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I nodded, wondering if that was what seemed odd about everything, or was it just me again? Waiting for something to happen that wouldn’t.
I did as asked. I took a deep cleansing breath and pulled in the scent of the wooded crisp air that had a hint of my mate with it. He was my rock. My calm. It didn’t hurt to have his strong arms wrapped around me.
I could do this. I slid my hand over the dress that wasn’t on loan or someone’s cast off. I forced a smile, but it felt less forced as I thought about the fact this wasn’t all a dream. This dress was one of a handful brought in from a designer that worked with the pack, and I got to choose just for myself. Just for this event.
Nothing about tonight could be related to my past, except for the wolves that now would bow at my feet. The dress I’d chosen, it wasn’t bright red like the blood that Cripple Creek had made me bleed far too many times. No. It was deep crimson, like the blood moon. A rarity.
This was my moment.
Too bad my brain was still catching up. The crowd shuffled, and the Black Creek Pack started to form a circle around Devon. No, Devon and myself. There were hundreds of them. Even small pups joined this time. My old pack, if I’d ever truly been one of them, was small and dwarfed. Why had they seemed so much larger when I was a servant there?
I lowered my voice. “I always thought there were more of them.”
Devon took my hand. “Although some left and some remain behind, this is still nearly all of them. Most were happy to be rid of the old alpha.” I watched as they looked up at Devon and tried to remember what he looked like when I’d first arrived.
Handsome, scary, and bigger than any male wolf I’d ever seen.
“Cripple Creek Pack is no more as of tonight. You are now part of the Black Creek Pack, and as such, will have our protections to live your lives as members of our society.”
I watched as one-by-one they came up to us and met my gaze before bowing. Did they know? Did they even care? Were they all as much of a slave as I had been? The pack was aging. Only a handful of females of mating age appeared and maybe a dozen or so males that could be fighters and protectors.
“Is this all of you?” I asked.
The male nodded and stepped back.
“What about the others?”
Devon took my hand and brought my knuckles to his lips.
“There were only two girls that claimed to know you and were servants. We allowed them to return to their packs as they requested.”
I nodded in some mechanical response. We hadn’t been friends, not really, but I’d always wanted to tell them goodbye.
I know which packs, if that is your concern.
I met his gaze.
I will learn to hide my emotions better.
He smirked and pulled me closer.
I would hope not, mate.
A shift in the crowd stole our attention.
A ghost of a female took hesitant steps forward. She faltered in front of two of the Black Creek Pack giants.
“Nessa?” I said, my voice breaking into a high-pitched squeal.
She didn’t say anything, but she came in front of us. Her hands bound in front of her. I looked from her, to the guards, to Devon.
It took everything inside me to contain the shake of my body, my soul. I hated her so much, and yet? She looked weak and even if I wanted to rejoice in her demise, something deep within me hated that. I hated that I wanted to hate her, and I hated that I couldn’t. What had happened to her?
“The female wants to pledge her loyalty to Black Creek.”
I looked back at her. Devon remained silent as I walked forward, the dress billowing out as I moved.
“Nessa? Why would you do that?”
