Chapter 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

K ira stood tall and proud, her mates to either side of her, Rex and Nash, as they faced the gathered members of the Blood Stone Pack. Her heart thundered in her chest, a dizzying cocktail of excitement and nervousness coursing through her veins. This was it - the moment she’d been both longing for and dreading.

Today, she would be officially welcomed into the pack as their alpha female, a role she’d never imagined for herself. A lifetime of being the odd one out, the misfit, the lone lioness in a world of wolves, had left her wary of belonging. But with Rex and Nash by her side, she’d found a home, a family, a place to finally put down roots.

She felt Rex’s hand at the small of her back, a reassuring touch that steadied her. He’d been her rock through all of this, her unwavering supporter and fiercest defender. Nash, too, had been a constant source of encouragement, his playful humor and tender affection a balm to her battered soul.

From the moment they’d met, sparks had flown, an undeniable attraction that had quickly bloomed into something deeper, something unbreakable. Through danger and heartache, laughter and tears, they’d forged a love that could move mountains.

And now, as Kira looked out at the sea of faces before her, she saw that love reflected back at her. Most of the pack members wore expressions of welcome, even excitement. They’d seen firsthand the strength of the triad’s bond, the way they complemented and completed each other. In Kira, they recognized a leader, a protector, a woman worthy of standing at their alpha’s side.

But not everyone was thrilled with this development. As Rex stepped forward to address the pack, Kira caught sight of a few disgruntled faces and heard the low murmur of dissent rippling through the crowd.

“Blood Stone Pack,” Rex began, his deep voice commanding instant attention. “Today is a momentous day for our family. We gather to welcome a new alpha female, a woman of unparalleled strength, courage, and heart.”

He turned to Kira, his blue eyes shining with pride and love. “Kira Cress is more than just my mate, more than just the woman I love. She is a force of nature, a fierce warrior who has proven time and again that she will stop at nothing to protect those she holds dear.”

A cheer went up from the crowd, a resounding show of support. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, overwhelmed by the outpouring of acceptance.

But just as the cheers began to die down, a lone figure stepped forward from the throng. Jenna, the same statuesque she-wolf with piercing green eyes that attacked her, fixed Kira with a look of pure disdain.

“With all due respect, Alpha,” she began, her voice dripping with barely concealed contempt, “I must object to this...unprecedented decision.”

A hush fell over the crowd as all eyes turned to Jenna. Kira felt Rex tense beside her, saw Nash’s hand twitch toward the knife at his belt. But she placed a calming hand on each of their arms, silently urging them to let her handle this.

She stepped forward, meeting Jenna’s challenge with a steady gaze. “Speak your mind, Jenna. I’m listening.”

Jenna sneered, tossing her sleek black hair over one shoulder. “A feline as our alpha female? It’s unheard of. Unnatural. How can we trust an outsider to understand our ways, to put the needs of the pack above her own?”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, a low undercurrent of unease. Kira could feel the weight of centuries of prejudice bearing down on her, the ingrained mistrust between their species rearing its ugly head.

But she refused to be cowed. She’d spent her whole life fighting the odds, proving her worth in a world that had written her off from birth. This was just one more battle, one more chance to show what she was made of.

“I understand your concerns, Jenna,” Kira said evenly, her voice carrying across the clearing. “I know I’m an outsider, that my presence here goes against tradition. But I also know that I love Rex and Nash and through them, this pack, that I would lay down my life for any one of you.”

She paused, letting her words sink in. “I may be a lioness, but my heart beats for the Blood Stone Pack. You are my family.”

Jenna scoffed, her lip curling in a sneer. “Pretty words, kitty cat. But words are cheap. How do we know you won’t turn tail and run at the first sign of trouble?”

Kira’s eyes flashed, her lioness rising to the challenge. “I’ll prove it to you, here and now. I challenge you, Jenna, to a fight. Woman to woman, shifter to shifter. Let’s see who’s really worthy of standing at our alpha’s side.”

A shocked gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a buzz of excited whispers. A challenge from a new alpha female was rare enough, but for it to come from a feline? Unheard of.

Jenna’s eyes widened, caught off guard by Kira’s boldness. For a moment, uncertainty flickered across her face, her bravado faltering in the face of Kira’s unwavering resolve.

But she quickly schooled her features back into a mask of disdain. “I don’t need to fight you to know you’re not fit to lead us. You’re nothing but a mongrel, a half-breed who doesn’t belong.”

Kira’s anger rose like lava in her chest, hot and fierce. How dare this bitch question her worth, her dedication to the pack?

But before she could lunge forward, ready to shift and teach Jenna a lesson she wouldn’t soon forget, Rex’s strong hand clamped down on her shoulder.

“Enough,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Jenna, you forget yourself. Kira is my mate, my equal in every way. To question her is to question me, and I will not stand for insubordination.”

