Page 63 of Brutal Alpha Bully

I holler this while looking at my reflection in the mirror, leaning forward to put in a dangling diamond earring. It’s a pair I got while we were shopping in Denver, and even with everything that happened after that day, I still hold that time close to my heart.

For the rest of my life, I will remember that weekend in Denver as the first time the three of us really started to feel like a family.

“Nora—” I start again, but when I turn, I find her standing in the hallway in a simple blue dress. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and she stares at me with a single eyebrow raised.

“I hate that your father taught you how to do that,” I remark.

“Stop hollering at me,” she says. “I’ve been ready forever. Just waiting for you.”

That makes me laugh. It’s been exactly one week since everything went down on the ridge, and today is the official alpha supreme recognition ceremony.

Before Xeran’s grandfather, there was never a ceremony like this. Instead, there was just a fight to the death, and maybe beers at the pub. Xeran’s grandfather was the one who thought the pack could do with a little more decorum, a little more of a formal celebration. According to Xeran, his grandfather thought a ceremony might make the title a little more official rather than feeling like a blood rite.

And I agree with him, mostly. Still, it’s going to be our first appearance in public as a family together since everything happened. And I have no idea how people are going to respond.

“You havenotbeen ready forever,” I finally retort to Nora as I wrestle the other earring in. “You were literally asleep twenty minutes ago.”

Which means she used her magic to help her get ready. Why didn’t I do that?

Since the incident, Nora doesn’t sleep all day, every day, but she definitely takes her fair share of naps and sleeps for more than ten hours a night. Xeran is hopeful that after her first shift, her sleeping schedule will adjust, but we ultimately have no idea how that night is going to affect her body.

When we get to the pack meeting hall, I can’t stop myself from gasping dramatically at the transformation. Xeran had insisted this place be the first building they fixed up, and for good reason. The hall would offer them the ability to feed people, give them a place to shower and crash for the night while sorting out the housing crisis in town.

Since that first night, Xeran’s been working basically around the clock, building and making plans and cleaning up the ash piled around town. I wanted nothing more than to go out there and use my magic to help, but Xeran still doesn’t think it’s a good idea.

Sometimes, we fight about it.

But it doesn’t stop him from making it up to me for at least a few hours each night.

I smooth down my dress and glance around at the new walls and windows—everything they’ve managed to repair and replace in such a short amount of time. The early morning sunstreams in through the high windows, making the place feel like it could be the start of something new.

“You look beautiful,” Nora says, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. I glance down at my own navy blue dress, something I thought would make me look mature without seeming like I was trying too hard.

“Thank you.”

Something else is different about Nora since that night—a sort of confidence. The way she holds her head. A sense of belonging she didn’t have before.

If I’m being honest, the pack has surprised me so far. Xeran announced that he would be claiming us publicly, and instead of outcry, there’s been something more like quiet acceptance. It’s almost like our pack members are relieved to understand a connection they sensed but couldn’t place. Nora screams Xeran in every expression, in the color of her eyes, and now it all finally makes sense to them.

“Are you nervous?” Nora asks, tilting her head and looking up at me as people begin to file in.

“I’m terrified,” I laugh, smoothing my dress again.

That makes her laugh, but it’s cut short by someone approaching us. Shocked, Nora and I look up to see the queen bee from our old street. The woman who screamed at me not to touch her son after I saved him. Who saw to it that Nora was never invited to a single sleepover or birthday party.

“Good evening,” she says, glancing between the two of us. “I just wanted to congratulate you, Seraphina, on your mating.”

I’m gaping at her, I know I am. What in the world am I supposed to say to her? Part of me wants to laugh in her face. Another part of me wants to cry.

“Thank you very much,” Nora says, smiling sweetly at her. “Be sure to check for your name on the list at the front before the ceremony begins.”

Queen Bee’s eyebrows shoot up, and she clears her throat, embarrassed as she says a quick goodbye and turns, heading for the exit.

“Since when did you get so snappy?” I ask, glancing at Nora, who just smirks at me and shrugs.

Then, the breath leaves my lungs when Xeran walks in, striding forward confidently like he owns the place.

And in a way, I guess he kind of does.

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