Focusing, like Ryker told me to, my body shifts back into human form. I open my eyes to see myself lying in Ryker’s arms. Both of us are naked. I lock eyes with him, but this time I see him through my wolf eyes. ‘Mate!’ I say, and the world around me disappears. I wrap my arms around his neck and burst into tears.
‘Ryker, I missed you so much. I’m so sorry for leaving,’ I cry. He wraps his warm masculine arms around my waist and presses me to his chest. He cups my face in his hands.
‘It’s okay babe. I know you didn’t want to leave. I’m here now and that’s all that matters.’ We stare into each other’s eyes and our mouths smash together. My body ignites with the intensity of our passionate kiss; he slips his tongue into my mouth over and over again, massaging it against mine. It sends overwhelming, hot shivers down my spine; we eventually part from the kiss; breathing heavily.
His member presses against my entrance making me wet; the feeling is hot and intense; if there wasn’t a battle outside, we would have mated then and there.
Ryker lets out the sexiest growl and nips at my neck.
‘As much as I want to stay like this forever, we need to destroy Alpha Zenith.’ He brings me back to reality with his words. I stand up quickly; my eyes change into my wolf’s.
‘Alpha Zenith, is mine!’ I growl, instantly shifting.
Ryker shifts and we’re almost the same size; I’m only slightly smaller. We let out a loud majestic howl in unison, warning Alpha Zenith that we are coming for him!
Bolting out of the cell, up the stairs and out of the pack house, I see we have a lot of badly injured warriors; there are injured wolves everywhere and a lot of dead warriors and pack members from Shady Crest. Sprinting around for Alpha Zenith, I catch his scent; I follow it away from the battle through the long grass, and creep through the trees. I can tell he is close. Ryker isn’t far behind me, watching my back.
Hearing a ferocious growl on my right, I turn to see Alpha Zenith in his wolf form lunging toward me. We roll a few metres, with Alpha Zenith pinning me down; my hind claws tearing into his stomach. He emits a whimper, and claws into my chest; I roll out from underneath him, then leap onto him, ferociously biting the back of his neck; tearing a piece of flesh clean off him. He howls in pain and then falls backward, almost crushing me beneath him.
Unable to move from under him, I rip into his ribs, and listen to the sounds of bones breaking. He rolls off me and we snap and snarl at each other; blood dripping from our muzzles. His neck is exposed for a brief second, so I lunge forward, biting as hard as I can, remembering how he bit my mother’s neck, and shook her around like a ragdoll; I show no mercy. Adrenaline rushes through me; blood spurts everywhere and I shake him around feverishly. I know he is dead but I don’t let go; I release all my anger by ripping more flesh off him.
‘Astrid! Enough! He’s dead!’ Ryker says, slowly approaching me. I let out another growl: warning him to back off. He freezes on the spot, shocked by my response.
‘Astrid, you killed him. You can let him go now. It’s over,’ he says.
So much anger is boiling up inside of me. He killed my mother! He murdered my whole family and pack in Moonstone Crest! His death hasn’t satisfied me; it isn’t enough compensation for what he has done. I growl ferociously, still tearing his flesh off in strips. Masculine arms instantly wrap around me.
‘Astrid! You need to stop! You need to let go and shift into your human. This isn’t you, Astrid. Don’t be the monster he is. Please! I’m begging you!’ He pleads. I flinch at his words. What am I doing? He killed my mother. I got my vengeance by killing him. I’m violently ripping him apart like a monster. I let go of his body; Ryker can see the pain in my face. In my dazed reverie I tumble into his lap. I’m severely injured, and having lost too much blood from my wounds, extremely weak. I must have blacked out, because I open my eyes to stare up into Ryker’s chiselled jawline; he is carrying me nude, bridal-style. Shady Crest pack members feel Alpha Zenith’s death immediately; they cease fighting.
Approaching Shady Crest pack house, the pack and warriors see us, fall to their knees and bow their heads.
‘Why are they bowing for us?’ I ask Ryker.
‘The moment you kill an Alpha his pack become your pack,’ he explains.
‘But, I’m not officially part of a pack yet,’ I say, confused. Ryker looks at me passionately.
‘All you have to do is accept me as your mate, Astrid. And take your place by my side as my equal and as Luna,’ he smiles. I cup his face in my hands as he cradles me.
‘I, Astrid Moonstone, accept you, Alpha Ryker of Shadow Crest, as my mate and as your Luna.’ Ryker stares into my eyes; he is fending off tears of happiness with my words.
A strange warmth courses through my body; I feel an immediate sense of power and authority. Astrid, you have made me the happiest Alpha in the world, Ryker says, mind-linking me for the very first time. I freeze at his voice in my head.
‘I just heard you. In my head. Is that the mind-link?’ I ask, excitedly.
‘Yes, just think of me in your mind. I will hear your voice in my head,’ he says.
‘Okay.’ Ryker if we didn’t have hundreds of werewolves staring at us, I would have my way with you right now; Ryker lets out a chuckle.
I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a show, he says mischievously.
‘Ryker!’ I say, slapping his chest playfully.
‘I’m only joking babe,’ he says, kissing me on the forehead.
Amelia and Leon run up to us holding hands; she is blushing and smiling; I smile back at her.
She hands me a black dress and I quickly put it on.
‘Thanks Amelia,’ I say smiling. ‘So, what happens now?’ I ask Ryker.
‘Now we tend to the injured. We will use Shady Crest pack house for all the wounded. The warriors will bury the dead, and we’ll return to Shadow Crest. Pack members from here are welcome to come with us. Or they can stay here and resume their lives; but this land is now our territory,’ he explains.
Doing my best, I help tend to the injured. Everyone calls me Luna; it’s foreign to me, but I figure I’ll get used to it.
‘How are you feeling now?’ Ryker asks; looking me up and down.
‘I’m completely healed from all the injuries I received; I can’t believe how quick I heal now,’ I smile.
‘You will always heal quickly now that you have your wolf,’ he says, smiling. ‘I think it’s time we all go home.’ We hold hands, keeping our eyes only on each other. Everyone else is ready to leave to go home.
‘Ryker? I was wondering if we could catch up with everyone later? My wolf is begging to be let out, and I thought we could go for a run together?’ I ask.
‘I’d like that very much,’ he smiles, and kisses me passionately on the lips.
‘Ready to go, Alpha and Luna?’ Seth asks. We part; our eyes remain locked on each other. Without turning around to look at Seth, Ryker waves his hand.
‘You all go on home; we will catch up later,’ he says. Seth smiles and nods; leading everyone back to Shadow Crest. I pull my dress off and shift into my large white wolf. Ryker shifts and I bolt toward him. We play-fight a little; I nip at his ankles and neck. He purposely falls over, feigning weakness, and whimpers; I haven’t really had the strength to knock him to the ground. It is really cute to watch: to be able to play with his wolf is a very enjoyable experience.
We race through the woods to see who’s faster; our speeds aren’t very different. The full moon is out in full view. We sit on a cliff edge not far from the pack house and let out majestic, powerful howls together.
The pack members respond to us, howling together with joy and enthusiasm. Ryker’s wolf sits beside me, resting his head on mine; he gives me a nip and a nuzzle every so often. We return to the pack house when everyone is asleep. We shift into our human forms. Before entering the front door, Ryker scoops me up bridal style and carries me upstairs in his arms.
‘Our night has only just begun,’ he whispers coyly, nipping my ear.
