Page 21

Austin

“The day is here, son. How do you feel?”

I glance up as my father approaches, his heavy hand clapping me on the shoulder. I adjust the collar of my shirt. My face is stoic as I gaze at my reflection in the mirror.

“I’m ready to do my duty to our pack, sir,” I answer automatically.

“You and Sylvie will represent the new way, the way of peace among our packs. I’m proud of you,” he continues.

I busy myself with a button so he can’t see my face. Becoming Alpha of the Nightwing Pack has been my destiny since birth. I’ve trained for it, accepted it, and grown to love the responsibility that I will soon carry.

For years, I fought the lack of choices, but I understand now what being Alpha means. My role demands that I take care of and lead every member of my pack, but choosing my role means that I want to do that. And I do.

In the years since Yelena left, I threw myself into learning everything I could about how our pack functions. I sat in on events with my mother, the Luna, to better understand the needs of our female pack members. I even spent some time in the nursery, caring for our pups.

I feel ready to lead. Just not with Sylvie. The thought of her bound to me as my mate, serving my pack as their Luna, makes me recoil. She’s the opposite of what a good Luna should be, and I feel nothing but apathy and distaste when I try to look at her as a mate.

We’re not a match.

I know my father has worked hard to negotiate the Peace Accord. He’s proud of the fact that he’s turning the pack over to me during a time of hard-won peace. To turn my back on these agreements could not only risk going to war again with the Highland Pack, it could tarnish my father’s legacy.

Lives could be lost. It could be years before we get another opportunity like this to find peace.

And yet…

The Moon Goddess gifted me a Fated Mate for a reason.

I have to believe She has a plan for me, for my mate, and for my pack.

It is my greatest regret that I questioned Her plan all those years ago.

Because of my actions, Yelena left, and I had to watch her disappear from my life.

Now that she’s back, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her here. Whatever it takes.

It will work out the way it should. I know it.

Once I end things with Sylvie and get Yelena back, I’ll be back on the right path. I will be able to stand proudly in front of my family and my pack with the right Luna by my side, and if my suspicions are correct, be able to present my daughter as well.

It’s the future I was supposed to have in the first place.

“Time to go, my love,” my mother says, joining my father. She steps forward, straightening my collar for me. “We’re so very proud of you, Austin. You will lead this pack well.”

I smile at her and then nod to my father. It’s time to do this.

We step out of the Alpha’s cottage, now my cottage, and into the crowd of our pack. The excitement for the day is palpable, and I can’t help but smile.

They follow us to the sacred clearing and form a circle around us. The Elder Council motions for my father and I to stand before them.

“An auspicious day,” Elder Peter says, greeting me with a smile.

Our ceremony is short—a formality of sorts—but the tradition is much beloved by our pack. Father and I stand, side by side, as the Elders circle around us in their shifted form. Only Elder Peter remains in his human form.

He sprinkles moon water on us, chanting the words from the Old Days. I feel the shiver of power hovering over my skin and then settling in.

Alpha.

The pack is getting rowdy, and my wolf itches to run and celebrate our new role.

“Patience,” my father whispers with a smile. “It’s almost complete.”

I smile back and close my eyes, letting the power wash over me. It’s almost euphoric.

“And so, by the power vested in us by the Moon Goddess and in accordance with the traditions of the Ancients, we pass on the power of Alpha from old to new. Alpha Malakai, your time as leader of the Nightwing Pack has been one of abundance. We thank you for your service and honor you.”

The pack howls in agreement and I watch as my father waves to them. I scan the crowd, noting that Yelena is in the very back. I, too, wave, looking at her first before smiling to the rest of the pack.

“Alpha Austin, your era has begun. Please, take your spot as our leader.”

The shift comes over me almost instantly. I spring forward, my black wolf leaping into the clearing. I howl, calling my pack to me.

Everyone around me shifts, and the bays, howls, and yips of wolves fill the clearing. Tradition states one of two things can happen: either I claim my Luna immediately, or I take the pack on a hunt.

I look over at Sylvie and her tawny brown wolf. She’s pushing past my packmates in her eagerness to get to me.

I won’t be claiming her today, or maybe ever. I don’t want my pack to see her with me anymore. And, if I’m being truthful, I don’t want Yelena to see her with me.

Instead, I dash into the woods, howling for my pack to follow me.

It’s time for a hunt.

