“Do you mind if I sit?” I asked.
“Sure,” he pulled out his desk chair and sat down on his bed, which I noticed was made even though the packhouse housekeepers had Sundays and Mondays off. I looked around, and noticed that his room was really tidy, which was the complete opposite of mine. While the housekeepers helped, I had clutter everywhere normally.
“Look, I’m really sorry about my father. What he said was really disrespectful.”
“Hey, it’s ok. I know your father. I think you forget I grew up in the same packhouse as you. While you’ve been away for four years, I’ve been putting up with his running commentary.” He smiled.
“Right, but it still doesn’t make it right.”
“You don’t have to apologize for your dad.”
“Maybe I don’t, but I was also really disrespectful earlier. And I don’t want to be like my father.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve been through a lot, and sometimes we all say things without thinking. But I’m going to call you out when you do.” He lightly punched my arm.
“So, what’s the deal with your girlfriend. She’s not your mate, right?” I asked, changing the subject.
“No,” he replied, looking uncomfortable. “Can you keep it on the DL? I kind of made my parents believe we broke up after we found out we weren’t mates.” He rubbed his neck. “I didn’t think your mom noticed us.”
“How long have you been together now?”
“Four years. We met a couple months after you left for Siberia.”
“That’s a long time. You must have it really bad for her.”
He sighed. “I love her.” His whole body glowed as he smiled. “I don’t know what I’ll do once I meet my mate. How do you end a long-term relationship with someone you love for a stranger? Maybe you can tell me. What was it like when you met Ria?” He paused. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
Did I want to talk about it? No, every part of me rejected the idea, knowing it would be practically impossible. But I seemed to be healing lately, didn’t I? Maybe I could. I wanted to rekindle the close relationship Luke and I used to have, so I decided to attempt the conversation.
“The moment I saw her after I turned eighteen, I just knew. Even though she was practically a stranger to me at that point, I had a feeling come over me like she was made just for me—like the Moon Goddess had put her on this earth just for me—as if I’d been walking around my whole life just half a person and I’d discovered my missing puzzle piece. After we realized we were mates, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. She used to sneak out of her parents’ house and climb into my window at night.”
I paused, feeling tears threatening to spill over. “Sorry, man, I have to go,” I said, and walked out of Luke’s room not waiting for him to say anything, out of the packhouse, and into the forest. I tore the clothes off my body, not even caring to remember where I threw them, and shifted into my wolf form. I’d find some animals to hunt. Hunting always helped.
Chapter 23
Blake
Itwasfinallytheday of the ceremony. My father was clearly anxious because he was ready to bite the head off anyone in his vicinity. He was barking orders at all of the event staff. My mom tried, unsuccessfully, to calm him. My poor mom, always putting herself in his way to spare others. She looked beautiful in a long navy gown. My mom had always been very pretty, with long brown hair and a tall, slim frame. She was now allowing her hair to gray naturally. It was about half gray now and done up in an elegant chignon for today’s event.
I went over to kiss her cheek. She pulled me into a hug and said, “Good luck today, honey. I’m really proud of you, and I know you will do great as alpha of our pack.”
Luke and his parents arrived shortly before we were to go on stage for the ceremony. It wouldn’t take long, but the whole pack was here, and the event would be projected on big screens so everyone could witness it. The priest of the temple would be leading the ceremony. He was already up on the stage, leading everyone in chants. It was dusk and the changeover would be performed once the full moon was visible.
“Good luck, man,” Luke patted me on the back.
“You too, man,” I replied.
After we heard the end of the temple choir performance, the pack event planner signaled for us to follow her up to the stage. Luke, his parents, my parents, and I all followed her. I looked up and saw that the moon had come out, a perfect night without a cloud in the sky. Once queued, the six of us walked out onto the stage. We all had meditation pillows set out for us. The priest led us all in meditation. After the meditation, he waved my father over. My father took the microphone.
“Midnight Maple Pack, the night has finally come. After years of watching my son train and grow into the man he is today, it is my pleasure to pass the title of alpha to him. I know he will proudly and magnificently lead this pack like my father before me, my grandfather before him, and my great-grandfather before him. My luna, Sienna, and I have a tremendous amount of pride today. The Moon Goddess has blessed us with a healthy and strong heir who has worked hard his entire life for this moment.”
The crowd erupted in a round of applause and cheers. The priest handed my father a knife. He cut down the center of his palm and handed the knife to me. I did the same. My father spoke to the crowd. “I, James Wulfric, pass the title of alpha to my son, Blake Wulfric.”
Following my father, I spoke into the microphone. “I, Blake Wulfric, accept the title of alpha from my father James Wulfric.” We placed our palms together and a warm sensation spread from my father’s palm to mine. We stood that way for about a minute until the sensation passed. I could feel myself becoming tethered to the pack, with a bit of everyone’s energy settling inside me.
After we moved our palms from each other, the crowd erupted into cheers again. My father and I moved back to be by my mom as Luke and his father came forward. The same knife we had just used was then handed to them, and Beta Alfred sliced his hand, then handed the knife to his son. He did the same. Beta Alfred moved to the microphone and stated, “I, Alfred Hemming, pass the title of beta to my son, Lucas Hemming.”
Luke moved forward toward the mic. “I, Lucas Hemming, accept the title of beta from my father, Alfred Hemming.” They pressed their palms together in the same way that my father and I had. Once they separated, the crowd, once again, cheered. Luke’s father went back to stand by Luke’s mom while Luke stayed forward, and I went to join him.