Page 49 of Alpha's Unclaimed Mate

As she removes the cloth for skin-to-skin contact, I notice his almost translucent skin is completely wrinkled, there’s fine hair all over his body, and his head is shockingly full of hair.

The moment I have him in my arms, it’s as if everything else fades away. Any empty space inside my heart is instantly filled. I have a son. I have afamily. An overwhelming rush of love floods my body. It feels unreal. His movements are soft, but as I run my fingers over his head, he opens his eyes: big raven-black pools of love. I want to give the world to him.

I pull him close, placing kisses all over his head.

“He’s perfect,” Ethan murmurs.

The nurse laughs softly, touching the baby’s head. “With all this hair, he looks more like a little bear cub than a preemie.”

Suddenly the door bursts open and Jane rushes in.

“Oh my God, I missed it.”

She comes to my side to give me a soft hug. “Congratulations, Mommy.”

“Do we have a name for the birth certificate?” someone asks from behind me.

I smile through my tears, feeling a deep connection to this tiny being in my arms. “Leon,” I whisper, cradling him close. “Welcome to the world, my little fighter.”

CHAPTER 18

THERON

“It is in the pack’s best interest, Alpha Theron. We understand your loss, but taking on another luna right now would restore stability.”

Sometimes, I feel like I’m trapped in an alternate reality. Everything comes at me at the speed of light, inanimate objects attacking me from different directions. I’m constantly ducking and dodging, like a puppet controlled by unseen hands. The crown on my head feels heavy and suffocating.

And now, I don’t even want it. Instead, I want to disappear. I close my eyes and slump back into the chair, taking a deep breath as they start lining up pictures of potential candidates on the table, offering advice that I don’t want to hear.

Two words continue running through my head.

“Another luna?” I repeat. My voice is barely a whisper. Seren’s red-rimmed eyes flash through my head. The memory of Vanessa taking her last breath because of me is still fresh.

I slowly push my chair back and stand.

“I can’t.” Despite lacking the energy for this, I keep my voice firm. “It’s impossible for me to take on another luna.”

I finally understand what that position means for the pack and, more importantly, for me. I know I don’t deserve one.

Elder Marek purses his lips, disappointment clear on his face.

Another elder sneers. “You can’t just say that and get out of the conversation. We’re trying to help you rule better.”

“Look, if you’re still mourning Vanessa…”

I shake my head. “Can we please drop this?”

I feel exposed, as if only the last layer of clothing remains, protecting the last of my dignity. If this goes on, that last layer might also drop. At this point, I don’t know if keeping that secret even matters to me.

I start walking to the door, but an angry voice stops me. “At least offer some courtesy to your elders by giving them a reason for your refusal. This blatant disrespect is appalling.”

Without turning to them, I let that last layer drop. “I lost my wolf six months ago. I can’t sire an heir.”

As their gasps ring out, I don’t wait for their response.

For the drive back home, I take the top of my car down and stretch my arms wide, as if shedding an invisible burden.

Since Vanessa’s cremation, her mark has slowly been fading away. With each passing day, I feel a little lighter, like a brick is taken off my back each day. But my overall strength is still dwindling.

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