The Birth of an Alpha (Rise of the Pride, Book 4)

by Theresa Hissong

  “Victoria Ember Shaw,” Liberty said proudly. “We can call her Ember, but I wanted her to have your mother’s name. You know…just in case.”

  “I think it’s perfect.” Talon leaned over to take his mate’s lips, kissing her with all of the passion of when they’d first touched.

  “Alpha?” Harold interrupted. “Would you like to hold your daughter?”

  “Please.” He smiled broadly, accepting the bundle. Harold returned to the sink and cleaned up what was left of the mess while Talon took a seat on the edge of the bed, resting for a moment.

  His daughter was stunning, just like her mother. Her icy blue eyes were coated in a gel that Harold had put into her eyes. Talon pushed the little cap off of her head and ran his thumb over the dark brown strands of hair on the top of her tiny head. Ember yawned and pursed her lips before closing her eyes in exhaustion.

  “Alpha?” Harold called out from the doorway. When Talon’s head shot up, the healer looked grim. “I need to check on your mother. Call me if you need anything.”

  “Okay,” he promised.

  “Please let her be okay,” he prayed silently.

  “Talon, you need to come now,” Winter announced as he came to the doorway. His second in command looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Your brothers are already there.”

  “Take her,” Liberty cried, also knowing the time was near. “Take the baby so she can meet her grandmother.”

  Talon took the delicate bundle from his mate’s arms and tucked her close to his chest. Ember’s icy blue eyes wandered, but did not focus on anything as he rushed from the room.

  “Ma,” Talon choked out as he entered the room. His mother rested against a mound of pillows, her icy blue eyes dull and lifeless. She blinked twice before a small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. Talon knelt at her bedside and held up the bundle. “This is your granddaughter, Victoria Ember.”

  “B…beautiful,” she said, moving her hand slowly to rest against the cub’s head. “She will be a strong alpha. Talon, you must train her just as your father trained you. She is one of very few female alphas and could be challenged.”

  “I will protect her with my life,” Talon vowed.

  “Make her strong, and…” Victoria begged as she gasped for breath, “love her and cherish her mother as your father did me.”

  “I promise.” He nodded, looking toward his brothers. Noah and Kye took a knee next to the bed as the way their heritage demanded. The animal inside them could sense their mother was nearing the end of her life. All three men bowed their heads, saying silent prayers to the gods who made them.

  “I will finally be able to see your father again,” she choked. “I’ve missed him so much.”

  “Oh, mom,” Kye whispered, looking away.

  “Sons,” she coughed, causing all three males to lean forward as if to touch their mother, but they halted when she shook her head. “You have made me proud. Do not mourn me. Live on and protect our species. My love for you will last for an eternity.”

  “Ma!” Talon jerked as his mother gasped for breath again.

  Noah and Kye placed their hand on her shoulder and arm, trying to keep some connection to their mother. Harold walked up to the bed and placed a stethoscope to her chest, listening to her heart. He gave Talon a short jerk of his head, telling him time was closing in. Talon leaned over and kissed his mother’s brow, whispering something that no one else in the room would hear.

  With one last breath, Victoria Shaw closed her eyes as death took her over to the other side. Talon and his brothers gasped as they looked toward the healer. Harold checked her heart again and lowered his head. “I’m sorry. She is gone.”

  Talon gritted his teeth and held his daughter tighter. Ember opened her eyes and began to cry as she felt the tension in the air from her father, the alpha.

  “Talon,” Liberty’s voice cracked as she stood in the doorway. He spun around and saw his mate standing there with her hand against the door. She’d been dressed in a new gown that reached her ankles. “Oh, Talon!”

  He caught Liberty as she came to the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch his mother. The baby calmed as Talon pushed out his powers to wrap around his mate and daughter. He could feel the anxiety of his pride even though none of them knew what was going on, and he wanted to keep it that way for just a moment longer.

