Jack

Here we go, people. Last week of school. The final days before summer and graduation is upon us. Finally.

Now, we're all mated and happy. Some of us are even pregnant. Hooray!

"Seriously though, how did you know her mate lived at the pack house? Come on!" - Jay asked me on Monday morning as soon as he saw me coming.

Anna gave me the biggest hug she's ever given me. And a kiss on the cheek.

"I didn't. I just made an educated guess." - I replied, smugly.

"Man, you're such an Alpha!" - Jay exclaimed in awe. He looked gobsmacked at me.

"That's the best compliment you could ever have given me, thanks Jay." - I smiled wide at him.

"I should have known that invite to my house was iffy. Something didn't smell right." - Ty remarked in a suspicious tone.

"Guys, I'm not just a pretty face. I also have brains." - I bragged, smiling boastfully.

"Oh my Goddess! We're never gonna live this down!" - Ty yelled, tiresome.

"Ever! Until Anna's grandchildren get mated she's gonna tell them: it was Alpha Stonehold who introduced me to your grandfather." - I said, grinning smugly.

"Whatever you say, Alpha. You deserve it." - Anna smiled at me. She looked happy even though she didn't complete the bond yet. But then again, she just met the guy. Literally.

We went to class but I floated there, feeling awesome and nobody can't take that away from me. Ever.

Our final week of school went by smoothly. Peter looked happy next to Daisy, Elsa to Jay, Sarah to Tony, Anna looked happy with her warrior mate already working and was making plans of joining him at the pack house after graduation. At least, until she leaves for college that is.

I was radiantly happy with my pregnant Luna, hoping this time it would stick. Goddess knows we need the win around here.

We had a beautiful graduation ceremony.

Sarah was the valedictorian of our class, her speech was as beautiful as it could be, touching upon our past and breaking through our traumas with hope for a brighter future.

There wasn't a dry eye in the audience, least of all her parents. Neither were Gus and Lidia's, who stood there proud of both Tony and I. They looked so happy together and cheered when the Principal called our names to get the diploma.

Actually, there were plenty of cheers to go around. But that's graduation for you. I'm just happy to be done with it, to be honest. Not that I had a tough high school life, I had a blast all things considered.

No, I just can't wait to rise to the position I was born for. I can't wait to be Alpha. That's the Goddess honest truth.

Plus, my house is ready for me and Tyler to move in and I got a horny mate to satisfy. Yeah, that one doesn't need any heat to keep himself warm, let's go with that.

Not that I'm complaining. To be honest, I'd take a horny mate over a frigid one any time.

Speaking of horny mates, I hear Tony and Sarah can't keep their hands off of each other. Damn!

OK, I don't really hear anything. But whenever I look for them, they're always "busy". So, unless they're solving the water crisis or seeking world peace, Occam's Razor suggests the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

Good for them. They do deserve it. They have been denied for too long, if you ask me.

Another couple glowing is Jay and Elsa. They're hard at looking for a little house for them to live now that we've all graduated. Of course, their parents are going to help them along since none of them have any income.

But Jay is an only child, so Delta and Mrs. Westbrook are thrilled to welcome a grandchild, even though they're barely 40 themselves. It happens a lot in werewolf society. People get mated at 18, have children young and end up being a grandparent also youthful.

My grandpa for instance is not even 60. Neither is my grandma, his mate.

But that also means they're gonna live long and productive lives, even if retired. Which is the case of Beta Davis, the other young grandfather who's going to retire when Tony ascends to Beta very soon.

I guess it's a good thing he's welcoming a grandson. He'll certainly be available for baby sitting. Another person retiring soon and available for baby sitting? Tyler's dad.

He also retires when I ascend. But he's not bitter about it. He's happy for his son, the future Luna. And his daughter gets to continue living at the pack house when he moves out. Yes, he already found another house not far from where we live. He wants to keep himself available whenever we need him, specially considering his grandchild is coming at the end of the year, if Goddess allows it.

Honestly, that just warms my heart.

For a while there, I didn't know what to expect from the transition of power. I didn't even know how he was going to evaluate me in the internship. But he has been nothing but a stand up guy from the beginning.

A tough one, but a righteous and integrity driven Alpha no less. I couldn't have expected a better person to guide me trough this whole process. Save from my own dad, evidently.

"Are you happy?" - Tyler asked me, showing up the renovated house he and his mom worked on for months.

Our house was a simple 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a master suite (the third bedroom). But boy it was magnanimous.

They had redone the entire kitchen, living room and bedrooms, including a nursery for our baby, which used to be my old room.

They also redid Lilly's old room for a girl just in case we have one eventually. Or now. Who knows? It's too early to tell ours yet.

"I loved it!" - I marveled at the decoration.

It was all done so tastefully, respecting the original but with a totally new twist to it. The nursery was so goddamn beautiful I wanna cry. The crib, oh my Goddess... so pretty. The walls are beautifully decorated with gender neutral motives.

The master bedroom is completely redone, as it should. There's no trace of my parents here which should sound weird to me but it's actually better or I'd just suffer looking at it every morning. So he did made it his own.

However, I shouldn't say there's no trace of my parents. The photos stayed and are all spread around the house. My eyes are filled with tears, I'm so emotional right now looking at the photos of my parents and baby sister. There's even one of mom pregnant with me.

"It's all so perfect. I couldn't have done it better myself in a million years." - I was gobsmacked at how it all came together. It was completely worth the arm and the leg it cost me, not that I care about money.

