Blackshadow (Kingdom of Wolves #2)

It is quite some time before the knot releases them, and surprisingly Briar whirls around and bites Knight’s neck. Claiming him just as strongly as he claimed her. My heart, my Luna, my life, I think to myself while still lounging in the back of our minds.

After trotting back to the packhouse and to the alpha suite, I shift back and give Briar a stroke on the top of her head before she shifts back to Hope. I turn her face so I can see the mark on her neck and it’s beautiful. Knight gave her a mark that looks like a wolf’s face baying at the moon. It may be my imagination, but I don’t care.

“Are you alright?” I ask Hope and look into her eyes.

“Yes. Briar asked me if I was ready, and I said yes. I think you are a good person, and I decided it was time I put my mother’s past where it belongs, in the past. This is my future and not the residue of my parents’ lack of bonding. It’s what the Goddess intended for us, and who are we to say she’s wrong.”

“I’m happy you decided that, as I feel the bond growing strongly. I’ll be true to you, and I’ll be the Alpha you deserve. I promise you that with all my heart.” I draw Hope to me and kiss her gently as I know we have to change from our nightwear and go downstairs to accept all new members to the pack, including my Luna.

An hour later I’m standing in the dining room, and have accepted Gamzin, Dagon, Berrit, Graham, Lonnie, Suella, Conrad, Stein, Theo, Ronnet, Heath, Aster, Karia, Eliza, Swift and Hope into the pack. The pack has now accepted thirty-nine new members from the Northern Parklands, showing that the area has shifters that are good and have been treated badly for one reason or another.

Flint is grinning broadly and steps forward, holding his arms wide, gaining everyone’s attention. “Pack members, as a council member, I am honored to announce Alpha Connell has a mate, and has claimed her. You can all see the claiming marks on their necks.”

It takes a few minutes for the room to calm down after congratulations are shouted, applause given and the rush of excitement has flowed around the room. Flint continues, and I’m watching Hope closely to make sure she is okay, and not being overwhelmed.

“Hope Torrance.” Flint grins at the shock that runs across Hope’s face, but once she took my bite, she became mine and became Torrance.

Chuckling, Flint continues, “Hope Torrance, do you accept the position of Luna for your Alpha, mate, and the Blackshadow Pack?”

Hope looks at me, then around the room before clearly responding. “I, Hope Torrance, am willing to be the Luna for the Blackshadow Pack. I will do all in my power to be a good Luna and assist the pack and members. I will also be a true and loving mate to Alpha Connell Torrance.”

The applause that rings through the room is staggering. The pack rushes forward and bows to Luna Hope, taking her by surprise for a moment, but she stands tall and thanks everyone for the welcome with such sweetness you cannot help but love her.

Swift throws her arms around Hope, and you can see the love and friendship between the two. They are more like sisters than good friends, and it warms my heart to know she has had Swift by her side.

I am taken by surprise when Baildon walks over to me, claps me on the back and grins. “Well, well, brother-in-pack because I claimed Hope as a sister, I’ll tell you once, and once only, you love her, respect her, and be true to her or I’ll make you pay in the worst way I can think of.”

“Of course, I’ll be true to her, respect her and love her. She’s my mate, my Luna, and my heart.”

Chapter 17

HOPE

Thursday morning, and who would have thought I would have a mate, and a pack that I am now the Luna of. Briar won’t stop talking to me about Knight and it is driving me crazy enough that I’ve put a block up to get a little peace.

How am I going to be a good Luna and one that can help everyone in the pack? I don’t even know the total number of pack members. I rub my hands together which is a nervous reaction for me, and when noticing myself doing it I quickly stop, take a breath, and walk downstairs, and out the front door of the packhouse.

Hearing shouts, I turn and see Swift along with Gamzin walking toward me. I wait for them to reach me and give a weak smile. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Luna,” Swift giggles, then gives me an eyebrow waggle and wink. “I see you’ve been claimed.”

Gamzin chuckles, gaining my attention. “Are you okay, Hope? Because if you’re not and want to get away from here, I’ll help you.”

“I’m happy to be here, Gamzin, and I’m actually happy I found my mate. It’s the Luna part of it all that worries me. I’ve been a rogue all my life, and yes, what we consider a soft rogue, unlike the no-man’s-land rogues, but a rogue nonetheless.”

“Stop!” Gamzin holds his hand up, palm facing me, which has me stop speaking. “You are a caring, considerate, loving person, Hope. You’ve brought kindness and help to everyone around you, just as your mother did before you. If any of the females I’ve met could, or should, be a Luna it’s you.”

I notice he cringes a little as he side-eyes Swift, but she’s finding this highly amusing, and I just know she’s going to give him trouble now. But the moment she steps forward, I see the claiming mark on her neck.

“Wow, you mated!” I grab her around her waist and squeeze tightly, because I know she wanted to find her mate, and although she’ll more than likely lead him a merry dance, I’m sure he’ll enjoy it and her love because of it. I also want to distract her from whatever mischief she could throw at Gamzin.

“I sure did. He’s a sweetheart, and a warrior, but he says he’s not as good at fighting as some of the others. Now that has to change, because I’m not having my mate, not being a top fighter.” Swift gives me that one-sided smile of hers that means she’s up to something.

Gamzin mumbles to himself but I hear, ‘poor devil’, and I giggle, knowing exactly what he means. He turns to me with a blank face. “Where are you going?”

“I was looking for you, or someone that knew where my equipment and herbs are.”

“Oh, we took them around to the garden. Chester was there with a man called Silas. He’s the head gardener, apparently, and he said that he’d water things, and put your seeds in the potting shed and equipment into the equipment shed.”