  “I’m so sorry,” Liberty cried against his chest.

  “You shouldn’t be out of the bed,” he scolded, swallowing the lump in his throat.

  “We have to tell the pride,” Kye said, gritting his teeth.

  “Liberty,” Talon whispered, taking her chin with his free hand. “I need you to get back in the bed. You’ve been through so much. Take our cub and rest while I address the pride.”

  “Okay,” she said, turning around to leave the room where his mother’s body remained. Talon followed her to the room she’d just used, waiting until she was settled before handing over the cub. Talon kissed Ember’s tiny head and left the room.

  His Guardians met him at the door, making a barrier around their alpha. He tried his hardest not to scream and yell from the pain in his chest, but the moment his pride gathered around, he felt the agony as if he’d been stabbed in the heart with a dull knife.

  “My mother has passed. We will come together as one to grieve in two nights’ time,” he barely got out. The collective shock rang out from the pride. The women, especially his mother’s closest friends, cried out the loudest. “On this night, we have also welcomed my cub into the world.”

  He stepped back inside and walked over to the bed, removing Ember from her mother’s arms. Liberty gave him a soft nod and rested her head against the pillow. The pride gasped as he stepped out onto the porch to deliver more news.

  “I have a daughter!” he bellowed, his eyes sparking amber. Talon raised his daughter high into the air with his skillful hands still holding her protectively. This child would be the next alpha in line for his throne. For the day that he retired, Ember would be ready to take on the pride as her own.

  He tilted his head back and released the hold over his panther, allowing a partial shift. As a lone tear leaked from his eye, Talon’s beast roared to the sky with joy over his daughter…and his human side screamed in sorrow over the loss of his beloved mother.

  Sheriff Lynch hid amongst the trees, watching the pride mourn the loss of the matriarch of the Shaw pride. He couldn’t save her. He wasn’t even allowed. The fate of all of them had been written well before they’d even been born.

  Garrett watched as Talon raised his daughter to the sky. The pride roared and cheered with the news of the birth, but even he could feel the sadness of the pride. After a few moments, Talon disappeared from the doorway, returning without his daughter.

  Talon froze, his eyes glowing amber as his head jerked toward where Garrett was perched in the thick forest. He knew that he was well hidden, but the alpha raised his head to the sky, inhaling deep. A roar tore through the darkened sky as his beast ripped from his human skin.

  Garrett knew the panther had sensed him. Within a blink of an eye, Garrett shed his wings and materialized beside the road. “Talon.”

  The alpha shifted back to his human form; his body bare from the absence of clothes. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m always here,” Garrett admitted, taking a step back when the alpha growled low in his throat and moved forward.

  Garrett knew the shifter in front of him was in pain from the loss of his mother. He also knew that whatever he was feeling, his pride was not immune. Guardians circled around their leader protectively. All of their eyes were glowing. All of them were poised to attack him if Talon gave the word.

  “You could’ve found Liberty! You could’ve saved my mother!” Talon raged, throwing the first punch. Garrett staggered back, wiping his hand over his busted lip. “You could’ve saved Evie from the torture! You son of a bitch! How could you?”

  “It wasn’t written that way, Talon,” Garret
t explained softly, letting Talon punch him across the jaw again.

  “What the fuck do you mean?” Talon snarled, taking Garrett to the ground. He didn’t try to defend himself, because he knew the male needed to work off all of his anger, fear, and pain from the loss of his mother.

  “Your mother died of natural causes, Talon,” he said calmly. “I can only protect your pride from harm in a way that does not interrupt fate.”

  “So, it was fate that my mother died?” he scoffed. “It was fate that a child in my pride was harmed?”

  “Yes, to your mother,” Garrett explained, still pinned beneath the alpha. “Evie was not a part of my task until I was reassigned to the pride three weeks ago. Why do you think I was gone for so long? Did you wonder what had happened to me?”

  “Gone?” Talon blinked, taken aback. “Where did you go?”

