50 - Alphas

50 - Alphas

~Rafe’s Point of View~

“You can’t think about it like that babe, that’s not at all what being a Luna is even if it might be what my mom made it into,” I whine, stroking my thumbs over the tops of Hannah’s hands.

My sexy mate practically stares daggers at me. Her feistiness will literally always be something I treasure. Parker and I both need a female that’ll push back on us and everyone else too. She huffs and pulls her hands away, then stuffs them into her hair.

“Nobody is any better than me. I don’t need some title,” she snaps, between moving her fingers in a way I couldn’t even imagine. I’d never really watched a female braid their hair before but it seems impossible. Yet she does it like it's as easy as breathing.

I move to her back and kiss her bare shoulder.

“Well… I’m biased,” I whisper, between kisses.

I practically feel her skin warm with my touch and of course, I’m instantly hard. Not only is she just sitting in her bra and panties, but she’s just showered and smells only of her. Crisp, fresh and floral. But also of course, Parker and I.

My hand falls around her belly and strokes it. She slowly turns her head up to me and I quickly find her lips. They’re soft and warm and right now exactly what I need. Well, on the way to it anyhow, but there is only time for this.

Hannah doesn’t even remotely see herself for the absolute badass that she is, and it doesn’t seem like she wants to be reminded of it. If she wants to be treated like a normal female, that’s what I’ll give her.

For now.

“Don’t be starting the party without me,” I hear, and pull back just enough to look at her eyes and then her cheeks as she blushes.

I turn to scowl at my brother as he rolls in, sitting in a wheelchair. While our healer has been hard at work doing all he can, unfortunately Parker is still going to need a lot of time to get better on his own, and a lot of physical therapy. It’s nothing compared to my father, who lost a leg and has a spinal cord injury.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Hannah says with a smile, still holding my gaze. I reach to stroke her cheek and then kiss her forehead.

“Let me help you into your gown,” I say, standing upright and running my hand down the front of my nice crisp collared shirt. Parker is dressed the same, and I’m sure my mom will be thrilled. It’s probably been two decades since she got away with us being dressed like true twins.

“The last time I wore a gown it didn’t end so well,” she mumbles, as she gets up and grabs the dress.

“Well fat chance of any raids happening today. Half of the Barclay warriors that were heading for Nevada are here. The rest went on to storm the brothel and see what they could find. But those guys should be here later today, or tonight,” Parker says, as I try to figure out the zipper.

“Yeah most of the guys are hoping they’ll come back with a mess of females who don’t want to stay there,” I laugh, shaking my head. I more than know Seth and Pax are clinging to that hope.

Hannah makes a face of surprise but shakes it away. I help her into the gown that fits her like a glove and then stand back to admire her ass in it. Parker gives a low whistle of approval.

“Good thing you’re already marked. I wouldn’t let you out in that with unmated males around,” Parker says, and I agree.

She turns and blushes again and it is hard to imagine that this delicate looking gorgeous female has a very terrifying and blood thirsty beast just beneath her surface. Though it fills me with a massive sense of pride no less. It kills me to think I nearly let a fake wanna-be in Cassandra be the mother of the pack. But I can’t think about that now. Her and Robert are still locked up and I’ll deal with them another day.

Hannah crawls into Parker’s lap and they begin to frantically make out. I want to tell them to cool it but I know he needs her affections right now. He’s been through more physical pain in the last couple of weeks than anyone should have to bear. It’s going to take a lot of patience to share Hannah, but seeing the smile he puts on her face is enough to settle Cruz and I for the time being.

Let’s do this!! We were born ready, my wolf cheers.

I grab the handles on the wheelchair and push the pair all the way to the packhouse, which is no easy feat. They suck face the entire time too which didn’t help matters.

We finally reach Seth who has his arm in a sling, and Pax who has a nasty gash on his face.

“Chicks dig scars and I’m definitely gonna have one,” Pax laughs, just as I stop.

Hannah and Parker are literally still sucking each other’s tongues as if there aren’t a dozen people staring.

I approve, screw them if they’re miserable and unhappy, Cruz laughs.

I break away and do the Alpha thing, greeting people and asking how they are doing after the craziness of last night. Everyone is in good spirits, though the clean up of all the bodies was a gruesome task. We’re going to hold funerals tonight too and I hate that it’ll be my first task as Alpha. Well, we don’t like to call them funerals; they’re a celebration of life. A life sacrificed for their families and their pack.

Running a pack isn’t always roses, dad made sure to instill that in me. When I find Scarlett I hug her close and tell her how pretty she looks. When I find Oscar and Oliver, seemingly annoyed that they’re dressed up, I pat both of their heads.

“Thank you for looking out for Scarlett,” I whisper, just in between both of their heads. What I’m not expecting is how both of them immediately dart their eyes at her from about twenty feet away. They both look back at me.

“We may have gotten in over our heads already with that one,” Oliver says, shrugging. I can only laugh.

