An Alpha without a Pack

Chapter 20

I was at a loss for words. Rick Smith wanted to become a member of my pack that no longer existed.

"I already spoke to Alpha Martha and she has agreed that this was a great idea. She even found someone to take my place as her Captain of the Guard. Alpha Martha was even excited about this."

I sat there listening to Rick explain to me, almost like I was stuck in a trance. On the inside, I could feel my wolf doing flips with excitement.

"Ever since I first met you, I've had a hard time following Alpha Martha's orders, almost like she was no longer the one who held my loyalty. Don't get me wrong, I still did what I was told but it didn't feel like it used to. The entire you were away I felt my wolf trying to take over to and find you as I needed you right here beside me so I can follow your orders instead. I only want to follow you and I believe it is because we are meant to be together. Like mates."

Mate.

The word bangs around inside me as my wolf jumped around with excitement at the mention of it.

"Wait," I said snapping out of my trance. "You think we are mates?"

"Yes, I do," Rick replied. His shoulder seemed to slump slightly at my surprise. "I believe it actually. So does Alpha Martha. That's why I find it easy to ignore her, why we both feel that tugging to be near each other. Why we feel that aching in our chest or feel lost without each other. When you were shifting earlier today, and I heard you scream I lost control. I left my post and ran to find you. I needed to know that you were okay."

Rick stood up pulling me with him and pressing me flush against him. My hand pressed flat on his chiseled chest as my heart began to do somersaults. His warm sent filled me as we breathed each other's air, staring into each other. In this light, it was like I was staring into an emerald shining in the sun. Hope. That was hope dancing in his eyes. Hope and longing.

"Finding your actual mate, your one true equal, the one person that you are meant to spend your life with is like finding a needle in a hayfield," I said breathlessly. "What is the possibility that we actually found each other?"

"7.4 billion to one," Rick replied just as breathlessly. "I'm willing to try out those odds."

Before I could say anything, Rick leaned down and kissed me. Softly at first as If to see that I would allow it. Then as if the mating bod itself snapped into place, my world was set on fire and every bit of doubt, not that there was much, was whipped from my mind. Rick, my equal, was my mate and he was right here with his arms around me kissing me gently. Normally wolves would give up on finding the other half and settle with someone who would come as a close second. As sad as that sounds, they can go the rest of their lives knowing that they found someone and chose to be with that someone instead of who fate chose them to be with. I'm just lucky to have found my mate.

Rick pulled back slowly, both of us breathing heavily. "Did you feel that?" he asked just above a whisper. I nodded enthusiastically earning myself a bright smile. "So, back to my original question." Quickly Rick dropped to his knees grasping my hands and placing them to his forehead. "Sophie, alpha of the Silver pack, I promise to pledge my like to protect you until my dying breath, and after death, I will protect you in spirit. I wish to leave my current pack and join yours. To show you my loyalty to you I am willing to do whatever task or trial that you would like me to do. Will you accept me, Alpha Sophie?"

As I stared down at Rick who had my hands pressed firmly against his forehead and stared at my feet, old memories of other wolves doing the same thing to my father filtered through my mind. The silver pack was not a fast-growing pack, but I remember seeing at least ten wolves wanting to join. All did what Rick was doing now, pledging their loyalty to my father and his pack. They even asked to be put through trials to prove themselves. I decided I was going to do exactly what my father would have done if Rick had asked him instead of me.