the fact that he quickly adjusts his pants. “Vicious, you have to cut that out, or we’re going to give the pack a whole other kind of show than what they’re expecting,” he teases, and it coaxes a salacious smile from me.
We march down the stairs, and he slaps my ass hard when we get down to the bottom and head for the front door. I bite back a groan from the yummy sting that moves through me, while Tyran does groan, feeling exactly what I am through our marks.
I’m going to have so much fun with this.
The sun is high as we step out of the alpha house, and I squint against its too bright greeting. I’m guided down the deck as chirping birds and a warm breeze tease my senses. It hits me just how much has changed since the first time I stomped up the wood planks of this pathway. Tyran squeezes my hand and then calls out a greeting to Britton and Harlan, who are both waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
“Seneca, you know Britton is my Second in command, but allow me to formally introduce Harlan, my Third,” he declares, and the warm smile I’m offering Britton is suddenly joined by wide eyes as I turn to the tall, lean female I met earlier with hair and eyes the color of light oak and a massive scar on her throat.
I’m surprised that she’s Tyran’s Third. Not that she doesn’t look formidable, just that most packs are sexist as fuck and don’t have a lot of women in positions of power—unless they’re attached to a powerful mate. Harlan chuckles and gives me a knowing smile before stepping closer to me and pressing her forehead against mine.
Surprise freezes me for a second, but then I relax and close my eyes, realizing that she’s offering a gesture of respect, a greeting meant for the dominant mated pair in a pack. “Well fucking done, Third,” I tell her when we pull apart, proud to be part of a pack that sees both sexes as valuable.
Harlan shoots me a wink before the serious veil she’s always draped in drops back down over her face. She looks around us as though she’s watching for danger even in her own pack, and a sense of safety and confidence fills me.
Britton steps toward me next, and I turn to him as he too presses his forehead to mine. “Congratulations,” he offers wholeheartedly. “Tyran’s been parading those bites around all morning like a proud peacock. I’ve never seen the bastard so happy,” he teases, stepping back and shooting a sly smile to his alpha. “We all thank you for that by the way,” Britton teases. “There’s been a sudden rush in meeting requests over the last twenty-four hours. I’m sure that’s not related though.”
Tyran laughs, and it moves through me like the rumble of a geyser on the edge of erupting, which only makes me want to do a little erupting of my own in the near future. His chuckle is punctuated by a low groan, and a flash of satisfaction strikes through me as he shoots me a look.
Britton clears his throat, pulling our attention back. “I thought we’d stop by the ceremonial grounds and make sure everything is in order for tomorrow, and then we can circle around the territory,” he declares. Tyran nods and gestures for him to lead the way, and I fall into step next to him as Britton pops on his tour guide hat and starts showing me the ins and outs of Ruin Falls.
“Ceremony?” I ask as we wind past the alpha house in the direction of the sparkling lake. I can picture just how much fun it will be to play and swim in there when the days are sweltering and muggy like they’re bound to become in a couple months.
A hint of worry coalesces in my chest that doesn’t belong to me, and I turn to look at Tyran. He runs his fingers through his dark and shiny hair and looks around before fixing his gaze on me. “We have a Flux planned for tomorrow,” he explains, and a trill of alarm rings in my mind. Tyran presses his lips together in understanding, while I try to push the rush of emotions away, ignoring the consternation they stir up in me.
I’ve witnessed dozens upon dozens of ceremonies in my life. One bad one shouldn’t spoil them all, even if it did happen to be