Chapter 32: Shock
Samara
When the pack realized who I was, they all wanted to see me, tell me how sorry they were for the loss of my family, let me know how happy they are that their Alpha found me, and that I wasn’t alone any longer.
“She wasn’t alone. This pack is indebted to Alpha William, the Alpha who took in Samara when she was nine–years–old. He gave her his name to protect her and he looked after her until I found her. Remember that name, everyone. If ever anyone from Alpha William’s pack comes seeking asylum, or if Alpha William himself arrives on our pack lands for any reason, they are to be granted access,” Roman had said.
He had turned to me. “I can never repay him for what he did for you and for me. But I will try.”
And somehow, I’d fallen even more in love with him.
He called his parents that day. His father had been resistant to returning, but Roman gave him a vague response about having finally found my parents‘ killers.
“Who?” Alpha Sterling had growled.
“Come home and I will tell you. I assume you want to be a part of the attack.”
“You know I do. You mother and I will be there tomorrow.”
The rest of that day had been chaotic, with the pack feeling antsy because of the coming war, the planned return of Alpha
Sterling and Luna Devi, and, I realized, the plan for me to officially take my place as Luna of this pack. While Roman hasn’t
said anything about it, I thought maybe we’d complete our bond last night. However, when we fell into bed, we were both still
exhausted from the emotional drain of the last couple of days and the energy that is pulsing from the pack. He had curled
himself around me, and I’d snuggled against him before we both fell into a deep sleep.
This morning in warrior training, Roman came at me much harder than he has during the last couple of weeks.
“What is this about?” I ask, as he helps me up for the umpteenth time.
“I know you’re a white wolf now. I know you can take more power from me and I know you’ll learn faster if I stop coddling
you.”
“You were coddling me?”
“I was being careful with you. I didn’t know then what I know now. Besides being a strong wolf and an inherently intelligent
fighter, I know you will want to be in the battle with me against Sawyer.”
“You would be right about that. I refuse to stay here while you avenge my brother’s death. Besides, if Althea is there and just had a pup, she and the pups will need someone to protect them while the others are fighting, and I don’t trust anyone in that
pack, Roman.” (2
He takes my face in his hands. “That pack is your brother’s pack, your family’s pack, Samara. You can trust them, at least the
ones who were there before Sawyer betrayed them.”
“But he’s their Alpha…” I begin.
“ONLY because Althea accepted him as her mate. They’re following her as a white wolf, not him. They will follow you for the same reason. Look at our pack, Samara. From the moment you arrived, they started falling in love with you.”
I smirk at my mate. “Does that mean if I wanted to, I could take this pack from you?”
I have no doubt that you could, Samara,” he says seriously, making the smirk drop off my face. “Although, based on you never taking over Alpha William’s pack, I doubt you would. However, if you ever feel that I am not worthy of being your mate,
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not worthy of leading this pack, I hope that you will.”
I stare at him in stunned silence. He strokes his thumbs over my cheeks.
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“The power of the white wolf, the power that you and Ayla have, should never be underestimated. That is why I’m pushing you hard, Samara. I know what you’re capable of and I will never treat you as less than you are, a very powerful, very intelligent woman and wolf.”
Damn the man! I just keep falling more deeply in love with him.
As if he can read my mind, he smirks, leaning forward to press a kiss to my lips. “Sealed with a kiss. Now get back into your defensive formation and keep your left arm up. As soon as you start getting tired, it starts to drop.”
I push onto my toes and kiss him again quickly, making him growl softly before I step back and push myself to become the fighter my mate is working hard to make me.
“Tomorrow, I’d like to work with Ayla. My father will be here so he can monitor our battle, and give you pointers while Pierce and Ayla practice,” he says at the end of practice. When he notices me hobbling a bit, he pulls me to a stop.
“Was I too rough with you?” he asks me, pulling my shorts down to see the bruise on my hip. “Ayla?” he asks, while gently running his fingers over the bruise.
“I’ll have it healed after breakfast, my mate.”
“Ayla, I’m counting on you to tell me if I’m being too rough with you or Samara. I know you’re strong, but you still have a lot of things that you need to learn. If it’s too much, you need to let me know.”
“I will,” she purrs.
“What about me? What if I feel like it’s too much,” I ask, wondering why he’s talking to Ayla and not me.
“Because you’re a whiner,” he says, and I catch the grin before he turns away from me.
“I am NOT a whiner!” I say, leaping onto his back. He catches me easily, pulling my legs around his waist and holding me piggyback style as he turns his head to look at me.
“You really are. You mumble and grumble the entire time we’re sparring,” he says, laughing as we walk inside the packhouse.
Because the pack’s energy has been unusually high the last couple of days, I don’t immediately realize that someone else is in the pack. It isn’t until I hear the gasp that I turn.
“Jessica?” Luna Devi whispers. She’s aged dramatically since the last time I saw her. She and Alpha Sterling both always looked larger than life to me. Now, it’s almost as if losing my parents sucked the youth and vibrancy from their bodies.
Roman lets me down and I step in front of him. “Luna Devi,” I say, walking to her, holding out my hands.
Her eyes have filled with tears, her lips are trembling, and she’s staring at me as if she’s seen a ghost.
“This is why I wanted you to come home,” Roman says behind me. “Mother, father. I finally found her and she’s my mate. This is Samara, Samara Brenner.”
“Little Samara,” Luna Devi says, pulling me into a hug and losing the battle of her tears. I feel another set of strong arms wrap about us and feel Alpha Sterling also crying silent tears.
I lose the battle of my own tears, the memories once again surfacing of happier times when our families spent time together. My mother laughing with Luna Devi, or my father joking or talking business with Alpha Sterling. I stand there, in the embrace of my parents‘ friends until all of us collect ourselves again.
“Where were you? Where have you been all these years? Roman searched everywhere for you. We all did, only …” she looks
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up at her mate. “Sterling and I gave up. I’m so glad my son never did.”
“It’s a long story,” Roman says, walking over to wrap his arms around me. He kisses the top of my head.
“Let’s go to my office and Samara can tell you where she’s been. She also needs to tell you what she saw that night. Samara is the reason I know who killed Theo. She witnessed his murder.” (
Cooper author
Alpha Sterline and Luna Devi have arrived.
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Chapter 33 Discussion
