Alpha Ascending

by Alicia Montgomery

  Lucas didn’t even wait. He let his wolf out, his clothes shredding to bits, and headed straight toward the building as soon as all four paws landed on the ground.

  He pushed his wolf, but it really didn’t need any more encouragement. It was sprinting toward the front of the building, focused on getting inside. However, it skidded to a halt. The front door was ablaze and the heat from the flames made it too dangerous to get any closer.

  No! He had to get inside. The wolf took a few steps back. Maybe if they could knock it down—

  A growl made the wolf turn its head. A large, white albino wolf stood behind, its red eyes staring straight at them. Cross.

  The albino wolf focused its stare on the door. Lucas wasn’t sure what happened, but suddenly, the panels flew off its hinges, leaving the doorway clear.

  He didn’t waste any more time. His wolf sprinted inside, not caring if the smoke was burning its eyes and lungs or if the flames singed the tips of its fur. The inside of the warehouse was huge, but thankfully, it was gutted out so there was only one main space. Setting down low on its paws to avoid the smoke, Lucas glanced around.

  There.

  A figure lay on the floor, about ten feet from him. Sofia! The wolf scrambled toward her. She lay on her side, her face on the dirty floor. The wolf sniffed at her and licked her hand.

  I need to get her out of here, he pleaded to his wolf. Let me come back.

  The wolf growled, keeping its claws tight on their shared body. Please, he begged. I promise I won’t let her go, ever again.

  He felt the wolf rear back and then tuck itself deep inside them. The change was so quick, he felt dizzy, but he quickly recovered and scooped Sofia into his arms. I love you, he said silently. Please don’t die. She was soft in his arms, and he felt her labored breath. He had to get her out of here.

  Something brushed against his thigh. Cross! He was still in wolf form, and was brushing his flank against him. “Cross, shift back. I need you to—”

  The air whooshed out of his lungs as a coldness crawled over his skin. He wasn’t sure what was happening until he looked around and saw that they weren’t inside the burning building. They were across the street in the abandoned lot, surrounded by the people they had left earlier. Twice now, Cross had used his warlock powers in wolf form. He didn’t even know that was possible.

  “Lucas!” Astrid came running straight at them. “Is she …”

  He looked down at the woman in his arms. Her eyes were closed, and soot covered her face. Quickly, he lay her on the ground, opened her mouth, pressed his lips to hers, and then pushed air into her lungs. “Sofia,” he said. “Please.” He brushed her face with his fingers, and he felt the trickle of tears down his face. “Don’t die.” He did it again, willing every atom of his being to fight. “I need you,” he said between breaths. “I need you and our baby.” When he felt her body jerk and cough, his heart soared with hope. “Sofia.”

  Sofia hacked and coughed as she continued to dispel the smoke from her lungs, and he lightly tapped at her back to help her. When she looked up, her eyes were unfocused, but after a few seconds, they became clear with recognition. “Lucas?” she rasped.

  He let out a cry of relief and gathered her into his arms. He kissed her hair, moving to her temple and then down her cheeks. “I love you,” he murmured before he captured her mouth with his. She went still, unmoving, and he moved his lips away, peppering her cheeks and forehead with his kisses instead.

  “Lucas,” she gasped when he pulled away. “What happened? I was—”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “None of it matters.”

  “But—” She ran a hand down her face. “I … you … you hate me,” she choked out. “You said you would … that … Pappoús and …”

  Fear and sadness clouded her beautiful slate-colored eyes. At that moment, Lucas swore to God that he would do everything in his power to never see that expression on her face again. “I was wrong. I made a mistake. I should have listened to you and believed you and …” He took her hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I love you so much.”

  She stared at him, her mouth parted. “I … I’m sorry I didn’t say it back right away. I just wasn’t sure at that time.”

  “And now?” Please, he thought. Please love me. It would crush him if she didn’t, but he would understand, especially after what he did and the names he called her.

