The Alpha (The Pack Book 3) Read online

  We laughed, all of us hearing Caleb’s teasing voice as she said it. She shook her head. “He trusted me with the Pack, he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to make sure we’d never have to submit to a Hanley Alpha.”

  “Anna,” Dom spoke, his voice serious enough to catch her attention. “You can’t give it back.”

  She gave him a questioning stare until his words penetrated and she started to shake her head in denial. “No, no, no….no.”

  “Yes,” he answered, his expression sympathetic. “He knew it was a permanent decision.”

  “But I can’t be Alpha,” she denied and within seconds Trent stood next to us, and I averted my eyes from his impressively naked body.

  “There are way too many hard bodies around here,” I muttered under my breath, leaning heavily against Dom as my energy disappeared. He scooped me up in his arms, ready to leave, when I shook my head. Wait, I wanna hear, I whimpered pathetically, trying unabashedly to eavesdrop on them as Trent pulled Anna into his arms.

  “You are Alpha and I may not like the puppy, but he was right in this decision. You will be amazing,” Trent told her passionately.

  “I’m weaker than almost every wolf in the Pack,” Anna retorted, keeping space between them but not breaking his hold. “You’ve told me that.”

  “Being Alpha isn’t just about physical strength, Anna. It’s about mental and emotional strength. It’s about cunning, compassion, and kindness. I can’t think of a better Alpha,” Trent declared, taking her hands in his.

  Dom cleared his throat.

  “Except for Dom,” Trent corrected himself, never taking his eyes off Anna. “But he has Jess so it’s not really a fair comparison.”

  Why are we still standing here listening to this? Dom muttered, keeping his hand pressed against my side where the bullet had grazed me.

  For this, I answered, dropping my head against his shoulder as Anna lifted up on her toes and kissed Trent. He froze for half a second in stunned disbelief before yanking her close and kissing the hell out of her. Definitely devouring, I judged, nodding, and felt Dom’s chest rumble as he twisted, blocking my view of them.

  “No rating other people’s kissing techniques, especially not Trent,” he grumbled, striding toward Vivian’s car and unceremoniously setting me inside. “Stay,” he ordered and I rolled my eyes.

  “You could say please,” I called after him and he paused, turning his broad shoulders slightly as he eyed me.

  “Please.”

  My mouth twisted as I tried to hide a smile at his flat response. “I’m only staying because this is the only way out. I’m reasonable like that.”

  “I’m getting Caleb,” he rumbled and I pointed to where Dylan continued to play.

  “What about Dylan?”

  Dom sighed, shaking his head. “I won’t be able to get him to shift back right now. He’ll have to run home.”

  “See if Liam will accompany him,” I suggested and he frowned.

  “I was going to have Trent do it,” he argued and I held in a sigh.

  “Trent is occupied. Probably for the foreseeable future. Get Liam,” I told him. He stared at me for a long moment before finally giving a reluctant nod.

  You can thank me later, I told Trent, not expecting a response and not getting one.

  Dom came back a few minutes later, trailed by Vivian and Thomas. He widened his eyes at me as he set Caleb in the seat next to me. Can I run back? He pleaded as Vivian and Thomas stiffly stood by the car.

  And leave me with those two? Hell no.

  “They’re going to be upset when I bring this rental back,” Vivian commented, eyeing the damage to the car.

  “That’s what insurance is for,” Thomas noted, not glancing at her. He ducked his head inside the car, “Are you alright, Bunny?”

  I nodded and he gave me a familiar creased smile. “I’m going to go back with the others then. Wren is still at the compound trying to help some of the women and children we found there. Monster is with her and Liam.”

  “Okay, Dad,” I said, giving him an understanding smile. If Mom didn’t have the only car around, I’d be tempted to take an alternate route myself. I waved him off as Mom got in the driver’s seat. “How did they get us up here if they didn’t have cars?” I questioned.

  “They have a couple of old trucks,” Mom answered, starting the car, and pointing to a shed next to the road. “I disabled them so they couldn’t flee.”

