Page 38 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

Choal’s blood poured into my mouth—coppery and bitter—and I felt the rush of pack magic filling my body. The Williams bond pulsed with each of Choal’s heartbeats, and I saw behind my closed eyelids a rapid summary of his time with the Williams Pack. Connection to the wolves below the platform swelled, and I could suddenly feel a wash of their emotions crest over me.

The sensation was odd and intense and nearly all-consuming. In fact, the only other beat of awareness that thrummed behind the newly formed connection was the awareness of my pack bond with the Edwards slipping away.

A part of me grieved that loss. I was giving up that family to lead another one, and it was…well, it was fucking weird.

I could sense the retreating connection from Kenzie strongest since she was the closest Edwards to me physically.But the bond to her wasn’t entirely gone because she wasn’t just once a pack member.

She was my mate.

That connection was still there, which was a shock, considering I’d rejected her already. But I wondered if her going into heat and what we’d done at the mate reveal ceremony had done something to ignite it. I’d been thinking that since it happened, and I just felt more and more right as the days went on.

The rejection wasn’t as strong as it once was, and I was going to have to admit that I was perfectly happy about that.

Not now, Grayson. Focus.

It was what hit me next that nearly knocked me on my ass, and I was grateful to have my fangs locked into Choal that kept me upright.

I remembered Kaiden’s shorter, less intense Alpha ceremony, and the way he looked physically changed once the gifts of an Alpha had been bestowed on him. Now, it was my turn to experience that shift, and it was nearly too much to stomach, nausea threatening.

An innate understanding of that enhanced connection appeared immediately. I knew that I was Alpha of the Williams. I was now bound to them as a member of their pack, and with Choal’s acceptance of me as their Alpha, the magic followed right along with it.

The rush of powerful energy that flooded my veins was like being near that fucking drug of theirs. Thankfully, I’d never been hit too strongly, but all of us had felt the increase in power from just being around the compound when the stuff had been airborne.

That had felt chemical and forced, like being rocked by a punch could make you sleepy. You weren’t really tired; your body was being pushed in that direction, and the drugs had been the same.

This was not that.

The Blooded Gift given to me by Choal that cemented my position as Alpha, the act that had worked some kind of ancient magic that I still didn’t understand, felt…right.

My body was stronger and more awake, and it was like something had clicked into place that had always been just a little bit off.Like I’m stepping into my destiny.

I had to force myself not to laugh about that one. It was ridiculous to think that fate or destiny were actually real. It was all just luck and chance and chemical reactions. However, I had to be honest with myself. I was feeling exceedingly dejected right now despite becoming Alpha, and that had everything to do with the “fated” situation I found myself in with Kenzie.

And how spectacularly terrible that was working out.

The whirlwind of my thoughts slowed as the memory rundown and flaring magic backed off. I retracted my fangs, letting Choal pull his wrist back so that he could begin to heal. He stood up a bit shakily, and I offered a hand to help. As our skin connected again, I could feel the rush of his appreciation, and I instinctively sent back one of acceptance and gratitude.

The move was so natural, and I realized only after the fact that I’d exerted my first act of Alpha power. It was wonderful and strange, and then Aspen was holding up my arm like he had in the ring.

I could sense his excitement, the way he adored playing this master of ceremonies role, and then the entire room erupted into cheers again.

Waves of joyous energy hit me from the Williams wolves, along with a background of nervous optimism. I knew they’d been through so much with Eli as their Alpha, and I genuinely intended to make their lives better—being the best Alpha for them that I could.

“Williams Pack!” The howls soared in the wolven version of a response call. “Meet your new Alpha! Grayson Williams!”

Again, operating on instinct alone, I threw my head back and howled into the rafters. Everything inside me rushed forward in a surge of recognition and claim. These weremywolves, my pack, and I would do whatever I needed to do to keep them safe and happy.

Dedication and acceptance hit me from all of them, and I held up my arms on my own this time, stepping forward.

“I promise to be an Alpha you can be proud of! Let us leave behind the days of separation and fear. We are all wolves, and we are stronger together.”

Jet and Kaiden, the Alphas from the council—especially Brooks—all cheered loudly along with my new pack. I could still sense them, even if distantly. Jet and Kaiden would always be my family, and now that I was one of them, that connection to the other Alphas swelled higher.

Like we really are better when we’re together.

“For now,” I smiled, looking across the sea of faces with pride swelling in my chest, “let’s celebrate! Everyone is to get a drink, enjoy, and then come to me for the pack bite. I want you all to know that you are each valuable.”

Confirming the bond with each wolf wasn’t necessary with the Blood Gift. I could sense all of them united to Choal in their bond, but I wanted to take the time with each of them. It had been such a powerful moment when I had done the same with Jet, and I wouldn’t deny any of my pack that same experience.

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