Alpha Rising

Fane hugged Cindy back and dropped his face to her shoulder. For a few heartbeats, he was once again a twenty-year-old young man who had lost his mother. His shoulders shook a bit, and Cindy patted his back and said something else, but this time it was so soft that Peri didn’t catch it. After several minutes, Fane released Cindy and then pressed a chaste kiss to the woman’s forehead. It was so touching and tender that Peri nearly lost control of her own emotions. The kiss was something she’d seen him do to his own mother many times.

All she need do is ask, and it will be given to her. Seek and she will find. Knock and I will open the door for her.”

“I’m Fane Lupei”—he paused and swallowed hard but then stood up straighter—“alpha of the Romania pack.”

“Vasile has chosen wisely,” he told her through the bond.
Peri agreed. The old alpha had indeed chosen his successor very wisely.

“Dealing with wolf stupidity is sort of a specialty of mine. And you were forgiven the moment it happened. I knew you were always simply acting out of love for Jewel. And I could ask for no better mate for one of my healers than someone who would give anything and everything to protect her.”

“Bethy,” he whispered, her nickname coming out reverently as he lifted his hands. One touched her hair as the other trailed fingertips across her cheeks, which were growing warm. They had an audience, but she was trying to ignore that fact. “You’re okay?” he asked and then quickly followed with, “The baby?”
“We’re both fine.” She nodded as tears built in her eyes. Seeing the emotion in his eyes, how much he loved her and worried for her, made her realize her life was richer than she would have ever expected.
“Thank the Great Luna.” He sighed as he pulled her head down to his and touched their foreheads together.

“She gets a man who will love her completely and faithfully. She gets a man who will not only save her life but lay down his own to keep her safe. He will provide for her no matter the cost. He will shelter her against all the storms that come their way. He will be the one to bring a smile to her face when no one else can. She gets a friend, a lover, and a mate. The only man in this world who can complete her and give her the other half of her soul.”

“Fane?” Jacquelyn said softly. “I feel our bond, but I also feel a whole hell of a lot more than just ours.” She paused and he felt realization hit her. “I think you just got your answer about where you go from here. Prince of the Romania wolves. Your father has passed his crown to you. You’re the new alpha.”

“Even as I speak these words, my will resonates through the hearts and minds of every member of our race. Hear me now, all who belong to our kingdom. As is my right as king, I give over my reign to my bride. She is and will be, until her time to follow me comes, the Warlock Queen.”

“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die…” ~Human Bible. The Word of the Creator of humankind.