One True Alpha

Epilogue

"We welcome you back to the pack," Terrance announced happily at the edge of the tree line with the other Lunas, my mother included. They were all holding hands as the Heirs and Alphas stood a few feet behind them. The parents were waiting by the buses, many of them had chairs because their legs couldn't hold them up. This was quite nerve-wracking for the parents, especially if their pup were one of the wolves that didn't come out. "You have passed your Winter Trials and have been chosen to ascend. Once you exit the trees of the mountain you are no longer considered pups. You will be wolves," they finished the rights and we howled to announce our presence.

I am happy that you survived your ascension. I am happy you are mine.

Terrance's voice entered my head and I giggled. Even from here I could see where my mark was buried in his neck. It had been in the document I had signed from Luca. I had to mark him in both forms but we could choose to wait until the Claiming Ceremony for him to mark me. Terrance wanted to wait, he wanted to make it special for us. He was working with my mother on preparations last night. The pack was eager to have both the Naming and Claiming Ceremony on the same night with the Full Moon in the sky. Maya said it was a good omen.

Our seer was the first wolf to break through the tree line. He tackled Terrance who held him and laughed as the wolf licked his face. He turned towards me and wagged his tail. His parents called him over with a large blanket. The collar around his throat was quickly unfastened and he shifted back to his skin side. "Mom, Dad! I did it! We did it! I knew we would be okay. I found us water and where we could hunt," he shouted as he hugged his parents.

I could hear barks in the distance. We let out a collective howl. "Are we not allowed to help," Terrance asked me quietly. "No, we are to wait until they make it to the tree line. No matter how close they get to it, they need to exit the tree line. Maya is in the bus with some basic healing equipment once they get there," I answered calmly. Terrance rubbed his cheek against mine and I giggled again.

The rest of the groups were returning, several with a couple missing wolves in their group. The wolves from Crow Perch cheered as their Heir returned for a second time, his prospective Luna leaned into his side, a large gash was apparent on her right front leg that she favored heavily. Maya ran from the bus to the future Luna with the Crow Perch healer while the Heir had his collar removed. At Maya's direction, he removed his mate's collar as well.

She cried and held onto her mate as the healers stitched up her arm. Her group had lost three wolves and her mate was down a wolf. Apparently, while they were out hunting, their pack had played on a frozen lake. The ones that were missing were the ones that either couldn't get out of the lake in time or had not warmed up enough when they returned to the den.

"I don't see the blind pup, my light," Terrance said and he motioned towards the parents. I could see the question on his face and looked up at the sky. "It is still early. They could have been deeper in the woods. I didn't return until the late evening. We had moved with a herd," I admitted to him. "I'll wait a little longer," he said and held me closer to him.

The barking from the group before was closer now, we released another howl. We could see them in the distance as they approached. I felt Terrance leave me as he approached the parents of the blind wolf. His ears flickered around as he dragged a group of branches with a couple wolves on them. He was thin and his legs shook with exhaustion. With the Luna-to-be stitched up, Maya stopped short of the tree line. "C'mon, you can do it," she shouted. "Keep going, come on baby," his mother cried out. His ears perked up as he pulled the makeshift sled towards the tree line. A straggling Crow Perch group almost passed the blind wolf before they turned around just short of being free. While weak themselves, they each helped pull the sled out of the tree line. Everyone cheered and his parents couldn't pull the collar off fast enough.

"They got thrown from a cliff. I took care of them the best I could. The rest of the group went to hunt during a snowstorm, they didn't come back," he said, hugging his parents. "You did wonderful, son. You proved yourself. You took care of your pack," they said as they showered him with kisses.

What was thought to be two, was actually three wolves. Maya got them water and liquid meals to help them before we loaded up the first of the buses to head back to the pack. The Crow Perch Heir's mate asked if he could come with them to the Naming Ceremony before she left. She was excited when she learned that Crow Perch was already invited as it would also be Terrance's Claiming Ceremony. They would all become official members of the pack.

Terrance kissed me on the cheek as she skipped away, excited to spread the news. "I love you, my light," he whispered in my ear. I smiled stupidly. "Are you ready to be declared the future Luna of Ironclaw," I asked. "I am excited to be your Luna," he answered. "I am proud to wear your mark first," he said evenly.

"By the next Blue Moon Festival, we'll be going as Alpha and Luna of Ironclaw," I said proudly. "I will stand proudly by your side because I'll have the most powerful Alpha there as my mate," he said and I laughed. "You better be careful, my Luna will be the most powerful one there," I retorted. "I'll be ready by then," Terrance said.

I no longer wished I was born male.