Chapter 62 Ty
TY
Ipaced the floor, my heart racing in anticipation of the upcoming ceremony. A mix of excitement and anxiety surged through me as I imagined the shifters arriving from all corners of our territory, gathering together to bear witness to the transfer of the alpha power from my father to me.
The ceremony itself might be short, but as with anything where my mother was involved, it would be nothing less than a grand spectacle.
I cracked my knuckles. “Damn it.” I couldn’t believe how nervous I felt. I had no doubts about taking charge. I was more than ready for this, but it was a monumental moment, and one that would change everything, not just for Liza and me and my parents. This impacted the entire pack.
The impending ceremony was making my stomach churn. I hadn’t even received the powers yet and the responsibility was already bearing down on me. The ticking clock only made me more nervous. Seconds felt like an eternity.
“Get a grip, man,” I whispered to myself, shaking my hands to get rid of my nerves. My fingers flexed, then balled into fists, releasing some of that pent-up tension.
Everything was about to change. For a moment, I allowed myself to get lost in the enormity of it all.
As the future leader of our pack, I’d been groomed for this moment my entire life.
I knew what was expected of me: strength, control, and fierce loyalty.
But there were also personal goals I hoped to achieve, such as a lasting peace among the packs and a safe haven for those who needed it.
Tyson Keller, Alpha. The words echoed in my mind like a mantra, calming the storm brewing in my gut, providing a sense of purpose and determination.
I tapped the top of the desk in Dad’s—my—office before moving to the window and staring out at the spectacle below.
Mother barked orders and pointed this way and that as the staff put the finishing touches to the setup.
“Did you not listen to my instructions? The black tablecloths do not go over there. They are for this table.” She huffed and slapped her hand on the tabletop.
“This will be Liza’s parents’ table. They’re special guests, so they get the black tablecloth. Understood?”
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the staff.
No one was more familiar with being scolded by my mother than I was.
The staff’s eyes were downcast, their shoulders slumping as they stood there, unable to look her in the eye.
She had a low tolerance for anything that wasn’t done to her exact standards, and if she thought they weren’t being done correctly, she could be a real bitch.
The whole thing was a circus. A damn over-the-top spectacle. The finest linen tablecloths and napkins adorned each table. Silverware and crystal glasses were placed at each seat with red roses and green ivy draped over every surface imaginable.
I didn’t want to think about the money she’d spent on this because I had a feeling it was astronomical.
My gaze shifted to the two golden thrones placed prominently in the center of the backyard. I took a deep, shaky breath, letting the significance of them wash over me. This was fucking it. Go time.
A hand touched my back, and I nearly jumped a foot into the air.
“Hey, there.” Liza’s voice was like soothing honey on a sore throat, and I relaxed into her touch. She pressed against my side as we both stared down at the scene below.
I held her close, burying my nose in her hair and breathing in her scent. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
Liza chuckled. “Don’t you think it’s a little too late to back out now?” She tilted her head toward the bite mark on her shoulder.
Memories of that night came rushing back. I’d replayed our mating several times since it happened. It was the best damn night of my life. When Liza took my bite, the electricity between us had shot straight to my core.
My heart beat faster and all I wanted was to kiss her again. “I want you more than anything in the world,” I whispered, cupping her face in my hands and leaning in.
Our lips met for a brief second before we both pulled away. Our desire for each other was unsatiated, but right now we had bigger things to worry about than our carnal desire.
Liza grinned, and I took in the magnificence that was my mate. She was a beautiful woman, but there was an extra something. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but ever since she took my bite, something was different about her.
I touched the tip of her nose with mine. “What’s different about you? Ever since I claimed you, there’s been a shift. I don’t know what it is, but it’s a good thing.”
Liza smiled. “Peace will do that for you. I’m at peace with the choices I’ve made because I know they were the right ones to make.”
She stared out the window, watching Mother put the final touches to the center pieces.
“I’d always wondered about my life before…
” She was quiet for a beat, staring off into the distance.
