“Alpha Caelan, I must ask you to reconsider,” Butch begged. “Sunny will make an excellent luna. She’s been training for this her entire life. We need this alliance. Without it, Dark Moon will tear us apart. Alpha Huxley won’t stop until he’s gained control of our pack.”
Of course, that was all that he cared about. Even after everything that happened tonight, his only concern was how it would affecthim. I was starting to doubt that he’d heard a word that Shade had said.
I shook my head, shocked by this man’s commitment to his hatred for his own flesh and blood. He was too wrapped up in what this meant for himself and Sunny to care about the daughter that he’d just cast aside.
If he took his head out of his ass for a minute, he would’ve noticed the way I’ve been acting toward her. His daughter will be my mate. Just not the one he had hoped.
“Our alliance still stands,” I assured him, though my tone clearly indicated that I wasn’t happy about it. “Harvest Moon will still aid Thunder Moon, but this is only because I am taking your daughter for my luna.”
“B-but you said you were dismissing her,” he sputtered.
“Shade is still your daughter, whether you acknowledge her or not,” I growled. “I will honor our alliance for her sake. Thunder Moon will have the protection it needs because of her.”
“Shade?!” he questioned, his face twisting in disbelief. “You want to mate with Shade?!”
“Very much so,” I confirmed with a confident nod. “Shade?!” Sunny screeched. “You’re picking that mangy freak over me?! I’d make ten times the luna that she would. She hasn’t even had any training. She’ll be useless to you. All that she’s good for is fighting, and without me, she’s basically worthless.”
A menacing growl tore past my lips. I hated hearing anyone talk about Shade like that, especially the sister that should have stood by her side, not looked down her nose at her.
“Sunny, I swear to the Goddess, if you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll find someone to shut it for you,” I warned, glaring at her. “I won’t tolerate this behavior toward my mate. Shade will be my luna, which means she’ll outrank you. You will show her the respect she deserves.”
“B-but…I…,” she stammered, her mouth gaping open like a fish.
“Shade is my fated mate. I’ve known it since the welcome dinner,” I asserted, pulling Shade against me. “I wouldn’t take another for any reason. Especially not one who would treat her own sister with such disdain.”
Shade’s body molded against mine like two pieces of a puzzle fitting seamlessly together. I leaned in, taking a whiff of her scent to soothe my nerves.
“This can’t be happening!” Sunny shrieked, throwing her hands up in a full-blown tantrum. “I knew you would find a way to ruin this for me, Shade. Just like you always ruin everything. You knew I wanted Caelan! That I deserved this! But you had to take him from me just like you took Mom!”
“ENOUGH!” a deep voice boomed, causing everyone to freeze.
I turned to face my father, who had used his commanding influence to take control of the situation. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, people listened.
“Sunshine, you will cease behaving like some rabid rogue right now. Butch, I’m very disappointed in what you’ve become.” He glanced at me. “Caelan, if Shade has agreed to be your mate, then I suggest that you gather her belongings, and we get the hell out of here.”
Sunny whimpered, immediately running to her father for support, but Alpha Butch didn’t open his arms to her as he had before. He glared at her, his disappointment written all over his face.
Sunny had failed the one mission he had entrusted her with. For once, she would feel what it was like to be in Shade’s place.
I followed Shade to collect her things, everything she owned fitting in a pair of suitcases.
“Shade,” I murmured. “I’m sorry that things went this way. I was hoping for something different for your sake. I know this is your home, and it’s going to be hard to leave—”
“This hasn’t been my home in a long time, Caelan,” she interrupted. “My home is with you. I think it always has been.”
I smiled in relief, my chest swelling to hear her say those words. “Well then, let’s go home.”
We walked hand in hand out of Thunder Moon’s pack house, each carrying one of her bags as my parents followed behind us. We didn’t bother to look back when Alpha Butch called out or when Sunny started to wail at the top of her lungs.
I called for my warriors to return to the vehicles, and we piled in quickly. I got Shade settled before going to my mother’s door and gathering the two items I’d asked her to grab as we left.
I was about to climb into my seat when Alpha Butch came stumbling through the front door.
“Please, Alpha Caelan,” he pleaded.
“Alpha Butch, I don’t believe that we have anything more to say to one another,” I replied cooly. “If Dark Moon attacks, you may get in touch with my betas. Otherwise, I don’t expect to hear from you ever again.”
And with those final words, I slammed the door in his face and shut him out of our lives.
