Page 21 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

“What?” Clara asks, confused.

Winnie hurries to get herself a cup of coffee. “The elders are on their way,” she says. “They want the ritual done this morning because Galen has a pack meeting today.”

Clara’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t say anything. Before we can get too cozy, I hear cars pulling up outside.

Clara groans in frustration. I know she feels rushed, but there’s nothing I can do for her now. It’s better for all of us if we get the ritual over and done with quickly. Neither of us would enjoy a big ceremony, anyway.

Winnie takes Nico to the garden out front while Clara and I go to the backyard to meet the others. Sherman, George, and my mother join us under a massive lodgepole pine.

I hold Clara’s hands while Mother stands before us, intoning the ritual words, and we repeat the phrases that bind our spirits as well as our bodies. I can tell Mother still disapproves of us and is struggling with herself, but I know she has no doubt that Nico is my son. And her grandchild.

What if I brought back Clara alone? Would Mother have still performed the ritual?

I shake that thought out of my mind as we slip the rings on each other’s fingers. Anticipation rises in me as we approach the end of the ceremony, wondering if I’ll get to kiss Clara. To my dismay, Mother completely leaves that part out and closes the ritual without fanfare.

The others disperse, and Winnie heads out after them, waving goodbye to Nico as she goes. The three of us return to the kitchen to finish breakfast, Clara’s anxious silence a direct contrast to Nico’s breathless excitement.

He bounces around the kitchen, bubbling over with enthusiasm. When I look into his golden eyes, I can’t believe I lived so many years without him.

“So, what are we going to do today, Dad?” Nico asks, finally sitting at the table. “Now that you and Mom are married, what's next?”

“I have a council meeting today,” I answer. “So you and your mom can hang out here for a while, or go shopping. Anything you like.”

“You will have to start school soon, Nico,” Clara tells him.

“Yeah, I know,” Nico replies. “But it’s not going to be as boring as normal school, right?”

“Right,” I confirm, smiling. “You’ll have extra duties, too, as the son of the alpha.”

Nico’s eyes widen. “Like what?”

“Like learning our history, getting to know the whole pack, scouting our territory, and being able to manage people,” I explain. “You don’t need to worry about that for a while, though.”

“Good,” Nico says, nodding as he works through a croissant. “That sounds like a lot of hard work.”

Clara’s voice cuts suddenly into the conversation, almost startling me. “Nico, can you go to the living room and play some of your games, please? I left your bag in there with your tablet.”

Nico just shrugs and heads off towards the living room, waving as he goes.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Clara growls.

I frown. “Talking to my son.”

“Talking about pack responsibilities? Now? He’s only seven.”

“I didn’t mean he had to start right away,” I point out. “You know that.”

“I don’t think you realize how much of a change this is for him. Just leave out the pack stuff for now, okay?”

“Okay,” I answer, trying to keep my voice steady. I’m quickly losing track of the conversation because I’m getting too distracted watching Clara.

At first, when she was moving around the kitchen, I was struck by her natural grace, which has only grown as she matured. When she sits down next to me and fixes me with those big, honey-gold eyes, I’m plummeting down into memories, sinking into wells of sweet, delicious sensations that my body never forgot.

The taste of her lips, the feel of her in my hands…

“Galen,” Clara says sharply. “Are you listening to me?”

I snap out of it. “Yes, of course.”

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