The Mark of an Alpha
Chapter 73

Everyone is so happy. People are swarming all around us. Chatter fills my ears as I hear them congratulating us.

We are passed around like a piece of bread at the dinner table. Everyone wants to congratulate us. The crowd pulls Hunter away from me as I am pulled in the opposite direction.

Angie is before me as I hug one of Hunter's elders. Angie wells up in tears as she pushes her face into Andrew’s chest.

“Weddings make me so emotional,” she cries as Andrew pats her back.

“Along with a million other things,” Andrew whispers to me and I try to disguise my laugh with a cough.

“You did this to her,” I go to defend Angie, “she might not be able to beat you but that’s why she has me.” Angie smiles at me and nudges Andrew with her elbow.

“See!” She pouts at him, “she understands,” Andrew moves down and kisses her pouty lips.

“Melany,” Mathew is by my side somehow managing to crowd a few people. If I were them I would stay quiet, “Congrats.” He embraces me and I hug him tightly.

“Thank you for everything,” I whisper to him and he shakes his head.

“It was my pleasure.” Someone taps his shoulder and Mathew steps back and Calvin makes his way to me.

“My god you look beautiful,” he gushes as he hugs me. "You always look beautiful but today, you're breathtaking." He pulls away from me and gives me a once over.

"Thank you," I smack his shoulder playfully.

I notice the brunette behind him. She is tall, slim frame, and some bold glasses rest on the bridge of her nose. She walks up to us and Calvin wraps his arm around her waist her brown eyes meet mine.

“Congratulations, it was a gorgeous wedding.” Her voice is so soft that if I wasn't paying attention to her I wouldn't have heard her.

“Thank you,” I look at Calvin giving him an approving nod.

“Well, well, well look at the bride.” The voice behind me sends a chill down my spine. I turn around and Zeke is there with his arms wide open.

I can see Calvin giving his brother a perplexed look, the brunette looks at Zeke and then Calvin. She takes a moment and looks back at Zeke and then at Calvin once again, “I need a drink,” is all she says as she walks towards the open bar.

Zeke wraps his arms around me and pulls me close to him. “Thank you for having me here.” He says and I cannot help but feel happy to have him here as well. We might have had a tough start but here he is and we are getting along.

“No problem. Where is this mate of yours?” I glare at him. He promised to bring her here. I want to meet the woman that softens this tough guy.

“You found your mate?” Calvin shouts at us in shock. For a brief moment, I forgot that Calvin and Zeke have not spoken to each other.

“Yes, I have a brother, as I see that you found yours.” His eyes drift in the direction of the brunette.

“Daddy,” Damon shouts and runs into Zeke’s arms.

“Daddy,” Zeke says as he lifts Damon and looks him over.

“Stepfather I guess you can say,” Calvin shrugs.

“Hey you’re not daddy,” Damon looks at Calvin and stretches his arms out to his father, Calvin grabs him.

“No little man, I am your uncle.” Zeke smiles at the Damon and he nods as if he understood.

Zeke stiffens and then a wicked smile appears on his lips. “There she is.” He says and turns around Calvin and I look back as well and there before us is an olive tone woman with curly hair up in a fro her eyes are on Zeke as if he were the only man around. She has this graceful movement about her that makes it look as if she were dancing instead of walking over to him.

“There you are,” she says and I sense a faint French accent in her voice.

“Melany, Calvin this is Jasmine. Jasmine this is Melany and Calvin...and you are?” Calvin’s mate has returned to his side.

“This is Jessica, my mate,” Calvin says. Jasmine takes us in her eyes and goes to us in amazement.

“The female alpha and the twin,” she says and then smacks Zeke in the arm, “she’s more beautiful than you lead on.” Her eyes rake over me, “it’s an honor to be in the presence of the only known female alpha.” She bows down before me.

“Well, this is how we were supposed to meet,” I elbow Zeke.

“Was he being an arse?” She turns to look at him and his eyes look at me as if to say, why? “Zeke!”

“We’ll talk later,” he says.

After that I greeted everyone and the last person to step up to me is none other than Derek.

“How are you?” I see the tiredness in his eyes and his eyes are not fully open.

“I’m okay,” he sighs.

“Did you track her down?” He nods, “and?”

“She needs time,” he drops his shoulder in defeat.

“Well, of course, that is understandable. Give her time. She is your mate and you are hers you might be able to heal your bond with her.”

“Hopefully they heal as fast as my bruises do.”

“What?”

“I got a beating,” he shrugs.

“She beat you!” My hand claps over my mouth as I realize how loud I am talking.

“Her brother,” he chuckles and grabs his side as he winces.

“You didn’t fight back?”

“Of course not I want to win her back not get on her bad side, well I am there at the moment but I want to earn some good points.”

“That would have earned you ten in my book,” he smiles at me and mutters thanks. “Please stick around for the party.”

“Of course!”

Hunter than makes his way towards me, “there is someone here that ones to talk to you.”

I wave goodbye to Derek and Hunter leads me away.

“Who?” I ask but he just keeps walking.

“Mama Georgina,” he smiles. This woman brings so much joy to Hunter, of course, I would talk to her and I love her as well.

“Mama Georgina,” I say she looks at me with her tear-streaked face.

