The Pack's Nemesis (Quirin's Story) novel Chapter 27

Kennedy

After lunch, Connor and my father go off to talk, probably about the ceremony tonight. My mother, Quirin, and I head up to my room to pack the rest of my things.

“I looked around last night and I don’t think I need to take much. Quirin has plenty of furniture, so I just want to take one of my smaller dressers,” I tell my mother.

As I pack up my things, Quirin takes them to the truck we brought. When I’m done, I look around the space that was my bedroom for eighteen years and realize that it no longer feels like home. Home is where Quirin is, and he was never here.

After we’re done, I shower and start getting ready for my brother’s ceremony. I’m not sure where Quirin went, but he comes in just as I finish getting ready.

“You look stunning, Kennedy,” he says, coming over stroking his fingers over my cheek. “Absolutely stunning.”

I wrap my arms around his waist. “Can you believe it was one week ago that you called me mate?” I ask him.

“So much has changed in one week, Little Pup,” he says.

“My entire life has changed,” I whisper.

“Both of our lives did,” he says, leaning in to kiss me. I hold him, trying to tell him without words that I want him, that I miss our intimacy. When he pulls away, I’m not sure that he understood.

“You know, we could recreate our mating night here tonight,” I tell him. I watch his eyes go wide with something close to fear in them, but that makes no sense.

“Little Pup, your father and I have a very tenuous truce going right now. Let’s not push it by mating a couple of rooms away from him,” he says, kissing my nose before walking into the bathroom.

I feel the tears prick my eyes at his words. My father knows that I’m mated. He wouldn’t care if Quirin and I were together. This feels like an excuse. An excuse that just reinforces what I thought before. Quirin’s had me once, and that’s all it will ever be for him.

I go downstairs to greet the guests for my brother’s ceremony. Most of the Alphas from our birthday are back, but this time when they see my mark, they keep their distance.

However, when Alpha Henry arrives, he doesn’t bother keeping his distance. He comes right up and hugs me. “How’s Quirin treating you? Are you doing okay over there?”

“Things are great,” I say, forcing a smile. Henry’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t say anything more.

Soon after that, Betas Franklin and Savannah arrive, along with their children.

“Madison, Happy Birthday. You look beautiful,” I say to her. She’s Franklin and Savannah’s oldest child and she just turned eighteen.

“Thank you! I didn’t find my mate in my pack, so I’m hoping to find him here tonight,” she says excitedly.

“Good luck. There are a lot of Alphas here,” I say to her.

My brother stayed upstairs, waiting to make a grand entrance into his party. When my mother announces that it’s time,

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15:13 Sun, 2 Feb R

Chapter 128

everyone begins making their way outside. Since the ceremony will only be for my brother to take his place as Alpha, there are no chairs. The ceremony will be short and then there will be a party afterward.

We’ve all just gotten outside when I hear a possessive snarl behind me. I’d know the sound of my brother’s wolf, Bosche, anywhere. I feel Quirin’s arm go around my waist, ready to pull me out of the way if something is wrong.

Everyone turns, seeing my brother standing at the doorway, his chest heaving and his nostrils flared. Almost as one, everyone steps back, leaving a clear line of sight between my brother and Madison.

My heart twinges and I look away. I already know the kind of relationship that Connor and Madison will have. My brother is just like my father. He will openly adore Madison for anyone and everyone to see. He will claim her publicly, kissing her and expressing his love for her as often as she’ll let him. And there is no doubt in my mind that they’ll have a pup within the year. Unlike my mate, my brother won’t be able to get enough of his mate.

I watch as Connor asks Madison to join him on stage. She can’t take her place as the pack’s Luna yet, she’s not marked. But I know without a doubt that she will be tonight. My brother and I have always liked Madison and I’m happy for both of them. She looks as thrilled as he does to be mated to him and she stands by his side, proudly watching him as he takes his oath as Alpha of the pack.