Page 80 of The Alpha's Runaway Bride

Noah explained about the rivalry between the two packs and what happened.

“When I got back, I thought that it was strange that you hadn’t called or texted, but then I figured you were waiting for me to get back. I tried calling, but there was no answer, so I went to your apartment and found your note. Carolyn told me that you had tried contacting me and then figured I was ghosting you. She said you went to the ceremonial hall and ran into Elder Fredrick.”

Angie nodded and hoped that Carolyn hadn’t said anything about the baby. She didn’t think that Carolyn would betray her confidence and Noah hadn’t mentioned it, so she thought her secret was safe – except that shifters always seemed to know things.

“I went to the ceremonial hall and confronted the elders. Elder Fredrick admitted that he erased all of your calls and messages and blocked my message to you. He also confessed to what he said to you. Elder Cyrus told me that it was my obligation as an alpha to marry a wolf shifter. I told them that you were my fated mate, I was in love with you, and if they couldn’t accept you, then I resigned. Keith could be their alpha.”

“What?” Angie asked, her eyes wide.

“I was cleaning out my office when Keith apparently told them he didn’t want the job and if I was moving to the human world, he was coming also. Elijah said he hoped you had a big house because he was also moving to the human world.”

Angie rubbed her face and stared at Noah. “Really? They said that?”

“Yes,” Noah said. “They said they had my back and would support our mating, and they did.”

“Wow.” Angie was stunned.

“The elders decided that I was a great alpha and rather than lose me, they would accept you. They said that they would show you all the respect due to you and require the rest of the pack to follow suit.”

“Do you think that they will truly respect me?” she asked.

“They will fake it for a while. Once they figure out that you’re a truly amazing woman, then they will genuinely respect you. You also don’t have to worry about Selena. I told her that if she so much as gives you the stink eye, she’s on her way to the island.”

“You figured out what happened in the bathroom, huh?” Angie asked.

“That, and she’s the person who found out that you are a human and told Abner,” Noah said. “So, with all that being said, I was wondering if you would go through the mating ceremony with me and be my luna?”

“Do I get the same deal as before? I get to come to the human world a couple times a week to take care of my projects?”

“Of course,” he said. “I’ll even go to the masquerade party and other events with you if you like.”

“I would like that, very much,” she said.

She walked over to him, sat on his lap, and put her arms around his neck. Angie brushed a kiss across his lips and said, “I would be honored to be your luna, but there is something that you should know.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re going to be a father,” Angie said.

“Say what again?”

“You’re going to be a father. I’m pregnant.”

Noah was silent for a minute and for a second, Angie thought that he was going to change his mind about wanting to go through the mating ceremony with her.

“That is so amazing. I’m going to be a father,” he said.

He wrapped his arms around her, pressed his lips against hers, and kissed her passionately. It was a kiss that spoke of a love so deep that it could never be broken.

The next few weeks were chaos. Flora and Betsy went to the shifter world to help her prepare for the ceremony. Carolyn quickly became friends with the two women, and the four of them had an incredible time. Thomas came to the shifter world the night before the ceremony.

Angie woke up and looked out the window. The sun was shining brightly through the glass. Birds were singing just outside, as though they were serenading her.

The four women went to the ceremonial hall. Angie put on the white tunic with silver and gold embroidery, which was the traditional garb for lunas. Flora fixed her hair, and Carolyn carefully applied her makeup.

Thomas stepped in when it was time for the ceremony to begin. Betsy took her seat as the honorary mother of the luna. Carolyn and Flora went down the aisle on the arms of Keith and Elijah. Angie took Thomas’ arm and walked down the aisle, with Apollo by her side. She thought she would be nervous in front of all the people who, weeks before, wanted her completely out of the picture. However, they faded away as she felt the love from her family and she saw Noah waiting for her at the altar, with Rufus sitting next to him, wearing a bowtie.

Thomas kissed her cheek and took his seat next to Betsy once they reached the front. Angie noticed that Micah, Zac, Olivia, Jade, Marvin, and Sean had come as well. Tears welled up in her eyes because they were the pack she grew up in. They were her family.

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