There was silence in the hall, I'm not sure anyone was even breathing until we heard Father say, "Without further ado the next Alpha of the pack is Ardwolf. I know you will be a fair and keep everyone in this pack save as Alpha."
Everyone said their congratulations to Ardwolf, I think we all knew that Ardwolf was going to be the next alpha. Ardwolf was already like the alpha when father was a way. I think Mother and Father made the right choice with their decision.
I was happy for my brothers. Ardwolf was named the next alpha, Ardolph was still himself nothing changed yet, Alford was going to be mated to Zoey, but I couldn't help but thinking about what was going to happen to me. I was lost in my thoughts when I heard my brothers voice.
"Hey Belle! No congrats for your big brother? After everything I've done for you," Ardwolf said to me.
"I'm sorry Ardwolf, congratulations," I said to him, my head still spinning with thoughts of what may lie in store for me.
"Annabelle what with the long face? You're not supposed to be sad on our birthday," Ardwolf said to me, he smiled and continued, "Now tell me, what's going on?"
"It nothing I just got a lot on my mind right now. I'm truly happy for you and Alford," I said with a smile that I was sure Ardwolf would see directly thorugh.
"Baby sister, share with your big brother, what's on your mind? It might help if you talk about it," said Ardwolf.
"Father told me that it might be harder for him to protect me from the pack now that he will no longer be alpha. He said the pack might force me out to the human world I would never be allowed to come back to my family, my only home. What if..." I tried to catch my breath, I tried to hold back the tears, I couldn't help it, my eyes welled up.
"Belle, let me put your mind at peace, this is your home. Father might not be alpha much longer, but I will be, and no one will tell you to leave this den without answering to me," said Ardwolf taking my hand in his, "Now let's go party before someone shuts it down."
"Yes, my alpha sir," I said with a laugh, wiping the tears away with my fingers.
We as our new Alpha instructed, we partied until the sun rose the following morning, many people curled up where they were in the great hall and slept on each other, just the way a real pack should. Ardwolf stayed with me the entire night..
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It was the morning of Fawn's 20th birthday. Fawn's life had turned around completely within just a couple of days of meeting Antonio and his family. Meeting his parents, Connor and Karissa, went so much better than Fawn could have ever hoped for. They took her in as their own, gave her a place to sleep, food to eat and clean clothes to wear.
Fawn had already become quite fond of Antonio's mother, who was very happy her son had finally found his mate. They had shared a fun afternoon when Karissa had given Fawn a makeover, showing her different types of makeup and how to use them. Fawn had missed having a mother's influence in her life and knew that she wanted and needed a woman to look up to. She felt she had found one in Antonio's mother.
Antonio had told Fawn that he had a party to go to. He told her it would be better for her to stay at the house this time. Fawn was not a member of the pack yet, and trespassing on pack territory could get her killed. Antonio said that soon he would have to take her and go talk to the alpha about joining her to the pack. Fawn didn't tell him it was her birthday too, she didn't want Antonio or his family to make a big deal out of it. They already had done so much for her, so that night, her 20th birthday, she was alone at the house.
She ate a little then tried to sleep in her own bed, but she could not sleep. She got up and went to Antonio's bedroom, being in his room she felt safe. She went to his bed and got in where she quickly fell asleep and dreamt of him. A warm hand on her head roused her from her dreams. With sleep in her eyes she looked up into a pair of sky blue eyes.
"Hey sweetheart did you sleep well?," Antonio asked softly.
Fawn sat up quickly. "Oh god, I'm so sorry that I'm in your bed. I tried to sleep in my own but couldn't. I guess I don't like being here by myself," she said while trying to scramble out of the bed.
"It's OK sweetheart, I didn't like leaving you here by yourself, but I had to go to that party. Later today we will meet with the alphas about you becoming a member of the pack." Antonio told her coaxing her back under the covers.
"Who was the party for last night?" Fawn asked him and continued, "and how to would I become a member of the pack?"
"It was the alpha's pups birthday and they also announced who was going to be our next alpha," Antonio said and explained to her, "the alphas just need to catch your scent, then they can claim you as their pack after that we can be mated."
"It was their birthday too, how crazy it that?" said Fawn not realizing she was speaking out loud.
"Too? Fawn, is there something you want to tell me?" Antonio asked her with a puzzled look on his face.
"Well, my birthday was last night too, I just didn't want you or your family to make a big deal out of it. You've all done so much already and I could never repay any of you," Fawn said.
Just when Antonio was about to speak he heard his mother coming down the hall asking, "Antonio, did you find Fawn? Is she ok?" followed more quietly with, "God, if something happened to her I would never forgive myself."
Antonio told Fawn, "Mother, Father, Shane and I have been looking all over the house for you. When we didn't find you in your room we thought the worst." He called out, "Mom, she's fine, I found her. She was in my room. I think we can call off the search party please."
"I should go and talk to your family, I didn't mean to make you all worry," Fawn said.
"Fawn you can stay in my bed anytime you want, however, if you do, you won't tend to get much sleep," Antonio said with a grin
"Why not? I slept very well last night. What would keep me awake in your bed?" Fawn asked with a puzzled look on her face.
Antonio sighed, he knew he was going to have to get his mother to tell Fawn about life as a woman and how to be a werewolf. He would do it himself but he didnt want to make Fawn uncomfortable, to Antonio, Fawn was like a little club that needed to be schooled on how she was supposed to act.
A short time later Fawn and Antonio walked down the hall into the living room, where his mom, dad and Shane were seated on a comfy couch and fluffy chairs. Their eyes all turned to Fawn but she couldn't bring herself to look at their faces knowing they had been worried sick about her safety.
Fawn finally broke the silence in the room, "I'm sorry I made you all worry about me, I honestly didn't mean to. I tried to sleep in my bed but I couldn't sleep no matter what I did," she said.
"Fawn, it's fine that you were in Antonio's room. When we werewolves find our mates we feel safe around them. I should have guessed you might find comfort there with no one around to keep you company," Connor assured her.
The air now cleared of everyone's concern, Shane spoke up, "Well, we've got lots to be doing today," thinking of the chores ahead before he could call the day his own.
Everyone rose to get busy with their share of keeping the household running smoothly whether cleaning the house, doing the laundry, or equally ordinary outdoor tasks. That day's most important task though, was the visit to the Alphas.
"Before you all go about your day, there something big we missed last night, " said Antonio.
"Oh, and what would that be?" Shane asked cocking his head.
"Fawn's 20th birthday," Antonio announced.
