Page 27 of The Alpha’s Forced Rejected Mate (Silverlight Valley Alphas #1)

Elder Thorne cleared his throat. "It's time."

With a nod, Dominic followed the Elder into the clearing. The pack parted ways for them, in silent reverence. All Dominic could hear was the crackling of torches as he felt the soft whisper of the night breeze through the surrounding trees.

As Dominic took measured steps to the altar, he could feel every eye on him. His father stepped forward when he got there, pride washing off him in waves.

"Silverlight Valley Pack," Harrison raised his voice. "We are gathered here tonight under the waxing moon to witness the passing of the mantle of alpha."

As was custom, Dominic knelt before his father.

"My son, Dominic Blackwood, and my only heir," Harrison spoke clearly. "You stand before the pack tonight to take them as your pack and to claim the alpha’s mantle. Are you prepared to protect them with your life and lead them wisely and with strength?"

Dominic met his father's gaze. "I am."

Harrison turned to address the pack once more. "Does any member challenge Dominic Blackwood's right to lead?"

There was no response from the gathered members of the Silverlight Valley Pack, with only the hoot of an owl in the distance breaking the silence.

"Now rise, not as son and heir," Harrison continued. "Take your rightful place as Alpha of the Silverlight Valley."

Dominic rose, towering over his father for a second, and then bent slightly as his father removed the ceremonial cloak and placed it on his son’s shoulders. The moment they switched, the pack erupted into applause and hails.

Father and son’s eyes flashed silver as their wolves acknowledged the shift in power. "You rule the pack now, Alpha."

Dominic felt the weight of the cloak settle on his shoulders. The fur was warm on his skin, and the energy of the countless alphas who had worn it before him hummed against his skin.

He turned to face his pack— his pack now. On their faces, he could see respect, curiosity, hope, and, from some of the older members, a hint of uncertainty.

His found Luna again at the back of the crowd, and then something fierce and protective rose inside of him. When his eyes met hers this time, he made a promise to himself.

I won’t let anyone hurt you again.

"Silverlight Valley," Dominic’s voice carried effortlessly across the clearing.

"I stand before you as your alpha. It is my burden that I am not your leader in a time of peace.

This is a time of danger. Many of you have heard rumors of demons infiltrating the Hunter Organization, of dark magic corrupting wolves.

This is a threat that could endanger not just our Pack, but all supernatural beings. "

Dominic paused then.

"The rumors are true. With my own eyes, I saw it, and I fell under the dark influence myself."

Better they know now.

Dominic didn’t stop. "For years, I served, believing I was protecting us and the rest of the world from supernatural threats. Instead, we were corrupted from within."

His voice hardened. "And we were blind to it, including me, as dark magic suppressed my wolf's natural instincts."

He then looked at each section of the crowd in turn before gesturing toward Luna, causing heads to turn in her direction. "Luna Mitchell broke through that darkness. Her magic, channeled through our mate bond, revealed the truth and freed me from the influence that had been controlling me."

Luna's eyes widened slightly in surprise at his words, but she held his gaze steadily. The crowd’s murmurs grew louder at his acknowledgment of their mate bond.

"Some may remember her as the shiftless girl who left the Pack six years ago," Dominic added. "But now she returns to us as my mate, and as a powerful witch whose abilities will help us defeat the threat we face."

He looked around at the pack. "As your alpha, I give my first command now. Luna Mitchell is under my protection. She is pack. Anyone who treats her otherwise answers directly to me."

His wolf rose to the surface to emphasize his point, and his eyes flashed silver with the power of his new authority.

"In the coming days, we are going to prepare for a battle. The demons who have infiltrated the Hunter Organization will not stop until they've achieved their goal to bring more of their kind into our world. We cannot allow that to happen."

It won’t happen.

Dominic's gaze returned to Luna, still straight and proud, doing her best not to allow the weight of the attention shake her.

"Together," he said, his voice low, yet carrying his intent across the crowd. "Together, we will protect what is ours."

As if on cue, wolves throughout the gathering tilted their heads back and howled—a chorus of voices raised in recognition of their new alpha. The sound echoed through the clearing, powerful and primal, carrying with it the pack's acceptance of his leadership.

He was Alpha now. And his first act as leader had been to claim the woman he'd once rejected as his mate, placing her under his protection before the entire pack.

The battle ahead would test every single one of them. But tonight, with his pack's howls still echoing through the forest, Dominic allowed himself a moment of certainty, catching his mate’s eyes for the third time that night.

Now we are ready. Together.