by Kit Tunstall
When he lifted his head, Jared pulled her close to his side, and together, they turned to face Orion. Jared inclined his head slightly. “Congratulations, Orion. I hope the pack prospers under your leadership.”
Alyra remained tense, knowing it still wasn’t over. If the pack accepted Orion as the new Alpha, he had the option of ordering the death of all the Sundowns, or at least their banishment from the island.
In a surprising gesture, Orion bowed at the waist to Jared. “I withdraw my challenge. I thought you had made an impulsive decision that would lead the pack to ruin. I didn’t realize she was what your heart truly wanted. You are the same man you have always been, Jared, and you are the one who should lead us.”
Jared seemed on the verge of declining, but then nodded, a soft sigh escaping him. “You will treat my wife with all the respect she deserves. That goes for every member of the pack. If you can’t accept Alyra as Lupina, you will either challenge me, or you will speak as one and tell us to leave. Make your choice.”
Deep silence filled the clearing, stretching interminably. Alyra held her breath as the pack appeared to think over his ultimatum. Her tension grew until the first members of the pack bent into bows. Cries of, “Lupina,” issued from the crowd, and she realized with a start that the bows were for her, not Jared. A sensation of panic swept through her, and she took a deep breath to fight it back. Mimicking the nod Jared had issued to his vanquished challengers, hoping it was an appropriate response, she tried to project an air of confidence. Her mate’s arm around her waist bolstered her, and she was almost positive she wasn’t visibly trembling.
Orion had just returned to his place in the circle when Jared spoke up again. “You’re wrong about one thing, Orion.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not the same man. I’m a better man, because of Alyra.”
Perhaps it wasn’t dignified for the newly acknowledged Lupina to hug her husband so vigorously, but she couldn’t restrain herself. Alyra pressed kisses to his chest, careful to avoid the wound that still bled too freely. Countless emotions whirled through her, chief among them joy at knowing Jared loved her, that she wasn’t what he had settled for. Her children would grow up secure in their birthright, and all was right with her world. He had given her the precious gift of his support and acceptance, and later tonight, after the ascension was complete, she would tell him about the future arrival of the three gifts they had created together.
“I love you, Alyra.” The words were whispered, meant only for her ears.
“I love you too, Jared.” It was amazing to be able to freely utter the words she had buried in her secret heart for years, and even more amazing to have heard them from his lips first. As she kissed him again, she reminded herself to thank Mical and Elise the next time she saw them. Without their love, hers and Jared’s wouldn’t have come to fruition. If Mical and Elise hadn’t been brave enough to defy convention, Jared never would have been forced to do so either. Thanks to her brother, she was getting her longed-for happy ending.
Kit Tunstall
Kit Tunstall lives in Idaho with her husband and dog-son. She started reading at the age of three and hasn’t stopped since. Love of the written word, and a smart marriage to a supportive man, led her to a full-time career in writing. Romances have always intrigued her, and erotic romance is a natural extension, because it more completely explores the emotions between the hero and heroine. The freedom to cross genres and blend them into unique storylines also appeals to her. Plus, these kinds of stories are so much fun to tell.