"Henry James Wilson, do you willingly cede the title of Alpha of the Georgia Pack to your brother, knowing this shall never change? He will rule the Pack and you will now be one of his subjects."
"With honor, humility and love I do," Hank said as he embraced his brother.
"Then in the name of our ancestors and all that we hold as fair and good, I name you, Jacob, Alpha of the Georgia Pack. Jacob David Wilson, Henry James Wilson—hold out your hands."
With quick and decisive slashes from the glittering knife, Mr. Wilson sliced his sons' hands and brought them together over his head. As their blood mixed and the power of the Pack Alpha was transferred the crowd fell to their knees. The soft ground beneath me trembled with magic. I raised my eyes back to the stage and had to put my hand up to shield them from the blast of golden light that exploded and burned brightly between Hank and Junior's clasped hands.
Shouts of joy began to burst from the kneeling crowd. Clapping and whistling soon followed. A cool wind blew and the mist floated around us. Hank caught my eye and mouthed, I love you. I almost cried with pride. He was so strong and good and mine. I had no clue what I had done to deserve him, but I was keeping him until the day I left this earth. I also felt the distinct need to rush the stage and jump his sexy ass.
"Is it time to get naked and furry?" Dwayne yelled over the crowd, thankfully stopping me from making good on my inappropriate plan.
"Almost," I shouted back as I hugged him. "Thank you for befriending the viper."
"She's really not that bad and she looks wonderful in gauchos!"
"Did you bring your faux fur?" I asked, not touching the newly discovered merits of Mrs. Wilson.
"You bet I did, doll baby." Dwayne's eyes lit up almost as brightly as the magic still floating around us.
The shift was about to be Dwayned… no one would ever be the same.
Chapter 6
"I proudly introduce to you our new Alpha, Jacob David Wilson," Mr. Wilson bellowed as he hugged both of his sons.
"Isn't it amazing?" I asked Dwayne. I grasped his hand and let myself get lost in the pure joy and excitement of my Pack.
"In all my years I have never seen anything so beautiful," Dwayne said reverently. "Vampyres don't like each other much so we really don't get together often. Our gatherings tend to end in a decapitation."
"Then I'm so happy you're here," I said. I wrapped my arms around my best friend and held on tight.
"You have no clue what that means to me," he said as he hugged me back. "No clue."
"What are you going to do while we run?" I asked, feeling bad about leaving him here alone.
"Oh honey pie, I'm coming with you."
"How?" I asked, a bit confused.
"You'll see." His grin was positively evil and totally contagious.
"God help us all," I muttered.
"And all the angels and saints, the Goddess, Mother Earth, all our ancestors and Dolce and Gabbana," Dwayne recited with a smirk.
"You forgot Buddha," I reminded him.
"Damn it, you're correct—and Buddha," he amended. "Can we get naked yet?"
I rolled my eyes and laughed. "In a minute. Just listen."
All eyes were fixed on the stage as Junior stepped forward and his father and Hank stepped back. The crowd quieted and waited.
"I am humbled and honored to be your new Alpha. I come from a long line of Alphas that have taught me well. I will do everything in my power to respect the bravery and memory of those that have come before me or I will die trying," Junior shouted to the Pack.
Gone was the clumsy man that could destroy an office by simply pacing. On the stage stood a powerful force to be reckoned with. He seemed to be even bigger than his already enormous self and magic swirled around him like a moving kaleidoscope.
"I promise to protect you and to govern with a fair and honest hand. I also swear to destroy anything that risks the health and happiness of our people."
That got a bloodthirsty whoop from the crowd. What did I expect? We were Werewolves.
"Alright people," Junior bellowed with a wide grin followed by a howl. "It's time to get nekkid and run!"
There was the Junior I knew.
The whoops were now so loud I couldn't hear my own thoughts. Clothes were flying and skin turned to fur quickly. Dwayne had a somewhat shocked and amused crowd around him as he stripped to a Lady Gaga song. He had put his phone in a cordless dock and was going to town. I fell down laughing as he tore away his halter and tossed it up high. It was caught midair by a set of fangs that belonged to a delighted Mrs. Wilson. I had seen everything now. She shimmied over and continued her de-robing in time with the Gaga. I prayed to Dolce and Gabbana that this would not become a new ritual.
Hank came up behind me and stopped dead in his tracks.
"What the hell is happening?" he asked as he winced at the site of his partially clad mother twerking with the very gay Vampyre.
"I'm pretty sure Hell just froze over," I said as I observed the disaster unfolding.
It simply got more disturbing as Mr. Wilson joined his mate in the dance party.
"Let's get out of here before this degenerates into something I'll need therapy for," Hank insisted as he pulled me away from the show.
"Agreed," I said as I followed him into the woods. My wolf was close to the surface and wanted out badly.
"You ready baby?" Hank asked as he tore his clothes off.