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greater than us and Máni himself that commands me to allow her to live as one of us." He

stopped in front of Riley, but I couldn't see his face. "The power is called love."

Although I couldn't see the sheriff’s face, I could see Riley's expression. His eyes

widened slightly and his lips parted. The sheriff resumed his walk around the circle.

"Whatever doubts you and I held in our hearts about this young woman, I want put aside

and buried deep within the earth. For tonight, Paige Lindsay Donovan (
He must’ve looked at my

Social Security card in my wallet because I never told anyone my middle name.
) is our sister and as one of our own, she deserves our respect, protection, and love." He stood in front of me again with a serious expression and matching voice. "Paige, my son loves you more than I thought.

Your life was threatened and he defended you by killing one of his own. He challenged me when

he thought I would kill you and sacrificed his life to protect you. The day my children revealed

their true nature to you, I heard you and Riley laughing together in the kitchen. I knew if I didn't

let you join the pack, I would risk losing him. That day I made my decision." He paused and

stared into my eyes, but I couldn't hold his powerful gaze and dropped my head. Then he said,

"Riley is my only son---my heir---and I want him to be happy. You make him happy, so that is

why I am inducting you into our pack. I'm doing it for
him
. Do you understand?"

When I looked up at him, tears trickled down my cheeks. I knew Aidan had a heart, and

tonight he exposed it to me.

Sniffling, I nodded with a smile. "Yes sir, I understand."

Aidan turned his attention back to Dominic and placed his hand atop his head. "Dominic

Elias Black, you are the blood son of our Alpha Female, Celia Marguerite Gray, but are not a

blood son of mine. I, Aidan Chandler Gray, am the Alpha Male and have a blood son of my own,

Riley Hunter Gray, so you cannot take his position as Beta Male. Therefore, I designate you with

the rank of Gamma Male and you will take Robert John Tanning's position in the pack hierarchy.

All males beneath you are now demoted one rank."

Dominic nodded again. "Thank you, my leader."

I had to take cues from Dominic, so I decided to respond the same way after Aidan

revealed my position. The sheriff placed his hand on my head next, and I felt like he was about

to baptize me.

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"Paige Lindsay Donovan, you are not related by blood to any pack member. I, Aidan

Chandler Gray, am the Alpha Male and have a blood son, Riley Hunter Gray. He is the Beta

Male and has claimed you as his mate."

At that moment, I heard a few random whispers from the pack. The whispering stopped

when Aidan whipped his head up and looked around. He sighed softly before setting his gaze

back on me.

"Therefore, I designate you with the rank of Beta Female and you will take my blood

daughter, Quinn Briar Gray's, position in the pack hierarchy. All females beneath you are now

demoted one rank."

I nodded quickly. "Thank you, my leader."

"I trust you both have been given copies of the pack laws?" I nodded. Then Aidan gave

Dominic and me his 'I'll tear you a new one' expression (the one usually given to Riley) as he

looked back and forth between us. "If you disobey any of the laws I've put forth, you
will
face disciplinary action from your superiors. It is at your superiors' discretion to enact any punishment

they deem appropriate. There are no trials in pack law, but as your Alpha Male, I reserve the

right to pass final judgment. Do you both understand?"

I nodded again. He stepped away, but then gestured to Dominic. He stood and recited the

pack oath. While he was speaking, I broke out in another nervous sweat and hastily wiped my

brow. My breathing increased and the sheriff's eyes darted toward me.

He whispered quietly, "Relax, Paige."

Yeah, that's easier said than done
.

When Dominic finished his oath, I knew my turn was next and thought I would die. I had

memorized the oath earlier, but couldn't remember it now. Aidan stood patiently, but my mouth

just opened and closed. No words would come forth.

"Stand up, Paige," he commanded.

I struggled to my feet, so he grabbed my arms and lifted me. Then he looked at me while

I bit my fingernails and stared back dumbfounded.

Defeated, I sighed and dropped my head. "I'm sorry," I mumbled. "I don't remember the

words."

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I peeked at him from beneath my lashes. I was afraid to see the disappointment in his

eyes. He lets a human into the pack and she couldn't even remember the oath. When his lips

turned into a thin line and his brows furrowed, I knew he was annoyed with me.

Suddenly, my savior appeared next to me and held out a familiar scrap of paper. "Read it,

Paige," Riley ordered softly.

I looked at him in astonishment and wondered where he had hidden the oath. My robe

certainly didn't have pockets.

After I took a deep breath, I looked at the paper and recited my pack oath in a shaky

voice. "I, Paige Lindsay Donovan, swear to abide by the laws given unto me by my pack leader.

I swear to respect and obey my superiors, and to judge my subordinates fairly. I swear never to

reveal our true nature to humans or speak of the
Varulv
secret. I swear never to hunt without my pack, and if I am blessed with a plentiful bounty, to share it with others. I swear to nurture and

educate our youth, and care for our sick and elderly. I swear to love and honor my mate if Freyja

blesses my soul to receive one. I swear to be a contributing member of pack society and help my

community thrive. I swear never to abandon my pack or put their lives at risk. I swear to protect

my pack and put their survival before my own. This is my solemn oath I swear unto you and

before my pack leader. May only Máni cast judgment upon me if ever I forsake this oath."