***

“Do you have any idea how humiliating it was for you to just abandon me like that, Austin? What were you thinking?” Sylvie says shrilly.

The high pitch of her voice makes me cringe, and I notice several people looking over at us.

Great. The hunt had been epic. We all bonded as a pack, and the smell of roast venison fills the air. Even Yelena was into it. I saw her catch a rabbit, carrying it proudly as we made our back into the yard.

We’re going to eat well tonight and I’m hungry.

But…I still have one more task to do before I can celebrate.

I look at her with a sigh. I need to tell her. For her sake, I had planned to do this privately, but…it needs to be done.

I pull my shorts on and slide my arms into my button-down shirt, leaving it open.

“Come with me,” I tell her, holding out my hand.

She gives me a narrow look, but grabs my hand, digging her long nails into my palm. Her fake smile is on full display as I walk through the crowd. My father catches my eye, raising his glass in a toast when he sees Sylvie and I.

I shake my head slightly and he frowns.

“Let’s go into the Alpha’s cottage,” I tell her, leading her toward the white house.

She sniffs but allows me to pull her along.

“Ugh, I’m going to have to spend weeks redecorating here. It’s not to my taste at all,” she complains once we step inside.

I try to harness the spark of anger that I feel rising as she continues to disparage my mother’s taste.

“I thought we’d have some privacy here. Why don’t you go take a seat in the living room? I’ll grab us a drink,” I invite her, motioning toward the couch.

She gives me a sultry look that makes me want to gag. “Oh, you want privacy ? I get it. Those Alpha urges are riding you hard, aren’t they? Come to me, baby. I’ll help you take care of them.”

The way she looks at me makes me feel slightly nauseated, all but confirming that my decision is the correct one.

I try to give her a little wave, but I turn around and walk quickly to the kitchen. I’ve been agonizing over how to tell her this for a while now.

There’s no good way to break an engagement, but the consequences of doing so now are dire.

The backdoor to the kitchen opens, and I look up, meeting my father’s stern gaze.

“What are you doing, Austin?” he asks quietly.

I shake my head. “I can’t mate her,” I whisper. “She’s not my match.”

He sighs and rests his hands on the counter. “We made a promise as a pack. If you go back on that, you’ll bring us to the brink of war.”

I run my hands through my hair and nod. “Do you think I don’t know that? I can’t stand her. She’s repulsive. My wolf hates her.”

My father stares at me for a long time.

“You’ll need a Luna,” he says, finally.

I nod in agreement. “I will. And I have one in mind.”

He rolls his eyes and sighs. “Yelena? Is that who you think your match is? Son, you lost your chance with her. She left. Sylvie is your best choice now.”

“We are destined to be together, and she’s back now. She’s the one I want,” I protest.

My father sighs.

“Austin, man-to-man, you should reconsider this. Love matches are rare, but Sylvie has the skills to help you. She may need a little more training on the protocols of our pack versus the one she grew up in, but she’s a solid choice. And with her, comes peace.”

I shake my head.

“I’ve made my choice, father. As a man and as Alpha.”

I can tell the words rankle my father. I haven’t even been Alpha for an hour, and I’m using it against him. He wants to argue, but—he stops himself, gritting his teeth instead.

“You’ll bring destruction upon us,” he growls before storming out of the kitchen.

“Baby, where did you go?” Sylvie calls out. Even the sound of her voice makes me want to rip my ears out.

I stalk back into the living room, determined.

“We need to talk,” I say bluntly.

Sylvie is stretched out on the couch, her shirt unbuttoned to reveal a glimpse of her cleavage. Her skirt is pulled up, exposing the smooth length of her leg. I avert my gaze toward the wall and signal for her to make herself decent again.

“What the fuck is your problem?” she bites out, covering her legs with the blanket and buttoning up her shirt.

“You,” I answer sharply. “But thankfully, that will be resolved very soon.”

Her gaze sharpens, and she folds her arms across her chest.

“The contracts have already been finalized. Breaking them will mean war,” she warns through gritted teeth.

“We deserve a better fate than to be paired together like this,” I tell her. My tone is firm, but not unkind. “You dislike me, I dislike you. Can’t we just agree on that?”

“You dislike me?” she scoffs. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

I shrug and cross my arms.

“I’ve been nothing but pleasant since the moment I got dropped in this god-forsaken trash heap that you call a pack. I’ve done my duty because I deserve to be Luna. You don’t get to take that away from me now,” she hisses.