Page 53 of Whisper of an Alpha
Dalton shrugs, his gaze fixed on the door. “It’s hard to say. But if they don’t, we’ll be ready to handle whatever comes our way.”
The door opens again, and Lena steps out, her expression tense but resolved. “Fine. We’ll leave. Just give us an hour to pack.”
Wyatt nods, his expression calm. “Take your time, but please remember — this isn’t just about you. We need to ensure the safety of the entire pack. It’s also not a choice. I’m still your Alpha until you cross packlines.”
As Lena turns to head back inside, I can feel a mixture of relief and apprehension. This wasn’t just a confrontation; it wasa reminder of how fragile everything could be, of how quickly things could spiral out of control.
“Stay close,” Wyatt murmurs, his hand finding mine. I squeeze it tightly, drawing strength from him as we wait for Lena and Eugene to gather their belongings.
The minutes seem to stretch on, and as I glance back at the pack house, I can’t shake the feeling that this is only the beginning. Rachel’s shadow looms over us, and I know that even with her gone, the repercussions of her actions will ripple through our lives for a long time to come.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Lena and Eugene emerge from the house, their arms laden with boxes and bags. The expressions on their faces are a mixture of anger and defeat, and I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for them.
“We’re ready,” Lena says, her voice tight.
“Let’s get you moved then,” Dalton replies, stepping forward to help.
As we pile their belongings into the vehicles, I can’t shake the feeling that this is not just an end, but a transition. A chance for a new beginning, even if it comes with its own set of challenges.
“Thank you,” Eugene says quietly as he loads the last box. “For not making this worse than it had to be. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry for everything my daughter has done. I’m ashamed of her actions.”
Wyatt nods, his expression serious. “We just want everyone to be safe. That’s all that matters.”
As we drive away from Lena and Eugene’s house, I can’t help but glance back, a mixture of relief and sorrow washing over me. This isn’t over, I remind myself. There are still shadows lurking in the corners, still remnants of Rachel’s chaos that will take time to heal. The gloom of the rogue problem is still there and I know Wyatt is still getting messages from Alpha Rex from the Howlite Pack.
But for now, we’ve taken a step towards stability. We’ve faced the storm together, and as long as I have Wyatt by my side, I know we can weather whatever comes next.
With the pack behind us and a new day ahead, I take a deep breath, ready to embrace whatever challenges lie in our path. Together, we’ll forge a new future, one step at a time.
Wyatt
The moon hangshigh in the star-studded sky, casting a silver glow through the windows of our bedroom. I sit on the plush brown rug by the fireplace, its wine-red embers crackling softly, filling the air with warmth and the faint scent of cedar. My heart is heavy, a weight that drags at my chest, even as I glance at the serene figure sleeping beside me. Octavia. My mate. My Luna.
She lies there, her chest rising and falling gently, her dark hair splayed across the pillows like a cascade of midnight. At this moment, she looks unburdened by the chaos surrounding us, and I wish I could join her in that peace. But the truth is, the world outside these walls is anything but tranquil.
Alpha Rex of the Howlite Pack has been relentless in his pursuit of my attention, sending me emails daily, laced with urgency, about the rogue issue at his borders. I know I should be responding, should be rallying my pack to assist him, but the thought of leaving Octavia, even for a fleeting moment, gnaws at me. Besides, I have enough on my plate. Just twenty-four hours ago, I had to banish three pack members, all because of Rachel's deceitful actions — her faked pregnancy and the audacity to kidnap Octavia.
The Luna Ceremony is looming like a storm cloud on the horizon, and the packhouse is in a frenzy. Florists bustle in and out, their arms laden with bouquets and floral arrangements,while the kitchen is a whirlwind of activity. My mother is in a constant state of distress, fussing over the wrong flowers showing up, insisting that I need to intervene because gardenias instead of calla lilies is just unacceptable, according to mom. But I can’t. Not now. I just want to lock the world outside away and lose myself in Octavia’s eyes.
I lean back on my hands, staring at her, imagining what it would be like to escape from all this, to elope with her in a quiet grove far from the prying eyes of the pack. Just us. I want to swear my commitment to her, to have her sworn to the pack without the fluster of a grand ceremony. Yet, I can’t bring myself to take that away from her. She deserves the world, and a ceremony surrounded by loved ones is a part of that.
I pull my knees to my chest, resting my chin on them as the fire flickers, casting dancing shadows across the room. I think back to the first time I met Octavia — her laughter echoing in the air like music, her spirit so bright it could light up the darkest of nights. She had brought life back to our pack, woven her way into the hearts of everyone, including mine.
"Wyatt," she whispers in her sleep, a soft smile gracing her lips. My heart skips a beat. Even in her dreams, she calls for me. I can't help but reach out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
Just then, my phone buzzes on the side table, a harsh reminder of reality. I reluctantly reach for it, hoping it’s not another message from Rex. I glance at the screen and see Dalton's name flashing. I know he wouldn’t call unless it was important.
“Hey,” I say, keeping my voice low so I don’t disturb Octavia.
“Wyatt, it’s Rex again,” Dalton says, the urgency in his tone unmistakable. “He’s demanding an answer about the rogues. We can’t keep putting this off.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, frustration boiling beneath the surface. “I know, Dalton, but I can’t just leave right now. Not when everything is so... chaotic.”
“I get it, but we’re running out of time. If we don’t act, they could breach the border, and we’ll have a bigger problem on our hands. We have an alliance with the Howlite Pack and I doubt you want to go back on that.”
I run a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of leadership pressing down on me. “I’ll think of something. Just keep him at bay for a little longer. I need to focus on Octavia and the ceremony.”
“Understood. Just... don’t make promises you can’t keep,” he warns before hanging up.
