31. Remy

Chapter thirty-one

Remy

It was over twenty-four hours after Lykos’s funeral before Remy was strong enough to face her mother and pack with the question of who was to be the new Alpha. Her stomach was in knots as she stood before her mother’s bedroom door. The Luna locked herself inside after the funeral, and Kodi and Chase stepped up to keep the pack in line. Guilt riddled her for not joining in, but Chase had been right. She needed the bath, food, and sleep. She felt like she could take on the entire kingdom after waking up that morning.

Still didn’t make this feeling go away about wanting to be Alpha.

Be there for her first, then mention it is time for a new Alpha to take command.

No shit; that was my plan.

Her Lycan huffed at her inside of her mind before its presence disappeared. Remy sighed and quickly rapped her fist against her mother’s door. She heard the sniffling first in the depths of the room, some shuffling, and then the lock turning. Tala opened the door, and Remy could see she had not stopped crying since the funeral. Her eyes were red and puffy, tear streak stains on her cheeks, and they were slightly sunken from not eating. Remy threw herself at her mother and wrapped her into a hug. It felt as if the Luna fell apart in her arms; she felt the weight of Tala bring Remy closer to the floor before she caught her mother and held her. Tala’s shoulders shook as she sobbed, and Remy did her best to soothe her.

Remy felt herself break hearing her mother mourn her father, and tears spilled down her cheeks. She buried her face into her mother’s hair and cried silently for him again. Memories of Lykos teaching her basic fighting skills, shifting into her wolf, and even riding on his back while on a full moon run filtered through her mind. She thought it would worsen things, but the images made her smile instead. He may have been gone from the physical realm, but no one could take away her joyous memories of him. It was going to take a while before she wouldn’t cry at the thought of him, but just like she was with Kodi when she thought he was gone, the pain would eventually dull.

And that’s what my mother needs to remember.

"Mom, you need to remember something," Remy whispered to her mother before pulling her off her shoulder.

Tala stared at her, and Remy did her best to smile. It was tough, especially seeing her mother so broken, but this was important.

"Dad isn’t gone—not really. He will always be with us, watching over us. It’s hard right now because it’s still so fresh. Eventually, the pain will fade, but the memories will remain. He did everything he could for us. He fought valiantly so we would survive. He did that so our pack will live on."

Tala sniffled. "I know. It will be different for me, and it is different for me. My Lycan doesn’t know what to do without her mate. She is restless, and I don’t know how to calm her."

A tear rolled down Remy’s cheek. "I can understand that. She needs her family, her pack. We are all here for you and her. Why don’t we go for a run? Or maybe we can do something together as a pack?"

Tala smiled at her. "Spoken like a true Alpha."

Remy smiled weakly. It may have been something she wanted to bring up to her mother, but she should have known she wouldn’t have needed to. Tala was an incredible Luna, always knowing how to read people and make them feel better. Remy thought she came here to do that for her mother but should have known better that her mother would turn the tables and do it for her, too.

Tala straightened herself and took a deep breath. She waved Remy to step in further and closed the door behind her. Remy sat on her parents’ bed and didn’t mention how she noticed it didn’t look like it had been used last night. Sleep deprivation in a Lycan could lead to losing control. Just like any other species, it was needed to keep the body and mind sound. She wasn’t going to question her mother just yet since she was deeply agonizing over her mate’s death.

"Without your father, I will not be fit to take over the pack. It will take a lot of time before I am ready for that kind of responsibility."

"Mom, we don’t-"

"Shush. We need to have this conversation. Let me get through it before I am in another puddle of tears."

Remy grumbled but did as she was told.

"Kodi has his own pack to lead, which will give us yet another ally against the darkness taking over our kingdom. Our pack needs an Alpha who can lead this pack during this dark time. You have faced more than all of us combined. Remy," Tala started as she walked over and put a hand on Remy’s face, "you are the strongest person I have ever met. You were born to lead, and this pack needs a leader like you to survive whatever is coming for us. It is time for you to step into the role you were born for."

Tears slid down her face, and Remy choked on the words as they formed in her throat. It wasn’t like her to cry this much, but those were the words she had been dying to hear for quite some time. She would have rather it had been because her father was ready to step down from being the Alpha, but that wasn’t what the Goddess intended.

"Before you even doubt you are ready, you are. I saw you on the battlefield. You didn’t know it, but you inspired others to join the fight because you were willing to protect your Alphas. I know for a fact that the only reason we survived was because of you." Remy tried to say something, but her mother cut her off. "It is because of you that Chase showed up with his entire pack. Your strength together is what this pack needs. You haven’t completed the bond yet, but he is everything you will ever need. The way he came here to save you tells me he will help you lead this pack. My fierce girl, it is time for you to become the Alpha."

