Dad had asked if I was ready for the next step, for the powers to be handed down to me. I was.
It was fucking time for me to become the alpha.
62
TY
Ipaced the floor, my heart racing in anticipation of the upcoming ceremony. A mix of excitement and anxiety surged through me as I imagined the shifters arriving from all corners of our territory, gathering together to bear witness to the transfer of the alpha power from my father to me.
The ceremony itself might be short, but as with anything where my mother was involved, it would be nothing less than a grand spectacle.
I cracked my knuckles. “Damn it.” I couldn’t believe how nervous I felt. I had no doubts about taking charge. I was more than ready for this, but it was a monumental moment, and one that would change everything, not just for Liza and me and my parents. This impacted the entire pack.
The impending ceremony was making my stomach churn. I hadn’t even received the powers yet and the responsibility was already bearing down on me. The ticking clock only made me more nervous. Seconds felt like an eternity.
“Get a grip, man,” I whispered to myself, shaking my hands to get rid of my nerves. My fingers flexed, then balled into fists, releasing some of that pent-up tension.
Everything was about to change. For a moment, I allowed myself to get lost in the enormity of it all. As the future leader of our pack, I’d been groomed for this moment my entire life. I knew what was expected of me: strength, control, and fierce loyalty. But there were also personal goals I hoped to achieve, such as a lasting peace among the packs and a safe haven for those who needed it.
Tyson Keller, Alpha. The words echoed in my mind like a mantra, calming the storm brewing in my gut, providing a sense of purpose and determination.
I tapped the top of the desk in Dad’s—my—office before moving to the window and staring out at the spectacle below.
Mother barked orders and pointed this way and that as the staff put the finishing touches to the setup. “Did you not listen to my instructions? The black tablecloths do not go over there. They are for this table.” She huffed and slapped her hand on the tabletop. “This will be Liza’s parents’ table. They’re special guests, so they get the black tablecloth. Understood?”
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the staff. No one was more familiar with being scolded by my mother than I was. The staff’s eyes were downcast, their shoulders slumping as they stood there, unable to look her in the eye. She had a low tolerance for anything that wasn’t done to her exact standards, and if she thought they weren’t being done correctly, she could be a real bitch.
The whole thing was a circus. A damn over-the-top spectacle. The finest linen tablecloths and napkins adorned each table. Silverware and crystal glasses were placed at each seat with red roses and green ivy draped over every surface imaginable.
I didn’t want to think about the money she’d spent on this because I had a feeling it was astronomical.
My gaze shifted to the two golden thrones placed prominently in the center of the backyard. I took a deep, shakybreath, letting the significance of them wash over me. This was fucking it. Go time.
A hand touched my back, and I nearly jumped a foot into the air.
“Hey, there.” Liza’s voice was like soothing honey on a sore throat, and I relaxed into her touch. She pressed against my side as we both stared down at the scene below.
I held her close, burying my nose in her hair and breathing in her scent. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
Liza chuckled. “Don’t you think it’s a little too late to back out now?” She tilted her head toward the bite mark on her shoulder.
Memories of that night came rushing back. I’d replayed our mating several times since it happened. It was the best damn night of my life. When Liza took my bite, the electricity between us had shot straight to my core.
My heart beat faster and all I wanted was to kiss her again. “I want you more than anything in the world,” I whispered, cupping her face in my hands and leaning in.
Our lips met for a brief second before we both pulled away. Our desire for each other was unsatiated, but right now we had bigger things to worry about than our carnal desire.
Liza grinned, and I took in the magnificence that was my mate. She was a beautiful woman, but there was an extrasomething. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but ever since she took my bite, something was different about her.
I touched the tip of her nose with mine. “What’s different about you? Ever since I claimed you, there’s been a shift. I don’t know what it is, but it’s a good thing.”
Liza smiled. “Peace will do that for you. I’m at peace with the choices I’ve made because I know they were the right ones to make.”
She stared out the window, watching Mother put the final touches to the center pieces. “I’d always wondered about my lifebefore…” She was quiet for a beat, staring off into the distance. “I always knew pieces were missing. Now I know who I am and where I came from. I know I was loved, and everything else is miniscule.”
I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Do you feel confident that you can lead by my side without the past burdening you? Because that’s the last thing I want… you having an extra load to carry as the wife of the alpha while still being consumed with what happened to your parents.”
Liza’s lips curled into a grin. “My biological parents are gone. I can’t change that, and there will always be a part of me that misses them and wishes they were still alive to see the woman I’ve become. But I’m fortunate to be loved beyond measure by the parents I was given, and I’ll always be grateful for that. So, yes, I’m a little different because I finally know who I am. I’m Aliza Mims, but I’m also Aliza Wylde. And soon, I’ll be Aliza Keller. And this is who I was meant to be.”
