Page 225 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince
Chapter sixty-five
Epilogue #1 Alpha Celine 2
*ALPHA CEDRIC*
Whenmygazewanderstoward my daughter, Celine, pride fills me. Over the past couple of months, I have noticed a change in her. She radiates confidence now, a quiet firmness… and dignity. I have slowly started to let her handle a lot of the pack affairs over the last year. I wanted to see how she would cope, but also how the pack would accept being led by a woman.
Through the pack link I sensed that they were wary at first, especially since she hasn’t found her mate yet. But then the Lauren situation happened, and Celine stood up for Annalise. As an Omega, Annalise had a lesser rank. Still, Celine protected her against Lauren without batting an eye. She went out of her way to find out the truth about what Lauren did. When none of us quite believed her that Lauren could do such horrendous things, she knew and went with her guts, not resting until justice for Annalise was served..
Something in Moon Blood changed over those months. It impressed the pack members that their future Alpha would rather protect someone of lesser rank than to stand behind an old friend. She was fair and firm in her judgment; but did not throw Lauren’s family under the bus either.
Then she chose Harmony as her Beta. It was another surprise for most. Brian’s family is well-liked and respected, and Harmony is one of our top elite warriors. She chose her because she was loyal and one of the best.
She helped in freeing Annalise from Marcus’ men and fighting alongside Silverlake. My pack warriors suddenly found themselves following her orders naturally without any malice. The younger ones started to treat her with respect and a hint of fear, a good sign for any Alpha.
She accomplished all of this all by herself.
She is the light of my life, but I wasn't there for her during her crucial years growing up. I didn’t show her the love I should have. I was mourning the loss of my mate and Celine’s younger sibling, my pup... and I forgot she needed me too. She grew up next to me, but not under my watch. And then, all of a sudden, she is an adult. I should have been there for her.
I can be there for her now though, as I start the process of relinquishing my role as Moon Blood’s Alpha to her. She is perfectly capable of leading a pack now.
Alpha Liam talks to her like the Alpha of Moon Blood already. The other Alphas follow suit. I notice them sometimes turning to face her when we discuss pack issues, asking her for her opinion instead of mine. Pride always fills me when this happens.
“They grow up fast, huh?” Alpha Elden says.
“I am shocked by how fast,” I admit with a painful stab to my chest. “It feels like yesterday when I told her that her mother died. She was only nine then. And now… She is twenty.”
“You did the best you could do,” Alpha Elden says quietly.
I shrug. “I should have guided her as she grew up. Instead, she did all the growing up alone.”
He sighs. “None of us is without regrets,” he mutters. “But she turned out fine. Just look at her.”
“Hm,” I hum, my eyes lighting up in pride again when I see her congratulating Liam and Annalise. A bunch of our elite warriors are following her, taking her lead like it’s never been any different. My gaze turns to Annalise and Liam. “Liam turned out fine too.”
Now he is the one to beam with pride. “I can’t complain.”
Alpha Jace joins us, grinning slightly. “Are you two admiring your hip-work? The fruit of your loins?”
Alpha Elden huffs. “Couldn’t say it any dirtier?”
“Hey, I’m just coping,” he groans before looking at us with a smirk. “Oh, look,” he goes for a high-pitched voice. “My perfect, wonderful daughter, who will be one of the first she-wolves to become an Alpha. She moves so gracefully, like a feather in the wind, and she is smart and strong. And oh, my perfect Alpha son, and his perfect Alpha siblings,” he mimics Elden and me.
We exchange a gaze before Elden flashes him a grin. “What? That bad? Did you get a call from school again or what else happened?”
Jace throws his arms in the air. “I want to ground them until they graduate.” He groans. “You two can be so proud. Just look at my boys.” He nods towards his twins, who are currently messing around with a bunch of giggling girls. “They can’t take anything seriously.”
“They are only sixteen,” Alpha Elden chuckles. “Give them a few more years.”
“Right,” he grumbles. “Your Liam was already so grown up at that age.”
Alpha Elden tilts his head, contemplating. “Liam was always very serious for his age. I never encouraged him to be more carefree. Now I think he should have.”
Jace makes a dismissive gesture with his hand. “Nah, he can be carefree with his pretty mate now, all night long.”
I can’t help but snort at his words and at the glare Alpha Elden graces him with. It still feels weird to stand together with these two powerful men, two of the strongest reigning Alphas in the world, three with Liam. They are Lycans, and I am not. Again, it’s all Celine’s doing that we struck an alliance with Silverlake and Red Claw, and I am sure Jace and Celine will work something out too.
“I plan on handing the pack over to Celine in the next couple of weeks,” I tell them.
