Free Owned By The Alphas - The Prequel by Faleena Hopkins Page A

heavy with the news they’d just received. Light hazel eyes scanned their faces as Ivar closed the door and sighed. “So, now you know.”
    Gypha burst into tears and ran to him. Kyren dropped her gaze, her hands clasped, her knuckles white. Overcome, Motis, Jal and Thanot stared. Cade and Sakura shifted to come forward and hug their father figure. Gypha stepped back to let them, but her eyes were locked on Ivar and he gazed back at her with sadness. “Do not let yourselves mourn the loss, when fate has brought you my replacement.”
    Thanot cried out, “No offense to Red, but no one can replace you!”
    Red was choked up and feeling like an outsider and imposter, but then something jogged in his soul as the old wolf looked at him. He felt a welling up of courage and heard himself speak before he knew he’d intended to. The voice that rose up from him, he didn’t recognize. “I will never replace one such as you, Ivar. Know this, all. I will never try to replace him. But that you have taken me in…your acceptance…it has made me feel for you as though I have known you a lifetime. You do not know me yet, but know this. I will protect you. Not that you need it. You are all strong and capable. It will be an honor to walk beside you, not in front.”
    Ivar stepped forward and clapped a hand on Red’s shoulder as they locked eyes. He turned to the others. “That is enough training for tonight. We will resume tomorrow.”
    “What do we do now?” Motis muttered.
    Sakura answered, “I could use a drink.”
    Ivar nodded. “As could I. Let’s go to the bar.”
    Approving of the plan, clothes were retrieved and put on, the energy in the room drastically different from when they’d arrived.

Chapter 12

Calt
Five weeks later, still in town.
    “ W ell , that’s not something you see every day,” the bartender said, looking out the window. “That’s the best looking funeral procession I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”
    Borhan and Calt rose up to go to the window. Bloo, Tawny, Lorn and Lucin rose up from a table they were sitting at to join them, and Dak and Calus called over from the pool table, “What’s going on?”
    “It’s happened,” Calt said under his breath.
    “What has?” Lorn asked, walking up to the window.
    Dak and Calus laid down their pool sticks and quickly joined the others. The few humans who were in the bar walked over too, craning to see what was so interesting.
    Calt watched the members of the other pack walk in silence, holding up a wooden coffin with a single white lily on it. “Ivar has left this world,” he said, quietly. “And all too quickly.” Calt’s eyes rested on the male in front, the one who everyone was talking about, but the wolf’s face was turned toward the ground, his face hard to see. “I have to tell my father,” Calt muttered.
    “He’s there,” Borhan said, pointing to the right. About twenty feet behind the mourners were Rait and Shaynah, their faces filled with somber respect as they followed the small group.
    “Should we go?” Bloo asked.
    “Rait would have come for us, if he wanted that,” Borhan told her.
    Calt agreed, “He is right.”
    Tawny asked, “Why is he staying so far back?” her voice low and careful.
    Calus answered, “He probably wasn’t invited, either.”
    The bartender walked behind the bar, calling over, “Well, stop staring. Show some respect for the dead.”
    Just then, Rait turned his head and met his son’s eyes through the window. Calt took a step back at the look he saw, and said, “She’s right. Go back to what you were doing. Let them mourn their loss in peace.”

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    A few nights later , Borhan lifted up his pint of lager and clinked glasses with his best friend. The female bartender gave them both a flirtatious smile as she asked, “You boys want something extra to back that up?” She motioned to the bottles lining the old wooden shelves behind her.
    Lucin, having just arrived, took a stool next to Calt as he