“Father? Are you serious?”
Alpha Gabriel chuckles lightheartedly. “Of course, I am. Hunter displayed some invaluable leadership skills last week, and witnessing it had me realize that perhaps it's time to pass the torch. You two are married now, anyway. Hunter will make an excellent alpha for this pack. There is nothing else left to do or wait for. I might as well take an early retirement.”
“That's what I told him,” Luna Layla chimes in with a giggle. “Gabe dedicated his life to being this pack's alpha. We didn't really have the time to travel or do things we would have wanted to do.”
Delilah smiles at her mother, tilting her head to one side as her parents gaze at each other with love in their eyes.
I reach for Delilah's hand and give it a gentle squeeze. She squeezes back, and I realize it's the reassurance I need, because I'm going to be filling her father's shoes very soon.
I have my work cut out for me, I know that. Apart from becoming this pack's alpha, there's still a dark warlock out there who's after my wife and any witch with ties to the coven that took him down the first time around during the Blood Moon War. We're doing everything we can to track him down and hunt him before he comes for us again, but we've had no luck finding him yet.
“Another thing that convinced me that Hunter will make a good alpha,” Alpha Gabriel continues, “is his love for my daughter. I know I doubted you before, Hunter Black, but you've proven that the sacred true mate bond conquers all, and from it, only love can thrive and successfully lead this pack. It doesn't matter that you are not a royal nor an alpha-blood, but the Moon Goddess chose well for our daughter.”
I purse my lips as I bashfully look down, honored to have the esteemed alpha’s approval while also having the support of my wife, my mate.
“Speaking of royals…” Luna Layla begins, and I lift my eyes to find her watching me with a knowing glint in her eyes. “Prince Hastings of Estonia is marrying a princess from Barbados, an alpha wolf from a tribal pack on the island.”
“Wow! That's amazing, and such a relief…” Delilah breathes out as she quickly flicks a glance at me. “I'm glad he's getting married and finding his own happiness.”
While Delilah's parents agree with the sentiment, there's a flicker of suspicion that passes through me, but I decide to let it be.
At least until Delilah and I are back home.
As dinner goes on, Alpha Gabriel and Luna Layla tell us about their plans to induct me as the alpha and Delilah as the luna of Shadow Fang in an official ceremony during the next full moon.
A blood moon in September is an ideal time for this, and Delilah's parents joyfully make plans for the ceremony. Eventually, dinner comes to an end, and Alpha Gabriel excuses himself to attend a meeting with an ally pack.
“Soon, you'll be the one attending all the meetings,” he chuckles.
“You're gonna have to teach me all your ways, Alpha Gabriel,” I muse in response, and the older man clicks his tongue.
“Nonsense. You'll do great, Hunter. Besides, everyone seems to like you,” Gabriel commends with a pat on my back. “You'll have no trouble making the right friends in the right places. It'll come in handy when you're hunting down that warlock. And I have no doubts that you will handle that situation well.”
I nod and glance at Delilah. “Of course, Alpha Gabriel. My priority is to keep your daughter safe, as well as every werewolf in this pack.”
Gabriel smiles thoughtfully, approval in his eyes. “This is exactly why I like you, Hunter,” he chirps as he leaves.
While Luna Layla accompanies her husband to his office, Delilah and I take our leave and head to our cottage, my minddwelling on the flicker of doubt that sparked when the prince was mentioned tonight.
“What's wrong?” Delilah asks with a measured frown as she steps onto the porch and turns to me.
“Nothing,” I shrug, but Delilah cocks her head to one side and narrows her eyes at me as if she clocked that something is bothering me.
“I might have a lot going on right now, with Gwen and everything, but I know when something is bothering you,” she comments, prompting me to fold my arms and lift my head to meet her fixed gaze.
There's no point in hiding anything from her.
“At dinner, when your mom brought up the prince, you were acting strange. Relieved to hear that he's getting married.”
Delilah arches a brow at me, her eyes twinkling with slight mischief. “Is that jealousy I'm sensing again?”
I scoff dryly as I roll my eyes. “Jealousy? Hah! That's ridiculous! I have nothing to be jealous about! I don't even know why—”
Suddenly, a smooth, long finger presses against my lips to stop me as Delilah’s bemused giggle lights up the air.
“You are cute when you're jealous,” she titters as she removes her finger from my lips and wraps her arms loosely around my neck.
“That’s not what you said last time,” I point out as I settle my hands on her waist.
