Page 233 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

“We have all watched as Wesley grew from a strong but slightly wild young lycan into the man and alpha he is today. A man who is not afraid to stand up for those who need defending, who is willing to help others even when they’re too proud or scared to ask for it, and who views his mate as a treasure, as someone who gives him strength instead of making him weak.

“We have watched him learn how to be a leader by making mistakes and owning up to them, and realizing when he was in the wrong. And instead of making excuses or placing the blame elsewhere, he takes responsibility, and works to remedy his errors, and learn from them.”

Wesley stood still during his dad’s speech, his dark green shirt stretching across the muscles of his chest. With each word from his dad’s mouth, he stood a little straighter, a little taller, accepting the weight of his new responsibility with strength instead of letting it pull him down.

My heart fluttered at the sight of him standing so proudly, so ready to take over his pack. Our pack. He’d been hesitant, had voiced his fears to me of not being ready yet, but we all knew he was. And he wouldn’t be alone. He’d have Reid, Nolan, and Sebby to help him.

And he’d have me.

Harrison turned to look at Wesley, and as soon as he turned his back, he let his serious alpha mask drop to reveal the pride and love in his eyes to Wesley.

“Wesley,” he choked out, then he blew out a breath and shook his head, a soft laugh spilling from his lips. “Wow, this is harder than I thought it would be.” He chuckled, and the pack members behind him joined in with his laughter.

“Wesley, I know you think you’re not ready. I know you think I should wait longer before letting you take over, that you think there is still more you could learn before you become our alpha.

“But I know, in my heart, that you are ready. I have seen the man you have become, the man you are with your mate by your side, and I have complete faith that you will lead the pack with honor and integrity. I have complete trust in you, and I know you”—he swallowed, blinking and tilting his head up to the moon for a moment—“I know you will be a better alpha than I was,” he whispered.

Wesley blinked too, and his lip quivered, but he didn’t move or otherwise show how Harrison’s words affected him. Only I knew. Only I could feel all of it through our bond.

“Wesley Michael Stone,” Harrison said, loud enough for the entire pack to hear. “Do you promise to lead Crescent Lake to the best of your ability as the next alpha? Do you promise to love them, care for them, and protect them? Do you promise to have a firm hand and voice when needed, just as a parent sometimes needs to be firm with their child?”

“I do,” Wesley replied with conviction, his voice unwavering and his body straight and tall.

Harrison gave him a curt nod. “Then I, Alpha Harrison James Stone, willingly transfer my title of alpha to you, Wesley Michael Stone.”

The breeze blowing leisurely through the grounds that evening picked up and swirled around the pack, rustling the pine needles, the grass, and the water. Wesley’s eyes closed, and he took a deep breath, his muscles tensing and rippling from the new power surging through his veins and his soul.

When his eyes opened, there was a brief glow there, a small glimpse of the strength and power he held inside himself. My breath caught at the sight, at the knowledge that he held all that in his body, had the power to rip a man’s throat out with ease, and yet he always handled me with such care, such tenderness. That he always treated me like a princess.

Or, I suppose, a goddess.

“I’m so proud of you,” Harrison murmured, pulling Wesley into a hug.

Wesley smiled, and they patted each other on the back. Then Harrison stepped back and pushed Wes in front of him. “Crescent Lake, I give you your new alpha, Alpha Wesley Stone!”

The cheers and howls from the pack echoed off the surrounding mountains, and Wesley’s smile grew.

And so did mine.

As the cheering died down, Harrison joined Emily, Maddie, and me, and Wesley turned to look at his friends and his brother. All three waited patiently for him to give them their titles; all three dressed similarly to Wes in jeans and a T-shirt, clothes they wouldn’t mind ripping when they shifted into their wolves at the end of the ceremony to lead the pack on a run.

He approached Reid first, and they grasped each other’s forearms. “Reid Stephen Thomas,” Wes said. “Do you promise to lead Crescent Lake to the best of your ability? Do you promise to be my second in command, the one who stands by my side and supports me but also questions my decisions when needed? Do you promise to fulfill the duties I cannot so our pack’s needs are covered on all ends?”

“I do,” Reid answered with a sincere nod.

“Then I hereby proclaim you the beta of Crescent Lake, Beta Reid Thomas.”

Reid smiled at Wes as the same breeze blew through the grounds, rustling his short hair.

He fist-bumped Wes, and they laughed before Wes moved in front of Nolan, grabbing his hand as he’d done to Reid.

“Nolan Ulysses Shepard. Do you promise to lead Crescent Lake to the best of your ability? Do you promise to protect your luna, to stand by her side or in front of her as the situation calls for? Do you promise to support her in whatever way she needs? Do you promise to be not just her friend but her brother?”

Nolan’s hazel eyes slid to me, and he nodded at me before turning back to Wesley. “I already do, and I will,” he declared.

“Thank you, Nolan,” I said to him through the mindlink.

“Of course, Luna,” he replied.

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