The Alpha's Gamble - Chapter 118: Chapter 118

MADELINE
After three nights and four days in the hospital, I was itching to get out of this bed and take Ida for a run. To be fair, we spent two of those days sleeping soundly while Ida worked to heal us and restore all the ruined fragments of my mind left by Nasha and that Emerelda bitch, but when I woke up I felt like a new person.
Noah was rugged in the bed next to me, arm draped over my chest, and his face was relaxed in a deep slumber. I was told when I woke up that he hadn't left me alone for a second these days. He'd been hounding the doctors, barking orders to make sure they took every test possible and threatening that if they missed anything, there would be hell to pay. It was safe to say that the situation wasn't stale and uncomfortable in the wing at first glance. Luckily, everyone could breathe once I woke up, and things were slowly becoming more relaxed.
Logan came by now and then with sweets and flowers. The first time he saw me awake, he fell to his knees and begged for forgiveness over and over before I found out why. Apparently, the pipe they poured the wolfsbane into was empty, used as a distinguiser in case of emergency, in case the ignition failed to shut down in the middle of the event. It lay near the entrance to kill the fire quickly so people could get out, and since my half of the arena was the closest to the entrance, I got the wolfsbane-infused fumes when Landon turned the spring during my fight.
I was caught up on all pack matters when I lay there with my pudding and stacks of snacks that Logan kept piling onto me in guilt: Tilly and her family had already left before the fight. Her parents decided to go with her, seeking shelter in a human pack hours away. Noah made it abundantly clear they weren’t welcome back.
Olivia was shunned, sentenced to live as a rogue, which surprised no one. Her parents, however, chose to stay. They said she, and only she, would suffer the consequences of her actions: it was about time she learned to fend for herself without stepping over others to do it. I imagine she’d find a group of rogues to push around, at least until she learned that that’s not how things worked out there.
As for Landon, he was given two options: go with Olivia and live as a rogue, or follow Tilly and live among humans. He chose the latter—bags packed before the ultimatum was even fully delivered. Turned out they were in love. Not mates, but some kind of sick, twisted, trauma-bond kind of love, I guess.
Noah stirred awake next to me and scanned me thoroughly as he rubbed his eyes awake.
"You want to leave, don't you?" He groaned.
I nodded and threw the blanket off to get up, but he pushed me back down and staggered to the door, called for the doctor and pointed to me.
"Is she fully healed?"
"Yes,"
"No injuries, breaks and her vitals look good?"
"They look fantastic. Both she and her wolf are strong, and I see no reason for Maddie to stay here any longer," Thank god.
"You're absolutely certain?" Noah stepped closer and looked at the poor woman who was trying to be as clear as possible. I'm certain she was contemplating running me through a few more tests just to make sure, but I couldn't stay here; I needed to meet Ida in her wolf form and get back to life.
"Noah, she said I'm fine, let's just go. '"
I got dressed, and the doctor left. I can imagine the party they'll throw once we leave, he couldn't have been easy to deal with these last few days.
"No need to change," He said and grabbed my clothes in his hands.
"I'm wearing a hospital gown, it's not very sexy," I grinned.
"You won't be wearing it for long," He winked and grabbed my hand. That was sure as hell sexy, though. We headed toward the woods, away from the mansion, and I watched as he dropped my clothes and stepped out of his jeans.
"Why are you stripping, mate?" I asked. Partly as a joke, partly with jealousy of the eyes that were glancing in his direction. A jealousy I hated and had never felt. Ever. But I wanted him to be for my eyes only.
"We're shifting. Onyx wants to meet her." Noah stepped closer, his bare chest rubbing against the thick fabric of my gown, and the wind blew in, caressing my legs.
"Is that so," I teased while Ida whimpered and angstily walked around my mind in anticipation. My entire body went aflame when Noah leaned down, his lips brushed against my ear, and he folded his fingers around my waist, pulling me in against him.
"She's whining to get out, isn't she?" He whispered.
I grinned and moved my head to meet his lips, a taste I'd never grow tired of.
We shifted in the next second, and I wasn't sure what to expect, considering the last time I shifted was more of a traumatic torture event than anything else. But this was beautiful, painless, serene, and something that felt wrong not having done before. It was natural, and Ida stood tall on her four legs, eyes closed, as he looked up at the sky while the sun bathed her face.
When she looked at Noah, and I saw her reflection in his eyes, I was in awe. Beautiful chocolate brown fur, clear sparkly eyes, and a few black patches around her snout.
"Wow, you look..." I couldn't find the words that would justify what I saw.
"Thank you," She said.
Ida fell forward, arched her back, and playfully waited for Noah to shift.
Six months later.
One week after the Ember Ring, Jack called Noah into his office and handed him the title. He was stepping down, retreating. He and my mother were traveling, off to see the world, and they wouldn’t be back for a long time. Part of it was to spend time together, but mostly, it was to give us space. To give Noah the freedom to shape the pack in his own vision without anyone looking over his shoulder.
The pack thrived under Noah’s leadership. Not much changed on the surface, except everything felt different. We held the initiation ceremony; they drank his blood. I know how it sounds, but it’s tradition. It binds the pack to its Alpha.
Had I been asked to do it now, I wouldn’t hesitate. Not like that first day, when he ordered me to drink it before we set off for the Timber Pack.
Speaking of which, after I killed Driton, I became the new Alpha. That’s the rule: when an Alpha is defeated, the victor claims the title.
Noah and I agreed to appoint one of their own as second-in-command and merge our packs, though we kept separate borders. I visited from time to time to make sure they hadn’t killed each other. But between new alliances and a constant stream of rogue problems to solve, their bloodlust stayed under control.
I abolished their brutal initiation ritual and replaced it with the Obsidian Pack’s entry rules. It took time for them to warm up to it, but when they realized they had no say, they came around.
Today was just another day.
Except it wasn’t. Noah said he had a surprise.
“There she is,” he mused as I stepped out into the back of the mansion.
He grabbed the back of my head and brushed his lips teasingly over mine.
“My beautiful mate,” he whispered.
“You like that word, don’t you?” I teased.
“I fucking adore it. I’m never calling you by your name again.” I’ve learned I’m a sucker for sweet talk. His sweet talk.
“Come with me,” he said, leading me to the training field.
Down the road, my father was training warriors. He chose to stay, making a compelling case that his skills were still useful, and because he wanted to mend what had been broken between us. A man stood at the edge of the field, his back to us.
“Who is that?” I asked, somehow recognizing the back of his head. He turned, and my jaw dropped. No. Way. Standing in front of me was Oliver Owens, the General of Auburn Academy. The Oliver Owens. This had to be a dream. Or a hallucination. It couldn’t be real.
“You must be Madeline,” he said, extending his hand.
I grabbed it, fingers closing around his, and squeezed. Solid. Real. This was really happening.
“Oliver Owens. General Lead Trainer at Auburn Academy. He’ll be your trainer for the next year,” Noah said casually.
Excuse me, what?
My brain short-circuited.
“Why?” was all I could manage.
“You couldn’t go to your dream school,” Noah said, smiling, “so I’m bringing the school to you.”
“You…” I stammered. Tried again. “You…”
My tongue twisted in unnatural ways. The words were stuck.
“You…”
“Everything you want. Everything you dream of. It’s yours,” he said softly. “I’m going to make sure of it.” I still couldn’t speak. But I didn’t need to. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed against him.
“I love you,” I whispered against the mark on his neck. My mark.
“I love you too, Luna,” he said, placing a kiss on the mark he’d given me.
The one that would forever be my favorite part of me.
The End.