Page 35 of Her Grumpy Alpha

The room fell into chaos as the ring’s dark power was unleashed. Women in the gathering, all aside from me, were suddenly caught in a struggle for control. Their faces contorted with confusion and conflict, as they resisted Brian’s efforts to dominate their wills.

“You need to listen to me as well, Elder Clara,” Brian sneered, revealing his true self. “I will not have any of you telling me what to do any longer.”

But there was one person in this room who wasn’t about to let Brian win. In wolf form, James lunged at Brian, his teeth bared and his determination unwavering. With a swift and calculated move, he bit the Ring of Rasputin off Brian’s hand, severing its connection to the malevolent artifact. It was such a sharp and shocking movement that a heavy silence fell over the room. All we could do was watch as the ring clattered to the floor, its power momentarily extinguished. Brian, his influence now severed, staggered back, his eyes filled with a mix of shock and desperation. There was nothing he could do now.

The women who had been under the ring’s control began to regain their senses, their eyes clearing as the sinister influence lifted. The chaos in the room gradually subsided, and the battle against the ring’s power was won again.

James, now in human form, stood over Brian, his expression resolute. The ring lay at his feet, a symbol of the darkness that had threatened everyone.

As the realization of his defeat set in, Brian’s defiance wavered. He had lost his grip on power and had been defeated by the strength of our unity and determination. “No,” he hissed as he staggered to the floor. “No, no, no.”

Elder Samuel’s authoritative voice resonated through the hall as he took control of the meeting once more. The anticipation in the room was palpable as he prepared to deliver the verdict that would determine Brian’s fate.

“Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Blackpaw Clan,” Elder Samuel began, his gaze sweeping across the assembly. “We have heard the testimonies and seen the evidence presented before us. We have also just seen what Brian is capable of. The allegations against Brian are grave, and the influence of the Ring of Rasputin has caused great harm to our community.” The Elder continued, “After careful consideration, the Council of Elders has reached a unanimous decision. Brian is found guilty of manipulating women’s minds, endangering our children, and causing division within our clan. Such actions are inexcusable and go against the very essence of our values.”

The room was filled with a hushed tension as the weight of the verdict hung heavily in the air. Brian’s expression had shifted from defiance to resignation, his earlier attempts at denial futile. Especially when he acted like that. James reached out and held my hand. I squeezed his fingers tightly, grateful to have him there. It looked like this was finally coming to an end, and it seemed like things were finally working out in our favor. At last. With Brian gone, I could finally focus on my new life and my family too.

Elder Samuel’s voice remained firm as he delivered the final judgment. “It is with a heavy heart that we pronounce the verdict: Brian, you are hereby exiled from the Blackpaw Clan. You shall no longer be considered one of us, and you are to leave our territory immediately. The Ring of Rasputin will be secured and locked away in our hidden vault, safeguarded from any future misuse. This can never happen again.”

The gravity of the decision settled over the room, and the gathered witnesses knew that this was a turning point for their clan. Brian had been held accountable for his actions, and the Blackpaw Clan could begin the process of healing and rebuilding, free from the shadow of the malevolent ring and the influence that had threatened their unity.

Brian’s exile marked the end of a dark chapter and the beginning of a new era for the Blackpaw Clan.

As the gathering came to a close, we looked to the future with renewed strength and determination. The Blackpaw Clan had faced adversity and emerged from it united and resilient. The bonds of unity and the pursuit of justice were the cornerstones of our community, and we were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, stronger and more united than ever.

As Gregory and James played together on the land just outside my mother’s house, I found a moment to sit down with my mom. I’d been so busy recently, I hadn’t had the chance to tell her everything that I needed to. But I was more satisfied that I could now because everything was right.

“Mom,” I began, my voice steady but carrying the weight of the recent past, “I need to tell you everything that’s been going on.” My mother, her hands covered in the herbal scents of the soaps she crafted, looked at me with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Remember when I went to Cancun six years ago?” I continued, and her gaze held a hint of recollection. “That’s where I met James, Gregory’s father.”

“That man there?” she asked in total shock. “Really? Did you know that he was here in Maple Creek?” I shook my head no. “Well, that really is amazing. Fate really has a way of making things just right, doesn’t it? And what about Gregory? Does he know about his father?”

I nodded, my own smile matching hers. “Yes, Mom. We told him earlier tonight, and he was thrilled to learn that he has a loving father who cares about him. Our little family is now complete, and it’s the happiest we’ve ever been.”

As we sat there, basking in the warmth of our shared happiness, everything felt complete, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment and gratitude. The move to Maple Creek had brought us not only a sense of belonging within the Blackpaw Clan but also a deeper, more complete family. Now that Mom loved James and Gregory too, I was in heaven. This was perfect. Our journey was far from over, but I knew we were ready to face whatever came our way, together…

A little later on in the evening, with Gregory finally tucked away in bed after demanding James read him a bunch of bedtime stories, we found ourselves at long last. It had been a very long day, but it was all worth it to be here with him, smiling at him from across the room.

“Sadie,” he began, “today has been a reminder of how much you mean to me. Through all the challenges we’ve faced, I want you to know how important you are to me.”

My heart raced as I met his gaze, my own emotions bubbling to the surface. “What is it, James?”

A soft smile graced his lips as he replied, “I love you, Sadie. With all my heart. I know I’ve already told you as much, but I really do. Like so badly.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn’t help but respond with the same sincerity. “James, I love you too. You’re the most important person in my life aside from Gregory. You’re everything to me, and I can’t wait to see where this leads.”

James strode across the room, closing the gap between us, and he held me close to him. He didn’t kiss me at first. He simply held me and allowed me to rest my forehead against his so I could stare into his eyes. He might not have been the most open person in the world when it came to his words but seeing him this way allowed me to witness the true depth of his soul and he was beautiful. Inside and out. I remembered noting how good-looking he was when I very first met him in Cancun. There was a reason I couldn’t get him off my mind, even over the last few years, but the way that I felt now was so much more intense. Over time, he had become so much better looking to me the more of his layers that I managed to peel away. It honestly felt worth it, even if it was hard, to be with him. Our hearts seemed to beat in time with one another. Honestly, it truly felt like he was on the same page as me.

This moment was too perfect for words. It had to stay this way.

Although it could be more perfect. I leaned up, rose to my tip toes, and pressed my lips to his. Softly at first, I kissed him gently, allowing the romance to flood through us, and then I hooked my hands around the back of his neck to make sure he wasn’t going anywhere.

The kiss deepened, his tongue invaded my mouth, and I felt the romance heat up. Passion overtook us both which seemed to happen a lot. If we were to spend all of our lives together, I wasn’t sure how we would manage to get anything else done.

My hands trailed down his body, exploring every part of him I wanted to feel. I tucked my hands underneath his top so I could explore those delicious rock-hard abs of his. My God, this body was phenomenal. I was the luckiest woman alive to even be able to touch him.

But I didn’t get a chance to run my hands all over him. Instead, James wrapped his arms around me, and he carried me through the house, throwing me onto the bed. We were ravage, like animals tearing off one another’s clothes until we were fully naked at long last. After the day that we’d had, it was wild to finally be here.

I chewed down on my bottom lip as the sensation of his breath on my face became a little too much for me. My heart pounded furiously, my breaths became needy and ragged. I felt all raw and exposed as he gave me that intense look, overpowering me with his gaze as he leaned closer and closer until I could feel the moisture of his lips. There was a pulsing between my legs, a throbbing so hard and powerful as his fingers trickled down my body in anticipation. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. My desire for this man was getting too intense, and luckily, he seemed to feel the same way.

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