Page 56 of Unexpected Alpha's Claim

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RAUL

Elation. Unimaginable joy. I could think of a few more adjectives to describe what had been awaiting us upon our return to our hometown. Every light on the main street of Dawson was lit. People had gathered outside their homes to cheer and welcome back their warriors.

Of course, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. In spite of my exhaustion, I wanted to enjoy this. Our stroll through the main street turned into a slow march. Battle-scarred and still bleeding, the Dawson pack paraded in front of the ecstatic citizens while they showed their appreciation. Roses, carnations and all sorts of flowers rained down on us. The sound of applause and cheers roared through the whole town.

Some even shifted right then and there, just to leap onto pack members and lick their faces. In particular, Sammy got caught in the middle of this demonstration of love. A family of four knocked him off balance, two young children jumping on his chest. Everyone around him burst out laughing and pointed. Not used to this sort of affection, my poor brother didn’t move a muscle. He just lay down on the ground and took everythingthey wished to give him. The night ended on a happy note, with each and every one of the survivors going home blissfully.

I let them celebrate but my thoughts were split between those we had lost and what I had left. Monica was gone. My fate was sealed. Slipping away, I went home alone.

The following morning, we burned our dead. Eight had fallen in the brutal battle against Damian’s vampire clan. Cremation had always been our custom because our ancestors didn’t like tombs and graves. They left those to humans, preferring to surrender thier loved ones to the flames. If I was being honest, so did I. The notion of becoming worm food never sat well with me.

The morning was a time for grief, but the night was a whole different matter. Most pack members wanted to celebrate our victory, but no matter what, my thoughts were elsewhere, and I wouldn’t ruin their plans. They had earned this; they’d fought hard and deserved to have some fun.

Everybody deserved to vent a little and celebrate the fact that we had triumphed over our ancient enemy. The venue? Joe’s bar, of course, being almost in the middle of town, it had the capacity to fit at least a hundred of us. Still, only a fool would believe that this party would be attended by just a hundred people. I was sure that most of Dawson would turn up and join in the festivities.

Predictably, my hunch was correct. I stood on my porch, seven hundred yards away, and could still hear the racket. I watched as people emerged, leaving their homes and heading for Joe’s. They were wearing their fanciest clothes and their most radiant smiles. Any other time I would have savored this, reveled inthe joy of my pack and the victory. I would be, except for a single image that kept me from ever forgetting the one thing the festivities lacked. Across the street I saw Ronald and Kelly Peterson holding hands as they walked past my home.

“Now that’s what I call a timeless sight,” Helena said, appearing at my side. “Those two have been together for sixty-three years and look at them. They’re just as in love as they were when they first started seeing each other.”

“Yeah,” I said heavily. I don’t know what it said about my life that I’d grown accustomed to the witch appearing at random.

“But?” she prompted.

“But what?”

“Don’t be coy, first born,” she said. “I don’t need magic to know where your thoughts are.”

“What do you want me to say?” I asked, angrily slashing my hand in front of myself. “That they remind me of what I’ve lost? That my one chance at something like that is gone? That I fucked it up?”

“So,that’swhy you look like shit,” Ray said, and I whirled around.

“Sneaking up on me is a bad idea, brother,” I growled.

“Woah,” he said raising his hands in surrender. “My bad, I thought you would have heard me.”

“Fine,” I snapped turning my back on him.

“Cheer up, big brother. We’re throwing a party tonight, biggest one in years.”

“Kid…” I growled, grabbing him by his neck. “You think this is a fucking joke?” I growled, tightening my grip. “I’ve lost my mate, and you think I give a shit about some party?”

“Woah, hey…” he choked, hands grasping my arms. “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean it.”

“You’re making a spectacle,” Helena warned. “Let go of him. You don’t want your pack to think that their Alpha would beat up his own brother in public, do you?”

“No,” I grunted, dropping and pushing Ray back. “Fuck it. Let’s go to the bar.” Ray gave me a hurt look that stabbed into my heart. Damn it. I growled, shook my head, then held my arm out. “Come here.”

He hesitated for a moment then stepped into my embrace. I pulled him tight and kissed the top of his head.

“Stop,” he complained, laughing. He always hated it when I did that, and I knew it. It’s why I did it to him now.

“Sorry,” I muttered into his hair.

“Yeah, fine, just don’t do that shit again,” he said pushing me off. “You know I hate that.”

“I do, but I ain’t promising shit. Hell, I might do it again now.”

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