  “I was called home.” Garrett paused, giving the alpha a stern look. “I shouldn’t have to explain that to you.”

  “Who sent you?” Talon demanded, taking a step back to pull him up by his shirt collar.

  “The very ones who made you,” he replied, his eyes flashing white as he disappeared from the pride’s land.

  Chapter Nine

  Talon stood in the doorway, watching his mate care for their daughter. Ember’s eyes were closed as she suckled at Liberty’s breast. It took a minute before Liberty looked up and saw him standing in the doorway.

  “Hey,” she greeted, looking back at their child. The love his mate had for their cub shone brightly with the perfect smile that lit up Liberty’s face.

  “How are my girls?” he asked, closing the bedroom door quietly.

  “Your girls want to know how you are doing,” Liberty inquired, giving him a hard stare. “This cannot be easy on you.”

  Talon knew he couldn’t lie to her. His mate had given him their daughter, and he was so overwhelmed with joy, but at the same time, he was hurting inside. His mother was gone, and soon he would have to prepare for her funeral.

  “Talon?” Liberty whispered, touching his arm. He didn’t even notice that she’d put their child in the bassinet by the bed and had walked over to meet him in the doorway. “Come to bed with me, please?”

  Talon took her into his arms and held on tight. “I’m a little overwhelmed right now, and I’m trying to stay calm for my pride.”

  “I know,” she replied, pulling on his arm so he would follow her to the bed. Liberty tugged at his shirt, silently telling him to remove it. Talon dropped his jeans and climbed in the bed when his mate told him to. He didn’t waste any time pulling her to his chest. He let her soft purr lull him to sleep.

  The soft whimpering of his cub woke him from sleep. Liberty had rolled over and pushed her back against his side during the night. He carefully slipped out of the bed and walked over to the bassinet, kneeling down to see his daughter.

  “Hello, my little warrior,” he said with a smile, touching her soft cheek. Ember’s icy blue eyes looked toward him, calming immediately when he spoke. “You are absolutely beautiful.”

  As if she’d understood him, Ember cooed, kicking her right foot out twice before her arms started flailing around. Talon smiled and reached down to pick her up. She was so tiny in his large hands. He brought her up to his chest, resting the babe against his heart. He bounced her slightly a few times before she settled in, closing her eyes softly.

  He knew the moment that his mate woke up. She hummed softly and called out his name into the darkened room. “I’m here.”

  “Is she hungry?” Liberty yawned, stretching her arms over her head. Talon growled low in his throat when the sheet slid down, exposing one of her naked breasts. He felt the punch to his heart when he realized that Liberty was his, and she’d given him a daughter to love and protect. His mother had been feeding him information on being a great father in the months before her passing. He would take all of that information to heart and care for both of his females.

  “I think she was just restless,” he said, taking a seat on the bed. At no time did he remove Ember from his chest. “Go back to sleep. I’ll wake you when she’s ready to feed.”

  “Okay,” Liberty yawned again. His mate had to be exhausted. The hours spent bringing his daughter into the world had taken a toll on her. The least he could do was hold Ember while she slept.

  Talon leaned back against the headboard and cupped the back of Ember’s tiny head, placing a soft kiss on the top. Liberty’s hand rested on his upper thigh, and the connection of his family was complete.

  When the clock read ten minutes to midnight, Talon carefully placed Ember in her bed and looked over his shoulder at his sleeping mate for a second before walking out of the room. It’d been two nights since his mother passed and it was time for him and his brothers to begin preparing for her funeral at daybreak.

  He took the steps slowly, his thoughts a million miles away. His mother had taken Liberty under her wing and taught his mate everything she needed to know about being a part of the pride. Talon knew that being the mate to an alpha came with several responsibilities, and Liberty had not complained once about her role. He loved her more now than he did the night she agreed to marry him in her human customs. Now, he would let go of his mother, just as he had his father, and carry the pride into the next generation, preparing his daughter to take over for him when his time came to an end.

