CHAPTER 76: Almost His
Morgan's POV
I watched as my mate glided down the stairs like royalty.
She looked absolutely stunning as the rose silk gown I had handpicked for her clung to her curves like a second skin.
The front of her gown had a soft cowl neckline, mirroring the drape at the back, giving it a sensual look without being indecent, and the silver arm bracelet glittered as her skin shimmered in the warm light.
Then her eyes locked on mine. And just like that, the room fell away.
I swallowed hard, my jaw tightening slightly as heat stirred low in my gut.
She wasn’t trying to be seductive, but dear Moon Goddess, she looked like a Goddess, and it wrecked me in all the right ways.
I forgot the elders, the alphas, the wolves from the other territories. I forgot Violet.
She only looked at me and I only had eyes for her.
My breath caught.
I stepped forward without thinking, moving like I was under some kind of spell. Her smile widened.
I knew that smile. I’d die for it.
When I reached her, I didn’t speak. I didn’t need to. I simply took her hand and brought it to my lips.
A bolt of electricity passed through our joined hands and I heard a soft gasp escape her lips, making my member twitch in response.
“I wish we could disappear right now so I can show you exactly what you do to me in that dress” I whispered into her ears.
A blush crept up her neck as she softly punched my chest and giggled, the sound going straight to my twitching member.
"Happy birthday, Alpha."
A smile lit up my face as I thought about how beautiful she would be as the Luna of Bloodfang Pack, leading the pack by my side.
“Happy Birthday to us baby. The Moon Goddess finally blessed me with the best mate any Alpha could ever think of”.
She licked her lips and I came undone.
I tilted her head up, placed my hands on the small of her back, and looked into her eyes. As soon as I did that, everything else faded away, and it was just us against the world.
She shivered in my arms.
Instinctively, I leaned in, inhaling her scent as they wrapped around my already sexually overactive brain. Our lips were almost one second away when a throat clearing behind me brought me back to my senses.
I had almost kissed my mate in front of the whole region before introducing her as mine.
I jerked away from her as the voice registered in my brain.
“Alpha,” Harry said behind me. I turned to him with a questioning look.
He gulped. “Alpha, you have some guests waiting to be introduced” he said, his eyes darting between us.
I clenched my jaw in frustration. “I am coming,” I replied.
“Hi, Harry,” Alora smiled up at him.
Harry returned the smile, his eyes lighting up with admiration. “My Luna, I almost didn't recognize you. You look breathtaking,” he said, taking her hands in his and bowing slightly.
I rolled my eyes and stepped in, snatching her hands back.
"Go find your own mate to play with. This one's mine," I said, half-growling.
They both smiled.
“So, where are the guests?” Alora asked.
Harry straightened. "Forgive me, Luna. I’ll return him shortly." Then to me, he added, "Follow me."
“I’ll be right back,” I whispered in her ear.
She nodded, and I kissed her cheek.
As we were about to leave, I saw Jones walk up to her. Her smile shifted in his direction, and then he said something that made her laugh. My heart did a flip, and I suddenly wished I didn’t have so many people demanding my attention.
“We trust Jones,” Ragnar said in my head.
“Son of a bich,” I muttered under my breath.
“Control yourself, Alpha. That’s your brother,” Harry’s voice came through the mindlink.
“Fck off,” I retorted.
"Let’s see how he’ll do that after I declare her my Luna tonight," I muttered to myself, a wry smile spreading across my face and startling Harry.
My attention was split as I stood among the seven Alphas of the seven packs, exchanging pleasantries.
But my eyes were trained on Alora, and my whole body was so tightly wound each time someone got close to her that people began to notice.
"Is that your mate? The one you mentioned in the last meeting?" came a voice beside me.
I turned to see Alpha Kael, the Alpha of Rivers Pack. He nodded toward her as I raised my glass of vodka to my lips.
I gave a short nod.
“If she were mine, I bet I wouldn’t let her out of my sight either,” he chuckled, slapping my back.
I growled low, my grip tightening around the glass in my hand.
