Page 60 of The Alpha Wolf's Bullied Bride

Peppering kisses on the top of her head, I hold her tightly to me as relief flows through my veins. It's in this moment thatI realize just how important Lila is to me—not just because she's my fated mate, but because she's the only she-wolf who's been able to turn my whole world on its axis and give new meaning to what it means to be an Alpha.

I don't deserve her, I think again as I cradle her face and stare into eyes so pure like gems. She softens me.

“Hi, Alpha,” she smiles warmly.

“Hi, Luna,” I respond with a gentle kiss on her lips. “Happy birthday.”

Her eyes widen with surprise. “How do you…?”

“It doesn't matter,” I shake my head, folding her hands in mine as I take a seat on the edge of the bed. “Though you're the one who's given me a gift today.” I lift her hand and place a chaste kiss on her knuckles.

“You've already given me the perfect gift,” she whispers as she softly touches her neck, where the indentations of my canines glow as if on fire with golden, flickering flames.

“It's not enough,” I admit firmly, staring deeply into her eyes. “You deserve the world, Lila. And I am ready to give it to you.”

A moment of blissful silence stretches out as we stare into each other's eyes. When her lips lift to smile, she sighs.

“What happened? Is Miles okay?”

I nod, going on to reveal everything that has happened since we came back from the mountains. It's long overdue, and the unfolding of the impending threat is something I should have told her. As my Luna, she's meant to lead beside me, not be kept in the dark.

I know that now.

She listens intently as I tell her about what happened last night before I heard her call out to me.

“He broke his arm, but he's fine. He's been here all night, but he had to go to meet with the others. There's a lot that we need to take care of.”

She nods. “Shouldn't you be there, too?”

I purse my lips, patting the pocket of my sweatpants. “I'll show them what I found some other time.”

“No,” Lila shakes her head, a firm look of deep concern on her face. “You need to take care of it now. We can't afford to lose anyone. Last night was a close call.”

“I'm not leaving your side, Lila. I—”

“Shh…” She presses a finger to my lips. “I know that you're not leaving me. Besides, I'll be fine.” She drops her gaze to her belly and cups a hand there. “I need to rest, anyway. And you have to ensure that the pack is safe.”

Goddess! How did I get so lucky? All I can do is marvel at her, how fiercely determined she is as the Luna of this pack.

Lila cups my cheek again and smiles. “Now that your powers are unleashed, you can put to rest your suspicions of Dorian. Then, you may form bonds with the others that'll be advantageous to the safety of our pack. The safety of our child,” she says as she rubs her belly.

I place my hand over hers and smile. I've underestimated her, only because she was the wolf-less Omega who was shunned because of societal norms in the Blood Moon Pack.

Finch was right when he decided to do things differently. I just couldn't see it back then. When he died, I'd been so determined to follow the rules that I'd become blinded.

In hindsight, my parents and Grandfather saw the advantages of changing the course of leadership in the pack. It was only me who couldn't see it, determined to maintain an image that I thought I needed to be a worthy leader.

Fate had to guide me in the right direction, toward a destiny and future with the woman I love.

The woman I love…

I look up at her angelic face, the words on the tip of my tongue.

“Go now, Flynn,” she encourages with a smile. “I'll be right here when you get back.”

I decide not to tell her how I feel just yet. Not like this, anyway, with the responsibilities of being the Alpha looming over my shoulders. It has to be special, and I think I know exactly how to make up for the past.

“We have a lot to do,” I tell her. “There's so much I have to teach you.”

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