Flashback

EJ paced back and forth. Alexander said, “She’ll be here.”

I groaned, “What if she’s not?”

He replied, “Cassie will get back for our ceremony. Even if she pops in to pop back out for her mission. She’s coming.” I narrowed my eyes, “Did you ask Angela?” He grinned, “Of course I did.” I snorted, “I can’t believe Toby didn’t think to do that.”

Toby replied, “Toby did think of that.”

He had just walked in with Phil. I asked, “Is everything ready?”

He answered, “That it is.” Toby’s sister, Tory, came in behind him. She was sixteen, but she would be Cassie’s Beta when she turned eighteen. They had a whole plan worked out for what Tory would be doing since Cassie was doing this as a flex position.

Cassie popped in and grinned at me. I hugged her, “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Toby said, “Me, Phil, and Tory are happier than he is.”

Phil snorted, “My Alpha had complete chill about this.” Our gamma’s came in. I nodded to mine, “Genevieve.” She grinned at me, “I’m so nervous.” I told her, “Don’t be. You’re perfect to be the Gamma of this pack. You were born into the roll as the oldest and you want it.”

Her brother, and Alexander’s Gamma, Gage said, “You’re going to crush this, big sister.”

Their youngest sister and Cassie’s Future Gamma, Gia, squealed, “Yeah! You’re carving the way for me and our first Female Ranked wolves group.”

It was true. Cassie, Tory, and Gia would be the first Alpha, Beta, and Gamma that were all women. We winked at them.

I said, “And I know you’ll kick ass and take names.”

Gia saluted me which had Brutus chuckling. My mom popped in. She had tears in her eyes and she hugged me and Alexander. She said, “I’m just so damn proud of you guys.”

She turned, “All of you. I came because it’s time for you to head out there.” I conjured her a tissue. She wiped at her eyes and walked with us muttering, “I have so much empathy for mom now with the whole Operation Flood thing. It’s so fucking emotional seeing your kids grow up.” I chuckled along with everyone else.

My Beta and Gamma followed me onto the stage with Alexander and his. Cassie’s actually came with her. I probably should’ve asked how they planned to do this. I liked that they were up here with her even though they weren’t having their ceremony.

My dad loudly addressed the pack, “I would like to welcome everyone who came to witness this momentous day. Today, my triplet pups become the Alpha’s of this pack. EJ will be our lead Alpha while Cassie and Alexander become Alpha’s of their respective packs. They will stay together as my brother’s and I did. Alexander will also be serving as EJ’s enforcer.”

I sent my brother my pride. My dad’s voice softened, “And Cassie will be in a flex Alpha position she worked out with her brothers as we know where her path is.”

He choked up.

He cleared his throat, “I am so proud of three of them for coming up with this innovated way so that my daughter can honor all sides of herself along with them. Toby and Phil will become Beta’s today, and Gage and Genevieve become Gamma’s. You’ll notice we have Tory and Gia up here too. It’s to show you what’s coming. Cassie has chosen her Beta and Gamma. When they come of age and are ready we will have their official ceremonies.”

Everyone cheered.

My dad said, “My sons decided last year to change how this was done. They slowly started taking on responsibilities when they passed all the tests and were ready to be Alpha’s of this pack. They wanted to do a slow transition of power and today is the fruit of that labor. I can honestly say we’ve never had a smoother transition. It felt sudden that I didn’t have mountains of paperwork to do, and I spent that extra time wisely.”

He winked at my mom.

I heard Dylan Frost whisper yell, “IS HE CRACKING JOKES NOW?! SGAP, you can’t just do that! He already splits his face open, and now he thinks he can retire and tell jokes. The NERVE!”

Several people chuckled. My dad shook his head and rolled his eyes.

My dad continued, “My pups have more than exceeded the standard requirements for paperwork and disputes. We welcome our new pack leadership and look forward to the new era they bring in with them. He took the ceremonial knife, a nine inch stainless steel blade with an embellished black wolf on the handle and raised it.

Caleb Kruthers did the same standing in front Toby. Jim Kruthers had wanted to do Jim’s part of the ceremony. My dad asked me, “Do you swear by blood to protect this pack?”

I answered, “I do.”

He questioned, “Will you lead this pack in aspect it may need?” I answered, “I do.” He cut his palm and mine and we shook hands. I felt the power transfer knowing I was the Lead Alpha of Black Mountain pack. My eyes quickly searched out for my mate while Caleb did his part with Toby.

My eye’s locked with Elise’s proud eyes. She blew me a kiss and grinned at her. I didn’t think there was anything that could bring me down today. I still had pledges to make and then we were all going to make speeches before celebrating our exchange of power. I would stand strong with my family and I would make everyone involved with the Ring suffer. I would justice to my mom like my family had done before me.

Flashback Ends

The second my dad retired, the Werewolf Council had wanted him to join. He’d taken a little break, but they snatched him up a month ago. My mom encouraged him knowing he’d love it now that he didn’t have a pack to take care of. She said he could do more good things for the Werewolf community.

Elise has basically been running things from the Luna side since I took over. My mom was still around to guide her, and I couldn’t be prouder of how both of them were handling this. It was a smooth transition. My mom helped Elise, but she didn’t make her decisions for her. She’d let her make mistakes, but Elise learned quickly.

It was a lot like how my mom raised us. She just wasn’t one to hover. She was always around and would give advice, but if you didn't take her advice, she never got upset with you. She never even said I told you so. She just wasn’t like that.

I called, “I’ll see you later, Melanie.”

Melanie squealed, “I’m not leaving the house for the entire day! I’m coming for sure! I’m so excited! I’ll see Black Mountain Pack! I’ll get to meet everyone!”

She meant Alexander. To be honest, I was excited too. I was over this shit.

It was always something with Mel. Competitions, science fairs, broken down car, or a car accident. That one still pissed me the fuck off.

Mostly because they told us it wasn’t an emergency so we couldn’t pop to Melanie. Alexander or my mom would have healed her and Sam.

Melanie couldn’t dance for a month because of the injury to her head. Something about her inner ear.

Alexander had been enraged and I’m sure he had one of the doctors in our family explain the inner ear deal to him. I didn’t even blame him for being so pissed off about that one. I was pretty irked too whenever I thought about it. Like now.