Finding My Alpha

Casey and his Penny

The meadow at the edge of our territory was my favorite place to be. The combination of the bubbling brook and the gentle breeze soothed me in ways I didn’t know I needed. It was spring so the air was crisp and the tall grass gave off the sweetest of smells. I was sprawled across the ground, close enough to the brook to hear its music yet hidden enough away in the tall grass to remain out of sight. The clouds above were as fluffy and white as my coily hair. 

The day had finally come that I would have my bonding ceremony with future Alpha, Casey McArthur. I was having a hard time digesting that truth. Our bonding was arranged when we were young, he was nine and I was six when the arrangement was made. With him being the Alpha’s son and me being an Alpha female the pairing made sense. I often wondered if my father would agree with this bonding, if he would’ve even considered it. I concluded he wouldn’t, but the Evermoon wolves had taken me and my twin sister Annette in when we had nowhere else to go. 

“Nanette, I know you’re out here!” Casey’s voice yanked me from my thoughts.

I rolled onto my stomach and buried my face in the sweet smelling grass, my white hair surrounding my face and arms in a fluffy heap. I needed a few more weeks, just a few more weeks and I’d be ready. Did twelve years really come and go just like that? Was I really about to bond to this he-wolf I loved and lose my sister at the same time? I just wasn’t ready. The grass rustled and the gravel crunched as Casey joined me on the ground.

“Is the act of bonding with me that terrifying you had to come all the way out here? And here I thought you loved me,” he said jokingly, but I could hear the hurt hidden within.

“You know I love you. I love you more than anything,” I said as I flung my mass of white coils out of my face and looked at him.

“Not more than your sister,” he said sadly.

He couldn’t be more right. Even though the Evermoon wolves had taken us in and cared for us, to me they weren’t our family, not really. Annette was the only real family I had left and because of her Beta blood our current Alpha, Kingsley McArthur, decided to make arrangements to sell her off to another pack. In order to broker an alliance with the Theurge Pack, Kingsley had offered Annette as a mate for their pack's future Alpha when she turned eighteen. He was only a pup at the time, the same as she, so the timing would’ve worked out for both parties. 

However, he was killed by rogues the following year and his younger brother was already promised to another pack. So instead Annette was paired with their Beta’s oldest son, James Brispin. Our eighteenth birthday was two weeks ago and the Theurge’s were invited to my bonding ceremony as guests of honor. My sister would be leaving with them when they returned home to perform her own bonding ceremony with her intended. 

“The other half of my soul will be leaving me in a few days and I’m terrified of the hole her absence will leave,” I admitted.

Casey’s round chocolate eyes were sadder than I’d ever seen them before and his handsome face was wrought with worry. Even though he had a few siblings of his own, he would never understand the bond between me and Annette. He pulled up his knee and rested his hands and head on top as he stared at me. The muscles in his arms flexed ever so slightly under his russet skin. Not for the first time this week, he was pouting. He had his full lips poked out just enough for me to notice. I reached out my hand and touched my index finger to his lips, allowing him to kiss it softly.

“I don’t know what I can do to ease your worry, but just know that I am here for you always and I will do my best to help you cope with Annette’s absence. I love you Nanette and I want to make and keep you happy after today is over,” he said as he grabbed my hand and kissed it.

“I love you too Casey and I appreciate your understanding. Now bring those juicy lips over here and give me a kiss,” I said as I gave him, what I hoped was a seductive smile. 

He chuckled, flashing a toothy smile at me. Goddess I loved his smile, it always ignited a flurry of butterflies in my stomach. He pulled my hand towards him, forcing me to prop up on my free elbow. I leaned in and closed my eyes as our lips connected. We had kissed many times before, but none of them ever felt like this. There was a need coming from Casey, a need I wanted to fill. His fingers snaked into my hair and pulled my head closer to him. 

A moan escaped my lips and Casey growled in response, kissing me harder. Holy crap am I about to lose my virginity? The thought came and went, but came right back as Casey pulled me on top of him. Releasing my hand as he worked his hands down my back until he was cupping my butt. He squeezed tight, earning him another moan. My olive green sundress instantly started rising as he continued to squeeze and rub my body. I felt my dress rise until the skin of his palms were touching the skin of my upper thighs and he squeezed gently.

“All I want is for you to be happy, Penny,” Casey said breathlessly against my lips.

“Will I always be your Penny,” I asked, feeling my cheeks warm at the nickname only he called me.

“So long as your skin glistens as copper does, you will always be my Penny,” he replied as he kissed me again.