49

49
ALICIA
By the time I wake up the next morning, the sunlight is already pouring into my bedroom. The place on my bed where Brandon slept is warm but empty, and I can tell he was here not long ago.
I sit up and stretch, slowly letting the awareness of the bruises on my biceps filter in. Lonnie really grabbed me hard last night.
I’m so glad he’s going to be gone after today.
I go over to the playpen and look down at Emmy. She’s still asleep. I want her close to me, but I don’t want to disturb her-she went through a lot last night. I know she’s a heavy sleeper at this age, and she’ll probably get a lot of rest if I just leave her to it.
The door opens, and Brandon comes in with a cup of coffee. He perches on the edge of the bed, hands it to me, and I drink gratefully.
“How are things going?” I ask. “Lonnie is already gone,” he says.
“What?” I almost drop my cup. “Seriously?”
“We got him out of town early,” Brandon says. “Vern and I did it. We wanted to let you sleep in. I think last night was probably harder on you than on anyone else.” He closes his eyes. “When I think about what could have happened…”
I put a hand on his arm. “Nothing happened,” I murmur. “We’re all okay.” “I know. I was so afraid Lonnie was going to do something to you, and that
I’d lose you forever.”
“You’re the only one who was hurt.” I touch his shoulder, near the bandage on his neck. “How does it feel today?”
“Not so bad,” he says.
“You’d say that even if your head was falling off.”
He laughs. “It really isn’t bad,” he says. “Wolf healing. You know.”
I nod. I’m grateful for the accelerated healing that comes with being a shifter. It’s definitely come in handy for Emmy more than once.
“What about your ceremony?” I ask Brandon. “When is that going to happen?”
“In about an hour. I was going to wake you if you weren’t up yet.”
“Oh, yeah, I can’t miss this,” I say. “I wish I had something nicer to wear!”
Brandon laughs. “It doesn’t matter what you wear,” he assures me. “I’m just glad you’re going to be there.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
It’s a perfectly sunny summer day, and by the time we all make it out to the clearing where the pack has gathered, it’s very warm. My wolf aches to surface, even though I know my human body is more efficient at keeping itself cool.
My father’s standing in the center of the clearing, surrounded by the rest of the pack. Even though he’s only wearing the ceremonial robe that’s
customary for retiring alphas, it’s the most put-together I’ve seen him look since I arrived here, and I have to admit, it’s nice to see him looking his best like this. For today, at least, it’s as if he’s no longer so old. It’s as if the younger, stronger version of my father is back here with us.
Brandon, also dressed in a ceremonial robe, steps forward and faces my father. I spot Kayla in the circle. She’s holding Emmy.
“Do you want me to take her?” I ask, finding a place for myself beside them.
Kayla shakes her head. “I’ve got her. This is your mate’s alpha ceremony.
You should be free to focus on that today.” “I really don’t mind.”
“Hush. Pay attention. Your mate only becomes alpha once, and you don’t want to miss that.”
She’s right about that. I turn my attention to the ceremony.
Dad puts a hand on Brandon’s shoulder. “I hereby name you as my successor in the alpha line and give you sole leadership of the Greystone Pack,” he says. “From this day forward, the pack will call you its alpha. The pack will bow to your orders and rise at your command. May you lead us with honor and integrity.”
Brandon bows his head. “I accept the mantle of alpha,” he says.
They both shed their robes and shift before our eyes into their wolf forms. Seeing them side by side really brings home to me how old my father has grown. Brandon, who I don’t usually think of as young by any stretch, looks downright youthful standing beside him.
They make eye contact and circle each other slowly once. Then Dad bows to Brandon, lowering his head and shoulders in a sign of deference and respect.
An alpha bows to no one. This is the moment when we as a pack know that the mantle has been passed on, and that we should be looking to Brandon for leadership now.
The ceremony is over. Dad and Brandon resume their human forms and pull their robes back on.
Brandon turns in a slow circle, locking eyes with every member of the pack that now belongs to him.
Until he reaches me.
Then he stops, smiles, and holds out a hand to me, summoning me to his side.