Remy smiled and nodded her head. "You’re right. The pack needs one tough bitch to get them through this mess, and I am exactly the right person for the job."

Her mother laughed for the first time since everything, which was a beautiful sound to Remy’s ears. "Now that’s the daughter I know and raised. Now, let’s go. We have a ceremony to plan."

That’s when it hit Remy. "YOU’RE THROWING ANOTHER PARTY AREN’T YOU?!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

The whole pack was sitting in rows of chairs outside before the woods. They were joined in with Kodi’s pack as well as Chase’s. The smoke and scent of the funeral was long gone and replaced by the sweet smells of the flowers growing around the territory and the crops they grew. This pack had kept an archway built hundreds of years ago in pristine condition, so each Alpha named would complete each of their ceremonies under the arch. Many branches swirled, and pack members would bring either flowers or even leaves from the crops to weave inside of it to give their time and respect to initiate the Alpha to their position.

Remy stood under the arch with her mother at her side. Tala tried to convince Remy to wear a dress, but that almost led to a physical fight because there wasn’t a chance in hell that Remy would get caught in a dress for a ceremony like this. Even a bonding ceremony would not be enough reason to wear a stupid dress, but taking over the role of Alpha meant she needed to look as strong as the Alpha she was about to become, not like some dainty princess. Instead, Remy agreed to wear one of her tactical black skirts, which had a few knives strapped to her thighs, a long pink shirt, and, of course, her black leather jacket. Tala relented and allowed it because she knew her daughter would never agree to wear a dress. She tried, but deep down, she knew Remy would never go for it. However, Tala managed to get Remy to agree to wear her moonstone necklace as something from a previous Luna. That was part of the tradition.

Tala wore a long-length white dress and a woven headband made from twigs like the archway. White flowers were also woven in, complementing the Luna’s dress and bringing out the brightness in her green eyes. Remy was kneeling on the ground with her head bowed as her mother spoke to begin the ceremony.

"With the Great Plains Pack standing as witnesses, we are here today to call on the Goddess to bless this moment as Remy Howell chooses to ascend to the position as Alpha. Do you accept her as your Alpha? Will you obey her commands and follow her leadership as she leads our pack to the future? Will you protect her with your life as you have the Alphas before her?"

"We accept Remy Howell as our Alpha. We will obey her commands, follow her leadership, and protect her life with our own," the pack responded.

Tala held out her hand to Remy and helped her to her feet. With a smile, Tala continued the ceremony. "Do you, Remy, accept your position as Alpha? Will you command this pack to the best of your knowledge? Will you guide our pack to the levels it will need in order to grow and make ourselves better than what we are now? Will you protect our people with your life as," Tala paused for a moment, allowing the words to come to her without getting choked up, "the Alphas have done before you?"

"I, Remy Howell, accept the position of Alpha. To the best of my ability, I will command this pack, guide you all to become better than we are now, and protect you with my life."

Remy felt the pack bonds’ magic reshape from her mother to herself. Each bond wrapped around her, tied to her so she could command them as an Alpha should. The magic energy poured into her, making her knees wobble, and she held onto her mother to allow it to flow through her. It was overwhelming to feel the magic course through her and then feel what each pack member felt at that moment. With only being around twenty-five, it was at least better than feeling the fifty it was, but it did not discredit what it was doing to her. Her Lycan came to the surface, connecting herself to the pack and taking in the pack magic to change her into the Alpha. Remy felt her Lycan push her power into the pack bonds, commanding the bonds to settle where they should all lie. Remy felt the pack calm themselves immediately, and the edginess from her father’s absence disappeared. Remy’s shoulders sagged when it was finished, and she smiled brightly at her mother. Tala hugged Remy, holding her tight against her as she whispered into her ear.

"Remember what I said. You were born for this, and you will do wonderfully. It is your time now, and I know you will make us proud."

The tears that threatened to spill at her mother’s words stayed where they were as Remy straightened herself and stood proudly in front of the pack. Tala faced herself in their direction again, and with a booming voice, she yelled, "Here’s to Remy Howell, Alpha of the Great Plains Pack!"

The pack tilted their heads back and howled. The remaining sliver of moon still shining before the sunrise threatened to peak over the horizon glowed as if the Goddess was blessing this ceremony. Remy smiled at the moon, feeling her father watching her as she tilted her head back and joined the chorus.

Chase stood up from his seat as the howls died down and strode over to her. He looked at her with pride and bowed to her when he was a few feet away.

"Alpha Remy, it has been a pleasure watching you ascend to your rightful position as Alpha."

Remy bowed her head. "Thank you." A thought occurred to Remy as she looked out across her pack. Chase came to her rescue and had done everything to show her how he would be the mate she needed at her side.

