Unknowingly Adopting the Alpha (Groove Vale Pack #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Jeremy

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that I’d been chosen as Alpha, but I couldn’t get Milo’s disappointed expression out of my mind.

Yes, my little brother had always wanted to be chosen as Alpha.

It wasn’t automatically the eldest child who was chosen, rather whoever our father thought would be best suited for the job.

Being Alpha was something I’d wanted, too, but it wasn’t as if my life would’ve ended if I hadn’t been picked.

Seeing how Milo reacted yesterday at the news, I could safely say that he felt differently.

His hopeful eyes had turned dull, followed by a mask of indifference, but not before I’d seen the hurt flash through them.

If I’d even considered rejecting the title, which I wouldn’t, it would show father that I disagreed with his choice, and that would bring shame to his name as former Alpha.

I couldn’t let my father down, not ever.

I would become the best Alpha this pack had ever seen.

I just hoped Milo could forgive me for taking this from him, even if the title was never really his.

Milo had run off as soon as the ceremony was over, and even though I itched to fix things between us, I had to leave with Dad. It was tradition that the old Alpha and the new one spent the night in their wolf forms, hunting together.

I’d just gotten back this morning, and now I was looking for another man.

Darius was my best friend, but he was so much more than that, too.

I’d been crazy in love with him since we were thirteen and Kamille had kissed him at one of the bonfire parties.

It was the first time we’d ever fought. To this day Darius believed my anger was because I’d wanted Kamille for myself.

Thirteen-year-old me had thought the same thing at first. Why else would I get so upset over seeing them kiss?

It wasn’t until he told me that Nick had held his hand six months later, and I’d once again been consumed with jealousy, that I knew it was Darius that I wanted.

I’d waited to tell Darius how I felt until I knew for certain whether or not I would be Alpha.

He should know what being with me entailed, so as patiently as I could manage, I’d waited, and waited.

Had Darius shown me any sign that he was into me, too, I would’ve told him sooner.

I hoped he was thinking the same as me and just wanted to wait.

It was a good thing Dad was eager to retire and hand the title over, otherwise I likely would’ve had to wait for much longer.

Dad was the town vet and according to him, his time was better spent there than as pack Alpha.

I couldn’t fault him on that, considering the previous vet had retired.

I followed Darius’s scent until I knew where he had gone.

The waterfall. Our spot. I smiled to myself.

What a fitting place to admit my feelings and ask him to be my mate.

I couldn’t have planned it better. It was like he knew I would seek him out.

We lived in a secluded area and had several houses scattered around the edge of town. Each wolf shifter was close by, something us wolves needed to feel at ease. We were pack shifters, and pack meant we needed each other.

Moving between the trees, admiring the beautiful reddish yellow colors they held, a true sign that fall was here, I kept going until the waterfall was visible. I quickly spotted the stone in front of the water and froze mid-step.

Darius wasn’t alone.

On the stone next to Darius was my little brother, Milo, and they were kissing!

They broke apart and stared at each other, their smiles blinding as if they were in love.

Swallowing what felt like my heart down my throat, I backed away, glad they were too engrossed in each other to notice me. My clothes ripped apart as I shifted, unable to stop myself, and I ran towards the woods.

The need to escape took over. I had no destination in mind. I just let my wolf take over and ran until my legs would eventually stop working.

Maybe then my heart would stop bleeding, too.