  Dom opened the passenger door, ducking inside, “Go back to the motel. Anna’s mom is going to meet us there. She can stitch Jess up.”

  “Stitch?” I repeated faintly and Dom turned to look at me.

  “Yeah, you need stitches and a hospital will ask too many questions.” He caught sight of my expression and almost smiled before catching himself. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of getting stitches? After being shot, and shooting that guy?”

  “She doesn’t like needles,” my mother informed him, outing me. “Hasn’t since she was a little girl.”

  “That you remember,” I muttered, embarrassed by the fact.

  “What if I promise to hold your hand?” Dom asked and I gave a reluctant nod.

  “You’re not giving me a choice in this are you?”

  “No, but I’m sure Trent will give you a sucker if you don’t cry.”

  I stuck my tongue out at him as Mom turned the car around, and braced my shoulder against Caleb so he wouldn’t topple over.

  “It’s been a long night,” I whispered, closing my eyes as the sun started to rise on the horizon. “Let’s go home.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jess

  Two weeks later

  “Are you positive you want to do this?” I fussed, popping a sucker in my mouth as I stared at Trent. “I mean you can take more time to think about it.” I nervously rolled the sucker stick between my fingers as the tart cherry flavor burst across my tongue. I was starting to see why Trent always had a sucker in his mouth. They were both delicious and gave my hands something to do besides strangle ornery wolf shifters.

  “Yes, Jess,” Trent answered patiently, trading a long suffering glance with my mate. “It’s been decided.”

  I couldn’t really argue. They’d both been prepping me for this moment. A moment I’d known was inevitable when Anna kissed Trent in the field. I just wished it wasn’t so soon. “I’m going to miss your snarky commentary,” I said, trying not to sound whiny, but failing if their expressions were anything to go by.

  “Just think, I’ll never overhear you try to talk sexy to Dom again,” he said helpfully and my eyes narrowed.

  “Try? I’ll have you know it was very successful,” I countered and Dom lifted his arms up.

  “Alright, let’s stop there. Please.”

  “Seconded,” Liam and Caleb answered in unison.

  I heaved a sigh, but acquiesced. “Fine, but you will be missed,” I declared, trying and failing to stay unemotional.

  “You’ve got the Cub Scouts over there.” He jerked his thumb toward Caleb and Liam. “They’ll keep you busy.” Trent smiled as he added, “Now that I’m leaving, you’ll need a new Beta.”

  “Clearly, it’ll be me,” Caleb answered instantly. “I do have experience as an Alpha.”

  “I’ve been in his Pack longer,” Liam argued, stomping over to Caleb, his limp barely noticeable, but we knew he’d have it for the rest of his life.

  “Barely,” Caleb scoffed. “Like a week? Seriously, I’ve known him for years. I’m the best candidate.”

  I leaned against Dom as Trent laughed at us with his eyes. “I vote Dylan,” I said, loud enough for them to hear. “He’s practically nonverbal and has a positive outlook.”

  Their mouths dropped open as Dom settled his arm around me. “I think you’re right, Jess, but really who needs a Beta when I have you?”

  I tilted my head, acknowledging the truth in that statement until Monster walked up, arms folded belligerently across his chest. “I thought I wa
s your Beta!”

  “You’re my junior Beta,” Dom rushed to assure him. “For the ten and under crowd.”

  “I’m the only one,” Monster pointed out.

  “You won’t always,” Dom told him, squeezing me closer. “One day you’ll be an uncle and have a bunch of pups to boss.”

  “One day better be a long time from now,” Dad muttered, lifting his eyebrows at Dom as I whimpered, “A bunch?”

  “There’s a reason they call them litters,” Trent winked, his sucker poking out against his cheek. Anna came up just then, saving him from my wrath, but my gaze promised retribution.

