“What? How do you know?”
“I just do. You should, too, but there has been a lot going on and you probably aren’t listening to yourself like you should.”
She frowned and said that she was thinking that something felt different. “But I thought it was just being a shifter. Ever since I found out and started shifting, it is like my body isn’t mine, anymore.”
“You are carrying our child, Sarah.”
Sarah smiled and Harold was able to see that she wanted it just as badly as he did. Harold didn’t think he wanted kids. He had really thought that after being banished, he would never get what he wanted again. It was just going to be him, a loner. Now, Harold had the family that he always wanted. The rest of it didn’t matter, not really. As long as Sarah was by his side, that was all that he cared about.
Harold heard a knock on the door. It was a heavy knock, and he knew that it was his father. It was time for him to pay for his crimes. Harold knew it was coming. It had to be.
“Stay right here, Sarah. I have to take care of this.”
Epilogue
Sarah
Six Months Later…
“It is with the greatest happiness that I can finally send my son out into the world as the Alpha of the pride. I know that there was a time that I wondered if I would ever be able to do it and the answer is yes. Finally, Harold is your new Alpha, and I can spend the next few years doing nothing. You have all worn me out.”
There was a bunch of laughing, though no one thought it was that funny. Harold’s father had almost run himself into the ground, working to forget about all that had happened and all that he had lost. Harold didn’t understand it, but he’d told Sarah that he knew that he would do the same thing if he was ever going to lose her. Harold had made her cry with the sentiment and now, looking up at her new Alpha, she felt proud to be his wife and mate for life.
The ceremony was done a few days after they had arrived. His father had insisted on it, and it was just as grand as the changing of titles as well. Everyone was there to welcome Harold to his rightful place.
“But seriously, my son has gone through many trials, and we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but he has always done everything with the pride in mind. He is the reason that we’re all still here, his vigilance through the years. I am not going to say that it has been easy, but I am glad you have finally found your place, son.”
There was cheering and everyone was trying their best to be louder than the next. Sarah was amazed at how loud it all got, like a dull roaring in her ears. She was overwhelmed and so was Harold. He had a tear in his eyes, and she had never seen him so emotional.
The ceremony lasted a little while longer, Harold shifted and everyone cheered even louder. Harold seemed to grow right in front of her eyes. He had always been larger to life to her and now it was even worse. She was shaking inside by the time it was done, hopeful that no one could see what was going through her mind. She didn’t want them to know.
She was prepared for the party that was going on afterward, but Harold had other plans. He gave her the same look he had given her when they were mated. The look of need was hard to ignore and she turned away.
“Harold, there are lots of people here and they are here for you.”
He shrugged and took her hand in his. Harold was the new Alpha, so he got everything that his father had once had, including a wing of the castle. Sarah was practically running to keep up with Harold and his iron-grip on her.
“Why are you rushing along like this, Harold? We’re going to be out of breath before we get there.”
“If we slow down, we’re not going to make it.”
Sarah could hear the tension in his voice, and she asked him if he was okay. Sarah pulled his hand from hers and said that she wasn’t going anywhere until she knew what was going on.
“My beast wants you.”
“I thought you had it under control.”
He growled at her and started to drag her down the long corridor. Sarah’s heart was racing, but she didn’t like the way he was dragging her around. She pulled her hand out of his again and told him that he had to calm down.
“I can’t, Sarah. I…”
He started to kiss her, pushing her back against the wall. Sarah’s senses were suddenly full of Harold and the need that was choking her out. She could feel it all the way to her toes and the desire for him was quickly overwhelming.
When he started to pull her skirt up, his hands dragging it upward slowly, Sarah didn’t try to stop him. She didn’t care that they were in the hallway. There were people talking not too far away, so Sarah tried her best to not call out when he entered her. She failed, though.
Harold was bigger in all ways and even as she had fought with the size before, now it was impossible. She gasped at his entry that wasn’t all that soft and slow. He was slamming in moments later, and she was left calling out and coming. It came over her so quickly. Sarah was smiling as soon as the first one came over her and she continued to like the way he felt as he kept going. She prodded him on, but it didn’t help. Harold was in the zone and two people walked around the bend and saw them, then backtracked with red faces out of embarrassment.
“We need to get out of here, Harold.”
