Chapter 283 BONFIRE OF BONDS
Percival
I wasn’t quite sure how to respond. I didn’t feel that same power radiating from his wolf as I used to. It seemed like I was the one in charge now. “Hey Dad, so about—”
He cut me off, shaking his head. “I deserved it. I don’t blame you, son. You deserve this title. You earned it.” A watery smile tugged at his lips. “I might not agree with some of your rules, but they’re yours to make. You’ve done better with this pack in a week than I have in years. I’m not angry. I’m sorry… for everything I put you through. I hope you can forgive me. I deserve the moon’s punishment… and you really are stronger than your brother.” A proud look filled his glassy eyes, lifting my shoulders a bit. It felt like a weight had been lifted off me.
He smirked. “But you know you don’t have to look so annoyed all the time. The pack knows better than to mess with you.” He chuckled.
Whoa, I had no idea I looked so annoyed.
Must be my chillin’ vibe! Ugh, whatever...
I looked deep into his eyes, needing to ask, “So, what’s up with Annabel?”
“Percival…” He squeezed my shoulder, locking eyes with me. “She’s where she needs to be. Gaspar’s got her covered. Maybe she’ll come out a better wolf for it. She’s lost her title as Luna, so her wolf will be… different. Less dominant. She’ll be fine. But what about Edeline? Does she know? That she’s Luna?” His eyebrow shot up.
I furrowed my brow in confusion. “No. Why?”
A knowing look crossed his sky-blue eyes. “She’s in for a surprise then. Her wolf is going to get stronger, and she won’t even know why if she doesn’t realize she now has a leading role by your side. No worries, Percival… she’ll be back.”
I stared at him, my eyes wide with surprise. Was that why I’d been feeling this new energy in my body? It was getting easier to handle the wild side of me. Having Edeline around would definitely simplify things. Knowing she’d feel that stronger surge too made me feel better. She could handle herself. Until she returned to me… then I’d be her protector.
…
Talking to my dad really lifted my spirits. I felt relaxed knowing he was cool with my choices and handling his punishment like a champ.
I decided to skip training today; my body was still aching for some reason. I thought it had something to do with being an Alpha now. Gaspar was fine with that—he was tied up with some “personal” stuff anyway.
I caught a quick glimpse of Maxim. He looked a bit restless, his wolf popping up now and then to check out the wolves entering and exiting through the kitchen door. We chatted for a bit, and he suggested I throw a bonfire barbecue tonight. “Bring along something cozy from the past for the crew. Let them hang out with you… if you can handle the wolf.” I sensed he had some hidden agenda, but it still sounded like a solid idea. I let the cooks know, and they started preparing the food for tonight’s barbecue.
I was starting to feel a sense of responsibility. I was running the whole pack—around four hundred members, give or take. I thought it’d be a good idea to suggest having a yearly meetup with other packs besides Dark Moon. My wolves needed to track down their mates. There were a bunch of older wolves still searching for theirs. They could leave the pack anytime to find their mates, but it hardly ever happened. Being away from a pack is tough for a wolf; they need to pack up and live life.
Looks like we were all just having one of those days today. I decided to skip meetings and training entirely. I hadn’t even grabbed a bite with the crew for breakfast or lunch. My wolf wasn’t quite himself, so I let him shift out to check out the pack lands.
He was determined to claim the land as his own. Taking off in a powerful run, he marked every boundary line in the pack’s territory, which stretched for miles. The larger the group, the more space you had to cover. Once he was satisfied, the massive wolf fell completely under my control, ready for me to call on whenever I wanted. Shifting back, I let my skin take over again, feeling the familiar warmth of my human form as my wolf curled up in a corner of my mind. I felt good. Really good.
I made sure to check in on Nixx. He wasn’t feeling great; his wolf was really getting on his nerves with the constant urge to be with his mate. It still bothered him to be around me, but he mentioned it was getting a bit easier. It seemed I always had that intense vibe going on. He was reluctant to step outside his house, worried his wolf might get loose, so Mirabelle had to swing by and hang out with him, calming his wolf-dad vibes. She would cuddle with him, letting him snuggle up to her and feel her warmth, soothing the restless wolf within.
Jack was trying to reach out to Conor, but I hadn’t heard anything about Tatiana yet.
My mind kept wandering to Edeline. I was really curious about how she was handling things there. I wanted to get in touch with her, but I kept deciding against it. Still, the urge to connect with her kept popping into my head.
I planned to chat with Mirabelle about this tonight. Maybe I could convince her to share Edeline’s number with me. Just a simple text, you know? I had already told everyone that Edeline would chat with me, not to mention my new role as Alpha. With an Alpha's command, they couldn’t say no to me. It felt a bit like a misuse of power, but it wouldn’t hurt the pack. I thought I might just let this selfish request slide. I just wanted to see her face.
As the sun began to dip low on the horizon, I knew it was time for the bonfire. The delicious aroma of smoking meats filled the air, teasing both my wolf and me. The bonfire was impressive, flames shooting high into the evening sky, smoke rising from the pack house. The air had turned cooler; I’d need a light jacket tonight.
