“You okay? Wait, dumb question,” she murmurs, shaking her head.
“I’m fine,” I reply, my eyes looking around the garden at thepack members. Somehow, I feel comfortable here. I have gotten used to all of them. A life that isn’t meant for me. I exhale slowly, placing my hand on my stomach.
Give me the strength to remain strong… I am a fighter, not someone who succumbs to another.
“Zu…” I turn to her, my eyes flashing silver with a surge of strength and confidence.
“I’m fine, Song. Stop stressing. I may not have a crown, but I’m a fucking queen, and I sure as hell can handle anything that comes my way,” I reply, frowning deeply, my eyes blazing. I am, and I am not going to let anyone break me. She smiles.
“That’s the Westwood Devil I know.”
I give her a smirk just as Marcel stands up. Winona hurries over to him, passing him a box before Marcel takes it and turns to everyone.
“Azura.” I turn my attention to him as his eyes find me, and he smiles. “I just want to say thank you for being here with us tonight, and gracing us with your presence -“
“Yes, thank you, Azura!” Corrado adds. “We love having you here!” Several people chuckle as Marcel lifts his grandson into his arms.
“I’ve loved being here, too,” I reply, trying not to get emotional. I will have to break his heart, too… I can see Leo sitting there like the arrogant jerk he is from the corner of my eyes.
“Then stay forever, okay? You won’t even have to cook,” Corrado offers, smiling brightly. Sorry, baby, I can’t promise that…
Marcel’s smile falters, almost as if he can read my expression. I force a smile, but the moment he returns it with a sad one of his own, I know he knows. Knows that I’m not going to stay…
“Thank you for everything,” he says quietly. Our eyes meet, and I don’t reply, breaking eye contact. He looks down at the box Winona has brought and opens it with one hand, placing
Corrado down as the little boy peers into the box.
“Ooo,” he says dramatically, only piquing everyone’s curiosity.
“I know everyone probably doesn’t want to hear me rambling on and on, but there is one final thing I want to share with you all. Something important. My real reign as Alpha started roughly nineteen years ago… when we were freed from the reign of terror inflicted upon us, by one whose name I won’t mention tonight. Nineteen years later, this pack has thrived. Despite everything we went through, we are now a normal pack with everything we could have hoped for. I’m sixty now; damn, I’m getting old.”
“Not that old, Alpha! You still look amazing!” One of the middle-aged she-wolves yells, whilst everyone agrees, making Marcel smirk slightly.
“Thank you.” Yeah, like I said, fine wine…
“He is so handsome,” Song whispers, making me smile slightly as I nod in agreement.
“Well, I still think I want to just sit back and just spend time with my grandchildren now… and so, tonight, I will pass that title to my son, Leo -” He stops, his gaze turning to Leo, who is looking at him sharply. They are conversing through the link.
“Daddy will be Alpha!” Corrado says excitedly.
Yet I don’t feel good. Despite the excitement that is rippling through the garden, something between the look of coldness in Leo’s eyes and the confusion in Marcel’s, tells me things aren’t going as planned.
“Now I know why there’s a special knife,” Corrado adds. My heart thumps as Leo stands up.
“Leo…” Marcel begins, unable to hide the sadness and hurt in his voice.
“I don’t need the title to be Alpha. I no longer fucking want it. Keep it,” he says coldly before he turns and walks away, leaving a shocked silence in his wake.
A Disappointing Failure
Marcel
The evening that I hoped would go well has gone downhill. Both Leo and Azura had returned soaked from what was obviously a dip in the pool, but, with it, their moods had gone down. Not once did they even talk after that, obviously avoiding one another.
I am now ready to make the announcement to pass Leo the position of Alpha, a title he deserves, and one I wish I had given him years ago.
“Well, I still think I want to just sit back and just spend time with my grandchildren now… and so, tonight, I will pass that title to my son, Leo -“
Stop. What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Leo’s voice is harsh as he speaks through the link, his eyes flashing when our eyes meet.
Giving you something I should have years ago, I replied through the link.
It’s too fucking late to fix that shit. I told you I fucking forgive you, but I don’t want it. Don’t do this.
“Daddy will be Alpha!” Corrado’s voice comes, but Leo’s wordshave shaken me. “Now I know why there’s a special knife.”
Leo, you deserve this.
I said I fucking don’t want it, he replies venomously, and I am taken aback. Leo stands up, his demeanour cold and hostile.
“Leo…” I don’t know what to say. This isn’t how tonight was meant to end…
“I don’t need the title to be Alpha. I no longer fucking want it. Keep it,” he says coldly, staring me dead in the eyes before he turns and walks away, leaving complete silence behind…
I don’t know what to say, unable to ignore the pain I feel. I can feel all those pairs of eyes on me as I slowly sit down again. The hope I felt that maybe things could be better has just come to an abrupt end. Raj is making conversation, and he soon manages to replace the shocked silence with the hum of chatter.
“Grandad… why did Daddy say no?” Corrado asks.
“I’m not sure, son,” I reply, patting his back as Winona comes over.
“Come on, Corrado, do you want to go to the dessert table?” She asks him. I glance at her, grateful that she has come over, and she gives me a small smile.
He’ll come around, Alpha, she says through the link as she helps Corrado down from his seat.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply