“I would wait an eternity for one night like tonight with you,” he told her honestly. “It truly has been the best night of my life.”

Another coy look appeared on her beautiful face. “The night is not over yet, lover.”

That was all the encouragement he needed to push her onto her back and cover her soft body with his. Vasile loved that she was so shy because her skin flushed a beautiful red. He loved even more how she gradually opened to him, trusting him with her vulnerability. And then as she gained confidence from his attention, she grew bolder in her response to him. It was a night of beginnings, of firsts, of memories, and love. Entwined in one another, completely submersed in each other’s attention, they began their journey together, an Alpha pair who had endured so much and grown into two people capable of loving each other and their pack. Their selfless and unconditional love for one another would set an example to the wolves under their care. They would show them that in order to lead you must first learn to serve. To be great, to accomplish things that would change the world for the better, then you had to first learn to be faithful to the one person who deserved your greatness bestowed upon them—your mate.

Epilogue

“Do you think our lives will be any easier from here on out?” Alina asked her mate as they lie in bed hours later, worn out and yet utterly satisfied. The soft light from the few candles still burning brought a warm glow to the otherwise dark chamber.

“I would be a fool to think such a thing, beloved.”

“Do you think we will have many adventures?” She grinned up at him with her chin propped up on his chest. Her face was still flushed and she look thoroughly well loved.

He chuckled and ran his fingers through her bed mused hair. “I hope that we do. I hope that we are a force for good in this world. I hope that we lead a pack that will always stand for what is right and never back away when others will not fight.”

“We will,” Alina said confidently.

“So sure?” He smiled.

“Something tells me that we will never be the only ones who feel that way. We will be surrounded by pack brothers and sisters and children who will be courageous in the face of evil.”

“If my Luna says, then so shall it be.”

Present day.

The room was quiet as Alina closed the book that told the story of the beginning of Vasile’s reign. She looked at the faces around the room. Beautiful young women whom she considered her own daughters. Just as if she had born every one of them, they belonged to her. She had wanted to share her story, wanted them to see that she and Vasile had not always been so in control and united. And she wanted them to know that regardless of how their journey with their mate began, and not matter how impossible things seemed to appear, they would survive, grow, and learn together.

“Why did you not share this with us sooner?” Jacque finally broke the silence. Alina imagined she was no doubt thinking about how similar theirsituations had been―she attacked by Lucas and herself attacked by Serghei, both marked by males that never should have touched them.

“The time simply was not right,” she told her gently, hoping she understood that Alina had not meant to hurt her by not sharing her own experience. “I wanted you each to be able to fully understand the dynamics of the relationship between a male Canis lupis and his true mate, and I did not think that possible until you each had your own mates.”

“I agree with you,” Jen spoke up. “I don’t think there is any way to understand something so deep without having experienced it.”

Alina nodded and smiled. “You have definitely dealt with your fair share of Alpha male attitude.”

They all laughed at her understatement.

Jen sat with her legs swinging off the edge of the couch and her back propped against the arm. She let out a wistful sigh. “Well, all I can say is that I hope when Decebel grows up he is like Vasile.”

This time the laughter had Sally and Jacque tearing up and Alina shaking her head at the young Alpha female.

“Alina,” Sally said after the laughter had died down. “What happened to all those pack members? I mean I know there are still some here that have been with you all since then, but Ion , and Nicu, what about them?”

Alina’s lips tightened briefly as she remembered the sorrow of some of those stories. “Ion found his true mate, and she was in another pack. He chose to go with her. Nicu the same. Alin perished in a dominance fight not too long after Vasile returned as Alpha. Sisily met her true mate in the Western Romania pack, but several years after they bonded he was attacked by a bear. He didn’t make it, so naturally neither did Sisily. Her parents requested to join a different pack because they felt such shame over Serghei. We tried to get them to stay but they refused. As far as I know, they are still alive, but they do not leave their pack territory. Many others share similar stories.”

“I’m sorry,” Sally told her. “I know that must have been very difficult , to lose those who had helped restore your pack.”

“Time heals much, gypsy, you know that,” Alina smiled.

“Well as usual, Alina,” Jacque said as she sat up to stretch after having been in one position so long. “You were right. You and Vasile have had many, many adventures.”

“And you’ve saved the world, like twice or something,” Jen tossed out. “You are totally due a vaca.”

“Well, daughters of mine, with a new pup in the pack and one on the way, I have a feeling that there will not be time for a vaca, as you call it. The Great Luna has plans for her wolves now that we have finally begun to work together. And anytime there is significant change in the packs, then we should be on or most vigilant guard.  Something tells me that the pups born to this pack represent a very significant change.