The Luna's Alpha
Chapter 36

"Gentlemen. As we have an open position with the death of Elder Bram, I propose we fill his seat with Micco Denton. All in favor?" I look around the room as all the members are in favor. "Any opposed?" No one raises their hand. "So ordered. Micco Denton will henceforth be titled Elder and will join in the council meetings."

Elder Potts raises his hand. I nod to give him the floor. "Gentleman. I think it's time I step down from the Elder's council. I'm old. I want to be with my great grand pups in Oregon."

"Elder Potts, I'll be sad to see you go, but I understand the need to be with your loved ones. I propose a vote of thanks to Elder Potts for his service to this pack." Ayes are heard around the room.

"I suggest Ben Morris as our new Elder." Elder Nunez supplies. He's been much happier since Stone's death four days ago. Miriam, Stone's widow, recognized him as her true mate. She's torn because she loved Stone, but she never knew the truth about Nunez, however, Stone was aware and never told her.

It's drama like this that I'm grateful for Tess... and Indy. I have had a few issues withing the pack already that needed to be settled. "All in favor of Ben Morris joining the Elder's Council," I ask. All hands raise except Elder Potts for he is no longer on the council and therefore does not have a say. "Any opposed?" None. "Thank you, gentlemen. I am cutting this meeting short as I'm needed elsewhere." The males all chuckle, but I rush out the door and back to my family at the clinic, informing Micco and Ben on my way.

When she woke up after the surgery, Tess was pretty freaked out. It took a whole day of her going in and out of consciousness for her to be calm enough to stay awake without freaking out. It was a lot for her to grasp, but seeing my body healed helped. My thigh is as good as new. Justin was able to give me a few drops of Tess's blood to put on my shoulder, which healed it faster than I'd ever seen. I still have a few scrapes that Tess has been tending to, but they're pretty well gone. Now that my scent is back to normal, I've been able to keep Tess calm.

I stop short at the most beautiful sight; Tess is in her rocking chair beside the little plastic crib, and my tiny newborn son Nicco James Johnson is latched to her breast and suckling away. I could hold him with one hand. Tess smiles up at me as I step closer. "How did it go?" She asks.

"Micco and Ben were elected as the new elders. Potts stepped down, he's going to Oregon. How is my mate and my son?" I ask as I kiss her hair.

"I'm healing. He's perfect. Justin said he could come home tomorrow."

I'm shocked. "So soon?"

"Mhmm. He's a healthy weight and he's eating."

"He's so tiny," I whisper as my thumb glides across his soft dark hair. Hair the same color as Tess's. Nicco's hair is sparse, but definitely there. His cheeks are soft and round, reminiscent of bulldog jowls. His skin is still the red of a newborn. "He's 6 pounds now." She informs me.

"Wow. He gained 7 ounces in 3 days." That's my boy.

"He's strong, like his daddy."

"It probably helps that he's a wolf-like his mommy." That's right, my son has a wolf. I honestly didn't care either way, but I am truly relieved he does have a wolf and is not labeled a runt.

Tess scrunches her nose. "It can't hurt." She pulls Nicco from her breast and then hands him up to me.

Placing a receiving blanket under him, I hold him to my shoulder and pat his back until he expels the gas in his little tummy. My hand held sideways covers the entirety of his back and little bum. "How was the breastfeeding?" This is the first time she got to breastfeed since he was born. When he was born, he had to have a tube to help his lungs, they were not fully developed.

"It feels weird, but I prefer it to the pump."

"It's beautiful to watch."

A knowing smirk grows across her beautiful face. "You just like my breasts."

I cock my brow. "I'm not denying that."

Tess giggles and adjusts her top, taking that perfect view away. "My breasts are off limits until he's weened." She shudders. "You sucking on my breasts while there's milk in there is just weird."

"Aw, come on..." I pout. "Can I at least hold them?"

With an eye roll and a soft chuckle, she moves on to other topics of discussion. "Anything else going on with the pack?"

"Giselle and Griffin stopped me on the way to the meeting this morning. They said Slate is healing. He hasn't decided if he's going to back or not, but he thinks the cabin is too generous of an offer, but it's fine. I actually prefer having it as our little getaway." Nicco is asleep so I lay him in the plastic crib.

"Did they say anything about returning to the pack?" Tess asks, her eyes on the crib as she reaches in to hold our sleeping baby's hand. Pup! Pup. I still gotta get used to that.

"No, not yet."

"Mommy?" We both turn with smiles on our faces as Willow hesitantly walks forward, Micco just behind her.

"Come meet your brother, Sunshine." I hold my hand out for her and she skips forward. Her nose barely reaches the bottom of the crib so I pick her up to let her look in. "He's so cute! Can I hold him?" She asks, hopeful.

