DERIK

“Be strong. Don’t show any weaknesses in front of them, okay, beautiful?” I said, cupping Lorelai’s cheek as she looked up at me, her eyes full of trust and love.

I hoped I could live up to that.

My parents were some of the oldest werewolves, alphas. Letting go of that position had been hard for them, but they had stopped turning years ago, their magic running out.

But even though now it was my time, they still doubted I could do a good job. I had proved to myself and the pack that I was a leader, an alpha worthy of the title, but my parents were still...