The Adopted Alpha

Mi Casa

It had been over a week since Clare had woken up. A lot had in the passing days, some minor and some a bit more worth mentioning.

She had not returned to the pack house, choosing instead to make her full recovery at her aunt's. This also meant that she had missed classes but luckily, Alpha Edward had gone to the school to see the principal on her behalf so she was granted a break from school.

Hunter came in everyday from school and spent the entire weekend there keeping her company, which was mainly letting her ask ridiculous questions, make weird jokes and generally talk his ears off.

Sometimes, he read her a book from her aunt's library and other times he made her a tasty meal but not often so she didn't get too cocky about it.

Not like it stopped her from teasing him for worrying so much about her. When she did, he would pick up a pillow and throw it at her and they would have a pillow fight.

Julia kept fawning and saying they were cute while the two delinquents would turn away face flushed and be catapulted into an awkward silence.

Lilith still did not look pleased by Hunter's constant presence by her niece's side but she didn't say anything anymore. It was tiring being the only reasonable parent figure as opposed to Julia who was constantly saying how cute the both of them were and even Edward was no longer staring Hunter down for breathing the same air as his Princess.

Plus he really did seem harmless so there was no concrete evidence of him planning to harm Clare.

If he did, Lilith would escort him to hell where he belonged, She promised herself.

Another thing that happened was that Clare took up yoga and her abandoned gymnastics. She mostly just went over routines from when she was younger and Julia had caved in and enrolled her for gymnastic classes. One of the many hobbies her fantastic parents let her indulge in.

Clare was currently stronger than she had felt in a long time and if there was ever a time she was ready to shift, this was it.

Everyone that mattered to her was here to witness the moment of her transformation with her.

Her parents, they held her gaze with their undying love in their gaze. They were also ready to shift after her so they could be united as a family under the moonlight.

Tomorrow was her birthday and she wanted to spend the first hours of her eighteenth birthday with them in this special way.

"...there would be consequences. " That gentle voice sounded eerie to her. It reminded her that her doubts might cost this two amazing people, the grand achievement they wanted for her. Which is why she choose tonight as the night. Because, if it did not work, there was still her birthday to celebrate, right?

"Please, please. Let nothing go wrong, Lunar Queen." She begged internally. "Not for my sake, but for theirs."

Aunt Lilith was also there. She mouthed "You can do it." and pumped her wrist when Clare glanced her way. Her aunt looked really excited for this. She would hate to disappoint her.

Hunter gave her a little encouraging smile when their eyes locked. She had seen a lot more than his poker face this past days that he spent most of his time by her recovery bed.

He was not completely a living emoji plate like she was but even the littlest of his smiles reassured her. She couldn't wait to see his handsome face fully lit in a bright smile.

Would it make her heart race even faster? It would be a sight to see, that was for sure.

Clare gathered her courage and decided to rip it like a band-aid. Regardless of whatever happened tonight, she was assured that it would not change the opinion of these people about her.

And that in itself was reassuring.

Clare closed her eyes and willed her body to change letting her wolf take the reins. She could tell that even her inner wolf was nervous to emerge and that seemed to reassure that she was different now.

The question was, how different.

Turned out it could not be ripped like a band-aid at all. Clare heard the sound of her clothing rip as she began to turn but even the loud sound of fabric shredding could not distract her from the jolt of pain that flashed through her system.

It was white hot and sharp, almost as bad as when she first turned at sixteen, but it was quicker. Only lasted a few seconds before in the place of Clare was her old brown wolf.

The Alpha and Luna that had morphed immediately after Clare went approached the wolf hesitantly so as not to startle her. They got to the whining wolf and licked her in a comforting manner like a parent would.

Then they nudged her to follow them, taking off into the woods. Clare's wolf followed with little hesitation.

The remaining duo watched the canine trio race each other. Clare met and left them behind. Rejoicing in her new abilities, she howled her gratefulness to the crescent moon.

Because Clare's wolf was bigger and stronger and even faster. Because...

Clare's wolf was an Alpha.

"Happy birthday my dear." Aunt Lilith greeted Clare as she joined them at the table for breakfast. "I'm so proud of you. And I'm sure your parents would have been too."

Clare gave her aunty an unfocused smile, she was still in a daze at the whole scenario. She still could not fully comprehend that she was an Alpha.

Her wolf was now an Alpha.

It meant a lot of things, most of them responsibilities she did not want to think about just yet but she was floored by the fact itself.

She became an Alpha. And it was all thanks to all these people who loved her unconditionally.

"Happy birthday to you, princess." The sound of her father's voice behind her made her turn back the way she came.

She ran up the stairs taking it in twos and finally launched herself into their arms when she got to the upper end where they stood.

She didn't say a word but she knew they understood how grateful she was to them.

She felt connected to them now more than ever. She had always felt great respect and a degree of fondness for them but now it went beyond that. It was total trust and Love.

And it wasn't even because of the ritual that she was told had been done. It was the knowledge that they would go above and beyond, pushing limits and making sacrifices to ensure her well-being, that created this feeling of wholeness in her.

"Awwn... the birthday girl should not be crying." Julia said teasingly as she wiped at her daughter's face. Clare hadn't even realized that her eyes were leaking before then.

"Clare, dear. Come here, I've got something that can cheer you up. Chocolate cake.... with a middle vanilla and walnut layer."

Clare did not have to be told twice before she bounded down the stairs with her sweet toothed mother right behind her as her father laughed at them.

Just then, Hunter walked in from the kitchen with the birthday cake lit with candles in the figure "1 and 8". Her Aunt started singing and the rest joined in.

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday dear Clarissa,

Happy birthday to you.

As they continued to talk and laugh amongst themselves, Clare smilled at how domestic it all felt. It felt like home —with her family.

Her Home!