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"You sure can, but you have to sit in the chair." Tess gives her permission and Micco brings a chair over for her to sit. Tess carefully places the sleeping bundle in Willow's arms and she softly kisses his head. "This is Nicco James Johnson. Your baby brother." I feel Micco become overwhelmed with emotion, so I peek in his direction. He gives me a nod. Nicco has been in the NICU since his birth, and I've been staying with Tess, so this is their first time meeting him. Willow wipes away some leftover milk on his face. "I love you, baby Nicco." She whispers, but we're close enough to hear her. "He's going to grow big and strong like Daddy, but I'll teach him how to be nice." Willow offers. Tess smiles. "You're the perfect big sister. He loves you too, we can feel it."

After enough time, Willow grows antsy. "Grampy your turn." Willow kisses Nicco's head once more, and then Micco takes the baby into his arms, a soft smile on his lips. Micco's large hands cradle the length from his head to his bum. Tess pulls Willow into her lap.

The four of us converse quietly until Nicco begins to squirm and a sickly smell scrunches all of our noses. "Not it." Tess calls out. Damn it.

"Willow, how about some lunch?" Micco takes Willow's hand and after goodbyes, leads her away.

"Can we get pizza?" I hear her ask just before they leave.

Tess readied herself to feed Nicco and I place him in her arms once he's changed. After switching breasts, Tess's eyes begin to get heavy and I feel her exhaustion through our bond. I place Nicco into his crib. "Come on, Darlin'. You need your rest." I scoop her up and carry her to her bed. Justin is letting her stay at the clinic to be with Nicco.

---

"Willow, remember to come to the kindergarten gate after school, Sunshine. Grampy will pick you guys up after school."

"I know, Dad. I remember." My eleven-year-old with an attitude rolls her eyes, just like Tess does." I squeeze my mate to my side in affection. Tess looks up at me and rolls her eyes. Willow walks away to the middle school side of the building. I grunt, between the two of them, I'm fucked. At least I have my little man on my side for now. We'll be outnumbered as soon as Tess delivers our next pup. She's due in three months and we're having a girl. Aspen Jessalee. "Daddy, push me on the swings," Nicco calls from across the small playground.

"Magic word, Nicco?" Tess reminds him.

"Please, Daddy." He grumbles out. I chuckle before walking across the playground to push him on the swing. Tess takes a seat on the bench and the kids play until the bell rings for them to line up for their first day. I give Nicco a hug and watch on as Avery leads the tots into the building. She took a chosen mate in Prentiss not long after I became the Alpha. Prentiss took my place as the medic at the school.

Holt and Val have two pups. He's still my best friend and I know he has my back. He and I worked out a program to exchange single male wolves in the hope of replaceing their mates. Silas and two others found their mates in Holt's pack, Silas decided to stay there because of past history with Tess. Parker also went in search of his mate and he found her in a human outside of Park City Utah.

The Council made new declarations regarding humans; while werewolves are still adamant to keep their secret, they are required to bring their mate into the pack to meet the Alpha prior to mating. Some Alphas are opposed, but hopefully, their minds will change over time. Human mates are becoming more and more prevalent, and because of this, some of our older singles started traveling the country.

Runts are now given a status among the packs, even without their wolf, they still carry the gene, as the Council learned with Willow. Before, the parents would leave their pack and live among humans. We have two runts in our pack now, but I still cringe at the awful term.

Jared and Naomi come by to visit every chance they get. I've offered them a home in our pack, but they still have Naomi's family there. Also, they love their home too much.

Slate and Giselle have rekindled their mating and are happier than they have ever been. Griffin has grown quite a bit. He was humbled by his experience with me and he's more easy-going without the pressure of his grandfather. He's become my enforcer and trains with me and Donny on a regular basis. Shortly after I became Alpha, he left to go after his mate whom he rejected prior to my joining the pack. No one knew at the time, but she was human and he was scared she would be put to death. He rejected her while she was asleep and ran off. I learned that he would occasionally check in on her, which is why he was out that day when he chased me down. Amelia is now part of our pack and works in the clinic with Maeve.

Maeve is still her bitchy self. I don't mind her as long as she doesn't do anything to piss anyone off, plus she's amazing at her job, it's the only thing she really takes pride in. She got ballsy enough to ask Micco out, but he politely turned her down. I let him tell Tess about that.

Micco and Ben spend a lot of time fishing which means we all spend a lot of time eating at Ben's house. Life has been blissful for the most part. I had two challenges within the first year of becoming Alpha. Neither wanted to submit to a human and unfortunately, I had to do what I had to do. The two males are no more and an Alpha from Councilman Brook's pack is short a Beta. (He was the one that gave Tess the most shit during the hearing.) When the council found out about his interference, he was removed from the council.

"Cody, we're going to be late." Tess reminds me.

I smile down at her. "Sorry, Darlin." I kiss her head then hold her back as she waddles out to the truck. We're meeting with pack members with any issues. After that we need to adjust the guard shift as two of my guards are going to Holt's pack next week. Later, Tess has an appointment for an ultrasound, which is why Micco will be picking up the kids.

"No problem, big guy. I love you."

"I love you more, my mate."

The End.