Alpha Zander
Epilogue 2

I stand at the end of the aisle in front of a room full of hundreds of people, the majority of whom I know. I know most of my pack and most of the Alphas and Betas who accepted today’s invitation.

Dad made a point of inviting nearly everyone to Ash’s Luna ceremony. Guess he was finally over all of the grudges and is ready for a new beginning.

Jace is bouncing around in my head, anticipation to finally see her. Danni is next to me, buzzing with excitement. This kid, it feels like he’s always a ball of ,happiness. He and Eric adore Ash, and I couldn’t have chosen anyone better to help protect her and be by our side in leadership.

Her family are here except for her uncle and aunt.

I’m glad her mother and father were able to come today. I could feel how happy she was through our bond. She was f*****g ecstatic when they arrived this morning.

Oliver and Brent are sitting next to Kylie in the front.

Brent looks a little uneasy, but Oliver doesn’t seem to mind anymore. He’s been back here a few times and has met several different people working with us to get stuff sorted out between our packs.

It’s funny to think that we once hated each other’s guts. Now we can somewhat have a decent conversation and be in the same room without ripping each other’s heads off. Things might not yet be resolved with her family, but I hope that one day they will be. After all, both of our packs can benefit from an alliance. Oliver seems more than willing to join up, it’s just his father that is in the way at the moment, and maybe with time, things will turn around, but for now, we just have to let it all settle down and give him time to come around.

My palms are all clammy, and my body feels numb.

I’m excited, don’t get me wrong. But I never thought we would have been able to pull off this thing in a month.

With Ashleigh’s Luna ceremony happening, Ellie suggested why not combine the wedding and Luna ceremony, so with not seeing my mate the last 24 hours mind and body are a mess from missing her too much.

“Breath, son, there’s no need to be nervous,” dad tries to reassure me by clasping a hand on my shoulder.

“Who says I’m nervous?”I mumble back. He raises a questioning eyebrow and chuckles. He’s right, though, I feel f*****g giddy. I keep on fidgeting, and no doubt he can smell the nerves rolling off me.

The soft music of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’ starts playing, and the doors open as Chloe and then Skyla starts to walk down the aisle in white sequin dresses.

My heart thunders in my chest as I wait for her.

Everyone stands as she walks toward me.

Thump. Thump. Thump. s**t, I think I forgot how to breathe.

She looks like a f*****q vision as she comes into view … everything melts away, and it’s just her. A royal blue dress with a full skirt and a low-cut neckline, it’s simple but elegant at the same time. Clutching a bouquet of white wild daisies. Her hair is long and half done up in the hairpiece I gave her. I don’t even want her to make it down the aisle. I just want to throw her over my shoulder and have my way with her.

I unconsciously take a step forward before Danni puts a hand on my shoulder, stopping me from moving further.

“She’s coming to you, man,” he laughs softly.

Her father holds her tightly as he walks down the aisle with her, helping her not to fall over.

Her scent engulfs all around me as she stands next to me. She leans in and gives her father a quick hug and a k!ss before passing him the bouquet.

“Hi” she whispers, smiling softly at me.

“Hi, sweetheart, you look f*****g amazing” I whisper back as l rake my eyes over her beautiful body. AIl I want to do at this moment is pull her close and give her a k!ss.

She looks f*****g stunning

The music quiets, and Dad clears his voice before starting, drawing everyone’s attention. Usually, the ceremony is done by a council member or pack elder but as the pack’s Alpha, dad is more than happy to officiate.

There are also several council members and elders here today to witness today’s ceremony.

“Today we are gathered for a very special occasion.

My son has found his mate!” dad’s voice rings through the room, smiling at Ashleigh and 1.

I wasn’t expecting the eruption of cheers and happiness that came from my pack and her family beaming at us as dad waits a few moments for it to quickly die down before starting again.

“As his mate, she must accept her place in this pack and vow to fulfil her duties.” Dad continues, smiling at us.

Over the last few weeks, they have grown closer. I am so thankful that dad put aside his old grudge against her previous pack and accepted her. In doing so also becoming another father figure as he shows her the ropes to what her new role will be.

“Ashleigh Kylie Steward, do you willingly accept your duty as Luna to this pack, and it’s Alpha as your mate?”

Ashleigh nods confidently as a smile breaks out over her face “I do.”

“Do you swear allegiance and loyalty to this pack and willingly take on the responsibilities as Luna?”

Her eyes meet mine as I give her hands a tight squeeze in reassurance. She is more than ready for the role she was born for. “I do.”

“Do you swear to put the needs and safety of our pack members first and foremost above anything else and treat them with the love and care as you would your own child?”

Again her response is, “I do.”

Each time she responds with more and more certainty, our bond flows through us with love and affection, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.

Jake passes dad a small dagger placed on a black cloth, “Having sworn your allegiance to Charwood pack, now for the b***d tie and pack link.” Dad gets the blade first and slits it across his hand, making a cut.

Ashleigh releases one of her hands from mine and holds it out in front of dad, offering her own b***d as a sacrifice. Dad pulls the blade across her hand, making the same identical cut as his before grabbing her hand in his and joining her to the pack. Their b***d mixes as he holds her hand.

I feel the surge of power pour over me and our pack members for something that we haven’t had in years. A missing piece that we never knew was so important.

With a proud smile, dad releases her hand and turns to the front, “Before we come to the end of this ceremony, I have one more announcement.” I whip back around to face him. He didn’t tell me anything else was happening. Panic starts to set in as I think of all the possibilities that could happen.

“These last few months Zander and Ashleigh have stepped up to their role more than l could have ever imagined. Therefore today, I have made the decision to step back from my role as Alpha and pass the title to my son and his mate.”

Wait… What!?

I stare at dad, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. I’m sure | look like a f*****g i***t right now. Way to announce something and not give me a heads up.

‘ You deserve it son, now more than ever. I am so proud of who you have become. l’ll help transition the next few months, but from here on out, you are the Alpha of this pack,’ he says through our link.

So many emotions flow through me, and I’m in complete shock that dad was so willing to pass it to me.

I was honestly thinking I had to wait a few more years.

Before I knew what was happening, dad held out his hand to grasp mine and to make a similar cut to his and Ashleigh’s holding our hands together, he binds our b***d and says.

“I, Alpha Wyatt Dane Blackwood of Charwood pack, hereby relinquish my title as Alpha and pass it to my son, Zander Wyatt Blackwood,”

My mind is still trying to comprehend as I hear him say these words, I don’t even know how to process this.

‘You have to accept the title, son. Trust me, you are more than ready:’ Dad encourages through our link “I, Zander Wyatt Blackwood, hereby accept the title of Alpha for Charwood pack.”

“Do you swear to protect your pack first and foremost before anything else?”

I nod slowly. “I do.”

“Do you swear allegiance and loyalty to this pack and willingly take on the responsibilities as Alpha?”

As my mind and body begin to accept that this is actually happening, I nod confidently.

“I do.”

“Do you swear to uphold the rules and traditions of this pack?”

Again I nod, “I do.”

Dad breaks out with a huge smile as he releases my hand and turns back to face the crowd.

I feel the surge of power move through me, as I say the final vow, linking me completely to the pack as Alpha.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce your new Alpha and Luna of Charwood, Alpha Zander Blackwood and Luna Ashleigh Blackwood.”

If I thought the cheers before were loud I was wrong, the room exploded with cheers and congratulatory happiness.

Everyone stands and claps as I pull Ashleigh in for a deep k!ss, something I’ve been wanting to do since l laid eyes on her.

I grab her hand, and she happily follows me back out of the hall. I spin her around before bringing her into another k!ss.