I walked by the pack house and into the backyard, where fallen leaves scattered across the grass, and the lake shimmered just beyond. The water gently lapped at the shore as wolves mingled all around, kicking back after a long day of training. Red solo cups in hand, tunes pumping, some kids danced while others roasted marshmallows. No one was munching yet; they were all waiting for me to grab my plate first.
As I stepped into the backyard, the atmosphere shifted. The wolves paused their activities, all eyes on me. A sudden surge of aggression bubbled up, but it was my skin that surprised me the most. This wasn’t my wolf’s doing; he was the calm one, reminding me that these folks were my crew.
A friendly slap on my back made me spin around, sneering, but it was Maxim, laughing heartily. “Whoa, chill out a bit. Take it easy.” He chuckled, grinning as he gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze, his eyes scanning the crowd like shards of crystal. “Hey, it’s time to get your act together, man. This pack is gonna need you to be a bit more friendly.” His deep voice resonated, towering over me.
I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow at him. “If I remember right, you kinda tossed a guy for just brushing past you on your first night here.”
A big smile spread across his face. “This isn’t my pack either.” He shrugged, unfazed. “Hey, go say hi to the wolves. Maybe flirt with a few of the ladies… give them a little touch. Don’t forget to throw some compliments to the guys too!”
I shook my head, scoffing. “I’m not flirting with any girl who’s not my mate. I’m marked and mated, you know?” I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my tone light, but my wolf growled in agreement, reminding me of the bond I had with Edeline.
He laughed, “Right. Just go over and say something to them. Compliment the girls on how they look and the guys on their muscles. Just be, you know, friendly.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I’m not exactly the friendliest wolf out there. Being around all these others makes me feel like I want to throw down. But my wolf is doing its best to chill me out.”
Suddenly, a loud scream pierced the air, making both Maxim and me turn our heads in confusion. That’s when I spotted Gaspar. Annabel was in his arms, and he had his teeth sunk into her neck. Out in the open. It felt far too intimate, and after the initial surprise, I caught a glimpse of her face as she began to moan softly. My expression twisted in disgust.
Maxim let out a hearty laugh. “Seems like Gaspar’s got my cousin all figured out…” His laughter faded as his eyes fixated on Mirabelle, who was dressed in her usual stylish attire, her baby bump barely visible. “I gotta bounce,” he said, giving my shoulder a quick slap before heading off in her direction.
I really hoped he wasn’t about to make a move on her.
Nixx had decided to skip tonight because he was worried his wolf might go wild. I couldn’t blame him; he must have seen how Annabel was with Gaspar.
I glanced back at Annabel, who was now lounging in Gaspar’s lap, a collar around her neck and a leash trailing behind her. It was a rough sight, a means of discipline for a wolf—certainly not something I thought I’d see. Her expression was utterly blank.
Gaspar’s dark eyes flicked up to meet mine as I strolled deeper into the party. Wolves greeted me, using the title Maxim had come up with: Alpha X.
“Hey, man!” Gaspar called, approaching me with a grin. I turned to see he had tied Penelope’s leash to a tree, treating her like a pup. Girls walked by her, giggling while she shrugged, clearly embarrassed.
I frowned, curiosity getting the better of me. “How’s she doing?”
He flexed his arms, glancing back at Penelope with a smirk. “Actually, she’s doing well. It’s been an adjustment with the change. Losing her title hit her hard, but she doesn’t really care about William. You, on the other hand, matter to her. And yeah, I know the leash might seem a bit much, but she could use a little humbling. But in the bedroom? I definitely make her pretty damn happy.” He chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.
I grimaced, raising my hand. “That’s a bit too much info, Gaspar.”
Laughing, he nodded, “I get it. But seriously, she’s a sneaky one. She might be embarrassed now, but once we’re alone, it’s like she can’t get enough of me.”
I flinched, shaking my head as I walked away, his laughter trailing behind me. I turned back to glance at Annabel; she had locked eyes with Gaspar and was licking her lips, her gaze half-lidded.
Raising my brows, I hurried off. Looks like Gaspar was right. What a surprise… my mom enjoys being dominated and humiliated. Maybe she just needed a tougher wolf to handle her.
“Hey, Jack, Dahlia!” I called as I strolled over to them. Dahlia was smiling brightly, while Jack offered a curt nod, his usual serious demeanor in place. His face seemed frozen in that stoic expression—except when he looked at Dahlia, when his narrowed eyes softened slightly, revealing a hint of a smile.
“Hey, Percival. I mean—” Dahlia’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. I waved her off.
“It’s all good, Dahlia. You’re part of my mate’s family, so no need to call me by my new title.” I smiled as she stood and hugged me tightly.
Her cute green eyes looked up at me, sparkling with concern. “So, have you… talked to her?”
I shook my head, feeling a wave of anger rise up as I heard Jack grunt beside me. My frustration poured out in waves, and Dahlia instinctively backed away a bit, shooting Jack a playful smack on the back of the head.
“Ouch! What was that for, lady?!” he protested, turning to glare at her.