  “Are we ready?” She asked, her voice composed and her bearing regal. I almost asked if she’d been taking lessons from my mother, but didn’t want to come off as rude. Anna’s grace had always been apparent and once she’d accepted her new role, it had showed immediately. With both of her parents on the Council and Caleb’s endorsement, she’d easily been accepted as the Navarre Alpha. It would be a change for all of the Pack, but a welcome one according to Sam.

  She’d decided to stay on the Navarre Pack lands, since they were her family’s lands, and Hank had decided to stay with the Navarre Pack as well, citing that he was too old and set in his ways to have his son as his Alpha. I think the news had pleased Anna, and made her feel as if they truly accepted her.

  Caleb had involuntarily joined Dom’s Pack when he saved him, but had agreed to stay, knowing it was the best place for him. He’d started laughing again, glimpses of the young, happy Caleb showing more and more. He had a scar across his throat, the line faded but still noticeable and Dom seemed to think he would always have it since the shift couldn’t completely erase all wounds.

  “I didn’t miss it, did I?” Leah asked breathlessly, running up to us. “I’m so excited. I’ve never seen a Pack member transfer.”

  “Neither have we,” I told her, smiling. She’d recovered completely from the car accident, escaping with only a concussion and a few lacerations. She strolled over to stand next to Liam and I nudged Dom.

  I saw, he murmured. Don’t make so much of it.

  But, maybe….

  Don’t interfere, he admonished and I pressed my lips together, stealing a peek from behind his back, crossing my fingers as I did.

  Vivian walked up hesitantly, her head held high as if she expected us to reject her presence. Wren slipped her fingers from Dad’s hand and went to her, smiling encouragingly. “I’m glad you came,” she said and my mother’s posture thawed slightly. It had been a slow, painfully slow, process but Mom was starting to reconnect with Wren and a few of the other women who’d escaped from the Hanley compound. She understood them better than I ever could and her straightforward manner helped them adapt more than sympathy ever would. She’d formed a sort of kinship with Sam, to all of our surprise, as they worked together to integrate the Hanley women into the outside world.

  When Hank strolled up and made a beeline straight for Vivian, I cringed, and Dom growled, Don’t even….

  Nope, I answered making a popping sound on the p. Nope, nope, and nope.

  “I think we’re ready to start now,” Dom said quietly, walking over to Trent and Anna. He stopped right in front of Trent, uncomfortably close, as he leaned forward and touched his forehead to Trent’s. He cupped his hand around the back of Trent’s head, and pressed a kiss to his temple as he murmured, “You will never walk alone, my friend.”

  The essence of Trent slipped from the Pack bond, quieter than a whisper and I gulped back my tears as Trent looked at him through red rimmed eyes. “I will never forget what you did for me.”

  “Same here, brother,” Dom echoed, releasing him as he stepped back. “Take care.”

  Anna stepped forward and I looked on eagerly. Dom said blood had to be exchanged for the Pack bond to establish and I was curious to see how they did it.

  “We are honored you chose to join us.” Anna spoke clearly, the words heavy with meaning. “I am honored by your decision,” she added, smiling tremulously. She licked her lip then bit down, drawing blood and Trent smiled. “Do you choose of your own free will to join the Navarre Pack and accept me as your Alpha?”

  “I do,” he answered promptly, his eyes glowing fiercely. “I will defend and protect this Pack, respect and listen to them, and love them as my own.” He kneeled as he took Anna’s hands, surprising us. “I will honor you as my Alpha, obey you, and destroy anyone who would do you harm.”

  “The Navarre Pack welcomes you,” Anna replied, leaning forward until their lips met, their blood mingling as she accepted him into the Pack. “I welcome you.”

  A cheer went up as they kissed, their promise so much more than just a simple acceptance, and I hugged Dom, grateful and happy as I glanced around the clearing at our friends and family. We were safe, happy, and most of all, loved.

  Epilogue

  Five years later

  “You don’t have to bring a present,” Dom claimed, sounding harassed as he tried to get pants on his son. “Will you be still?” He griped to the squirming eight month old.

