My Alpha and her dirty, dirty mind.

Vera

I make my way to the pack house, knowing Sofia will be on the top floor.

As I walk the hallways, I catch people staring at me the same way they did back at the clinic. I'm not sure what to think about it, but honestly, I'm too tired to care. The day has been endless and it's not even close to being over.

When I finally reach the Alpha's door, I pause. What if she's sleeping?

*Come in,* her voice fills my mind. Sofia.

"The woman of the hour," she says gently as I push the door open.

Her room is the biggest in the pack house, which makes sense. It's less of a bedroom and more of a private wing, with tall French doors stretching from floor to ceiling and a huge balcony beyond them. Her bed faces the northern wall, tucked between the two sets of doors.

I walk toward her. She's propped up on the bed with the twins sleeping beside her, a pile of papers scattered across her lap.

"Alpha," I say, saluting her.

We hold each other's gaze for a long moment, then drop the formality entirely. I hurry to my best friend and wrap my arms around her. If there was ever a time to forget protocol, it's now, after everything we've survived.

"Oh, V. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Tears well up in both of us. One day Sofia had her twins, we were attacked by a creature from old legends, and I woke up from what I can only call a spell-induced sleep.

When we pull apart, we both reach for the tissues sitting on the bed and try to pull ourselves together.

"Oh Goddess, look at them."

The tissues come in handy because I'm crying again, gazing at Sofia's babies. I crawl onto the bed beside them and brush one lightly on the forehead.

"They're absolutely perfect, Sof."

"Aren't they?" She's sniffling again and I take her hand.

"You did such a good job, mamma."

"Oh please, if it wasn't for you..." she stops to blow her nose, but her eyes are red and wet. "If it wasn't for you, none of us would be here right now."

Her words linger as we sit there, watching the twins. Their little chests rise and fall in total peace, completely unaware of how dangerous their birth truly was. Sofia held everything together while we were under attack, and she did it all without any real medical help, no epidural, nothing. To me, that only proves she deserves her place as Alpha.

"I named her Rose, and he's John."

"John Allen. A memory of Jade Waterfall under a new moon comes to me. Like your ancestor."

Sofia frowns.

"Yes, how did you know?"

I don't know what to say, so I say nothing. How do I even start explaining everything I saw, and more importantly, why? My silence says more than words could, and she keeps going.

"Well, we will have some time to talk about that. For now, please go and get some rest, and take a shower. It will take about two hours to get the pyre ready."

"How many?" I ask, my voice flat.

Sofia looks down.

"Forty-six."

Forty-six of our wolves, our warriors, our brothers and sisters. Dead.

The pain I feel can't be put into words, so I can't even imagine what Sofia is going through, connected to the entire pack all at once. She didn't just feel their deaths. She now carries the pain and loss of everyone who loved them. Their mates, their children, their siblings, their parents. There are many reasons the Alpha is considered the strongest of the pack, and not all of them are physical. Sofia is bearing all of this while also handling every emotion that comes with being a new mom. I am truly in awe of her.

Still, I worry it might be too much for her. Knowing her the way I do, I'm sure she will bury her grief in endless work. I worry even more knowing I won't be here to support her through this. Sofia will need a friend now more than ever, and our bond has always been simple because we grew up together.

"Please take it easy on yourself, Sof," I tell her. "There was nothing you could've done. And what matters more, look what you've given the pack." I glance at baby John. "A male Allen heir."

This clan has always flourished under Allen leadership. Its darkest days have always come under the rule of someone else who thought they could lead this pack. Sofia was a surprise baby, the only one the Moon Goddess gave her parents. To say the entire clan was disappointed it wasn't a boy would be putting it lightly. Some members even left the clan, convinced the Allen dynasty was finally finished now that only a girl would inherit the Alpha position.

It fills me with pride to say that Sofia has been anything but a disappointment.

"Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm gonna teach Rose how to kick ass just like her momma." Sofia blows her nose again, pulling me from my thoughts. "Now, I have a surprise for you. It's in your room. Please go shower, you seriously stink."

We look at each other in a silent conversation that only we can have, maybe because of how close we've been since she found me. The weight of the day presses down on both of us.

I hug her one last time and leave her room, but not before taking one more long look at the twins. I can't explain why, but I have a feeling that this mythical beast appearing and the birth of the Allen twins cannot be a coincidence.

My feet can barely lift as I approach my room. Every part of me just hurts. When I'm about to turn the doorknob, I know exactly what gift Sofia is talking about.

I groan to myself. My Alpha and her dirty, dirty mind.