Joe shakes his head. “Our loyalties lie with Anders. You are Anders’s daughter, so our loyalties lie with you.”
“Joe, I can’t ask that of you.”
“You didn’t have to,” Anders says. “They came here on their own. Why don’t the two of you find a place to set your belongings, and I’ll meet you in front of the pack hall.” he suggests to the two men.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Anders.
He shrugs. “I moved back home.” He lowers his gaze. “I wanted to live near you. I hope that’s okay.”
I tsk. “This place is more yours than mine. You shouldn’t feel as if you need to ask.”
“It’s not mine. It’s yours. It was left to you. And thank you for allowing me to live here. I needed a place to stay, now that I no longer work for the Emerald Guard.”
My eyes widen. “What the hell are you talking about?! Anders, you cannot leave the guard! They need you!”
“My daughter needs me more, and besides that, I hoped that the Alpha Princess would hire me as her new head guard.”
My jaw drops. Did I just enter a crazy town? “Have you lost your mind? Anders, there are no guards to lead! Were you not involved in that argument several hours ago?”
He chuckles. “Okay. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself just a little. Why don’t you come with me?” He motions for me to follow him. Narrowing my eyes, I reluctantly do.
As we approach the pack hall, the entire Whitemore pack and at least twenty-five Emerald guards gather outside, including Sixes.
What’s happening?I ask her through our link.
She smiles.You’ll see.
Miller walks away from the pack toward me. He rests his hand at my back and hurries me along until I stand in front of everyone. He raises his hand for everyone’s attention. They quiet down. Some of the pack members hush the younger children.
“Princess Jessica G. Langhlam,” Miller boasts, “you have been named as successor by our Alpha Agnus Whitemore, the sixth-generation Alpha of the original Quartz Pack, ruler of the seventh territory. Do you accept this position?”
I scan the crowd before me. I must look like a hot mess in an oversized hoodie and yoga pants, not to mention I spent the last two hours bawling my eyes out. Who in their right mind would want an Alpha who can’t keep their shit together? We’re doing this? Now? Couldn’t Anders have let me use the bathroom first?
Can you stop overthinking everything and just say yes?Odyssey chastises in my head. I look among the guards and find him with the pack.
What are you doing here?
Answer the question.
Fine!I clear my throat and turn to Miller. “Yes.” I cringe at the intensity of my voice ringing out.
Soft lines crinkle around his eyes in amusement before he nods his approval. “Is there anyone here who disagrees with this decision made by our former Alpha? State your concerns now and rise to challenge.”
I swallow. Challenge? Anders simply stares ahead. After a few moments of silence, no one speaks. No one issues a challenge.
Miller continues. “Very well. If there will be no challenges, for those of you who do not want to live under the leadership of the Alpha Princess Jessica Langhlam, you may choose to leaveand live out the remainder of your existence without a pack. Do so now.”
No one moves. Not even the children utter a peep. I continue to survey the crowd.
“Very good. Now swear your allegiance to your new Alpha Princess Jessica G. Langhlam.”
Everyone, from the entire pack to the guards, including Anders, Sixes, and Miller, fall to one knee and place their right hand over their hearts. With a determined look, they lock eyes with me as I observe each shifter. Tears begin to well as I navigate the rows. Friends I formed through my bond with Alpha Agnus. Pieces of my chosen family. Brothers I acquired through the guard recruitment program. We trained together, fought side by side. I would do anything for them, even cross enemy territory borders to rescue them. My eyes rest on Alexis. His smile radiates pride and reassurance. In unison, they all recite, “We swear to you our loyalty, faith, and allegiance for as long as you shall live.” They bow their heads in submission.
My heart swells from their unwavering loyalty and love. An electrical pulse begins in my solar plexus. With the next beat, a radiant white light erupts from my core, elevating me slightly off the ground. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, allowing the light to envelope me completely.
Alpha Agnus’s voice echoes in my mind.Welcome home, Alpha Queen of the Lunar Solar Realm, Alpha to the white wolf shifters. Make us proud.
A surge of white light emanates from my hands and my feet, rising up and out through the top of my head. Like a beacon, light shoots skyward.
