Page 102 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha

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Iwoke the next day in the bed I thought I’d never sleep in again.

As my eyelids parted to the sunlight peering in through my window, I took in the familiar sights and smells of my childhood bedroom.

The worn quilt that Mom had sewed me for my fourteenth birthday, the dried wildflowers decorating the walls and surfaces, the overloaded bookshelves across from the bed.

Though I had spent the majority of my life in this room, it was just now hitting me how small my bedroom was. In the short time that I’d been away, I’d done so much growing up that this space—no matter how nostalgic I felt about it—could no longer contain the person, the wolf, I was becoming.

In just a few hours, I would be bound to my soulmate.

In a month, the Alpha hopefuls would get together to battle, and Night would come out on top.

After that, everything I and Night and the Wargs had worked for would come to pass.

Until then, I just had to survive the rest of this month as the temporary Alpha.

I would do my best at this, even if I had never intended to assume this position.

I rolled out of bed, showered, put my hair in a towel, and pulled on a terry cloth robe. Mom, Violet, and I enjoyed creamy chai lattes and tomato basil scones with onion jam as the sun rose higher in the sky. I watched the two women chat with each other about their gardens, comparing notes.

“I’ve always mixed a few coffee grounds in the fertilizer,” Mom was saying. “Ever since I started doing that, my plants have been even more flavorful.”

“Interesting.” Violet nodded. “I’ve done that for my mums a few times, but I’d never thought to do it with fruit. How often do you compost?”

I smiled over my cup, enjoying the chatter.

Just as I’d hoped, the two of them were fast friends.

After twenty years of raising me on her own, after spending those decades without real companionship, it was so nice to see Mom giggle and laugh with someone her own age.

It seemed that Violet’s passionate, blunt personality meshed well with Mom’s easygoing friendliness. It was like they’d always been friends.

Maybe, in some cosmic or magical way, they always had been.

After breakfast, Violet stretched her arms over her head and pushed away from the table. She was recovering nicely. She wasn’t able to stay on her feet very long, but that hadn’t stopped her from walking as often as she could.

“I should make sure that stubborn son of mine is getting himself ready,” she said. “I’ll see you soon, Bryn.” She walked around the table to kiss my cheek.

“See you, Violet.”

“By the way,” she said, “I left something for you on the couch.”

My eyebrows raised. “Oh, you didn’t have to get me anything, Violet. You’ve already done so much for me.”

“I know, girlie. But you know me.” She and Mom shared a brief, knowing look. “Don’t look at it until it’s time.”

“Sure, okay.”

As Violet headed out, Mom turned to me. “We should get you dressed,” she said. “It’ll take a while to get your hair to set right.”

“Okay. Can we do it here?”

“Of course!”

I grabbed a refill of chai tea while Mom grabbed the tools she needed.

She set the curling iron and hair products on the table, and I enjoyed a few more scones and jam as she removed my hair from the towel.

First, she gave my neglected ends a trim, then she combed some cream through the long strands.

“So, we haven’t had a ton of time to talk,” she said, “but I want to hear more about this Night Shepherd.”

My body grew warm as I chased the bite of scone down with some tea. It wasn’t the liquid that made me feel that way; thinking about Night did.

“It’s hard to know where to start,” I said.

“He’s…everything to me. He’s so strong and capable and smart, and even though he’s busy being the Alpha of the Wargs, he always makes time for me.

” Just thinking about him made my chest ache and my wolf purr.

“He looks at me like I’m the one who makes the sun come up every morning, like I’m his whole world.

He makes me so endlessly happy, and when I’m with him, I just know everything will work out. ”

My mom sniffled a bit as she brushed a section of my hair. “Honey, he sounds wonderful.”

“He is.” Wonderful, and so, so much more.

“You said he was the one who took you from Troy’s cabin?”

I nodded. “I thought I hated him at first, but at the same time, I somehow knew that I was safe with him. That he’d take care of me.”

“You know, honey, the fated mate bond is something that’s destined. The fates plan it long before the souls find each other. Fated mates are a perfect match of strength, love, loyalty, and passion. Sounds like you found yours.”

“I did, Mom.” Butterflies rushed to fill my stomach.

Soon Night and I would swear our bond to each other in front of everyone, but the butterflies weren’t just for excitement.

