would give them five more minutes then they would be late. The door banged open behind them, Luca let out a little growl, he was on edge.
Ice shot down her back as more growls were added to the first. Grabbing Luca’s hand she looked around, as did everyone in the clearing. A rumble of disquiet filtered through the crowd, the unease as everyone craned to look where the growls had come from. Every Alpha in the clearing began growling and coming forward, their backs tense, a pose of protection mimicked by every Alpha. Despite their growls, it hadn't been them to growl initially.A flash of fur had Alissa turning to spot a dark wolf slipping from between the trees before others came into view, teeth flashing in the moonlight.Luca reacted instantly, pulling his arm from Alissa and pushing her behind him, away from the wolves who were surrounding the gathering. She instinctively grabbed onto his jacket, she was more shocked than scared, her mind not compre
Luca wrapped his arms protectively around her waist, “Isn't a great omen is it?” He looked down, concern filling his grey eyes.“Not really…” She sunk into him, nuzzling his chest, the silence ringing in her ears. Alissa blinked and realised that someone had to take some control, no-one was speaking. “Clear the bodies, burn them. If anyone has any information put it in writing. Everyone is welcome to stay tonight,” she said, addressing the crowd, but she continued to be lost in Luca's embrace. He slowly nodded, her words seemingly giving him strength to make a decision.“If it pleases the elders we will continue the ceremony tomorrow. Everyone is welcome to stay until then.”“That pleases the Elders, Alpha,” Elder Grif
Alissa barely contained her laughter at the mess she’d made of Luca with the coal, his t shirt covered, his face with black smudges. It was quite frankly hilarious.But she couldn’t let on. Luca grabbed her hand and led her to a small group he obviously knew. “Please, everyone meet my Alpha Female, Alissa,” he announced proudly.“Alpha's” a spattering of voices came from the small group while they bowed heads in greeting and respect.One of the younger girls of about sixteen giggled. Alissa couldn't refrain her smirk, catching the girls eye she introduced herself, “Alissa.” She held her hand out in front of the girl trying to compose herself.Luca was looking at her with narrowed eyes, &ldquo
They were all stood in much the same fashion they had been a few hours before, but this time, within their clearing. Elder Griffin spoke first, “We are here today to join our two Alphas in eternal matehood. We hope the Goddess smiles on their partnership and grants them a long and bountiful life together.”“Has Alpha Luca brought his braid?”“I have” Luca produced a braid of red, pink and purple from his pocket. And handed it to Dotty.“And has Alpha Alissa brought her braid” Alissa nodded to Dotty and pulled her braid of brown blue and yellow from a pocket hidden within her velvet cloak. Dotty took the other braid and placed the ends of the braids in one of her hands.“Please Alpha Luc
Alissa awoke to the sound of howling, howls of impending attack. Her blood ran so cold it turned to ice. She just knew they were attacking. She didn’t know how. Or why. But immediately she just knew. Panic flooded her, coating her skin in a chill she hadn’t felt for a long time. She heaved herself from bed, her swollen belly slowing her movements. Luca came to her side, his deep caramel hair messy from bed, eyes stern yet wild, a clear plan swirling in his mind. He gently helped her to her feet, her extra weight bearing no difficulty for him. “You need to get the boy, and go.” His hand fisted her t-shirt at her hip, his eyes running over her as if it were for the last time. There was something inside her knowing this was the last time. This was it. This was an end yet she had no idea of the beginning.She shook her head instinctively, “No! I'm not leav
Michael shouldered his bag, moving silently through the pack house. “Leaving already?” Jack’s voice came from behind him.Michael froze for a second. “Yeah. Need to get back,” he mumbled, somewhat embarrassed but also… he didn’t need to be here.“We miss you.”“Luca not let you out the pack land or something?” Michael accused bitterly.“No. What the hell? You know he doesn’t do that. Jeez, Michael, you could live here and travel to her every day. Luca would never stop you.”“He tried.”“No he didn’t. He just stopped you going vagrant.”