Page 85 of Alpha Awakening

Viviane started beaming in pride and sighed with relief. “That would be wonderful.”

Next were Kareem and Ann, who invited them for dinner the next day and then quickly made room for the others. Raymond and Charlotte stayed close, introducing but also seemingly trying to calm the excited pack. As the sun set, Blake could feel Niev’s exhaustion heavier than ever. He kept a close feel on the bond but only felt her excitement to meet everyone. Just a little while later, the crowd slowly faded away.

“I don’t know how you do it, Niev.” Carissa yawned.

“You two should definitely go home now. It has been a few exciting days and so many more to come,” Charlotte said as she gently pushed Niev and Blake toward the village.

At home, Niev’s first steps were directed toward the kitchen where she searched the pantry for snacks. “I think that went well.”

“It did.”

“But something is on your mind?”

He sighed and leaned against the counter. “When you joined the Timber Pack, I felt your soul was placed underneath the pack’s umbrella. For a split second I was able to see all the souls of the pack. I never felt that before, but it only now occurred to me. Father taught Seth that an alpha can feel his pack, every soul, but never before have I felt someone who joined the way I felt you.”

“Why does it worry you?”

“Because shouldn’t I have felt that today, the souls of the pack for a split second?”

She bit into her chocolate bar and thought about his words before answering. “Does Seth feel it?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Maybe me becoming part of the Timber Pack was different because of our bond. We’ve always felt a pull toward each other and maybe even before the bond truly formed, you could feel me more than the others.”

He hadn’t thought of that, but it was plausible.

“How about you talk to Seth? See if he’s still awake. I’m sure it will bother you all night long.”

With her chocolate bar in hand, she stepped up and kissed him goodnight before disappearing into the bedroom.

Taking a seat on the couch, he dialed Seth’s number.

“Already wanting to come back home? You’ve only been officially part of the pack for what? Two hours?” Seth chuckled.

“You felt us leave?”

“We did.”

“I actually wanted to talk about that.”

“You sound too serious for my liking. What happened?”

“When Father welcomed Niev into the pack I felt her, much stronger than others. I felt her being placed under my protection and with her, I felt all others in the pack. It was only for a split second, but I’ve never experienced anything like that before or after. Do you feel everyone that strongly when they become part of the pack?”

There was a pause between them before Seth answered. “Not as you describe. I feel them joining but not like you have felt. But Father has told me that what you have experienced is what he feels.”

“But you don’t?”

“No.”

“I wasn’t sure if I should’ve felt the same today with us joining the pack because I’m an alpha heir.”

“Not if you’re just the heir.”

“I wasn’t sure who else to call.”

“That’s something I’ll have to get used to,” Seth chuckled. “How are you two settling in?”