I released a breath and looked at Riley for confirmation. He smiled widely and I returned

the gesture. When he tried to step away from me, his father put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't go anywhere yet." Then he removed his robe in front of me and my mouth went

dry. Like his son, Máni blessed him with a magnificent male appendage and a body carved of

muscle and golden skin. He turned around and spoke to the pack. "Brothers and sisters, I ask you

all to meet your newest pack members."

All around me,
Varulv
disrobed until everyone stood nude except me. I looked over at a

naked Dominic and flushed in embarrassment. Now I could really see how much he worked out.

His body was impressive. Too bad he was a rapist with a severe chip on his shoulder.

I looked away quickly and focused on Riley again because I was used to seeing him

naked. He looked at me with a smirk, and tugged at my robe. I swatted his hand away, and he

chuckled softly before shifting into a white wolf.

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All the pack members flashed into wolves. I looked around and their glowing yellow eyes

fixed on Dominic and me. That's when I noticed Dominic was right about Riley. He
was
the only

white wolf in the pack and I wondered why.

Riley sat beside me on his hind legs and watched as each pack member approached. I

held out both hands, and each wolf either sniffed or licked them. The last wolf to sniff my hand

was the sheriff, and afterwards, he flashed back into a human. Then he outstretched his muscular

arms. With his eyes closed, he lifted his head toward the moon and spoke words I had to assume

were Old Norse.

After he finished speaking, he shifted back into a gray wolf and howled. The pack

immediately joined in. I had never heard wolves howl this close to me, but the sound was so loud

and haunting, it seeped into my soul and forced me to my knees. They howled in celebration for

me---a human---because I was one of them now. I felt extremely humbled and couldn't keep my

tears at bay.

I looked at Dominic again. He wasn't howling, but his wolf eyes emitted an intensity that

bore into my skull. I swallowed hard under his steady gaze. I didn't trust him, and he had me

suspicious.

Once the howling subsided, Aidan flashed into his human form again. Riley followed suit,

but everyone else remained as wolves.

He spoke to the pack once more. "Before you all run freely into this beautiful night, I

want to officially announce Riley's claim for Paige as his mate. This is every father's hope, and I

am proud to witness my son claim his mate tonight." He beckoned to Riley and he stepped

forward. "Riley, you know I've always tried to give you what you want within reason." He

grinned, but suddenly it faded and gave way to a somber expression. "I've put you through so

much anguish as a pup. My guilt is my burden to bear, not yours. I want you to know my

concern has always been for you and your sister's happiness and well-being. When I first denied

your request to claim Paige as your mate, my rejection wasn't to hurt you. It was to protect you. I

didn't see how you could have a future with her and didn't want you to suffer from any further

heartache. I didn't realize your heart would suffer greater if you could never have her." He laid a gentle hand on his son's shoulder. "But I see clearly now, and will admit I was wrong." He turned to me with a smile. "I know she loves you, so claim her now so I may recognize your union and

give you my blessing."

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Riley smiled broadly, and surprised me when he hugged his father. Aidan looked taken

back, and I wondered if affection was a rarity between them. They always seemed to bump heads,

and I had never seen them get along.

When Riley released him, he stood in front of me, still naked and gorgeous as ever. His

blond hair shone in the moonlight. With his lean and chiseled physique, he truly resembled a

Norse god. A real intensity etched into his face as if he was trying to choose his words carefully.

"Paige, I'll keep this short because you know I want to get out of here and mate with

you." He winked and my cheeks flushed.
Oh, no you didn't
. "So, I'll just say you're all I've ever wanted from the moment I met you in these woods thirteen years ago. I love you, so...will you

have me?"

I smiled adoringly at this lovely man. "Yes, I'll have you." He gave me a warm smile

before he flashed into a wolf. I knelt in front of him and he licked my lips. Then I grabbed his

head and planted a firm kiss on his mouth. When I encircled my arms around his neck, I

murmured into his soft fur, "I love you too."

I heard Dominic's voice on my left side. "Aidan, I want to claim Paige as
my
mate."

I gasped and whipped my head toward him. At the same time, the sheriff looked at him

with wide eyes and yelled, "What? You want to claim her too?"

Dominic simply nodded. He stood naked, looking down at Riley and me with a sly grin.

Other pack members flashed into their human forms. Most of their shocked expressions

matched mine and some of them shouted in protest.

Dominic spoke calmly. "I'm not breaking any law, am I?" The sheriff's eyes narrowed

into slits. "I have every right to claim her too, don't I? You haven't given them your blessing yet."

He boldly stepped closer to him. "And you
can't
...now that a second claim has been made, can you?" Aidan growled a warning, but Dominic stood his ground unafraid.

Celia had taken her human form when she approached her son. She spoke in a hushed

voice, anger written on her face. "Dominic, what are you doing?"

He shrugged, a smirk still lingering on his lips. "I want her."

Riley didn't bother to flash into his human form. He growled viciously as he lunged at his

stepbrother, the force of his movements knocking me to the ground.

I yelled his name, my arm outstretched toward him.

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Dominic quickly flashed into a wolf, his body ready in a defensive stance. His ebony coat

was a striking contrast to Riley's ivory fur. They seemed opposite in every way.

I braced myself for their fight, but Riley couldn't attack him because Aidan shifted into

his wolf form and knocked him to the side. Riley landed on his feet and growled menacingly, his

fierce yellow eyes glaring at Dominic. I had never seen him this way, not even when he defended