Alpha Rising

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Alvira's P.O.V.

The growing torrent of giggles and squeals of my little sister was cut short only by our mother coming in to see how close we were to being ready. She stopped short, her eyes wide as saucers as I still turned left and right in front of the mirror.

“Vi,” she said, some tone of shock still in her voice. I turned, and from the corner of my eye I could see Cecilia frozen, likely afraid of being told that her work was too inappropriate. But we were both shocked when mom let out a low laugh and shook her head. “If you didn’t have your mate already, you’d have no trouble in finding one wearing that”

Cici let out a held breath and smiled slowly, looking back at me with pride. “Right?” she said. “I mean look!” Cici reached down to pluck at the netting on my legs, showing off one of the glimmering affixed stones.

Mom came up to us both, and the three of us stood in the mirror together, her arms around both of our shoulders. She nudged my sister playfully and laughed. “Cecilia Rae, I’ll have to have you re-do my wardrobe at this rate.”

I could feel my sister beaming as mom ushered her out of the room to give the two of us a little privacy. The mood shifted only slightly, and I could tell that my mother was nervous about something. She took in a slight breath, her mouth opening before she snapped it shut again and shook her head. Silence hung between us for another moment before she took the few steps closer to me needed for her to be able to reach out and brush my hair over my shoulders.

“I want you to enjoy tonight, baby girl,” mom said with great sincerity. Her eyes fell to the pendant at my neck and she smiled softly, tears glinting in the corners of her eyes. I could tell by the softening of her stance that she knew who it was from and felt some comfort in seeing it.

“Tonight is the party, but tomorrow is the formal ceremony.” She leaned forward to press a kiss to my forehead. “Now go, get yourself a drink and have some fun.”

For the short time that we stod there together, I felt like my entire life had changed. Mom looked at me differently then, she was holding her gaze longer and firmer in my direction for the first time since Alban and I had been told about our true birth order. It was almost like how she used to look at us when we were kids and didn’t know any better. And seeing that familiar loving look filled my soul with such warmth and heat that I didn’t realize I’d even been missing.

“I will, Mom,” I said, ducking in to give her another tight hug. I felt her arms wrap around me and could hear the soft huff of air leaving her lips in a sigh. She lingered for a second longer, holding my fingertips lightly as I pulled away from the hug to bounce out of my room and down the steps.

Even inside I could hear the beat of the music starting up outside. A wide grin spread over my lips when I met Alban at the front door. Apparently, Cici had given him a bit of a makeover too. He was styled and looking slick in crisp dark jeans with a fine black button-up shirt. His sleeves were cuffed at his elbows and the top few buttons of his shirt were undone enough to show a thin chain that held a pair of rings on it glinting in the fading light. Hir brown curls were sculpted and swept to one side of his head, and- oh my goddess.

“Al,” I said incredulously. “Did you get your ears pierced!” I rushed forward and reached up to tap at the shimmering black opal studs in both earlobes. “They look great!”

He reached up to bat my hands away shyly, smiling all the while. “Yeah?” he asked. “Dad took me yesterday. Said he saw me looking at some sets online and wanted to do it together for my birthday.”

“Together?” I questioned, looking out to the yard through the door. “Did he-”

“Oh yeah,” Alban said with a laugh. “You should have seen mom’s look when she saw it for the first time.”

My eyes were wide and I had to hold a hand up to cover the laugh that threatened to burst out of me. I just couldn’t picture my father with piercings of any kind. But the thought was quickly wiped from memory when our dad, true to form, managed to appear behind us out of the f*****g shadows.

“Talking about me?” We both nearly jumped from our skin at the sudden sound, and I could see Alban’s expression drop to one of pure terror. After scowling for just a second, he let his lips turn up into a grin. “Are you two ready?” He asked with a laugh, clapping my brother on his shoulder and leaning in to kiss my cheek. “I think by now Nell, Nikolai, and Richie should have everything ready to go outside.” He took a deep breath and nodded his head. “So I’ll go on and announce you if you want.”

“Yeah,” I replied with a soft smile. “I think so.” I was reminded of our first shifting ceremony with how nervous Dad seemed. He looked from me to my brother and waited for the both of us to nod in approval before clapping his hands together.

Alban and I looked at each other, both of us unusually nervous and feeling the very same way. My brother reached for my hand and gave it a tight squeeze as Dad eased around the both of us and out the door.

“Vi?” Alban asked me quietly as we heard our father’s booming voice through the door. “Happy Birthday.”

I grinned wide, squeezing his hand tight and looking over to him with love and admiration in my eyes. “Happy birthday, Al.”

The music hushed, and we heard Dad’s voice again after people gave him their full attention. Even through the thick wooden door, we could hear every word. His voice carried with the loud and booming resonance of a true Alpha. “Welcome!” he bellowed. “My beloved Luna and I are honored to have you here with us as we celebrate the coming-of-age of our twins, one of whom will begin their official Alpha training in just a few weeks!”

The door in front of us opened slowly as we were both brought into the fading evening light to even more applause. The wide porch faced the field perfectly, and Alban and I stepped out one at a time. We were flanked on either side by our mates, and I knew then that Dad was officially presenting us as pairs to the pack. My heart swelled with appreciation as I looked over at him and at Mom, who was standing with her arm loosely around Dad’s waist. My hand left Alban’s as my other found Nikolai’s. His ashen hair was swept back from his face, and he let a smirk play at his lips as he slyly looked me up and down with a fierce hunger gleaming in his eyes.

