Second chance love

T h i r t e e n

The sun had set and the stage was ready. The crowd was smaller than at Finn and Holly’s birthday celebrations, but it was made up of the most important members of the pack. Holly’s family were there, as were Finn’s. The main warrior families were also in attendance, seeing as the first thing that would happen after Caleb’s initiation would be the hunt for the Black Hart pack. 

“Hey little sis, you okay?” Darren stood next to Holly, looking down at her with a small smile. 

Holly groaned, “let me guess, Lisa told you.”

Darren laughed, a loud rumbling that came from the depths of his stomach. “No, she didn’t. I’m the Alpha Hols, it’s my job to know what’s happening in my pack,” he smiled warmly, “plus, I know my baby sister pretty well.”

Holly looked up, making eye contact with her brother and Alpha. She blushed, smiled slightly, and allowed herself to be pulled into a one armed hug. She rested her head on Darren’s chest and closed her eyes. He always knew when she needed a bit of calm, and she was very grateful that he was here to provide that for her. 

“We’ve been tracking them.”

Holly almost didn’t hear him, he spoke so softly. She looked at him confused. 

“Black Hart. We know where they are. We’ll be going after them tomorrow. Caleb will have his revenge, and they will pay for what they have done.” Darren had his Alpha face on now, hard, set, and unforgiving. Holly breathed a sigh of relief; this would be over so soon, and her life with Caleb could start with no interference. 

She hugged her brother a little tighter before he went to move away. He kissed the top of her head, and stepped away to begin the initiation ceremony. 

The sun was about to set as Caleb and Darren stepped out onto the platform on the beach. The light breeze ruffled Caleb’s hair, waving his scent towards Holly. She was secretly hoping that tonight would be the night that he claimed her, but deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be as easy as that. 

Finn stepped onto the platform with the ceremonial silver knife that had belonged to the pack for generations. After a few words, Darren took the knife in his hand. 

“Caleb Thorne, originally of Thorne Hill, do you swear your allegiance, mind, body and soul, to the White Tide pack?”

“I swear,” replied Caleb as Darren took the knife and sliced it down the palm of his hand, before passing it to Finn. 

Finn looked at Caleb, before continuing the ceremony, “and do you swear to serve and protect Darren White as your Alpha, with your mind, body, and soul?”

“I swear,” came Caleb’s deep tones, as Finn ran the knife down his own palm, before passing the knife to Caleb. 

“And do you swear to accept me into your pack, your family, and your home, for as long as I remain loyal to the White Tide pack?” Asked Caleb to his new Alpha and Beta. 

“We swear,” chorused the pair, as Caleb ran the knife down both of his palms. He joined his right hand with Darren’s, his left with Finn, and the three stood in the centre of the platform looking out towards the crowd. 

“We welcome Caleb to our pack, our family, our home.” Chanted the crowd. 

“And my heart,” said Holly softly to herself. She felt the warmth in her mind as Caleb’s presence joined the rest of the pack in the back of her head. He would now be able to mind link with her and the rest of the pack, and she added her own voice to the collective mind link of the pack that were welcoming the newcomer to their lives. 

The three men on the stage quickly shed their clothes and shifted into their wolves, finalising the ritual. The howls of celebration echoed across the waves and out to sea. 

***

Holly felt a bubble of pride swell in her chest as she watched Caleb walk through the other pack families and introduce himself. He had really only met her family and Finn’s, he was yet to meet Lisa properly too, though she was obviously well aware of him. 

“Finn says he’s strong, real strong,” she said to Holly as she stood beside her. 

“He’s definitely improved since he got here, though he has been in the gym all day every day so I would be surprised if he hadn’t.”

“He’s got to work out that s****l frustration somewhere I suppose,” joked Lisa. 

Holly glanced over and saw her best friend smile knowingly. 

“Ever noticed how once a month, Finn spends four or five days solid in the gym?” She raised her eyebrows until Holly finally clicked, giggling slightly as realisation hit. Lisa smiled at her, before reaching down to squeeze her hand. 

“You look incredible, he would be mad to turn you down tonight.” Lisa gave her hand another quick squeeze, before heading off into the crowd. Holly followed her with her eyes until Lisa made it to Finn, who absently wrapped his arm around her waist while still in deep conversation with another pack member. Holly watched as Lisa’s face showed utter contentment at being in her rightful place; next to her chosen other half. 

Steeling herself and taking a large breath in, Holly made her way to Caleb, who was stood talking to her mother, who was still the official pack Luna until Darren found his mate. She spotted Holly making her way over and politely ended the conversation before stepping away. She winked at Holly on her way past, making her wonder if Lisa had told every single pack member about her and Caleb. 

Shrugging the thought off, she closed the gap between them. He turned and caught sight of her, his eyes widened as he took in her appearance. 

“Goddess you look breathtaking,” Caleb said softly. Holly blushed, she didn’t think he’d ever complimented her like that before, but she was certain she could get used to it. She smiled up at him. 

“I guess I should congratulate you on your initiation ceremony,” she said, looking him in the eye. “Welcome to White Tide.” 

“Thanks, it’s strange but I definitely feel a lot more calm now that there are wolves in my pack again. Blake is a little less restless too which is nice.”

“Mmmmm Blake,” purred Lacey in the back of Holly’s mind. Holly ignored her, and concentrated on Caleb. 

“That must be nice, if a little bittersweet,” she said, moving a little closer to him. 

He nodded, then closed the gap until there was barely any space between them. He looked into her eyes, and brushed the hair from her face with the back of his hand. Holly felt a shiver all the way down her spine and heard Lacey purring in her mind. Her heart raced a little faster as she watched Caleb lick his lips, hoping and wishing he would move his face closer to hers. 

“Yo Caleb!” A shout made Caleb jerk his head up, “time for the wolf run out man, let’s go!”

Holly honestly thought she might murder Finn, he couldn’t have waited just a few more seconds? Caleb smiled sheepishly at her before running towards the other males in the pack, shedding his clothes and shifting smoothly into his dark grey wolf before speeding off into the distance. 

“You can really see his Alpha bloodline when he is in his wolf form,” Lisa came to stand beside Holly. She smiled apologetically, before adding, “I’ll make Finn suffer for his terrible timing, Hols.”

Holly laughed, “it’s okay, the boys need a good run. Darren told me they’ve been tracking the pack that killed Caleb’s family.”

Holly glanced at Lisa’s face, and after ascertaining that she already knew this, she continued. 

“They’ll be going on a hunt soon enough, let them be free tonight.” Holly smiled sadly at Lisa, before turning back to the house. She could hear the howls in the distance and a tear escaped from her eye. She didn’t know how, but she had a feeling that something big was coming.