“I always knew pieces were missing. Now I know who I am and where I came from. I know I was loved, and everything else is miniscule.”
I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Do you feel confident that you can lead by my side without the past burdening you? Because that’s the last thing I want… you having an extra load to carry as the wife of the alpha while still being consumed with what happened to your parents.”
Liza’s lips curled into a grin. “My biological parents are gone. I can’t change that, and there will always be a part of me that misses them and wishes they were still alive to see the woman I’ve become.
But I’m fortunate to be loved beyond measure by the parents I was given, and I’ll always be grateful for that.
So, yes, I’m a little different because I finally know who I am.
I’m Aliza Mims, but I’m also Aliza Wylde.
And soon, I’ll be Aliza Keller. And this is who I was meant to be. ”
I kissed her and nuzzled the spot where I’d claimed her.
Liza was everything I’d imagined in a mate and partner. No, she was more than I ever imagined. I leaned in to kiss her again just as Mother walked into the room.
“Whoops, sorry to interrupt.” The laugh that followed told me she wasn’t sorry in the slightest. “Liza, dear, it’s time to get ready for the ceremony. I have everyone set up in the master suite.”
Liza squeezed my hand and kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll see you down there.”
I nodded.
“Diane is the best hairdresser in Texas. I told her you had some ideas you’d saved on your phone, and she said she’ll fix it however you’d like it.” Mother grabbed Liza’s hand and led her out of the office.
Sighing, I took a seat and scrolled through my phone, hoping that the stupid memes Bryce had sent me would distract me from my nerves.
I chuckled at a photo of two praying mantises.
They both appeared to be smiling. The male had a thought bubble above his head that said I’m gonna get laid tonight while the female was thinking I don’t have to cook dinner tonight.
After staring mindlessly at my phone for half an hour, Dad joined me in the office.
“There he is. The man of the moment.”
I stood and crossed the room, shaking his hand, then giving him a big hug and slapping his back. We stood in silence for a moment until I decided to address the elephant in the room.
“So, how does it feel knowing this is your last day as an alpha?”
To my surprise, Dad threw his head back and laughed hard.
“What does it feel like? It feels like fucking peace. For the first time in a very long time, I can act like other retired men my age, drinking beer, watching football, maybe even getting in a round of golf without having to worry about the pack and a million other little problems.” He wiped his eyes and squeezed my shoulder.
“I have a question for you now. How do you feel about becoming a husband and an alpha on the same day?”
I chuckled and mimicked his words. “It feels like peace.”
Dad followed me to my bedroom, where he sat and chatted with me while I got ready. The suit I’d chosen was very similar to what a human groom would wear, just with some extra flare, obviously. It was a deep purple suit with a blood-red shirt and bowtie that marked my new rank as alpha.
Wolves were inherently proud creatures, and that was exactly what I felt as I put on the suit and caught my reflection in the mirror. Dad stood behind me. I smirked at him, and he nodded in approval.
“It looks like you’re ready to go, son. Let’s get this show on the road. It’s time to make you the alpha.”
Time had been a strange concept today with each minute passing both agonizingly slowly but with rapid acceleration. And now it was finally time.
I took a deep breath and rehearsed the different elements of the custom in my head.
First, I would walk out, and my father would give a speech.
Then the ritual of passing the alpha powers onto me would begin.
Then Liza would come out and our mating ceremony would begin. We’d share our vows in front of the pack.
I stood at the door and peered out over the hundreds of pack members in attendance. This was an opportunity for them to dress up while showing their respect for the retiring alpha and future alpha of their pack.
The men were dressed in their finest suits, and the women all adorned in their couture gowns, their wrists and necks dripping with diamonds as they subtly tried to outdo each other.
This wasn’t like an annual event—the Oscars, for example—where people became complacent. An alpha passing his power to his son was the event of a lifetime, and none of them would’ve missed it for the world.
My heart pounded as the moon cleared from the clouds, signaling the beginning of the ceremony. Dad couldn’t pass the alpha powers to me without the energy from the full moon bathing us in its light.