So we reach the penultimate chapter! I seriously thought this would end at chapter 15 but I got a little carried away LOL! It's been quite a rollercoaster ride with this one and I'd like to thank all of you for being along for that ride. You've been brilliant!
The Epilogue will post in approx 3-4 days time! It's a longish chapter and the last I will post in 2010!
Enjoy!
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Rafe watched the slow gathering from the comfort of one of Caleb's very comfortable sofas. He was tense but more in an excited way than a nervous way. This morning he had woken to the feel of the Alpha bond stretching inside him, reaching out almost like tendrils and wrapping around the members of his newly forming pack.
He was astounded to realise that the tendrils were already in place with Lacey, Aaron and Jen. He had never noticed them before, never realised that his deep feelings for the three of them was actually the Alpha bond already in place.
He had lain beside his mate, searching the links within him, feeling first the three mated vampires though the bond there was fragile, not the same as the full Were bond. Then slowly he felt Loretta join him, then Ashleigh and finally Cedar. It had felt amazing and also very humbling. He was now responsible for all these people. It was now his job to take care of them, to ensure their safety above everything else.
At some point during the night he had finally surrendered to the inevitable. Instead of just saying the words, that he was an Alpha, he had finally accepted it and believed it allowing the pack to start forming. It didn't feel half as restrictive and frightening as he had always believed it would be. No, it felt right.
The meeting at Caleb's had been convened for five o'clock. That would give them enough time before they all headed over to the Vampire Council chambers at Caleb's request. So far Caleb's sitting room was filled by Mara and Demetri, Caleb and Rhianna, Jared and Millie and himself and Lacey.
Aaron had wanted to come too but Rafe had told him to stay with Jen. There was no sense in taking his mate into a situation which could become dicey very quickly. She didn't have the protection in pregnancy that Loretta did.
Rafe was still stunned at the news that Loretta's child had survived. It was a miracle and opened up many questions about just what a hybrid child would be. Questions no one had any answers to because it was all so new. It would be an added challenge to his new role as Alpha but it was one he was willing to take on.
Nors arrived just then, shaking him out of his reverie. He was cradling Ashleigh in his arms, Freya a mere footstep behind him. Rafe's keen gaze took in Ashleigh's face as he rose, striding over to meet them half way. She was pale but her eyes shone with brightness, her breathing sounding strong. She was healing it was obvious to see and his concern immediately lessened.
"Alpha," Ashleigh breathed softly, confusion but also delight shining in her eyes.
Rafe smiled gently, reaching out to stroke her cheek lightly. The little blonde had followed Lacey around after the death of her family, keeping apart but always in her shadow somewhere. Before Nors had come to claim her and heal her mental wounds. He had always felt a special connection with her and he was overjoyed to see the life and vitality in her eyes. He knew what she'd been through, not once but twice now.
"There is no greater honour than to have you in my pack, Ashleigh," he answered gently. "You bring strength and bravery, love and great joy. The pack is a better place just having you in it."
Ashleigh smiled tremulously, tears filling her eyes but they were tears of joy. She felt as if she was finally coming home. Rafe's love surrounded her, soothing the need of her wolf as Nors' love soothed the need of her soul. She was part of a family once more, a new family that would love and cherish her forever.
Rafe's eyes turned to Nors, seeing a frown on the big man's face. It had been decided not to say anything to the vampires until all were present. The Weres would know of the change because they felt it inside but the vampires would need careful handling.
"Is her healing going well, Nors?" he asked quietly, allowing his voice to convey his respect and gratitude for saving Ashleigh's life.
Nors' frown smoothed out and he nodded slowly as he turned his adoring gaze on his mate. "She's strong and resilient," he rumbled deeply. "She is doing just fine."
"She is right here and can answer for herself," Ashleigh remarked with a little snort of annoyance but she smiled too knowing they were both just concerned about her.
"Men," Lacey laughed softly, coming to join them and kissing the other woman's cheek lightly. "We're so proud of you, Ash. We're so lucky to have you in our pack."
The emotions almost overwhelmed Ashleigh but she smiled through her tears, stroking Nors' chest soothingly as he started to get agitated. He wasn't quite adept enough at discerning the difference between happy and sad tears.