  “Now, I’m sure.” She reached out to cup his jaw. “I love you too.”

  Incredible lightness, happiness, and joy filled him at those words. He kissed her and wrapped his hands around her, never wanting to let go. However, the sound of someone clearing their throat made them pull away. Sofia looked up, then blushed.

  Grant stood in front of them, arms crossed over his chest. Behind him was everyone else, waiting for them to say something.

  Lucas got to his feet and helped Sofia up. “She’s fine,” he said, pulling her to his side.

  “And she’s yours,” Daric added, a smile on his face.

  “What?”

  “If you haven’t guessed it by now, Sofia is your True Mate.”

  “My—” He looked down at Sofia, who looked even more confused than he felt. “Sofia. The baby.”

  Her cheeks went pink, and her hand immediately went down to her stomach. “How did you know?”

  “Er, well your dad told me—”

  “Dad?”

  “I’ll tell you later. But, it’s true, right?”

  She bit her lip and nodded.

  Lucas didn’t think he could be happier after hearing her say that she loved him, but he was wrong. Sofia was going to have his baby. His Lycan baby. Though that didn’t matter to him, because he would have been happy with a human baby, as long as it was with her.

  “Wait, how did you know?” he asked Daric.

  “When I touched her wrist in Blood Moon, I saw it in a vision,” the warlock said. “Which is why I didn’t dose her with the forgetting potion.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Lucas said. “Did you see all this happening?”

  “I cannot tell you what I saw,” Daric said. “I can only say that I saw your futures intertwined. It has always been my policy not to reveal my visions to anyone. Besides, she is human. You would have resisted her.”

  Daric was probably right, Lucas mused.

  “Wait, what’s going on?” A wrinkle between Sofia’s brows appeared. “I’m your what? Mate? But I’m not Lycan.”

  “No, but you’re a True Mate. And that’s special.”

  “Special?”

  “It means you’re mine.” The words sounded so right, and his wolf preened. The damned thing knew it all this time. “We’re meant for each other. And that any child we have will be pure Lycan.”

  Her jaw dropped open. “Lycan? I’m carrying your Lycan baby?”

  He nodded. “You’re also invulnerable. That’s probably how you survived all that smoke inhalation. Our son or daughter was protecting you.”

  “I …”

  He could see that she was still in a state of shock. “I’ll explain everything later, sweetheart.” He covered the hand over her belly with his. “All that matters is that you’re alive. And that we’re going to have a healthy, happy baby.”

  She blinked as tears filled her eyes. “Lucas … Lucas …”

  He wrapped his arms around her and allowed her to sob against his chest. Everyone around them moved away, giving them privacy. “I’ll never leave you or push you away again. You’re a much bigger person than I am. Thank you for believing me and forgiving me.”

  “I love you,” she whispered, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. “I’m just sorry I didn’t get to say it back right away.”

  “You don’t have to apologize for that. And I’m the one who wronged you. I’m sorry, and I’m going to make it up to you in any way I can.”

  “In any way?”

  “How would you like me to do it?” he asked. “I’ll give you an
ything you want. A nice apartment by Central Park? A new car? Jewelry? How about a trip to Greece? Or I can invest in Giorgios’ and open chains all over the country? Or maybe—”

  “Stop,” she said playfully. “I don’t need all that. I don’t want any of that.”

  “Then what do you want, sweetheart?” He could give her the world on a silver platter if she asked.

  Slate-colored eyes looked up at him, and he was struck by the expression of pure love in her eyes. “You. I just want you. And our baby.”

  He tightened his hold on her, his heart bursting from joy and love. His entire life was going to be turned upside down because of this human, this woman that he loved and would do anything for. Some Lycans would be resistant at the thought of a human Lupa. And then there was the brewing war with the mages.