I know it's something only a rich person would say but I'm not really rich and what use is money if not to spend it on yourself or better yet, on making the people you love happy.

And that was money absolutely well spent. The house is entirely fantastic. Somehow, they managed to turn it into a new one, without getting rid of the main reason I wanted to live here in the first place.

"Thank you. It's truly amazing!" - I said and kissed him on the lips.

Now we're good to move in without a glitch. It's just a matter of getting our stuff from our houses. I can't hardly wait.

"Damn, aunt Lidia. You need to see the house. It's like nothing I've ever known, yet it's everything I wished it would be. It's amazing!" - I told her as we ate dinner later that night back at my 'old' house.

- Congratulations, Jack! I'm sure I'll love it when I see it." - She smiled at me cheerfully.

"Yeah, I'm glad you liked it." - Gus told me in a happy tone. Tony smiled at me from his side of the table.

"I'm glad we're living near each other like my dad used to live with his Beta." - I told Tony after a minute. He grinned at me.

"Me too. Even though it's gonna take a while for us to have kids, I want them to grow up next to yours." - He replied and I melted.

"I want nothing more. Has Sarah picked her college yet?" - I asked him, considering she had been accepted to several. She's such a smart girl.

"She did and it's only 3 hours away from here. Thank Goddess! I will be able to visit her every weekend." - He replied with a satisfied smile.

It's tough when mates get separated trough college but not always their career paths align. But at least they're making it work.

"I'm happy for you, brother. I know you two are gonna knock it out if the park." - I said with a wide smile.

Because there's some time between the end of school year and our ascension, I have plenty of time to get my affairs in order before the big day. As do Tony, who's moving to the pack house after his ascension, where he'll live with Sarah til she leaves for college in the Fall.

Everything is coming up great. There'll be a massive party at the town square. The entire town is attending as it's the rise of a new Alpha and Beta.

When I wake up the next day, I'm feeling excited. It's a weekday and I don't have school anymore. Ironically, I still have Alpha internship with Mr. Burke. That lasts until the day of ascension. Even Delta Westbrook has graduated me from warrior training. Now, the only shower I get with my mate is when we take one by ourselves in the pack house before and after 'completing the bond'.

However, I'm free to train on my own over at the center. I just can't monopolize the Delta's time any further. It's fine, I'm happy to be done with it. But I will keep on training always. It's my duty as Alpha just as it is Tony's as Beta.

We can't demand standards from the warriors that we can't meet ourselves. We're leaders, not presidents or kings.

"Good morning, Alpha." - I'm greeted by my mate as I arrived at the pack house.

"Good morning, Luna." - I replied to him, grinning wide. Since I don't have much to do til the ceremony, I arrive early to enjoy his company or to help in any way I can with the transition of his family to the new house.

I kiss my mate passionately like I haven't seen him just yesterday, then we go to his room.

We organize his stuff, pack the clothes, make out a little. Then, get to organizing some more. At this point, there's only his clothes and personal items left to arrange.

"Are you ready, Jack?" - Mr. Burke asked me during lunch at the dining hall. Fortunately, he doesn't mind me eating with his family as I practically live here. So does Tony.

"I was born ready, sir." - I replied without missing a beat.

"Yes, you were. Good for you, son." - He agreed with a proud smile.

"I'm ready too, you know?" - Tony snickered, glaring at us.

"Of course, Beta. You'll do great, I'm sure." - I smirked at him. Mr. Burke also gives him a smile of approval.

Sarah and Tyler giggled at this.

"Are you okay, Mrs. Burke with leaving all this?" - I asked her fearful of her reply.

"I am, Jack. I know it doesn't seem like, but this house takes a lot of effort to run. I don't know how Tony will run it without my daughter in the Fall." - She noted, gazing at him with some concern.

"I'll ask for help if I need it." - He said with an awkward smile her way.

"Plus, Tyler will be just down the street." - I said, making him glare at me.

"What makes you think I know anything about running a house?" - He asked me like I offended him somehow.

"He does know it, Jack. He's playing coy. He just doesn't want to help." - Mrs. Burke jabbed, looking at him suspiciously.

"Thanks mom. Thank you very much." - He snickered.

I laughed and so did Tony and Sarah.

My week gone by in a flash. Next thing I know it's the weekend again and I took my mate for a small trip to a club nearby. Just to chill, swim in the pool and enjoy the afternoon.

It's not something we do everyday but we do deserve it now and again. Specially considering the marathon that awaits us.

I'm so glad I get to do this with him along the way. I couldn't be happier, especially with our pup in his belly.

The following week we move all of our stuff to the new house. We help Tony get settled into the pack house and his parents to their new one. By the day of the ascension ceremony, everything and everyone is where they belong. Even Jason and Elsa moved to a house not far from us.

Anna and her warrior live at the pack house for now. She has college plans just like Sarah.

Peter moved in with Daisy to a house gifted to them by her parents. He will start as trainee warrior along side Jay next week.

Tonight I sleep next to my mate in our own home. Tomorrow we will become Alpha and Luna of the Stonehold pack.

And honestly, I have been waiting for this day to come my whole life. And even though I'd much rather have my parents and sister here with me, I can't help but feel my time has come. Time for a new day, a new dawn.

Time for this pack to go back to being led by a Stonehold again. Hopefully, forever this time.

https://youtu.be/BcqxLCWn-CE

A|N: Awn. I love wrapping up this story. Next chapter is the final one.

No, I'm not crying, you're crying...

Love,

Léo.