"The first thing I choose to do as Alpha is to give you a proposition, Alpha Chase Monroe."

He lifted an eyebrow at her. "Oh yeah? What’s that?"

Remy realized he had forgotten she addressed him as Alpha, and his response was not exactly professional. She ignored it but still wore a smile.

"I propose we complete our bond right here and now."

Chase looked dumbstruck, and his mouth fell open. Tala gasped and looked at Chase with her hands over her mouth.

"You are accepting our bond and wanting to complete it?"

"I’ll admit, I was not a fan of having another mate after what happened to me. I thought you would run for the hills when I gave you those rules, but instead, you embraced them. Since then, you have only shown up for me. You have cared for me physically and emotionally as I tried to bring the packs together with my father and have even come to my rescue without me having to ask. You have treated me as your equal and never made it seem like I was a threat to you as others have. You said it was your job to care for me, and you are right. You have done that and more since we met, and I am beyond ready for us to complete the bond."

His eyes glowed from her boldness, and through their bond, she could feel excitement and lust as he looked at her. Chase closed the distance between them. He firmly pressed his lips against hers, his chest rumbling loudly as he pulled her as close as he could. The packs cheered, and Remy was sure she heard a "Hell yeah, Boss!" When Chase broke the kiss, Remy laughed and looked at her mother. Tears were streaming down her face, and she was bouncing with happiness.

Remy noticed Chase looked at her mother. "Luna Howell, will you please do the honor of bonding us?"

Tala nodded quickly and waved her hands for everyone to settle down. Even though she was no longer in charge of the pack, it did not lower her position in the pack. Remy smiled, knowing her mother was still dominant enough to lead the pack, and she did so easily, even with the heaviness in her heart. When the noise came to a halt, Tala motioned for Remy and Chase to stand under the arch, and Remy laughed at how quickly her mother moved to stand behind them to officiate the bond.

"We are here today to bring Alpha Remy Howell and Alpha Chase Monroe together. I call upon the Moon Goddess to bless this union and shed her light as we bind these two souls into one." Tala leaned close to Chase and brought her voice to a whisper. "Chase, I know this was short notice, but do you have your offering for Remy?"

Chase smiled wickedly, "I do."

Remy’s eyebrows were nearly in her hair. "What?"

Part of the ceremony was to provide an offering to each other to show the other how they would honor their mate before bonding their souls. It could be something simple like jewelry or something extravagant like a newly built house for just them to get away from everything. Remy did not plan for Chase to have his offering or even for the ceremony to happen right now, so she did not have anything for him.

Well... not really, anyway. Nothing physical.

Chase reached into his slacks and pulled out a ring box. Remy gasped as he opened it and saw the most gorgeous ring she had ever laid her eyes on. It had a black band and a moonstone shaped like a crescent moon with a few smaller moonstones on either side of it. It looked as if she was wearing the night sky.

"I am offering a ring that reminds me of you and the power I felt when we met. It was as if I was looking into the night sky when I first saw you. You lit up the room like the moon shrouds its light in the darkness, and the lights twinkling around us gave you this magical aura. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. Then, when you gave me those rules, I couldn’t help but feel like the Moon Goddess gave me this powerful and commanding mate that would keep me on my toes and make me a better man. So this reminds you how your light will keep us all from the darkness."

"That’s some sappy shit, Chase," Remy said, laughing.

She wasn’t a huge fan of corny things but felt the power in Chase’s words. She was different from other Lycans being a Meta. She held more power than a normal Lycan, and he could feel that from across the room. Since they were mates, he was drawn to her but still saw her as someone to love and not someone to fear. Levi couldn’t handle her being more powerful than him, which had to be why he wanted to accumulate as much power as he could before coming back to claim her. Chase didn’t care how powerful she was and just saw it as what made her unique.

Chase smirked at her. "Shut up, you know you loved it."

Well, he’s kinda right about that.

"Will you accept me as I am? An Alpha who will challenge you when necessary, balance you when you feel off, catch you when you fall, and love you when you think you are unloveable?" Chase asked her as he slid the ring on her left finger.

This was not part of the ceremony, but Remy could feel the magic of his words. He was using his own pack magic to bind them together in more ways than one. The magic was calling to her Lycan, bringing her to the forefront of her mind.

Bite this man and make him ours.

Yeesh, you’d think I wasn’t completing the damn mating ceremony with how you are acting.

Shut up and bite him.

"I accept you, Chase, and everything that you are."

Tala looked at Remy. "Do you have your offering?"

"My offering is to join our packs and bring together our strengths to defeat our enemies. My pack will provide for yours and protect our kingdom together. One pack. Two Alphas. Equals in everything we do."

