Page 53 of The Alpha Option
Del twisted slowly, getting the attention of the wolves who had returned or had never left. And then, with all eyes on him, he pressed a hand to his chest and spoke in a clear voice. “I have given of myself as Alpha for this pack, but I now pass on that responsibility and privilege. I take up the mantle of Enforcer and will use my energies and, if need be, my life to protect the pack. There will be no further challenge from this quarter as I accept the rule of my Alphas.” As Del dipped his chin toward her, Jace heard Cassidy’s heart rate pick up.
He reached over and tangled his fingers with hers, still smiling because this was right.
Del glanced at her, still bowing. He spoke quietly this time. “Right now, it would be good if you said something along the lines of ‘we accept your service and—’”
“Endless groveling?” Jace suggested.
Del frowned. “You’re such a jackass.”
“That’sAlphajackass to you,” Jace corrected him. “But I suggest you don’t call my mate a jackass if you’d like to keep your head on your shoulders. You can call herAlpha overlord, orAlpha supreme, orAlpha extraordinaire.”
Cassidy’s grip on Jace’s fingers tightened like a vise. “You’re going to be theEnforcerfor the pack,” she said to Del, half a question, half a statement.
“As long as you and Jace are the Alphas, yes,” Del said firmly.
Her mouth hung open for a moment. “Oh. Wow.”
For the first time in ages, Del looked Jace full in the eyes, and they exchanged a grin. Peacefulness rushed into Jace, a sense of rightness settling between them. And when Blue sauntered forward with that indolent way of his, the final missing piece clicked into place.
They were finally a pack the way they were supposed to be. There was still a lot to figure out, but this team at the root of it, this was right.
Now he had to convince Cassidy to become his mate. Not just his co-leader but his in every way.
Because only then could he be completely hers.
18
Back at Timberwolf Lodge, Stephanie and Blue took Stacy and the boys on a tour that included hot baths and a lot of hugs. Del commandeered a group of wolves to head with him to the river. He promised to rescue as much of their stuff out of the van as possible.
Cassidy took charge of Jace. Because he obviously needed a keeper.
“I can’t believe you stood there and did all that unthinkingwe’re all fine, I’m a macho wolfbullshit while you were bleeding.” She shoved him back into the shower. “Stay there. You’ve still got dirt in the claw marks on your hip, and let me say that is not a phrase I ever expected to nonchalantly utter.”
Jace turned obediently and let her soap him up with antibacterial bubbles. “My wolf laughs in the face of germs.”
“Unless you can tell me how wolf physiology allows you to not suffer from septic bacteria, you will stay still until I tell you otherwise.”
Wisely, he stayed silent. But every time she glanced at him, he was grinning so hard he might as well have been laughing.
Finally, she stood before jerking him out of the shower and shoving a towel into his arms. “Dry yourself off.”
Jace mock pouted. “I thought you’d help me.”
She ignored him, stripped off the rest of her things, and went into the shower to clean herself up.
She was under the hot stream, letting the water roll down her face, when he stepped in behind her.
Strong arms wrapped around her, his cheek coming to rest against hers. “I can tell you’re crying, even with the water hitting your face like that.”
She turned so she could rest her forehead against his chest. “You scared me,” she admitted. “You scared me a lot.”
He tucked his fingers under her chin and lifted her face to his. “And here I thought you were upset because I went and made you Alpha without asking you first.”
He kissed her softly before separating just far enough to gaze intently into her eyes.
There was worry there, so she hurried to reassure him. “The Alpha thing is very strange, but it also feels right. I think you were brilliant in how you handled that. I wish you would’ve thought of it before you and Del started carving each other up.”
He brushed at her cheek. “So these are really just about my furry side taking a dunk in the river?”
