Page 271 of His Sunshine Baby

I can feel the anger from behind me too. Nate’s wolf is exuding a scary aura, but I ignore it, along with Clark’s.

“When I came back to the pack, I was at the lowest point in my life. I had lost my family, a second time, a third time even. If it wasn’t for Clark, and the Lewis family who helped me, I might have never come back from that darkness.”

I manage to gather a smile for them, for Danny, and wake my wolf to finish.

“I got back on my feet, and I worked harder. I felt like I needed to prove myself, even harder than I used to. I was part of the White Moon clan. I truly accepted that when you didn’t toss me aside despite my parents being gone, despite everything I had said and done. I really realized it then. Because the young ones were still looking up to me. Because the ones my age would still talk to me and count me in. Because the adults would invite me over, greet me, or just acknowledge me. Because everyone in this pack was fine with me being just me. Not Ivy and Samuel’s daughter, not Clark’s goddaughter. I was just Elena, your Elena from the White Moon clan.”

A lot of people are nodding, some are even smiling to me with a tender look in their eyes. I can’t help but smile back, a bittersweet smile.

“Just when… When I started getting used to that idea, things changed again. I… I fell in love with someone I wasn’t supposed to. I met Nora Bluemoon, who was suddenly closer to me than anyone had ever been. Die… My ex came back. And the situation became a lot more complicated. I was conflicted again,between my identities, between my past and my future, between what I thought I owed to the White Moon and what I truly wanted.”

I turn around and hold my hand out to Estelle, who takes it with a smile, walking a couple of steps to join me.

“If… I have disappointed people, I will apologize,” I say, “but I won’t apologize for making a new family of my own. I won’t apologize for the beautiful baby I had, the man I love, or even for getting close to another pack. I love Nathaniel Black, but it doesn’t make me less of a White Moon daughter. Eleanora Bluemoon is my blood cousin, but that doesn’t make me less of a Whitewood. I am just building up my identity. Truthfully, that warrior part of me, the part I inherited from my father, is the only thing, perhaps, I have always felt confident in. I don’t even really realize what it means to be half-human yet. I am gathering the pieces and constructing myself, piece by piece.”

I take another deep breath, waiting a few seconds before breaking that solemn silence, through mind-linking this time, taking them all by surprise.

“I am Selena Whitewood and I want to keep that name. I don’t want to forget the clan that raised me. No matter which pack my blood belongs to, what I know is that my heart sprouted right here, and you are the people my wolf’s voice can reach out to. You are my pack, my people. I love every one of you. Even that bitch cousin of mine, yes. That’s why I want to protect everyone here. I really do. But it won’t be possible unless you all trust me, a hundred percent.”

I turn to Clark, resolute.

“I, Selena Whitewood, claim the Alpha title of the White Moon pack, here and now.”

After a long silence, all eyes are on Clark. My heart is beating like crazy in my chest, and my cheeks are burning. My godfather smiles, and finally, gets down on both knees.

“I, Clark Hamilton, fully acknowledge you, Selena Whitewood, as the sole rightful Alpha of the White Moon pack!”

A sudden wave of cheers, applause, and howls bursts all around us.

Chapter 34

“Elena… Elena, are you okay?”

I growl, a bit annoyed. Why does he have to ask so much? And my head hurts, too. Like, a lot. I frown and struggle to sort out my left from my right. I hear him chuckling.

“Elena…” he calls me, almost singing into my ear.

I can feel his beard on my back, and his breath right against my skin.

“Stop it,” I grumble.

I kind of feel weird, but that feeling is familiar. Like, not the nice kind of familiar. A fucking hangover, and that headache that goes with it. I struggle, open my eyes, and sit up. I don’t recognize this place. Where the hell is this? The bed is too fancy for my taste, and there’s too much yellow. I’m not fond of yellow.

“Where are we?” I growl.

“I got us a room at a nearby hotel. You felt sick while I was trying to get us back to my place and kept asking me to stop the car.”

“Oh, Moon Goddess…” I sigh, feeling some blurry memories come back. “I drank, didn’t I?”

“Oh, yes,” he laughs.

It’s not funny! I haven’t drunk or gotten wasted to that extent in years, what was I thinking? I vaguely remembereveryone trying to party with me after I became Alpha, to celebrate, but I can’t even count all the places I was taken to.

“Shit.”

“It’s not your fault, Elena, you really tried to stop,” he says while getting off the bed. “Even Danny and Levi asked people to stop giving you drinks. You looked fine until you suddenly growled at them and asked me to take you home.”

From the looks of it, I bet I didn’t ask nicely. More like I probably whined or bossed him around. Damn it, I feel really bad now. Did I trouble anyone besides Nate? He pours me a big glass of orange juice and brings it to me with a pill. I take it gratefully. Moon Goddess, that feels good. I take a few seconds to enjoy that and silently apologize to my liver.

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