This was not planned, but it was necessary to keep their packs strong. Chase lost only a few of his Lycans, but a few with a smaller number could harm the overall power. With Levi hovering, this would be a way for her to stop him if he attacked again. Another gasp from the crowd told Remy no one expected her to offer such a thing. Through the pack bonds, though, she felt the relief they felt at the idea of having their numbers back.

Chase smiled at her and winked. "I thought you’d never ask."

The crowd laughed, and so did Remy. This was definitely the right choice.

"The offerings have been accepted. Do you both swear to love, care for, and protect one another? Will you give your mate everything you can offer and choose one another to bind your souls together?"

Remy and Chase said in unison, "I swear to my mate that I will provide for them, love them unconditionally, and protect them from the darkness of this world."

Remy felt the bond sizzle inside her soul, stitching together to bind her to Chase. It was a surprise they were already able to speak telepathically before this, but now it was a certainty. Chase slid into her mind, and she heard him chuckle.

Now, you are mine forever.

Remy laughed. Like I wasn’t before?

"Now it is time for the Marking. Chase and Remy will retire to their room and complete the ritual." Tala walked over to Chase, wrapping her arms around him. "Welcome to the family, Chase."

Remy noticed he hugged her mother tight. "Thank you, Tala. I will do everything in my power to make your daughter happy."

Tala laughed and stepped away, "Oh, I know you will. Remy will tear you a new asshole if you don’t."

Chase threw his head back and laughed as Tala hugged Remy. Before she knew it, Remy was picked up and thrown over Chase’s shoulder as he dashed down the middle of the rows of chairs toward the pack house. Remy laughed and pounded on his back to let her go, but he continued until he was in her room. He closed the door with his foot and gently put her on the ground. He walked briskly to the bathroom and returned with a small water bowl and towels. Remy sat on the edge of her bed and waited for him to join her.

"You first, Sweetcheeks."

Chase pulled her onto his lap after he peeled his shirt off. Remy had to take a moment to appreciate her mate’s muscular chest before following his curves to his neck. Her canines slid down and quickly pierced his skin to leave her mark on him. Chase groaned as she licked some of the blood from the wound, allowing her saliva to start healing it before grabbing a damp towel to wash the rest. When she was finished, Chase pushed her leather jacket off her shoulders, and it fell to the floor. Remy lifted her shirt off and tossed it before wrapping her arms around his neck. Chase slowly kissed the length of her shoulder before settling on her neck. She felt the sting of his canines pierce her skin, and it was quickly replaced with the fluttering of magic down to her soul. The bonds lit up as if they were on fire as the packs merged through their bonding. They both sucked air between their teeth as magic and bonds to create the new pack coursed through their veins.

"I love you, Chase Monroe. I thought I could fight it, but you proved me wrong about how mates were not the worst thing on the planet to have."

Chase laughed and pulled her into a kiss. It was soft and quick. Remy found herself growling when he pulled away. "I love you, too, Remy Monroe."

With that. Chase threw her onto the bed and pulled off her skirt. Remy laughed hard at Chase for jumping to the good part. She heard his clothes fall to the floor, and she quickly unhooked her bra and tossed it before Chase jumped on top of her. He kissed her fiercely like he did the night before. His hand on the back of her neck and the other on her ass to have as much skin touching as possible. Remy moaned against his lips, feeling her need for him grow. He pulled on her thong and became frustrated that it didn’t come off as fast as he wanted. His claws cut the fabric loose on the sides and tossed it somewhere in the room.

"If you keep ripping my thongs like that, I won’t have any left!"

"Good! Then I won’t have anything stopping me from doing this!"

With one thrust, he was inside of her, and Remy wiggled as her walls adjusted to him. It had been a while since their last time, and she moaned, feeling him fill her up once again. Chase was patient the last time they were together. This time, not so much. He was thrusting with determination, rubbing in the right way to make her come undone quickly. He was on his knees, and her ass was off the bed as he pounded into it, making her scream his name as her walls vibrated against him.

"That’s my good girl."

Those words sent her over the edge again, and Remy felt her legs constrict against his hips. She gyrated her hips just enough to make Chase growl before he pushed her legs to where her heels were on his shoulders and kept thrusting into her. Remy could barely do anything other than moan and scream; all words and thoughts left her brain. He leaned his body forward, angling himself deeper inside of her. Remy screamed his name before she heard Chase grunt and moan, his movements slowing down before he came to a stop. He pulled himself out of Remy and rolled her into his side. Remy’s eyes fluttered as she tried to formulate a sentence, but no words came. She felt herself slip into a light sleep, hearing her mate’s chest rumble with the happiness he felt.

I could definitely get used to this.