Page 49

Elijah

T he day has passed by painfully slow for me and I am borderline irritated with the fact I can’t go to her. I just have to deal with the things everyone expects me to look over today. Dad’s been putting a lot of things in my name, and I don’t get the point of doing these formalities now. I mean, he ain’t dead. But they have to be done and in a way, I guess it keeps me partially occupied.

That and the surprise I have prepared for Scarlett. I have finally completed our new home. She knows I’ve been working on it, but I don’t think she realises just how much I have managed to get done. Since there are plenty of people working on homes for the new pack members, I managed to get away and work on ours. This will be the place we will one day raise our pups, and I want it perfect for her. I’ve already discussed our vision for it with her and took into account every single thing she wanted.

Although she doesn’t know how far I’ve come with this, and that was the plan, because tonight is the night we start our life together and it’s going to be in our home. I even made sure the fridge was stocked for tomorrow morning.

I now close the wardrobe, which has a few of our clothing items already here, and look at my suit that lies on the bed in our new bedroom. This is it, the big night. Picking up the small box that stands on the bedside table, my heart skips a beat. I’m going to do this. I smile softly. She’s the only one left to rejoin the pack and I want that, for her to fully become one with me and our pack.

Removing my towel, I get dressed, impatient for the moment to arrive when I can pull her into my arms. I’m wearing a cream suit with a collarless white shirt underneath and have a few buttons left open, showing off some of my chest.

An hour later, I am in the open grounds of the pack area. There are far too many pack members to fit in the Alpha Mansion’s gardens or even the packhouse garden.

But this location is great, and the weather’s pleasant too. The area is illuminated with lanterns, fairy lights and garlands of red roses. Tables and chairs are set to the side, with an entire side behind the tables dedicated to the open barbeque area where the omegas are already grilling meat and talking happily. I am pleased to see that the members have welcomed their new packmates. It’s good to see them getting along, and the new members have settled in well. Our omegas work alongside the new ones, and I can see they are slowly coming out of their shells. Music plays in the background and there are already some younger pups dancing on the dance floor.

I skim the grounds, spotting Rafael and his mate Maria who have come for the ceremony. I make my way over to them and give them both a smile.

“Rafael, welcome,” I greet, meeting my friend with a hug.

“Thanks, glad to be here,” Rafael replies. I turn to Maria and hold out my hand to her.

“Nice to see you again, Maria.”

“Thank you, ,” she replies with a smile.

Scarlett and I had attended their wedding a fortnight ago. Long story short, it hadn’t been easy for him to claim her as his mate, and even then I could tell her family who were present at the wedding weren’t too happy about it.

But fuck it. She’s his, and he had every right to force their hand, or whatever exactly happened.

“Excuse me,” Maria says as she walks over to the drinks table, as if giving us a moment alone.

I cock a brow questioningly as I watch her go before glancing at Rafael, who shrugs. “Her family ran things differently. I’m showing her, though, that I want her to stand by my side, not behind me.”

I nod. “Sounds good… but you know something occurred to me.” I lower my voice as I lean in so only he can hear me. “You had found her two Blood Moons ago.”

Rafael nods. “Yeah, and?”

“Which means you found her before our training was completed…” I look at him pointedly, hoping he realises what I’m talking about.

Rafael grimaces. Yeah I’m talking about that party.

I smirk as I take two glasses from a waiter and chuckle, passing him one. “Seems like I’m not the biggest playboy around…”

“Ouch.” He almost pouts. “I can’t make an excuse for my actions, even though things were… rough.”

I pat his shoulder. “Hey, you don’t need to explain it to me. You’re still one of my closest friends. Just treat her right. She clearly adores you.”

“Of course she does, and I adore her. She’s so… so strong, brave and selfless…” There’s a sadness in his eyes, as if he wished she wasn’t. “I will never be worthy of her, I know that, but I am too damn selfish to let her go.”

I frown slightly, wondering what is going on.

“If you need anything or just need to talk about things, I’m here, Raf.” I place a hand on his shoulder and he flashes me a grin.

“I know, but this is your night. So forget all this and tell me, where is your woman?”

“Almost here, or I’d like to think she is.”

Just then, the intoxicating floral scent that always drives me crazy fills my senses and I turn to look towards the source. Time seems to stop when I see her standing there. Everyone else fades from my view as my eyes run over her.

She’s wearing a stunning, red sequined dress with one shoulder strap. The underlayer is a mini dress and then there’s a silk fabric skirt on top. The silk fabric pleats from the front and wraps around to the hip on her right, hugging her curves perfectly, and reaches the floor, the slit displays a panel of the mini dress and her sexy leg. A good amount of cleavage is on show, enticing me. All I want to do is take her in my arms and ravish those breasts.

She’s wearing gold heels and dangly earrings sparkle in her ears. Her hair is half pinned up, leaving the rest curled and open. Her make-up is soft, enhancing her natural features, and she has traded her usual red lips for a deep nude.

