The Alpha Who Saved Me

Chapter 20

I’ve been arguing with myself all morning long as I get ready to go to a ceremony that I’ve been uninvited to. I know he only did it because he didn’t want me to go with Gavin, but it still hurt me. I haven’t talked to him since that day in his office, and it’s been killing me, so I just try to keep myself busy at all times.

Gavin comes to visit almost every other day and is always a gentleman, so I really don’t understand what Declan’s problem is with his own cousin. Gavin had asked me himself if I’d be his date to the Luna ceremony, but I had to decline the offer. So, now I’m standing on the side of the packhouse, listening to the growling voices of the soon-to-be-Luna and Alpha Declan.

The fact that Lila actually thought that she was marrying the Alpha today makes me want to laugh. I peek around the corner and can see the expression on Declan’s face as he tells her in a not so kind of voice that he isn’t marrying her. The audacity of the woman, I swear! Not only did she use Declan to get pregnant, but now she’s trying to trick him into marriage, also? When will it ever end? I feel horrible for the Alpha, he doesn’t deserve any of this, even if he did make a mistake.

They are already halfway through the ceremony when I come back to awareness. Stepping out and moving forward, I stop once more when I feel my heart stutter and begin thumping once again. Startled, I glance towards Declan, and he’s looking straight at me. I see him look around me; I’m assuming he’s looking to see if I’m with anybody, but I’m not. I nod at him, and I can see a slight lift to the side of his mouth before he continues the ceremony.

Once Lila drinks from the cup, Declan says a few more words that will create the band-like bond between Luna and the entire pack. She will now be able to communicate with any pack member through mind link. Only the Alpha and Luna can mind link pack members in both human and wolf

forms. The rest of the pack can only communicate with other pack members through the mind link when they are in wolf form.

I watch as different pack members make uncomfortable faces when they feel the bond snap into place. I’m so thankful that I am no longer part of this pack because I don’t know how I would handle having that ***in my head all the time.

After the ceremony was over, the crowd disperses and I move forward to speak to Amelia, “How is my favorite adoptive mom?” I ask from behind her.

She whips around and a smile brightens her face as she pulls me in for a hug.

“Oh, my sweet Quinn! I’ve missed having you around.” She pulls back and then covers her mouth as she gasps, “I apologize, it’s sweet Alpha Quinn now, isn’t it?” The older woman chuckles.

“Not to you it isn’t, Amelia, and I better not catch you ever using that title with me.” 1 chide with a smirk.

“Well, just look at you! You look so much older since I last saw you. Are you eating? I don’t see any meat on these bones!”

“Will you stop harassing the poor woman, Mother. Quinn looks ravishing as always.” Declan’s compliment makes me blush as he leans in to kiss my cheek

“Thank you, Declan, you’re looking pretty handsome yourself.” I turn toward Amelia, “I love the suit, you have a good eye.”

“Hey, how do you know I didn’t pick it out?” Declan pouts.

Amelia and I look at each other before we burst out laughing.

“Oh honey,” Amelia turns to her son, “Don’t ever lose your charm.” She pats him on his chest.

“Hey beautiful, it’s good to see you here! I thought you weren’t coming.” Carter slides up beside me and gives me a side hug.

“I couldn’t leave Declan hanging on a day like today. I may not have been able to save him like he did me, but the least I could do is give him some moral support.” I smile up at the handsome-as-ever Alpha.

“Good thing too because seriously…”

Carter coughs just before the smell of that ***awful perfume rips through my nose. We are all standing in a circle when Lila comes up to us.

“There you are, my Alpha!” Lila wraps her hand through Declan’s arm and bats her lashes up at him.

He removes her hand and glares down at her, “What do you want now, Lila?”

“It’s time to cut the cake, silly.” She doesn’t let her smile waver, and we all know that she is only putting on a show for the guests.

“This is not a **wedding or a mating ceremony, Lila! Stop trying to make it more than what it is. You got yourself a title, and I got myself an heir, that’s all. If you want cake, then go eat some *****!” Declan says all of this in a low-growling whisper.

Lila looks around our circle and when her eyes land on me, they harden, “What the hell is she doing here?”

I raise a brow, but I don’t have to say anything because Amelia speaks up for me, ” Alpha Quinn is an ally, and all of our allies were invited.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“You should be happy that another of our allies came, since most apparently, don’t think much of you being my Luna.” Declan scoffs.

“But she was uninvited! Is this how it’s always going to be between us? You lean on HER for everything instead of me, your Luna?” Lila whines and crosses her arms.

“I’ve already told you that Quinn will always come before you, she’s family. As for you being my Luna, remember that it was forced upon me, not fated, or chosen.” Declan states. He faces me once more, “Allow me to take you to our other allies and introduce you properly.”

“I would love that, thank you, Declan.” I turn to his mother. “Amelia, are you coming along? I’m sure you would do better introducing me to the Lunas. As a female and an Alpha, I guess I’m considered to carry both titles.” I giggle and then glance back at Lila and wink.

I don’t like the person I am when I’m around the new Luna, but Tala’s ***comes out every time. If only Lila wouldn’t be so nasty, then I could continue being the nice she-wolf that everybody knows, but no, her jealousy is going to be her downfall.

“Deke! I’m so glad you were able to make it!” Declan turns toward me, “You remember Alpha Lincoln and Luna Stacia’s daughter, don’t you?”

The Alpha of the Sun River pack smiles at me warmly. He’s in his mid-thirties and is widowed. He lost his wife during childbirth; his son survived, but his Luna didn’t, ” Ah, yes! Quinn, isn’t it?”