  For now, he would enjoy this moment of having his mate in his arms. Of Sofia’s orange blossom and olive scent surrounding him, comforting him. And of his wolf, finally content and deliriously happy at the prospect of a pup. He had everything he could ever want, and more than he deserved. And now, he was even more determined to fight their enemies, for the sake of his mate and their pup.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  One month later …

  Spring had finally arrived, and New York was in full bloom. Everyone was out and about enjoying the weather, from the office workers on their way to Friday night happy hour to the tourists snapping selfies in front of the Upper West Side’s iconic Art Deco buildings. The trees were lush and green, and the flowers were in full bloom. The air smelled of grass and—

  “Achooo!”

  Sofia took out a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose, though she didn’t stop walking, her steps keeping pace with the other New Yorkers around her as they crossed Central Park West. With an unhappy grunt, she looked down at her flat stomach. “You can protect me from fire and smoke inhalation, but you can’t do anything about allergies? Some magical baby you are.”

  A woman rushing by jostled her as she stepped up to the sidewalk. “I’m in a hurry too, lady!” she shouted. “You don’t see me trying to run over other people!” Ugh. Sometimes she didn’t know if she loved or hated this city. With a determined shrug, she continued walking. She was already late as it is. Driving would have been faster, but when she heard about the gridlock on fifty-ninth on the police scanner, she decided against taking her car and rode the subway home instead.

  Even as she rushed ahead, it was hard to ignore her surroundings. New York really was beautiful and vibrant in the springtime. The changing seasons was something Sofia had always loved about the city. How did people who lived in places with the same season notice the time passing?

  Still, she couldn’t believe it had been over a month since her life changed. It seemed like only yesterday she had just met Lucas. And in a couple of months, she would be giving birth to their baby. She had never felt happier in her life knowing she would always be with Lucas. Now that they had discovered they were True Mates, things had changed, though that didn’t mean she put her old life behind her.

  She was able to testify at the Bianchi trial, and with the additional proof of the mob’s contract on her life, helped put him away for life with no chance of parole. Many of her colleagues at the precinct still hated her, but not as openly as before, especially after they found out about the attempt on her life. Bushnell was still in the hospital, recovering, and he didn’t have the faintest idea that he had been controlled by a mage.

  Although she knew Lucas didn’t like that she put her life in danger every day, he never asked her to stop being a detective. How could she? This was what she was born to do, and it was part of her. She did concede on one thing: moving into The Enclave with him. With the mages out to get them and knowing about her existence, it was the safest place for her and the baby.

  She picked up her pace as she continued walking uptown. Only a few more blocks and she would be home. Fuck, why did she have to be late, tonight of all nights, during Lucas’s ascension ceremony? Frankie and Grant would not be happy if she caused the delay. Of course, they would probably forgive her and somehow find a way to make it Lucas’s fault. His parents, after learning the truth of who she was and what she did for Lucas, came to love her. Frankie, especially was thrilled when she found out about her grandfather’s restaurant. They all went to dinner there one night, and she was very happy to hear about the story of Dad and Mom’s engagement at Muccino’s.

  Finally, she reached her destination. It was really funny how the mini-city where the New York Lycans lived was hidden in plain sight, right under everyone’s noses. Lucas had explained that there was some kind of magic protecting it, not only to prevent their enemies from going in, but to compel humans to ignore its existence.

  She stopped at the front door, holding her key fob in her hand. Only residents had the little electronic key that would open the door into the main entrance. As she was about to touch it to the pad, she heard a woeful ruff behind her.

  “Oh,” she said as she turned around. “Have we met before?”

  The wolf—no, the Lycan—blinked at her, its tongue lolling out of its giant maw, as if it was smiling. She had met so many Lycans in the past month that she really couldn’t remember them all, much less know who they were in wolf form.

  “Are you trapped out here?” Lycans ripped their clothes when they shifted. Maybe this one lost his keys as well. “Well, come on then.” She unlocked the door with her key fob, and as soon as she opened the door, the wolf slipped in, nearly knocking her down. “Hey!” The wolf darted down one of the hallways. Oh, well. Maybe he or she was in a hurry to get home.