“Ah,” she screams, “I knew you were something special the moment that Adrian brought you to me,” she hugs me as she sobs.

“He is special to me as well.”

The man that Angie hired is on the platform clapping his hands, “Attention, attention! Can everyone head in a formal line to the back area the groom and bride will go last.”

“What’s happening?” Hunter looks at me unsure as well.

Mama Georgina heads in the direction that everyone is heading to and Angie comes to my side.

“Wait until they call you over,” she huffs.

“Are you okay? Maybe you should rest,” Hunter looks over her and she shakes her head.

“I’m fine.”

“Aren’t you due any day now?”

Werewolves do not go through the whole nine months of pregnancy but do not think we are lucky. We almost always carry more than one child's pregnancy.

“Yes, but I will give birth here just to make sure everything goes smoothly.” She grunts.

Please, God, don’t do that!

I love you Angie but I do not want to see that.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hunter come on down!” The man in the suit gestures for us to walk to him.

Angie gives us thumbs up and Hunter takes pulls me along.

Past the altar, into the trees, and into a small clearing where tables have been set up and a dance floor place in the middle. The trees are lit up with white lights that give it an enchanted look. At the very end, there is a table that reads, Mr. & Mrs. Adrian Hunter.

Holy cow they went all out!

My hand goes to my cheek as I feel my cheeks warm up with my tears. Hunter pulls me close to him and I press my face into his chest.

“I can’t stop crying,” I say against his chest.

“It’s okay I’m here to wipe your tears away.” I look up at him and there is no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision with Hunter.

A song starts playing out of nowhere and Hunter leads me to the dancefloor as he spins me around;

“Look around

There’s no one but you and me

Right here and now

The way it was meant to be

There’s a smile on my face

Knowing that together everything that’s in our way

We’re better than alright,” the lyrics sink in and Hunter sways me around as I rest my head on his shoulder.

“Walking between the raindrops

Riding the aftershock beside you

Off into the sunset

Living like there’s nothing left to lose

Chasing after gold mines

Crossing the fine lines we knew

Hold on and take a breath

I’ll be here every step

Walking between the raindrops with you,” the words make me hold onto Hunter tighter and he does the same he is pressing his face into my hair.

“Take me now

The world’s such a crazy place

When the walls come down

You’ll know I’m here to stay

There’s nothing I would change

Knowing that together everything that’s in our way

We’re better than alright

Walking between the raindrops

Riding the aftershock beside you

Off into the sunset

Living like there’s nothing left to lose

Chasing after gold mines

Crossing the fine lines we knew

Hold on and take a breath

I’ll be here every step

Walking between the raindrops with you.”

“I love this song,” I sigh.

“I do as well.” Hunter spins me around once again and I get a glimpse of the people surrounding us but Hunter is quick to tuck me back into his arms.

“There’s a smile on my face

Knowing that together everything that’s in our way

We’re better than alright

Walking between the raindrops

Riding the aftershock beside you

Off into the sunset

Living like there’s nothing left to lose

Chasing after gold mines

Crossing the fine lines we knew

Hold on and take a breath

I’ll be here every step

Walking between the raindrops with you

Between the raindrops with you.”

The song ends and the applause fills my ears. Hunters hand maneuvers under my chin and he lifts my head to look at him, “I love you!” His lips move down and they take mine into his captivity and I can feel the heat rush to my cheeks as the ‘awe’ fills my ears and I smile against his lips.

The party is soon in full swing as everyone dances and enjoys the food that both the pack’s cooks have done. I dance the night away with Andrew, Zeke, and Calvin. Mama Georgina seems to keep Hunter by her side through the night.

Angie rests as her body cannot take so much emotion and movements I walk over to her.

“You should head inside. You look exhausted.” She nods stifling a yawn Andrew comes to bid me goodnight as he carries Angie to their room.

I rest my back on the chair as I feel someone sit next to me, it is Hunter.

“Are you tired?” I shrug.

“My feet are killing me,” I sigh, “death by high heels doesn’t sound like a way I want to go.” He chuckles and bends down and grabs my ankles. He rests my legs on his lap as he takes off my heels and starts rubbing my feet. I am about to object when his hands work their magic and my head rolls back.

“Is that better?” He asks after a few minutes.

“Mmhmm.”

“Adrian, we need you,” Hunter looks at me and I wave him off. I slowly remove my feet from his lap as he gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and goes to Ken.

I spot Derek sitting alone I stare at him until his eyes drift my way. I wave him over and he comes.

“Don’t look so glum.”

“I see everyone here with their mates and it’s just...” He sighs.

“Have some fun.”

“I don’t-”

“Dance with me,” I reluctantly put my heels back on and drag him with me to the dance floor.

Derek dances one song with me and then says he has work to do.

It is past midnight when my eyes are growing heavy and my body is begging me to rest.

“Come," Hunter clasps my hand, "let’s head home already. You look as if you’re drunk.” Hunter’s arms wrap my waist.

“I’m so tired,” I whine and suddenly the ground beneath my feet vanishes and I feel light as a feather. My hand wraps around Hunter’s neck as he carries me.

“Mrs. Hunter I don’t want tonight to end but you’re exhausted.”

I cannot help but giggle at the way he says my name. Hunter carries me into the packhouse and we head into our bedroom.