“So, where did you find her?” he continued, resting his hand on my shoulder.
I turned sharply, his hand slipping off. "If I were you, I’d stop asking questions about my mate."
He held up both hands, amused. "Alright, alright. Damn.
He raised his hands in surrender, still laughing. “Damn. If she’s got you this wound up, then you’d better hurry and announce her before someone else does. The whole place is buzzing, and everyone’s trying to figure out who she is and if she’s taken. Especially after that grand entrance she pulled”.
"But I only figured it out cause I’ve been watching you all night…and you, my friend, are about to explode."
I narrowed my eyes as he walked off, still laughing.
My heart thudded in my chest, and Ragnar growled low and possessive at the thought of anyone else trying to claim my mate.
The ceremony began soon after. The MC, one of the elders, welcomed the gathering with the usual string of formalities, introducing allied alphas, acknowledging long-standing warriors, and thanking Selene for her guidance in securing the Bloodfang borders.
But I was barely listening. All I wanted was my turn to take that mic and announce her to the whole world.
My eyes roamed over her huddled together with Selene, Leo playing with her bracelet and Jones hovering over her like a hawk. I rolled my eyes.
Then came the moment.
The MC cleared his throat, and the room quieted instantly.
“And now,” he said, his voice booming through the hall, “our Alpha king, the celebrant, would like to say a few words.”
A wave of applause erupted in the room as I stepped forward, and took the mic, my chest expanding with pride.
"Tonight isn’t just about my birth. It’s about rebirth. A new beginning for the Bloodfang Pack. One led by strength and loyalty. And a Luna worthy of our future."
Gasps rose from the crowd as my eyes found Alora in the crowd. I was about to say her name. To claim her in front of every soul here.
That was when a movement caught my eyes. Violet was walking towards the podium, like a dagger in heels, her red dress clinging to her in a provocative way.
My heart sank without any reason.
The guard at the side reached out to stop her, but she looked up at me and smiled, asking for me to give her permission.
My gut twisted.
I didn't want to cause a scene, so I mindlinked the guard to let her up.
She walked close and gave me a tight smile before reaching for the mic in my hands.
“Before our Alpha finishes,” she said sweetly, “I have a surprise.”
I froze.
My eyes darted towards Alora.
She wasn’t smiling anymore.
My eyes locked with Alora’s in the crowd and I saw panic written clearly on her face, and there and then I knew she felt the same way.
Violet turned to the crowd, all eyes on her.
"I’ve known Morgan since we were young. We've fought battles together, led raids, and protected this pack side by side. I stood by him when he lost his family on that fateful day. I was there. I’ve always been there."
The crowd murmured, but she didn’t stop.
"And even when he was broken," she continued, her eyes finding mine, "when he was vulnerable... I was there too."
My body was wound up tight, but my whole attention was on Alora. Every movement she made, every tick of her jaw, the fleeting emotions dancing in her face, trying to understand where Violet was going with the whole history talk.
Then I felt hands digging through my side, trying to get my attention. I jerked towards it.
Violet looked up at me with a small smile and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
I frowned
"Thank you for being there for me through it all. Thank you for standing by my side and making me the happiest woman in the world” my body tensed.
“So tonight, on this beautiful day, the day of your birth, I honor you not just as my Alpha, but..." She paused, her eyes searching mine, and tears dripping down her face.
"I honor you...as the father of my pup."
The world came to a standstill.
Did I hear her right?
“A what”? I asked again, furrowing my brows in confusion.
Violet touched her stomach gently, smiling at me. "It’s true Alpha. I’m pregnant. We are having a baby.”
Gasps and whispers filled the hall. My eyes snapped to Alora, who stood there frozen and staring straight at the podium.
When our eyes met, she shook her head as if she was dreaming, trying to persuade me to tell her it was a prank, a cruel joke.
Of course, it was a prank, because how did that happen?
My fist clenched at my side as every eye in the room snapped to me.
To us.
My eyes sought Alora’s again, and I saw tears gathered in her eyes.
My legs began to move even before my brain could register what I was doing.