Loretta and Andrei arrived just as Nors was settling Ash down on the sofa beside him, Freya flanking her other side protectively. Rafe took one look at Loretta's face and smiled widely as she stared at him with a rueful smile. She bounded across the room and threw herself into his arms.
"Don't you ever do that to me again, Rafe Hanlon!" she barked out though she was laughing as she said it. "You just about gave me heart failure this morning. Andrei was ready to commit murder I got into such a state!"
She pulled back to smile up at him her eyes shining brightly. "About bloody time you stopped all this 'I'm not an Alpha' nonsense. Though what I've done to deserve being drawn into your pack, I have no idea!" She was teasing with the last, excited about the prospect of being part of a new pack.
He threw his head back and laughed loudly, ruffling her hair in the way he knew annoyed her so much. She looked amazing, full of health and vitality, not a sign of what she'd been through the night before. "You'd have bitched like hell if you'd been left out," he countered still laughing.
His face sobered and his intent gaze met hers. "You're good?"
She smiled widely nodding her head. "I'm good, Alpha," she answered softly, her eyes alight with joy as she turned to look at Andrei hovering close by. He shared a smile with her so full of love that it was almost painful to watch.
Loretta detached herself from Rafe and hugged Lacey tightly. Her new Alpha Bitch returned her warm greeting whispering quietly in her ear, "You will bring the first child into our pack, Loretta. A treasured gift for all of us."
Beaming under the approval of the Alphas Loretta rejoined her mate, laughing when he chose a chair to sit in and pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her slowly, his hand resting against her stomach and then he settled her against his broad chest and waited for his brother to arrive.
It didn't take long for Cedar and Alexei to complete the meeting. Like Loretta, she immediately raced to Rafe, hugging him tightly as she all but hummed with excitement.
"You've completed the mating," Rafe said with a rueful expression on his face, remembering when he had been told not to mate with Lacey but had done so anyway. He remembered Jared's fury that day and his rebellion against it. He could understand Jared's position now but he couldn't really fault Cedar's disobedience when he had done the same himself.
She grinned cheekily at him, her expression totally unrepentant. "You can't say anything about that," she quipped lightly. "My Alpha told me I couldn't mate but Jared's not my Alpha anymore."
Lacey burst out laughing. "She's got you there, Rafe."
"I wasn't going to say anything anyway," he grumbled softly, his face splitting in a wide smile. "I take it everything went well though." He knew that Cedar would have been in a lot of pain during the process and he ached for that but she appeared fine, positively glowing in fact.
"Rafe, I'm fine so chill out," Cedar laughed, giving him another hug and then returning to Alexei who had chosen to sit on one of Caleb's oak tables. He pulled her up until she sat between his thighs, her back resting against his chest.
The others had remained quiet, giving the new Alphas time to greet their pack members. Once everyone was settled Jared rose from his seat beside Millie. "I don't have a lot to say so I'll just get it over and done with," he began, feeling Millie reach up to take his hand. She knew how hard this was for him and her touch soothed the ache he felt inside.
"It's been my honour and privilege to be your Alpha. The Hanlon pack will be greatly diminished by your loss but the Armand-Hanlon pack will be strengthened by your gain. We will miss you all greatly. You will always be welcome at the compound, always welcome on pack lands with no questions asked." His deep blue gaze took in the three women and then included the three vampires.
The wolves knew the trust he had just given to their mates. They nodded silently, smiling at the man who had lead them for so long, kept them safe from harm, gave them direction and love, support and protection. It was sad to leave the Hanlon pack but it was also exciting to be starting something new.
Jared returned to his seat, wrapping his arms around Millie and kissing her lightly to soothe his sorrow a little. He knew they would be fine but he loved the three women so much, was so used to being their Alpha that he wondered if the little hole he felt inside himself would ever fully heal.
Rafe turned to them again, eyeing up the three vampires with an intense expression on his face. "Loretta, you asked what you'd done to deserve being a member of my pack," he said keeping his gaze fixed on Andrei. "Stand up," he ordered quietly, his voice laced with command.
Startled gasps filled the room as all three vampires immediately rose to their feet, a look of confusion crossing their faces.