Talking about fate and destiny made me remember that I had an important role to play in the future.

“Mom, Violet and the Wargs’ Elders think I’m descended from the pack mothers.

They say that I’m destined to do something more, but they don’t know what that is. ”

Mom nodded, fixing my hair with rollers. “I’m not surprised. I’ve always known that fate had a huge hand in my finding you. I’ve also suspected that you might be a pack mother’s daughter, but there weren’t any texts in our libraries that helped me confirm my theory.”

“The Wargs have tons of literature. I think Violet brought some stuff with her. Maybe you guys could compare notes?”

“I’m sure we will.” I heard the smile in her voice. “Alright, now I just need to blow dry your hair so it sets the curls.”

Soon, my hair fell in full, luscious waves over my shoulders, shining in the light every time I turned my head.

My makeup was soft and minimal, just enough to enhance my features, and I wore some of Mom’s homemade rose perfume.

When it came time to put on the dress, Mom told me to open the box that Violet had left for me.

When I did, I found a gorgeous, lilac-colored gown.

I put it on and admired myself in the lobby mirror.

Pressed white, baby pink, and lavender flowers were sewn into the flowing hem and at the waist. The bust clung to me, but the fabric was so breathable it felt like a second skin.

Spaghetti straps held it up, and across the bust were dozens of tiny, glittering beads.

When I walked, a slit came all the way up to my hip.

My eyes watered the longer I stared at myself.

Violet knocked on the door and Mom called for her to come in. I turned to Violet, near tears, and took her hands in mine. “Where did you find this?” I asked.

“I made it myself,” she told me. “It was for my own binding ceremony, but I never got to wear it.”

I gasped. “Violet, I can’t possibly take this! It’s too precious, and I—I’m—” I didn’t know how to put it.

“You’re my new daughter,” she finished. She used a tissue to dab at the corners of her own eyes.

“I think this dress was always meant for you, Bryn. That’s why I brought it along in the first place.

Why else would you be the exact same dress size as I was when I made the thing?

” She laughed and pulled me in for a hug. “You look beautiful, honey.”

I couldn’t say anything but, “Thank you.”

A short time later, Tavi knocked on the door. She was wearing another sheath dress, this one in blue denim. Like me, she was barefoot. She let me hug her.

“I wanted to give you this,” she said, handing me a flower crown. My jaw dropped as I lifted it. The crown was made from the branches of nearby trees. It had fairy slipper, shooting star, as well as western springbeauty woven through it.

She blushed when I continued to admire it without saying anything. “It—it might be kind of silly. I mean, it’s kind of childish for me to do, and you don’t have to wear it.”

“I love it!” I exploded. I put it on right away, and it fell neatly over my curls. “Thank you, Tavi.” I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. I fanned at my face with both hands. “It’s too early to cry.”

Tavi smiled, and this time, she initiated the hug. It was only for a couple of seconds, and then she quickly pulled away again. I couldn’t believe how fortunate I was to have so many friends and loved ones at my side.

Our ceremony would take place next to my mom’s gardens, so when I opened the door, the guests were assembled right outside. I stepped off the porch, my hair lifting in the cool breeze. Not that long ago, I would have had to wear layers to be out in this weather, but now my wolf kept me warm.

I walked through the guests with Violet, Mom, and Tavi following behind me.

It was a private ceremony with only the Wargs and the Elders of both packs to officiate because this day was for Night and me.

The last thing we wanted was a large guest list that included the Kings pack; if we had invited them, there would no doubt be snide comments and maybe even a fight or two. We wanted to avoid that at all costs.

I felt like I was floating rather than walking as I neared where Night and Dom stood.

Both men wore slacks and loose button-up shirts tucked in.

The moment Night looked at me, I saw his eyes widen and his face flush red, and I knew that everything was perfect.

Behind me, I heard sniffles and quiet sobs, but I tried hard to keep it together.

“Bryn, Night,” Elder Patrice of the Wargs began, “please join hands.”

We did so immediately, both of us eager to touch after spending the night apart. Once our fingers were intertwined, Violet approached with a white silk scarf. She wrapped it around our joined hands.

I looked up at Night and bit my lip when it began to tremble. It was time now for us to speak our love for each other. I’d spent so long thinking of what I wanted to say, and now I was just trying to keep it together.