1. Claude Phoebe(ManxMan)

•Chapter 9✓

Not once had it been a secret that I would one day lead the pack. It has never left my mind, the fact that an Alpha I would be because aside from wanting it, Winston never really let me forget.

After I lost my dad to Sanctum, and as much as everyone else doesn't want to accept it, my father to the grief. He may be here in body, but his spirit was farther. Beta Winston took over, for I was too young and even then he never hid anything from me.

Truth is I had to grow up pretty fast for it. While Theodore and Winston took on raising my siblings and I in the place of our parents, they also took on the care of our pack and I would always be grateful for their leadership, their honesty and their kindness, their guidance. This in no way meant that I resented my parents, no, I loved them and respected their growth and I understood.

Everything happens for a reason.

So, as I stared at Ace, my mate, Theodore was dragging us out of the room for the official announcement and the cutting of cake. Ace seemed dazed, staring at me back, eyes wide like a doe, he looked so innocent, so pure and all mine.

How could I be so lucky?

A wolf of snow white fur had emerged from the shadows, chest inflated as his yellow sunset eyes stared at me. I could feel the pride, the joy and I could feel my excitement, my thankfulness at his presence.

My father had stuck around despite his grief and through the years has battled with his wolf for it. It was only a few years, three to be exact when he shifted and never turned back. He came and went as he pleased and I couldn't blame him, I was grateful that despite it all he still knew where home was, he still showed up when we needed him most.

He stood beside me as my title was announced and officially at 18 I became the Alpha. I introduced a still stunned Ace as what he truly was alongside me, my mate, their new Alpha with me, my ultimate partner.

The people cheered and made enough noise to make perfectly good hearing painful.

It came as no surprise to me at the sight of Al Praat, standing towards the back, some of his like minded friends beside him, all unenthusiastic and despite it bowed along with everyone else.

Ace and I gave the speech nontheless and soon we got to mingle. My eyes never left his. The ringleader of my demise, harmless at the moment but not someone I would ever forget to be alert about.

"Alpha!" I turned to my little sister,Danielle. I grinned crouching as she ran her way into my arms. I lifted the laughing girl, her long hair was tied back in a pony tail her hazel blue eyes bright with glee.

"Are you really going to start calling me that from now on?"

"It's a surefire way to get your attention, so yes." I rolled my eyes as I carried her. She wrapped her legs and arms around me comfortably as I turned to my friends.

"If I didn't know you, I'd say she was your daughter."

"Dude, I'm so young!" I playfully punched him and he snickered, his grey eyes sparkling.

"I am your daughter." Danielle claimed with a pout and I gave her one of my own.

"If so, I'm too lenient."

She grinned then before our other siblings came over. Travis sighed looking at Danielle and shook his head.

"Girl, if you don't come off him, I'll kick you myself."

"No violence."

"Relax, I meant it figuratively." Travis rolled his eyes and lifted his hands in mock surrender. "Besides, she promised to play Mario with Trent, the boy asked we conduct this mission peaceful."