“Well if you want to learn and practice reading, she’s your girl,” I tease, knowing they won’t get the joke.

After a few minutes, one of the pack elders calls for everyone to sit and he begins to recite from our pack book. The story of how we came to be, how Nightwind formed in the actual dead of night, during a storm. Hannah sits between Parker and I, and we both hold her hands.

“And so it was one of the darkest and coldest midnights on record. There weren’t many packs in this area at the time, really only a few small ones. Including a band of ten males that called themselves Midnight Run. The storm seemed to come out of absolutely nowhere, catching the males off guard. They fought the wind and did all they could to secure what little belongings they had. But it was far too great a blizzard, and it brought with it more than the elements.

A large pack of leopards snuck in, smelling their food and desperate. Their wolves fought bravely and with all they had but it simply wasn’t enough. A lone Chamberlain emerged that night as the sole survivor, and though he hoped another pack would have pity and take him in… instead they celebrated his strength and grit. Hailed him for his ability to survive what no one else could.

It was soon after that, that Nightwind was born. Tonight is not only a celebration of the sacrifices made in the name of continuing our way of life, but a thanks to those who braved the impossible so that we might stand here now.

We honor our fallen heroes and pray that their souls may finally rest. A new dawn is upon us, a new time for our people. But I have every confidence that the new generation will not only carry the load but they will be able to find the balance necessary for us all to prosper. With a kiss from the Goddess herself, we also welcome our new friends and ask that the winds of the night favor them as well,” he concludes, as three females move next to him and begin what we call our fight song. Everyone who can leaps to their feet and practically yells it, loud and proudly.

Since Hannah doesn’t know the words, she stands but just gapes at all of us like we’re crazy. I loop my arm around her, and pull her close.

Once we’re all fired up, several males wheel my father on his hospital bed to the front. He’s sitting up but the pain on his face from doing it is evident. He’s got tubes in his hand and his nose. He’s still struggling to breathe on his own.

No Alpha would ever want to be seen as weak like this, and I have to imagine that has a lot to do with his decision to change leadership as soon as possible.

Everyone instantly bows their heads in the presence of their Alpha.

“Forgive me…” he says, and my head immediately jerks up. I can’t help myself, my feet are moving. Then I’m at his side, taking his hand.

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I say, though I don’t know who he is directing it at. It doesn’t matter.

My father has literally always been my hero, though he was tough it was what I needed. Hannah moves Parker in his chair to my father’s other side and we both take his hand.

“One of the hardest things a father can ever admit is that his sons no longer need him. I say sons because Scarlett is never to be trusted to her own devices,” he says, as everyone laughs. My eyes immediately find my sister and while I might expect her to pout, she’s only got an absolute look of pride on her face.

She’ll always be a daddy’s girl no matter what.

“We’ll always need you whether you think so or not,” Parker says, nearly taking the words out of my mouth.

Cruz curls into a ball in my mind, and wags his tail intently. It’s very hard to see the great Alpha Reign in a hospital bed, unable to do much of anything for himself. But as long as his heart beats and he has his voice, he’ll always be mighty.

“I never imagined I’d be passing the reins on to both of my sons, but it’s fitting. You came into this world together, you’ll lead and love together,” he says, as my mom appears with his dagger. The crest of our pack is forged in iron on the handle. One tall wolf, mouth open and ready to sink its canines into one of the many leopards at its feet.

“Rafe and Parker Chamberlain, do you both swear with all that you are … to always put the pack first? To always lead with both your heart and head to not only defend our pack but our way of life and those who cannot stand for themselves,” he asks.

“I do,” we both say, as we lock eyes with each other.

Pax appears out of nowhere, and helps Parker to his feet. Normally, the Alpha would slice his palm and that of his successor to join blood but in our case we both need to join his blood at once.

“By the power vested in me through those in Nightwind who call me Alpha, who look to me for answers and guidance I hereby pass the torch to my sons so they may be the guides we need,” my father says, as he quickly slices the back of each of his hands, then puts the palms together.

My mom reaches to take the dagger, and slashes my palm then Parker’s. We both press our palms to the back of his hands and my mother leans in to hold them all together.

My father projects his aura on us, and I close my eyes. Cruz jumps to his feet eagerly in my mind and does all he can to not work on healing us.

“And to Cruz and Crush, may your teeth be sharp and your paws be mighty. May you lead your masters with strength and the confidence befitting an Alpha wolf,” my dad says.

A surge of energy jolts me, nearly making me jump but I hold steady. I open my mind and let his power roll over me in waves. When I open my eyes again, I feel … empowered. I feel stronger, I feel like I can do anything, and the pack goes nuts. Seth is at my side raising my free hand, and Pax raises Parker’s.

“Long live our Alphas,” Seth shouts, and the cheers are nearly deafening.

When my eyes finally find Hannah’s, I’m not sure what to expect. But when I see her face beaming with pride, it’s everything I want it to be.