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"You know Carly would want you to find happiness again, right?" My chest tightened to Joaquin's question. Of course, he'd known what my mind was on. He was the first person to rush to my apartment to comfort me when I heard the news and broke down sobbing. When I blamed the world, Fate, her piece of shit ex, and myself, for her death.
"Yeah," I croaked out. "Is this your way of telling me that I should mate with Rosie?"
"I didn't say that. What I am saying is that you shouldn't let what happened with Carly stop you from settling down again. Whether you choose Rosie or someone else."
"Rosie sure is something. You and the twins are lucky to have her." Without thinking, I reached over to him, grabbing hold of his wrist to inspect it, remembering how they looked when he was still chained in one of the basement cellars. "I meant what I said back there. I really am sorry for being an ass to you both."
"I know you are," Joaquin said. "You don't have to keep apologizing. What matters now is that you're here with us, and Rosie and I are reunited again." He looked down at the tender flesh of his wrists, darkness swimming in the depths of his gaze as he recalled his time in the cellar. "For a while, I didn't think I was going to live long enough to see her again."
"But you never gave up."
"You wouldn't let me," he countered.
"Not a chance." I let go of his wrist with a chuckle. "You picked a fierce mate to love. I think I understand what it is you and the twins see in her."
Joaquin smiled at the thought of his love. From that alone, you wouldn't have been able to tell if he and Rosie were fated or not. The way his face lit up, like Rosie hung the moon herself, was evident enough that Fate’s decision wasn't absolute. That you could still find happiness in someone who wasn't born to be your soulmate.
The two of us looked ahead when we heard tires crunching on gravel, seeing Rosie's truck pull up. Perfect timing. She stepped out with Rowan and Kai in tow. Joaquin wasted no time meeting her halfway. Beaming, she jogged over to him until they were embraced in each other's hold. The sight caused a tugging in my heart.
I was jealous, no denying that, but was it because Rosie wasn't mine, or because I missed having someone to hold and love? Or maybe it was both. I waved my hellos to Kai and Rowan as they stepped inside. When Rosie and Joaquin pulled apart, I stood in front of the steps to greet her as well.
"It's about time you made it back, Alpha. You know you have a pack meeting that you scheduled tonight?" I asked softly.
Rosie rolled her eyes. "I'm aware."
Then she pulled me into a hug that surprised the hell out of me. I stood there with my arms frozen in midair while hers were around my waist. I wondered if she could hear how hard my heart was beating in my chest. Slowly, my arms wrapped around her, pulling her tighter into me. Her scent enveloped my nostrils, like fresh cut roses, lavender, and sunshine. It was a scent I could find myself addicted to if I allowed it.
When we pulled apart, I looked at her questioningly. "Uh, not that I didn't enjoy that, but what was with the hug?"
She tapped on her chin to think about that before shrugging one shoulder. "I don't know. It just felt right."
That it did, little alpha. That it did.
"All right, lovebirds, break it up." Joaquin clapped his hands together. "We've got work to do before the rest of the pack shows up. Rosie, you should check on your grandmother in the kitchen with the other cooks. Byron, you can help me get the bonfire going."
"Sounds good to me," Rosie said, walking passed me when I stepped aside to let her go inside the lodge. The lingering effects of her hug still warmed my insides. If only she knew how much I needed that. She probably did.
The next two hours were spent getting last minute tasks done just as people started showing up. Music was playing through the speakers inside with all the doors open. Once it was dark out, Joaquin let Roxanne use her fire magic to light up the bonfire. People started huddling around, talking, and waiting for the moment when Rosie would arrive to address the crowd. I scanned the many faces, mentally cataloguing who was here and who were missing. Surprisingly, there was large number of shifters who seemed okay with switching sides. However, I did notice a handful that were at the first meeting but weren't here tonight. They had to have been the ones who rooted for Reginald during his challenge with Kai. I'd have to round up the betas to make sure those individuals vacated Kingsrose immediately.
Suddenly, the music was cut off and all eyes were on the doorway to the lodge. Slowly, Rosie stepped closer with Rowan at her back. My mouth parted slightly at the sight of her barefoot and wearing a white, long-sleeved dress that hugged her frame in all the right places. Her dark hair was curled and styled to resemble a crown. The light of the fire latching onto her frame warmed her olive skin. There was only one word I could think to describe her in that moment. Enchanting. A vision of moonlit beauty.