  There was no time to stop at her and Lucas’s place, so she went straight to Frankie and Grant’s penthouse apartment in Center Court, the middle of the three main buildings at the Enclave. The Lupa had sent her a message telling her she had to come there as soon as she arrived.

  “You’re late,” Frankie said as she yanked open the door.

  “Traffic. Took the subway,” she quickly explained. “Hey, what—”

  “I have everything ready for you.” There was a hint of mischievousness in Frankie’s mismatched eyes.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes, come on.” Frankie tugged at her, dragging her into the spacious guest room. There were three people waiting inside. “They’re here to help you.”

  “Help me what?”

  They descended on her, like vultures on carrion. There wasn’t any time to explain and they prodded at her and whipped her into shape. After thirty minutes, the hairstylist, makeup artist, and clothes stylist had her all ready.

  Sofia gasped as she looked at herself. She was wearing the most gorgeous, off the shoulder floor-length blue-gray dress. Her hair was piled up on top of her head in a sophisticated French twist, and her makeup was applied perfectly. “Is that me?”

  Frankie laughed. “Yes. Now, come on, the ceremony’s starting soon.”

  They left the apartment and took the elevator all the way down, then dashed down the hallway that led to the outside courtyard. In their hurry, they nearly collided into someone running into the building.

  Frankie staggered back, but caught herself before she fell. “Lara! How nice to see you. I love that dress.” She pointed toward the courtyard. “The ceremony’s that way.”

  The pretty redhead composed herself quickly. “Frankie! Sorry I didn’t get to see you earlier.” She was older, probably about Frankie’s age, and was dressed in a cute vintage-style dress.

  “This is Sofia,” Frankie introduced. “Lucas’s mate. Sofia, this is Lara Henney, Lupa of San Francisco.”

  “Nice to meet you, Lupa,” she said.

  “Oh. That’s fantastic. Nice to meet you, Sofia.” Her eyes darted around. “I was actually looking for Elise. Have you seen her?”

  “Sorry, I’ve been at home the whole afternoon,” Frankie said. “I’m sure she just went to the bathroom or something. The ceremony’s probably about to begin, though.”

&n
bsp; “I should go check anyway.” Lara frowned. “It’s just … never mind, I’ll go check the ladies’ room.” With a quick wave, she headed down the hallway.

  “Hmmm,” Sofia muttered. “Should we help her?”

  “No!” Frankie was pushing her out of the courtyard. “We’re already late.”

  Apparently, becoming the Alpha of New York was a big thing, and lots of people were coming to this party. She’d already met all of Lucas’s immediate family and some of his extended ones. As she walked through the crowd, she saw a few familiar faces—Jackson, Jordan, Noah, Astrid, and Zac. In the front row was Adrianna and her mate, Darius—whom she recognized as the silver-haired man outside the French restaurant. Next to them were Lucas’s two younger sisters—Julianna so serious and business-like, dressed in a dark suit and her hair chopped down to her chin; Isabella, wearing designer clothes from head to toe, her hair in glossy curls down her back and makeup applied to enhance her already perfect features. She had gotten to know the two younger women in the past month and liked them both immensely, despite the fact that they were so different from each other.

  Frankie ushered her forward toward the dais set up in the courtyard in the middle of the Enclave. Lucas was already up there, as well as Grant. Five people stood across from them—the Lycan High Council—as she had been told. One of them was holding a large, mother-of-pearl inlaid box. Lucas was looking at her, and he was not happy.

  Sorry, she mouthed at him.

  He shook his head and then began to walk toward her, much to the confusion of the council members.

  “I said I’m sorry,” she hissed. “What are you—”

  “You’re late,” he said. “Very late.”

  “I know! We can talk about this later. You have some very important people waiting for you.”

  His frown turned into a smile. “I really wanted you here earlier because there’s something very important I need to ask you.”

  “What is it?”

  He glanced up on stage. “Usually, at ascension ceremonies, the future Lupa stands at her mate’s side.”