THE ALPHA WHO KNELT

Chapter 9

Ronan - Age 23

with Elara turning eighteen in just four months, everyone expected me to settle down.

I knew my personal life was about to become official pack

business in a very permanent way as soon as my mate’s eighteenth birthday arrived. The unspoken expectation was that I would settle down, end my casual relationships, and prepare to be a mated Alpha. I wasn't ready yet, but I would be in four months.

The winter air was crisp and clean as I made my way across the pack territory toward the training grounds. At twenty-three, I'd been Alpha for nearly three years, and the role fit me like a second skin. The pack respected my leadership, our alliances were strong, and our territory was more

prosperous than it had ever been under my father's rule.

Soon, the discussions would turn to a Luna ceremony and an Alpha heir.

"Ronan!" vesper’s voice rang out across the courtyard as I passed the main lodge. She appeared from behind one of the decorative planters, looking stunning in a fitted coat that complemented her blonde hair perfectly. "I was hoping I'd run into you."

I slowed my pace, allowing her to catch up. vesper had been making her interest increasingly clear over the past few months. Unlike some of the other she-wolves who'd been vying for my attention, she had a brain to go with her looks and contributed something useful to pack discussions. But

she wasn’t my mate.

"What can I do for you, vesper?"

Her smile was radiant. "I wanted to thank you for supporting my proposal about expanding the herb gardens. The Elders approved it this morning."

"It was a good idea," I said honestly. "Medicinal herbs are always valuable, and they give our healers more resources to work with."

"I'm so glad you think so." She fell into step beside me, close enough that I caught the scent of her perfume. I never understood why she-wolves wore perfume when they had a perfectly good scent without it. Elara

was one of the few she-wolves I knew who didn’t waste money on perfume. "I was wondering if you might want to see the proposed site? I could show you my plans for the layout."

The invitation was innocent enough on the surface, but the way she looked at me suggested she had more than herb gardens on her mind. A year ago, I might have taken her up on it without a second thought. These days, every interaction with unmated she-wolves felt loaded with expectation and ulterior motives.

"Maybe later," I said diplomatically. "I've got training to oversee."

Her face fell slightly, but she rallied quickly. "Of course. Maybe this evening? After the pack dinner?"

Before I could answer, another voice cut through the air. "Ronan!" taryn bounded up to us with the energy of someone who thrived on chaos, her red hair bright against the dull landscape. She was bold and impulsive, all fire and attitude, where Elara was quiet and thoughtful.

"taryn," I acknowledged, noting how vesper's expression cooled at the interruption.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," taryn said breathlessly. "Did you know there's a rogue problem near the eastern border? Beta Damien said you might need extra patrols, and I volunteer. I'm one of the best

trackers we have, and—"

"The rogue situation is under control," I interrupted gently. "But I appreciate the offer."

taryn's face lit up anyway. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me. I'm always available for whatever you need."

The double meaning in her words wasn't subtle, and I saw vesper's jaw tighten. The competition between the unmated she-wolves had been

intensifying lately, and I was starting to feel like a prize bull at auction. All that would end when I mated and marked Elara.

"I'll keep that in mind," I said carefully.

"Great! Oh, and Ronan?" taryn moved closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I heard the most interesting thing about those new trade agreements with the mountain packs. If you want to discuss it over drinks sometime..."

"I'm sure Beta Damien can fill me in on any developments," I replied, but she just smiled and bounced away, calling over her shoulder that she'd see me at dinner.

vesper watched her go with barely concealed annoyance. "She's very... enthusiastic."

"She always has been," I said diplomatically.

"At least she's closer to an appropriate age," vesper observed, and

there was something sharp in her voice. "Speaking of whom, I haven't seen much of Elara lately. How is her Luna training progressing?"

The question felt like a test, and I wasn't sure what answer she was looking for. "Mom says she's doing well. Very dedicated to learning her responsibilities."

"I'm sure she is. Though it must be difficult for her to watch all of us interacting with you. I sometimes wonder if she understands that these next few months are crucial for everyone involved."

I stopped walking and turned to face her fully. "What do you mean by that?"

vesper's smile was carefully innocent. "Oh, nothing dramatic. Just that once she turns eighteen, everything becomes more... official.

Permanent. Right now, technically, you're still unmated. Still have choices to make."

The implication hung in the air between us like smoke. She wasn't wrong, exactly. Until Elara turned eighteen and we completed the mating bond, I was technically free to choose another path. It wasn't something I'd considered—mate bonds weren't suggestions from the Moon Goddess—but lately, I'd been hearing variations of this conversation more and more often.

The timeline that had once felt endless now seemed to be racing toward me like a freight train. Mate, mate, mate, Ranger chanted in my head, making me smile.

"The Moon Goddess chose my mate," I said firmly. "That's not something I can or want to change."

"Of course not," vesper agreed quickly. "I would never suggest otherwise. I just think it's important that you're sure. That you're choosing your future Luna based on what's best for the pack, not just on...

convenience."

Convenience. The word stung more than it should have. Was that what everyone thought? That I was settling for Elara because she was already there, already claimed, already expected? Ranger snarled at the insult to our mate, but I pushed him down. The uncomfortable truth was, from the outside, it probably looked exactly like that.

"I should get to training," I said, ending the conversation.

"Of course. Don't forget about tonight, though. I really would love to show you those garden plans."