Jenna paled, the fight draining out of her as she realized the magnitude of her mistake. To challenge the alpha female was one thing, but to openly defy the alpha himself? Unthinkable.

“I-”

“I will give you a single chance to think about it, Jenna. You’re either with the alpha and his mate or you’re not. If you’re not, you do not belong in this pack and you need to go.”

She bowed her head, her posture submissive. “Forgive me, Alpha. I spoke out of turn.”

Rex glared at her for a long moment, letting the weight of his displeasure sink in. “See that it doesn’t happen again. I will not have my mate harassed in any way or made to feel less by anyone.” He growled. “Do you understand?”

The crowd nodded and lowered their heads in submission. “Kira has proven her loyalty and her strength. She is your alpha female, and you will respect her as such.”

Jenna nodded meekly, slinking back into the crowd with her tail between her legs. Kira let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, the tension draining from her body.

Rex turned to face the pack once more, his arm slipping around Kira’s waist in a gesture of unity. “Let this be a lesson to all of you. The Blood Stone Pack is stronger together, regardless of species or background. We are a family, and we will stand united against any threat.”

A roar of approval went up from the crowd, a resounding show of support for their alpha triad. Tears stung her eyes once more, overwhelmed by the love and acceptance radiating from her new packmates.

As the cheers died down, Nash stepped forward, a grin on his handsome face. “Well, now that the posturing is out of the way, what say we get this party started? I don’t know about you lot, but I’m starving.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd, the tension of the moment dissolving into good-natured ribbing and excitement. Music played a lively beat that had everyone tapping their feet and swaying their hips. The mouthwatering scent of roasting meat and spices filled the air, making Kira’s stomach rumble in anticipation.

As the pack began to mingle and celebrate, Kira found herself swept up in a sea of well-wishes and congratulations. Packmates young and old came forward to embrace her, to offer their support and share stories of their own challenges and triumphs.

Kira listened with rapt attention, soaking up every word like a sponge. These were her people now, her responsibility and her joy. She vowed to learn their names, their hopes and dreams, to be the alpha female they deserved.

Through it all, Rex and Nash remained by her side, their presence a steadying force in the whirlwind of emotion. Every so often, Rex would pull her close, pressing a tender kiss to her temple or whispering words of love and encouragement in her ear.

Nash, ever the jokester, kept her laughing with his playful antics and silly puns. He twirled her around the dance floor, dipping her low and planting a smacking kiss on her lips that had the whole pack hooting and hollering.

As the night wore on and the celebration showed no signs of slowing, Kira found herself taking a moment to catch her breath. She slipped away from the revelry, finding a quiet spot beneath a towering oak tree.

She tilted her face up to the starry sky, marveling at the beauty of the night. The moon hung full and heavy, casting a silvery glow over the world below. Kira closed her eyes, drinking in the peace of the moment.

“Penny for your thoughts, love.”

Kira startled, turning to find Rex watching her with a gentle smile. He crossed to her side, pulling her into his arms and nuzzling his face into her hair.

“Just taking a moment to let it all sink in,” Kira murmured, melting into his embrace. “I never thought I’d have this, you know? A pack as a family. A shifter family at all. Maggie was my only family. Now, I feel like I have this community I belong to. It’s...overwhelming, in the best possible way.”

Rex hummed, his chest rumbling against her back. “You’ve always belonged, Kira. You just needed to find your way home to us.”

Kira turned in his arms, looping her own around his neck. “I love you, Rex. More than I ever thought possible.”

Rex’s eyes shone in the moonlight, a wealth of emotion swirling in their blue depths. “And I love you, my fierce lioness. My heart, my soul, my everything.”

He captured her lips in a searing kiss, pouring every ounce of his love and devotion into the press of his mouth against hers. Kira returned the kiss with equal fervor, losing herself in the heat of his touch.

A pointed cough had them breaking apart, turning to find Nash watching them with a raised brow and a smirk. “You two planning on rejoining the party anytime soon, or should I tell the pack to start without you?”

Kira laughed, disentangling herself from Rex’s embrace and holding out a hand to Nash. “Get over here, you goof. I need my boys with me.”

Nash’s face softened, his green eyes glowing with adoration as he joined them beneath the tree. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“Your boys, huh?” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Kira’s head. “I like the sound of that.”

And there, surrounded by the strength and love of her triad, she’d finally found her place in the world. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever storms they might weather, they would face them together.

Always and forever, the three of them against the world.

With renewed excitement, Kira took her mates’ hands and tugged them back to the celebration. “Come on, let’s go show this pack how to really party!”

Nash whooped, breaking into a jog. “Last one there has to do dishes for a week!”

Rex and Kira shared a look. As one, they took off after Nash, their laughter ringing out into the night air.