  “But it’s a birthday party,” I argued, wrestling a dress over the head of our daughter. “Ah hah,” I said in satisfaction when I got her arms through the sleeves. “I know you don’t like it, but Gramma gave you the dress and she expects to see you in it,” I announced as if the eight month old could understand.

  “The man is turning a hundred and twenty,” Dom said in exasperation. “I don’t think we could give him anything he doesn’t already have.”

  “You make a good point,” I said, when his words clicked. “How old?”

  Dom hesitated, realizing he’d let something slip that he hadn’t meant to. “A hundred?” he offered, smiling carefully.

  “And?” I asked pointedly, knowing that was the most important part.

  “And twenty.”

  “That’s not possible,” I said stupidly, my hands going lax around our daughter as she crawled away. “People don’t live that long.”

  “Shifters do,” Dom said with a shrug, like it was no big deal.

  “You will?”

  “And you since you’re my mate.”

  “And the kids?”

  I stared at the twins as they crawled toward each other, both with the distinctive yellow eyes that marked them as Navarre shifters. When they’d been born I’d questioned if our daughter would be a shifter and Dom had unequivocally said yes. Apparently, girl shifters were getting more common since Sam had just had a daughter with Payne, and she also carried the gene marker that would allow her to shift.

  “Yes,” Dom answered and I blinked back to awareness, trying to reconcile myself with my new, longer lifespan.

  “How long?” I questioned and he shrugged.

  “Maybe a hundred and fifty?”

  “Okay,” I said faintly. “Okay, I’ll have to process this later,” I finally declared, pushing myself up. “We’re already going to be late.”

  A russet colored wolf bounded up to us as we left the house, not bothering to lock the door since we owned the land for miles. He sniffed the twins, barking happily as he led us down the path toward the Navarre community. We’d settled on the Hanley lands since Monster and I were the last living relatives of the Hanley who’d owned the lands, besides our mother, who had refused to take ownership of the land, giving it to us instead.

  We’d absorbed the few remaining Hanley Pack members, allowing those who wished to leave to do so, as we rebuilt the compound.

  Monster raced ahead, confident in his strides as he eagerly headed for his best friend, Nicky, whose black coat and yellow eyes were a dead ringer for his uncle.

  “You still okay with giving everything to him when he’s ready?” Dom asked as he carried the twins upside down, our daughter’s skirt hanging over her head like an umbrella.

  “It’s just as much his as it is mine, and he’ll need it,” I stated, knowing it was the truth. “You’re grooming him to become Alpha one day and with that the land
and the Pack will become his,” I reminded him.

  “Yes, but our children,” he mentioned, swinging his daughter until she shrieked.

  “Will find their own path in life,” I told him. “Either part of this Pack or Anna’s Pack or maybe their own Pack.”

  Liam and Leah came toward us, walking hand in hand, and I waved at them excitedly. “I didn’t think you would make it.”

  “How could I miss this?” Leah declared, gesturing to the banners waving above us. “I mean how often do you get to go to the birthday party of a hundred and twenty year old man?”

  “Well, I mean,” Dom started and I elbowed him.

  “Apparently, its more common among shifters,” I replied, lifting my eyebrows. “Who knew?”

  “It’s fascinating,” Leah gushed. “There’s so much in the physiology of a shifter that’s unique to them.” Liam’s eyes stared to glaze and I knew he’d heard this a million times. Leah was a first year vet student, and eventually she wanted to open a practice in Banks and study the shifters, using her education to help care for injured and sick shifters since traditional medical care was unavailable. She’d been there for the birth of the twins, saying what I’d been thinking when they were born, “It’s an actual litter.”

  “How’s school going, Liam?” I asked, cutting Leah off before she really started using terminology we didn’t understand.

  “It’s good,” he said enthusiastically. “I’m learning a lot of skills.” It had taken time for him to catch up with the schooling he’d missed growing up in the Hanley compound but he’d finally gotten his GED and been accepted to a trade school near Leah. He came home almost every weekend to run with the Pack and help Dom out, with the intention of settling down here when his schooling finished.