“My beautiful Alvira,” Dad boomed. “Has found her mate in Alpha Nikolai of Star Garnet.” He paused to give the crowd a chance to react, and I heard the roll of murmurs and whistles rise in excitement. “And my dashing Alban has found his mate in Richie Alvarez of Carnelian.” Dad looked so proud in this moment, and the smile he bore warmed my heart.

“May your happiness know no bounds, and your lives be blessed with love and growth.” Dad moved to stand between me and Alban and took each of our free hands in his. “My children, he said looking between us. “May the Goddess bless you and guide you. Through all of your trials, and all of your struggles may she help you find the light.”

His words were met with thunderous applause and cheers. Whoops and hollers rolled over into his next words until he ordered them to quiet once more. “It is a right celebration in the Black Opal pack when our pups cross that final threshold into adulthood.” Dad looked out to the crowd once again and squeezed our hands tight. “Welcome them with me! Celebrate with my family and with your future Alpha!”

As he held our hands up high, he loosed a howl. And every single wolf in attendance howled with him. My wolf howled too in my mind, and as my eyes closed and my head tipped up to the sky, I felt truly loved.

Time was an illusion after that, and I very easily lost track of when the sunset and the moon rose. My left hand held a cup up over my head as the bass of the music thumped in my chest. Someone new loosed a howl to the bright and shinging moon and the rest of us joined in the chorus until the sound rose up and over the treetops, startling the nightbirds that were perched in the leaves. To one side stood Nell and Joey, wrapped tightly in each other as they swayed and bobbed to the music.

Had it been minutes? Hours? I couldn’t tell. All I knew was that I hadn’t felt this carefree and comfortable in a while, and my glass had never emptied once. I looked up in the direction that Nikolai had gone off in to see his mother and smiled when I saw him gently pick up her hand and pat it. Alban snaked his way through the crowd of our peers with Richie close behind him.

This moment was what any young wolf really could dream of. I was surrounded by young men and women from my childhood, all clapping me on the shoulder and sharing their congratulations and well-wishes. Some looked sad or even jealous over my well-to-do mate, and others just looked thrilled to be included.

But after the past week, I couldn't even begin to complain. There was no overbearing she-wolf here. No plotting. No rogue attacks. It was my night.

My world spun in a bright rush of colors and music, and I laughed and twirled in the beat of the music until Nikolai came back into view and helped steady me. “Careful, pet,” he whispered into my ear low. “I don’t want you falling over.” One of his hands stayed at my waist while the other rose to lift my chin up just enough to force eye contact. His expression was hard to read through my haze, and even my wolf couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Nikolai stole a quick kiss, leaving behind the sweet taste of the red wine he’d been drinking. The hint of a growl on his lips had me turning to peer over my shoulder to follow his gaze, barely catching a glimpse of a small group of younger men from my pack grouped up and looking in my direction. If I had to wager a guess, I would say that he was jealous.

My mate pulled my face back to his and kissed me deeper now, though he held eye contact with the males behind me and let his hands sink lower on my back until he grazed the curve of my ass. As much as I can remember, the rest of the night went smoothly. Irena was seen to a private guest suite attached to the main house after the party, and Nikolai and I were soon enough stumbling back into my room at the top of the stairs.

I pressed against him as the door closed, pinning him to the door and drunkenly fumbling with the buttons of his shirt. I heard him groan in approval as my lips found his neck, though he stammered a very strained "Wait," in the breaths between pants. It was clear that he wanted me by the straining heat growing between us. So I paused, looking up with clear hurt in my eyes as he tried to worm his way out of my touch.

"What'd I do?" I slurred, catching my balance on the now empty wall, confusion in my voice as it cracked near the end of my question. By now I'd already kicked off my heels and had reached up to start undoing the zipper of my dress. As the black material fell in a heap to the floor, I could see Nikolai's adam's apple bob with the dry swallow he had to force down.

"Nothing, Vira," he said through strained lips. "I just-" His eyes fell on me again and he whined in need. "Don't want to do anything while you're so..."

"So....?" I said, barely listening to him as I spun from the wall and fell directly into my large bed, giggling. "Soooooo what?"

"Drunk," he finally answered. "As much as I would love to absolutely ravage you right now," he continued, peeling off his own clothes before climbing into bed beside me. "I don't want you to think I took advantage of the situation." His voice had lowered and he sounded uncharacteristically soft. But there was also the pure sincerity in him that I wanted to trust.

It was a slightly sobering moment, and I felt the heat of him envelop me as Nikolai rolled us both over to curl under the blankets. But I still peppered his face with kisses as I cooed and shifted to rest my head on his chest. "Later then," I said, feeling his arm grip my waist tight.

"Later," he promised. "Because damn, do I want to rip those fishnets off of you with my teeth." I felt the faint brush of Nikolai's teeth on my ear as he spoke, but could barely keep my eyes open as the alcohol and the comfort of my mate lulled me to sleep in just a few minutes.

All I had now was to dream of the next day, when my father would name Alban the next Alpha in front of the Elders at the official naming ceremony.