The priest, once again, handed me the knife. I cut a slit down my other hand and handed the knife to Luke who did the same. I spoke into the microphone. “I, Blake Wulfric, elect Lucas Hemming as my beta, to be loyal to and lead the Midnight Maple Pack alongside me.”
Luke followed my lead. “I, Lucas Hemming, accept Blake Wulfric’s election to be loyal to and lead the Midnight Maple Pack alongside him as his beta.” We touched our newly sliced palms to each other, and I could feel a physical bond being formed between us. Once the feeling passed, we separated, and the crowd cheered even more loudly than previously. I looked down to see that my palms were already healing due to the enhanced werewolf healing abilities. We went to join hands with our families, with the priest in the middle who led everyone in a chant. I could hear the crowd below chanting along with us.
After the chant, we all moved off the stage, and they brought the temple choir back out to celebrate the occasion. As I was heading to exit the stage, I noticed Jasmine pass by, and she gave me a quick smile. After we were all back off the stage, I looked at my father, and the permanent scowl he had held my whole life seemed relaxed, as if he had been relieved of a huge burden that had been weighing heavily on his shoulders. He then did something I hadn’t seen him do in years—he smiled. He hugged my mom and tenderly kissed her cheek. I had to do a double take to make sure it was actually my father.
“Come, Sienna, let’s go celebrate our retirement,” he said, taking her arm. I stared after the two of them walking away, my mouth hanging open.
Alfred came over to pat both Luke’s and my shoulders, also looking as if he’d reversed ten years in age over a matter of minutes. “I’d say good luck, but neither of you need it. You guys will both do great, I know it!” He turned to his mate. “Come on, Robin, we should go celebrate too, baby. Although, the real celebration will happen after the pack run.” He winked at her.
“You guys aren’t even moved out yet! At least keep it quiet!” Luke shouted at them.
Luke’s sisters suddenly appeared with their mates and pups. Peyton wobbled over, her hands on her very swollen belly. “Congrats, guys!” they both said at the same time, coming over to give us each a hug. Their mates shook our hands, and all of the pups wrapped their arms around us in a group hug, bringing Luke and me closer together.
“How are you feeling, Peyton,” Luke asked his sister, looking concerned.
“The baby should be here any day now. This one’s definitely a lively one. I don’t think there’s an organ or bone within the vicinity of my stomach he hasn’t kicked yet. I’m ready to push him out and put him straight into warrior training. Also, Lauren has news to share.” She smiled at her younger sister.
We all looked over at her as she glowed. “I’m pregnant too! I’ve been dying to tell everyone, but I wanted to wait until we were sure everything was okay. But now that it’s been two months, we’re in the clear.” I looked down where I saw just the beginnings of a round belly beginning to show.
“Wow, congrats, Lauren,” Luke said, engulfing her in a big hug.
“Yeah, congrats,” I said hugging her as well, feeling a wound opening within me. I wanted to shift into my wolf and run but knew I couldn’t at that moment. I’d have to hold on until the pack run later that night.
We then all went out to join the crowd that was celebrating. As soon as we emerged, Luke and I found that everyone wanted to come over to congratulate us and shake our hands. We had become overnight celebrities. We must have spent an hour making small talk with just about every pack member. After a while, they all dispersed to go enjoy the fair that was set up for them. Lucy came over and ran into Luke’s arms, wrapping her legs around him, forcing him into a deep kiss. Luke took her hand and led her away. I noticed Jasmine looking over at them, an intense glare on her face, her eyebrows set in a deep frown and her jaw tense.
“You know, not everyone’s saving themselves for their mates,” I said to her, assuming she was irritated due to her prudishness.
“Oh, I’m not bothered by that,” she replied, the look instantly wiped from her face.
“You definitely looked bothered. You looked like you were about to kill someone.”
“Oh, that’s weird,” she said, blushing. “I didn’t realize I looked that way.”
“Hey, come on, let’s give them some privacy and check out the fair,” I said reaching for her hand.
She moved her hand away, “Not in public, my parents are here. And everyone’s looking at you right now!”
“Let’s go somewhere private then.” I smiled at the thought.
“No, I don’t think it’s a good idea. My parents will come looking for me. I should go back over to them,” she said, turning away from me. I instantly regretted having stayed away from her all these weeks. I desperately missed her and wanted to be close to her again.
At midnight, Luke and I shifted into our wolf forms and led the pack on a pack run through the forest. Most people just stripped in a large group, nudity not being a taboo in packs. Others were more modest and shifted deeper within the woods where they wouldn’t be seen. Luke and I stayed at the front of the group, in sync with each other. Everyone else followed as a large group of wolves all ran through the forest, as if on our way to battle. We led them in a loop and back to the packhouse where everyone howled, the sound echoing into the night, and shifted back into their human forms. After the group dispersed to head home, Luke and I shifted back as well.
“Well, let’s get to business,” Luke said to me, patting me on the back, and leading me into the packhouse.
Let’s get to business, I echoed his thought in my head.
Chapter 24
Jasmine
Mytwentiethbirthdaywasthree days after the alpha ceremony. It was the perfect fall day—the trees in northern Vermont had turned into a palette of red, orange, and yellow, and the weather had now cooled. I had the day off from work and spent it on schoolwork. It wasn’t a very exciting birthday, but I wanted to be sure I stayed ahead in school.
At four in the afternoon, while my parents were at work, I heard the doorbell chime. I descended the stairs to the first floor and looked out the window to see that Blake was waiting on the doorstep. I took a deep breath and opened the door, wondering why he was here.
“Happy birthday.” He smiled, engulfing me in a hug. I patted his back, unsure of his presence and confused by how he was acting as if he hadn’t ignored my existence for three weeks before he bumped into me at the gym. Four if we included the past week, especially after having been so intimate and confessing his secrets to me. I felt a pang in my heart, hurt by how he expected me to just drop everything and go along with him.
“How’d you know it was my birthday?” I asked, pulling away from him, crossing my arms, and putting distance between us.