Trick stared at her, his eyesglistening with unshed tears.
He dropped to one knee, staring at herand Wrath. “I believe you, Trinity, from another world. I believeyou’re who you say you are, and that you’re the true mate of ouralpha. I pledge myself to your service.” He pounded his fist intohis chest and then slammed his fist into the ground with a growl.One by one the other males followed suit, rising to one knee andpledging themselves to her.
Trinity couldn’t help but cry at thesweet scene. As each male vowed himself to her as alpha female, shefelt a connection to them bloom within her. Wrath stood and pulledher to her feet. He cupped her face and kissed her. “You can feelit?”
She let out a shaky breath as tearscascaded over her cheeks. “That I belong here?”
He nodded.
“Yes. I feel it all the wayto the center of my being.”
He smiled. “You know what todo.”
She turned and faced the group. Themales all had their heads bowed, their fists pressed to the ground.She swiped at her cheeks and smiled at them as she walked forward.She stopped at each one, touching his head and thanking him forpledging himself to her.
With each male, she said, “I pledgemyself to you as alpha female.”
When she’d reached the last male,Creek, the youngest and beta of the pack, she said, “Thank you,Creek. I pledge myself to you as alpha female.”
He lifted his head and grinned. “MaybeWrath won’t be so growly now.”
She chuckled. “Maybe not, but I’lllove him just the same.”
Turning to face Wrath—who she’dfinally accepted as her mate—she said, “I’m yours, Wrath. I feel itdeep within myself, that this is the place I belong. With you, withthe pack.”
Wrath lifted his head and howled, ajoyous sound that reverberated through the trees. The pack liftedtheir heads and howled, too, as did Mytan, his “aroo” blending withthe wolves’ howls. Wrath stalked to her and swung her up into hisarms.
“We’ve got some celebratingto do, mate.”
Before he could take a step toward thetunnel, Cael said, “Not to interrupt your plans, Wrath, but thefull moon isn’t for six nights.”
Trinity blinked in confusion. “What’she talking about?”
“The mating ceremony,”Wrath said. “The full moon is when males claim their true mate, andit’s also when the pack can officially recognize you as alphafemale.”
She lowered her voice. “We can’t makelove for six nights?”
He snarled and then chuckled. “Hellno. It just means I can’t mark you. But we already have the bondingtattoo, so everyone knows you’re mine. It just won’t be officialuntil the full moon.”
“Good,” she said, breathingout a chuckle. “I didn’t want to have to wait.”
“Trust me when I say I’dmove the moon through the sky myself if we needed to.”
Wrath looked at his pack members.“Cael, set up patrols. River and Jet, head into the nearest humansettlement at nightfall and find clothing for my mate.Creek?”
“Yes, Alpha?” the youngmale said.
“How about somethingspecial for her to wear for our mating ceremony?”
“Oh, could we match?”Trinity asked. “Maybe something the same color orstyle?”
Creek nodded vigorously. “I know justthe material. When I have the pieces ready, we’ll have afitting.”
“Awesome,” she said. Thenshe looked over Wrath’s shoulder and whistled at Mytan. “Come on,pup. It’s bedtime for you.”
He rose to his big paws and shookhimself out, fur flying with the motion. “Is there a bone somewherehe could occupy himself with?” she asked.
“On it,” Trick said. Hehurried ahead of them into the tunnel. Trinity watched the packmembers speak to Cael and then disperse. Some were going to patrol,some were going hunting, and some were going to rest so they’d berefreshed for their shift. Mytan followed them as Wrath carried herdown into the tunnel. She rested her head on his shoulder, lovingthe way it felt to be in his arms. He turned into the cavern thatwas his private chamber.
Wrath set her on her feet, then shewent over to a wood cabinet and pulled out a blanket, which she setin the corner of the room. Patting the surface, she called Mytanover. Cael appeared with the leg bone of some creature, maybe adeer or antelope. There was fresh meat still on the bone. Mytansnuffled at it curiously, and then chomped his jaws around it andhurried into the corner, turning in two complete circles beforeflopping down with a happy grunt.
She rubbed his ears and smiled athim.
“I can’t believe it,” shesaid softly.
“What part?” Wrath askedfrom where he stood by the bed.
She gave Mytan a pat on the head andwhispered, “Good night,” then rose to her feet. “How much likeMontana he is.”
“Isolde said you createdhim, and you said you patterned him after your pet. Why are yousurprised?”
She joined Wrath, stopping a fewinches away to drink in his features. He was by far the sexiest manshe’d ever known, and the fact that she was with him and no longerjust dreaming about him was incredible. “I know,” she said, linkingher fingers through his. “My mind is still kind of reeling fromeverything. The way your pack accepted me was what sealed it forme. This is where I belong. I don’t know why we were separated ondifferent worlds, or even how it’s possible that there’s truly morethan one Earth, but I’m thankful I’m here now. Thankful forIsolde’s interference.”
“I am as well,” he said,his voice dropping to a husky tone that sent shivers down herspine. “While it’s true that we can’t mate officially until thefull moon, I wanted to ask you a question.”
Her gaze tripped to the bed and thenback to his emerald-green eyes. “Anything.”
“Do you need moretime?”
“Time for what?”
“To ensure you want to stayhere with me forever. We might have seven days, but if I take youto bed now—when we’re no longer