I nod and return his smile. “Yes, Alpha Deke. I’m surprised you remembered after all these years.”

“Three years isn’t a long time, and I could never forget the wonderful ally and friend we lost, or his family. I was incredibly surprised, to hear that you had survived, though.” He takes my hand in one of his and then covers it with the other, “I was also thrilled to hear that you have taken over as Alpha.

Please, let me know if there is anything that my pack can do for you and your pack, and congratulations.”

**You are too kind, Alpha Deke, but I will keep that in mind. I’m happy with just having Sun River as an ally.” I place my other hand on top of

his.

Deke turns back to Declan, “I’m so sorry to hear about your situation, cousin. I had to come and lend you my support.”

I do a double take, “Excuse me, cousin?”

Both men laugh, but then Amelia is the one to explain, “Deke’s mother was mine and Daniel’s older sister. She passed away quite a few years ago. She says sadly.

“Oh, I’m so sorry for all of your losses, Alpha Deke. So, all three River packs are related then, interesting: I hadn’t known that.”

*Yeah, but this is the only male cousin that I actually like.” Declan inputs.

Deke throws his head back and laughs, “That’s only because Gavin is too much like Uncle.”

“You can say that again—” Declan growls but cuts it short the moment Amelia glares at him.

I don’t dare try to defend Gavin in front of Declan, so I just remain quiet. I glance around the backyard while Amelia and Declan begin conversating with Deke. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as soon as my eyes land on the new Luna, who is across the yard, staring daggers at me. I honestly don’t know why she doesn’t like me. Well, now that Tala has let her claws out at the she-wolf, I understand, but before? Oh well, not much I can do about it.

“Quinn,” Declan gets my attention, “Are you ready to move on?”

“Oh, yes! I’m sorry, I was just letting my eyes wander around. I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation.” | glance around and take notice that Alpha Deke has already disappeared.

I let Declan take hold of my elbow and lead me around to each Alpha, introducing us one by one. Whenever we come to an Alpha with his Luna beside him, Amelia steps in and we chat while the males have their conversations, but I always keep my ears open in case they talk about actual Alpha business. I am an Alpha first and foremost after all.

Declan almost has me feeling sorry for Lila because it should be her on his arm being introduced to the other packs, but like he had told her, she only has the title. I actually worry for the pack because I don’t think Lila has the faintest idea on how to rule beside an Alpha, but I’m hoping she surprises us all for Declan’s sake.

The way the Alpha leads me around and stays close by my side, and how he talks about how proud he is of me, I almost feel as though I’m his Luna. At least that’s what keeps running through my head. Tala scoffs at me, but I can’t help the way I feel, this is wrong. I’m fine with Declan introducing me to the other Alphas, but not how he is going about it. If someone new were to walk in right now, I guarantee they

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would assume that I was the new Luna.

So, I do the complete opposite of what my wolf is telling me to do, and I excuse myself briefly. I head over to the glaring Luna and lean in closer to her, “You know, Lunas don’t just stand in the corner and be **. This is your Luna ceremony, and you should be out there, mingling.”

Lila stares at me stunned, “Oh, I’m sorry, am I supposed to walk around by myself while my Alpha has his **on his arm?”

I choke on my laughter, “You know nothing of our relationship, Lila. You assume things that are all in your head. I apologize for my wolf being a **, and we shouldn’t rub you the wrong way, but you just can’t seem to be civil with us. I’m trying here, Luna.”

She studies me before rolling her eyes, “Whatever. It is what it is. He has made it clear that I am nobody to him, but I wish he would treat me with a little respect in front of the guests and the rest of the pack.”

“I don’t see you doing anything about the situation. You are just standing here, being unsociable. A Luna will make the best of the situation.” I instruct her.

“Why are you trying to help me?” She asks skeptically.

“Honestly, I don’t know. You tricked a great Alpha into making you his Luna, and I know you’re hiding something, but when you look bad, it makes him look bad as an Alpha, and I can’t have that for my friend.” I do an unthinkable thing and ***my arm with hers and lead her over to Declan and the others.

Declan’s eyes go wide when he sees my arm ***with Lila’s, “Quinn?”

I just smile. “Your Luna was being shy and hiding in the corner. I thought it would be best if she came over to join us, so she can get to know your allies as well, Alpha Declan.”

I feel Amelia pat my shoulder, “You are such a thoughtful friend, Alpha Quinn. You are absolutely right: Luna Lila should meet both Alphas and their Lunas.

I glance back at Declan and see the tick in his clenched jaw, but he hides it as soon as the others look his way. “Of course!” he says, “1 assumed she was busy tending to the other guests.”

I know better than to let her arm go because she will go straight to Declan and act like a loving Luna, which wouldn’t be a bad idea, but I keep hold for two reasons; one, Declan looks as if he could strangle his Luna if she says the wrong thing, and the second is more of a selfish one. I simply do not want to see her touching him.

All of that falls apart, though, the moment I am pulled away from the Luna and the rest by a persistent Alpha heir, “You came, Quinn! It’s so good to see you again, two days has been too long!” Gavin pulls me in for a hug, “I want to introduce you to my father, you have yet to meet

him.”

I glance over my shoulder as he pulls me away, only to see Duke flash in the Alpha’s eyes. Lila takes my leave as a chance to sidle up to Declan’s side. His face goes blank before he replaces his glare with a big smile and looks down at his Luna as he pats her hand on his arm affectionately