Page 17 of Rejected By the Alpha

“Kaylee Kingsley,” Miss Amelia calls my name, the power of an alpha radiating through the clearing. I shiver, my blood humming to accept the warmth I feel as my beta blood strains to accept the bond that is forming.

“You kneel before me, with the intention of becoming my beta. Is this correct?” she asks, my body humming.

“This is correct, Alpha,” I respond, my smile growing.

“Then do you promise to lead as my second, and strive for the betterment of our pack?” Miss Amelia calls out.

“I promise.”

“Do you swear to uphold pack laws and protect those deemed weaker than you?”

“I swear I will.”

“Do you, Kaylee Kingsley, accept me, Amelia Saint, as your alpha?” The final question. My blood hums louder inside me, the power that I have gained from my ancestors reaching closer to Miss Amelia. I raise my head and look to see her staring down at me, pride and love in my godmother’s eyes.

“I, Kaylee Kingsley, accept you, Amelia Saint, as my alpha and true leader. I will stand beside you through the good times and bad of our pack.” My power clasps onto the power Miss Amelia radiates, and like a switch, I feel the bond click in. I close my eyes as the rush of pack magic courses through me. I can heareveryone’s voice congratulating me through the link, and I thank them all before shutting the pack link off for now. No need to allow them all into my mind to hear all my thoughts.

Then I feel it. A bond that wasn’t there before.

Shocked, I look to see David and Miss Amelia staring at me, tears in their eyes. Miss Amelia falls to her knees before me and pulls me into her arms, her rose perfume surrounding me.

“You formed a familial bond with us during the ceremony,” Miss Amelia states in a whisper with a smile on her face.

“It’s because you trust us, and see us as family after all that you’ve been through. Now, no matter what, we will always have a mind link,” she continues, wiping away tears from my eyes I had no clue I was crying. Family. I accepted David, Miss Amelia, and the pups as my family.

Wrapping my arms around Miss Amelia, I bury my face in her shoulder and sob. I lost the familial bond link when my parents died. There was a space in my mind, empty and blank. Like a cellphone number that I had always called was suddenly disconnected with no explanation. Now, I feel it. Feel the familial love that David, Miss Amelia, and the pups have for me.

“Miss Ameli—”

“No more of this ‘Miss Amelia’ shit, Kaylee. Call me Aunty or Amelia from now on.” She pulls away to scold me, and I laugh, feeling the love Amelia has for me.

“Okay,” I concede, feeling a shift in my relationship with these two wolves.

“Thank you, Amelia and David. Thank you for being my family, and being there for me.” David sniffles back his own tears and helps me and Amelia to stand, reminding us that the pups need to be initiated into the pack. I move to stand beside Marco, who gives me a quick hug, and I notice that many of the Silver Paw wolves have tears in their eyes.

Adam, Henry, and Lace come filing out of the pack house with Royce’s guidance. They come to stand before their parents, and Amelia asks them similar questions to mine. Their blood hums with the power of alpha wolves, only more subdued, as they have yet to shift. Then, there they were inside the pack link, excitedly talking to the rest of our packmates. David and Amelia walk their pups through how to close each link for a moment, while we watch on. The moon has shifted, meaning that the ceremony is almost over.

The council representative steps forward, clearing his throat to gather everyone’s attention.

“It seems the wolves of Silver Paw have chosen wolves perfect to be their leaders,” he begins, his grey eyes scanning the gathered wolves.

“Now, before we conclude the ceremony, I would like to ask the wolves of Silver Paw if they want the new alpha to keep the pack name or change it, to signify a new start in life.” I smile at this announcement. Marco, Amelia, and I discussed the possibility that the pack would choose to change the name. Silver Paw was weak. Was attacked and nearly annihilated in twenty-four hours.

“We wish for a new name!” someone calls without hesitation.

“Yes! We need a new name!”

“Silver Paw is dead, give us a new name, Alpha!”

“We want to be reborn into something new!”

The crowd calls out their need for a new name. For a fresh start. Marco nudges me, and I look to see his brows raised and a smirk on my packmate’s face. Giving him an eye roll, I ignore him and keep my eyes on Amelia. She steps forward and raises her hand, the crowd quietening down.

“My packmates,” she begins, once she has everyone’s eyes on her.

“I hear your request, and I agree. Silver Paw died the day you were attacked. Together, we have rebuilt our pack from the ground up. We changed together without hesitation, and you are right, we need a new name.” Her voice is calm and steady, as a soft smile graces her lips. She turns back and gives me a wink.

“From now on, we will be called Ivory Fangs.”

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