She looks up as if sensing that I’m watching her, her eyes trailing over me as her heart hammers, and I enjoy watching those gorgeous boobs rise and fall sensually.

I am the first one to move. Closing the gap between us, I catch her by the waist and pull her close. She locks her arms around my neck, gasping when I bend her over backwards, kissing her passionately. People whistle and hoot, watching us, but I really couldn’t care less. All I can see is her and only her. I only move back when she is left gasping for air, and I gaze down into her sage green eyes and offer a cocky smirk.

“You look fucking divine, Kitten,” I praise, my hand slipping under the silk layer of her dress, shamelessly squeezing her ass. Her heart skips a beat, the familiar way her breath hitches and the biting of her lips telling me she’s loving how this feels.

“You look pretty sexy yourself,” she murmurs seductively, running her hand down my bare chest before placing a sensual kiss on my neck as I slowly straighten her up.

“Well, don’t keep her all to yourself, boy!” Amelia says, hurrying over and tugging Scarlett from my grip. I growl at the older woman, surprised by her strength. She only scoffs at my annoyance.

“Play nice,” Scarlett says to me, hugging the elder woman.

“What if I don’t want to?”

She simply laughs at that and fuck does that sound… incredible?

“Elijah, how do I look?” Indigo asks, as she suddenly rushes over and does a spin to show off her deep blue gown.

“Gorgeous, although isn’t that dress a bit too revealing for you?” I ask, frowning as I notice it’s backless. Indigo stops her twirl, planting her hands on her hips and I notice the slit too, which only makes my frown deepen, but then I notice she’s glaring at me.

“Oh, so it’s okay for Scarlett to have her boobs on show, but I can’t have some back and leg on display?” she questions.

“That’s different. I don’t want anyone to be eyeing my sister,” I growl, scanning the crowd.

Indigo snorts, “You’re one to talk.”

“Are you two arguing?” Dad questions, coming over and sighing as he looks between us.

“Don’t you think they do that a lot more lately?” Scarlett asks with a smirk, and I pull her back into my arms.

“They are,” Jessica agrees with a smile as she takes Scarlett’s hands and admires her. “You look beautiful.”

Scarlett hugs her as Indigo scoffs. “You’re probably filling his ears up,” she retorts, her eyes on Scarlett as she grins, but it’s obvious she’s just trying to rile Scarlett up again.

I smirk. “That couldn’t really be true. You see, the thing is, when we’re alone we have way too much to do than talk, Pixie,” I remark, caressing Scarlett’s stomach as I kiss her neck. My remark makes several people laugh while Indigo’s cheeks redden in annoyance.

“Eww!” She shudders.

“Okay, enough banter! Let’s get this ceremony over with!” Dad says, slapping me on the back. Things have gotten better between us over the last few weeks and the women of the family are relieved at that. We won’t always agree, and I guess making peace with that and respecting one another is what we’re going to have to settle on. Dad will struggle with that way more than I ever will, but he’s trying and I appreciate that. He even went as far as to one day say Scarlett and I do complement one another.

“Guess we should,” I say, becoming serious. This isn’t just about us but also about me taking up the title of Alpha, and the responsibility of this entire pack. Scarlett takes my hand and lets me lead her to the low dais that has been set up. Dad and Jessica step onto the dais and Dad looks around at the pack, taking a deep breath.

This moment will always be bittersweet, a reminder that Dad is stepping down from something he worked tirelessly on for years and that he now has to pass that torch on.

“Thank you for attending tonight,” Dad begins as he looks over the now-silent crowd. Even the pups have fallen silent, as if understanding how important this moment is.

“We are gathered to witness a special and significant moment in our pack’s history. Tonight, I will be passing my legacy on to my son. I am sure he will take this pack to heights that even I wasn’t able to. He has already done so much to prove he is capable of this position. I am honoured to call him my son,” Dad continues, his eyes filled with emotion, looking at me with pride. Something I don’t always see, but even if I don’t admit it, it feels good. “I am proud of you, son.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I reply quietly.

I give a small nod before he motions for me to join him on stage. He picks up the small dagger which is used to initiate pack members and I take a slow, deep breath. This is it.

“I, Alpha Jackson Westwood, relinquish my position of Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack to my son, Elijah Westwood, to be bound by oath to serve, protect, and lead this pack from here on.” He slices his hand, blood pouring from the wound before passing the knife to me.

“I, Elijah Westwood, accept the position of Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, and vow to serve, protect, and lead this pack from here on to the best of my abilities,” I declare, slicing my own hand before shaking my father’s. Both of us feel the shift of power as the passage of the Alpha’s power is completed. By default, it also takes away Jessica’s place as Luna and Nick’s as Beta.

Everyone applauds but I’m already looking at Scarlett. I now reach for her hand, helping her onto the stage, gazing into her gorgeous eyes.

“It’s time to rejoin the family, Kitten,” I whisper. She nods, her heart skipping a beat. “Ready?”

She takes a deep breath. “Ready as I can ever be.”