  Being the first born to an alpha ensured that Ember would be an alpha in her own right. Any other children he and Liberty had would also carry the gene. Just as his baby brother, Kye, had shown he may also be a leader, it would now fall upon his shoulders to train them for their future.

  “Are you ready?” Noah asked, his face masked from showing his pain.

  “I’m ready,” Talon replied, his answer holding more meaning than his brother even knew.

  “We’ve cleared the circle,” Kye informed him, dirt already caked on his young hands.

  All three Shaw men let out a breath as they stepped off the porch. His brothers had already started gathering wood for the funeral pyre that would burn at daybreak while he spent some time with his wife and newborn cub. Kye and Noah worked in silence alongside Talon, stacking and preparing. None of the Guardians were allowed to help them, because their traditions wouldn’t allow it unless the member was without family. Then, and only then, would the Guardians be in charge of the final phase.

  As the first wisps of light feathered across the sky, Talon wiped his brow and left his brothers as they stood by the large pile of wood at the same spot he’d married his mate. Harold was already waiting for him to arrive. Both men entered the room where the healer had prepared his mother. Talon swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat when he turned the corner and saw his mother wrapped in white gauze, her face forever hidden.

  “Let it be done,” he whispered as he picked up her lifeless body, marching across the pride’s land.

  The gathered pride parted as Talon marched forward, a lone tear falling from his right eye. As his Guardians stepped aside, Liberty stood there next to his brothers, holding Ember as she slept. His mate’s tears flowed more as Talon placed his mother upon the pyre. There were no words as his brothers joined him; all three bowing their heads. The ancient chant of their ancestors began as Talon, Kye, and Noah took the lighters from their pockets, striking a flame and touching it to the fuel-soaked wood at the base.

  “Mother,” all three sons cried as the fire engulfed her body.

  Ranger leaned against the wall, watching as Evie sparred with Kye. They’d come to an agreement over the past two weeks. Kye had finally seen things through his girlfriend’s eyes. Ranger was proud of the young female. She’d overcome so much, but he also knew she had a long way to go.

  He doubted she’d try out for a spot as a Guardian. The males wouldn’t even fight her, and Talon would call the fight if the males didn’t even try to best her. It wasn’t fair for the females to be unable to protect the pride. Thousands of years had conditioned the males to care
for them as if they were fragile objects, breaking from the slightest touch. Ranger laughed to himself. If the elders could see the females now, they’d be changing the rules for sure.

  “That female will be a voice of change in our world,” Talon said as he stepped up to Ranger’s side.

  “That she will,” he agreed.

  “I’m glad my brother sees that, too,” the alpha chuckled. “He’s rather stubborn.”

  “Yes, he is,” Ranger agreed. “What brings you out to the dorms, alpha?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about a new pride member,” Talon began. “I received a call from Kraven. He is sending his sister to us and asked if we would take her in.”

  “Is everything okay?” Ranger frowned. Kraven was an honorable male, and for him to send his sister to the Shaw pride, something must have happened in North Carolina.

  “Not sure,” Talon sighed. “I told him to send her here with no questions asked. He said she would be here by this time next week.”

  “We will keep her safe,” Ranger vowed. “If that’s what must be done.”

  “I have a feeling we will be hearing more from Kraven in the near future.” Talon nodded and stepped out of the doorway, turning on his heel and disappearing around the side of the building.

  The End…

  Look for Ranger’s book coming soon!

  About Theresa Hissong:

  Theresa is a mother of two and the wife of a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. After seventeen years traveling the country, moving from base to base, the family has settled their roots back in Theresa’s home town of Olive Branch, MS, where she enjoys her time with family and old friends.

  After almost three years of managing a retail bookstore, Theresa has gone behind the scenes to write romantic stories with flare. She enjoys spending her afternoons daydreaming of the perfect love affair and takes those ideas to paper.