Chapter 47 #2
Grimacing, I scratched the back of my head. I’d been so wrapped up in the drama with Castro and trying to convince Liza that we should perform the mating ceremony that I hadn’t given much thought to the logistics of becoming alpha.
When the alpha retired, he and his family moved out of the estate house and into the smaller family home. It was still on the same land, but it was a less grandiose home that sat on the other side of the property.
“You know, you guys don’t have to move out. You’re welcome to stay here.”
Dad pushed away from his desk and walked around it to stand in front of me.
His lips turned up into a small smile as he reached out and patted my cheek.
“Yes, Ty. We do need to move out. When you take over, this will be the place for you to grow and eventually start your own family. It’s where you’ll begin your legacy.
If your mother is in this house, she’ll just railroad Liza and want to keep running things her way. ”
I groaned. “She’s going to want to run everything her way, anyway. Might as well do it from within the estate instead of from a distance.”
Dad chuckled. “Change is scary for everyone, especially your mother. She’s a creature of habit who finds solace in the familiar.
It was scary when we became king and queen, and it’ll be scary for us to step down.
But don’t forget that you have a voice, too.
You can make your own decisions and shape your future however you want to. We just want the best for you, always.”
I grinned, enjoying the side of Dad I didn’t see often in my life. I supposed aging and seeing his time as alpha coming to an end had left him feeling a little more nostalgic and sentimental than normal.
“I want you to know that I’ll always be there for counsel, son. You don’t have to do everything alone once you take on the alpha position.”
I sighed, a surge of emotions overtaking me. I stood and pressed my forehead against his. My wolf rumbled with recognition of not only our alpha but our sire.
An hour later, Liza arrived just in time for the pack run. I met her at the front door and scooped her off her feet. Tucking my face into her neck, I inhaled her scent, then kissed her deeply.
She giggled. “Wow, what a welcome.”
I curled my fingers in between hers. “Most of the pack are already here, but I wanted to talk to you about something before we join them.” I led her to the small parlor, where we took a seat near the fireplace. “I spoke with my mother today, and I get the sense she’s feeling a little left out.”
“Really? Why?”
“Well, she feels like you’re involved in all of the important meetings regarding Castro while she’s left on the outskirts, not knowing what the hell’s going on.”
Liza sat back and stroked her thumb over my knuckles. “Does she blame me? I don’t have any control over who attends what meetings. If it were up to me, I’d say she should be in every single one. It involves her just as much as it does me. Why leave her out?”
I shifted in my seat. “It’s not that Dad wants to keep her in the dark, per se, but he’s trying to protect her from the stress and anxiety.
It doesn’t help that Dad told her they need to start moving their belongings to the other house on our property to make it an easy transition when you and I take over. ”
Liza’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t thought about that. So, essentially, we’ll be kicking her out of her own home?”
“Well, yeah, but that’s just how these matters are handled. Custom dictates that the retired alpha and his mate move out so the new alpha can… raise a family in the larger house.”
“What should I do?” Liza lowered her voice to a whisper. “I don’t want your mother to hate me.”
“She doesn’t hate you,” I said, rubbing her arm. “I do think it would be a good idea for the two of you to get to know one another better.”
Liza glanced across the hall into the dining room, where Mother was directing the staff on how to set up the buffet table. She turned back to me. “Are you sure she even wants me around? I don’t want my presence to piss her off.”
I sighed because, honestly, I wasn’t sure.
Liza was going to be my mate whether or not Mother liked her, and while it was important to me that the two of them got along, Liza would always come first. “I think it would be good for you to learn some things from Mother while she’s still in the queen’s role.
She can give you a better idea of what’s expected from the mate of the alpha.
It would also be a chance for you both to get better acquainted, and maybe give her the opportunity to warm up to you. ”
Liza shrugged. “I’ll give it a shot, but I need to run first. My wolf is feeling angsty.”
I kissed her gently on the lips. “Then, we shall run.”
I led Liza to the clearing, which was already empty. The rest of the pack had shifted while we were talking inside, so we quickly stripped and shifted. Liza nudged me, allowing me to take the lead.
I took off at a breakneck speed, racing through the underbrush and dodging trees. Liza kept up with me, barely a few paces behind. We eventually settled into a comfortable pace, running and leaping all around the Keller property.
After running for about an hour, Liza nipped at my heel and nuzzled my neck before darting off back toward the house. She was done running and wanted to take some time to chat with Mother.
Not wanting her to run by herself, worried that Castro could be around any corner, I followed her back to the clearing. Once she shifted, I watched from the woods as she walked up the path to the back door.
I wasn’t done running. My wolf needed more time to rid ourselves of this anxious energy. Sensing Dad was close, I followed his scent and found him sitting alone near the creek.
Dad’s wolf was massive and strong. Much larger than everyone’s, including mine. Only another alpha, however, could sense the change in Dad’s aura. The pack might notice a slight change but not the full effect. His aura might seem softer to them somehow, but it wouldn’t alarm them.
When it got to a point where they couldn’t sense anything from him at all, that was when worry would settle over the pack’s members. Luckily, they couldn’t see the alpha fading from him. It was only a matter of time, though.
I slumped down next to him and stared out over the water reflecting the moonlight. I understood why Dad had chosen this spot to rest. It was peaceful.
The worry radiating from Dad’s wolf was overwhelming. We both knew that this could possibly be his last full moon as the alpha.
I had told Bryce that Dad had a few months, but the slump in my father’s posture indicated that the weight of the alpha was becoming too much for him. He was doing his best to hold on, to wait for me to mate with Liza, but time was running out.
I pressed in close, our fur blending as I sent comforting waves to him. I didn’t want him to worry.
It was a defining moment. With unwavering determination, I decided I would claim Liza by the next full moon.
I needed to prove to her that our connection was destined—a bond that surpassed all others—and when that time came, I would accept the alpha power from Dad, symbolizing the passing of the torch and taking my place as the head of the pack.