Her presence made the shifters stand in a straight line in front of her, dropping to their knees and bowing their heads. She took the steps slowly, her eyes trained forward until they fell to the men who loved her. She gestured for them to rise, and they did, standing off to one side of her, while I and the rest of the betas that made her pack crowded the opposite side.
"She's beautiful," I heard Thomas whisper to one of the others. There was a murmur of agreement while I looked on, proud of how far Rosie and her men have gotten. The next chapter of their lives was unfolding as she took her place, both as an alpha, and a queen.
"I want to thank you all again for being here tonight," Rosie began. "I know our last meeting took an unsuspecting turn, but I trust you were all able to make a decision that was best for you and what you believed in. I'm not going to stand here and pretend like I have all the answers. I don't. I'm following a path that was given to me and doing what I feel in my heart is right. I did that when I first rejected Pierce as my mate. I did it again when I left in search of escape and answers. Now I come back after hearing of your alpha's sick plans, and prepared to fight not only for your lives, but for the lives of the humans living in Kingsrose. The ones who wouldn't be able to defend themselves."
She turned her head to where her mates were, adding, "Almost three months ago, I was told about the Legend of the Wolf Moon. How every generation, a shifter born under it would be chosen to form the strongest pack around. One that comprised of mates that were selected by choice, rather than Fate, and those who would choose to fight alongside us. During my journey, I also discovered the truth about Mother Moon, Selene, and her relationship with the first wolf pack in existence. They were lovers. They were humans who swore to stay by her side even when Fate tried to tear them apart. Fate created a curse under the New Moon that was meant to force the pack to fight against each other. When Selene saw what was happening, she tried to set her lovers free."
Rosie stepped forward, her movements causing the thin material of the dress to flow like a gentle breeze. She strode through the crowd, eyeing each and every face as she continued the story. "Her men wouldn't hear it. They chose to fight until the bitter end, for their lives wouldn't be the same without Selene at their side. Selene understood their determination, and thus called on the Wolf Moon for power. The power they needed to combat the curse of the New Moon. A power that was blessed to me, and to those who came before me. You saw it yesterday, the marking on my forehead. The power that exuded from it. That is the gift that Mother Moon created. One of its traits, is what you saw from that man over there."
She pointed to Rowan. "The power to shift into a Lycanthrope. A werewolf, with more power than both our human and wolf halves could muster. It also grants the bearer full immunity from any and all influences, including an alpha's aura, a witch's mind control, and yes, even the influence of a fated mate bond."
As she spoke, I could see the realization forming in the faces of the crowd. Many of whom were putting the pieces together, forming a clear picture on what was happening. Perhaps they were also seeing what I saw when Pierce was here. That if he had a power like that at his disposal, we were all fucked.
Rosie walked back towards the lodge as she wrapped up her speech. "Your alpha, hopefully your would-be former alpha, knew of this tale. He knows of the gift inside me and wants to use it to control all shifters in the world. To be number one. He's going so far as to kill anybody that stands in their way, including pack members who are loyal to him. If Pierce or whoever he's working with steals this power, we're all doomed. I made it clear last meeting that I'll do everything in my power to stop him. My mates, my friends, and these betas, have already sworn their loyalty and their alliance to the Kingsrose Renegades Pack. Now I ask that of you guys. If you're willing to put your faith in me, I promise to put an end to Pierce's reign of terror once and for all. It won't be easy, and with war comes casualties. It would be foolish of me to say that everyone will make it out of this alive. That's not realistic, and I'm sure you guys know that just as well as I do. What I can say is that we'll keep fighting until Pierce is dead at my feet, and his army is broken down. I asked you all to take the day to think about whose side you would be on. Mine or Pierce's. Judging from the fact that you're all here, I'm assuming you've all made up your mind. If you still choose to join me, then kneel and prepare to speak your oath. If not, you may take this time to leave."
We all held out breaths as we waited for the final verdict. The crowd hadn't moved for a few seconds, and it was starting to concern me. But then, one guy dropped to one knee, exposing his neck in show of submission. Then another. And another. And another. Next thing I knew, everybody was kneeling and exposing their necks. Nobody changed their minds. I let out the breath I'd been holding, amazed at how confident Rosie seemed with talking to the pack this time around. The nerves from before hadn't appeared. Rosie took the time to step in front of every shifter, listening their vow of loyalty, and welcoming them to the pack. Her mates, the co-alphas, stepped in to assist.
