Leaning against the bleacher chair, I stretch out my arms above my head slowly and carefully before a big yawn escapes my lips.

Fuck, I'm tired. No Gamma training in the world got me ready for this amount of exhaustion.

I've been up so many nights in a row now I can't even count them anymore, so I've left my beautiful mate to take over the cadets training this morning whilst I fulfil my most important duties.

Looking down at my chest, I check to see if our four month old son Hudson is still sleeping soundly in his baby carrier. Relief washes over me to see that he still is. He's a night owl and it's a fucking killer but I'd not change it for the world. This little guy will be the next Gamma of this pack if that's where his heart lies. It will be several years before we find out if he'll be a silver or not, so far, he kind of looks more like me than Alice, but it's early days.

My eyes snap up when I hear a cadet scream out followed by a huge thud that echoes across the arena. I can't stop a huge smirk slide across my face when I see that it was my little wolf who's done the damage to a male that's easily double her size, looking seriously smoking hot in her work out gear.

It's been two years since I claimed Alice as mine, and she's really taken over the role of the packs Gamma Female in her stride. She's easily one of the elite's best instructors, plus being a Silver gives her a real edge over most warriors. In short, she's fucking sensational. If it wasn't for this little guy attached to my chest right now, I'd be running down to that arena and dragging her off to have my way with her. I've already fucked her hard in the shower this morning, but when it comes to Alice, I'm insatiable, I simply can't get enough of her.

My eyes follow Alpha Drake as he comes to stand next to Alice grinning at her with pride, the two of them have become really close over the last few years. Not only because of how well Alices is doing as one of his head Elites but because she's also Allannah's best friend. The four of us often hang out together a lot especially now we both have sons around the same age. Drakes' son Kai is a month old than Hudson and he's already growing big. Little Luna Allannah is going to have her hands full if he keeps growing the way he is, he certainly takes after his father and I have no doubts that he will become a powerful Alpha like his dad and uncle.

"Hey, so that's where you're hiding."

I look up as I watch Beta Colton stride over with a big grin on his face before he slumps down next to me nosily making me flinch. Colton's his eyes grow wide when he spots Hudson asleep on my chest and mouths an apology for being so loud. I don't fail notice that he's sporting a huge bruise across his left eye.

"Well, did you pass?" I whisper, as I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Your dad is a fucking monster man! The shit he's just made me do was crazy." Colton says quietly back as he touches his eye gingerly, no doubt where my dad whacked him in the face with his cane. However, a huge smile grows back across his face once more as he puffs out his chest with pride. "But yeah, I passed. Warrior training complete."

"Good for you man. I knew you'd kill it." I say to him sincerely before we fist bump.

I love this kid, he's like the younger brother I never had. Colton is the second born child to Beta Everett from a neighbouring pack. When his elder brother Jax took over as Beta from his father, Colton was left him feeling a bit lost in his own pack, not knowing where his place was. So, when the challenges came up for our Beta rank two years ago, he put himself forward even though he was too young to compete as he was just sixteen.

However, just like me, Drake saw it, his potential at being something great. I mean the kid has some serious balls turning up to a challenger's tournament against warriors who were far older and more skilled. What he lacked in strength and skill, he made up with his silver tongue. This kid really has the gift of the gab, he's confident without being cocky. Persuasive without being manipulative. The perfect skills needed to negotiate pack politics. So instead of turning him away we brought him into our pack and have been honing his Warriors skills these last two years. His final test was to pass a warrior's skills challenge that my dad made me do before I was inducted as Gamma. The kids right, my dad wouldn't have been brutal on him. The only person he's ever soft on is Alice and now Hudson.

"I'm gonna go find Sophie and tell her how I got on unless you need me for anything?" Colton beams as he gets to his feet.

"Nah man, go find your girl and celebrate. You deserve it." I grin at him as Colton gives me another fist bump before running off to find the girl, he's sweet on making me chuckle.

The vibration from my chuckle accidently wakes Hudson and he starts to sob a little at my chest. "Shit." I mutter as I freeze as still as a statue, but it's no good he's awake. I take him out of his carrier and bounce him in my arms which stops his sobs.

"Hey kid, you wanna go for a stroll?" I say to him as he yawns adorably before he's bright blue eyes fix on mine then he babbles and smiles. Hudson has me well and truly around his little finger. At one point I will have go tough on him like my dad was on me when I start the Gamma training, but for now I'm happy to be act like a giant teddy bear around this kid.

My thoughts are broken when Oliver, Alpha Lucas and Luna Allannah enter the Arena. Oliver has an arm slung around the Luna whispering a joke in her ear, from how red her face is, I'm guessing it's another one of Oliver's racier stories, he has zero filter. Allannah and Oliver are extremely close, apart from Alice, Allannah will only practise her sparring techniques with him as she never learnt any combat skills at Red River. Ever concerned with his Luna's safety, Drake commanded that she must learn some basic self-defence skills which Oliver and Alice have been helping her with. She'll never be a warrior, but she doesn't need to be. She's brought a great balance to the pack with her kindness and gentle nature. Since she's been here Drake has built her a new library for the High school and play area for the orphanage. Things he'd never have thought about needing until she stepped up as Luna. She been a great asset to the pack.

I shake my head grinning at Lucas as I watch him play the part of devoted uncle as he carries Kai with ease in one arm as he points out training areas and talks away to his little nephew as if he can understand him. He's five months old, he doesn't understand shit, but I think Lucas just enjoys spending time with him. He's good with kids, it's a shame him and Oliver will never have one of their own.

As Lucas finally stops giving Kai the tour, he comes to sit by me leaving Oliver and Allannah whispering and laughing near the doorway whilst they catch up.

"Hey man." Lucas says as he turns Kai around to sit him in his lap more comfortably.

"Just got here?" I reply as I shift Hudson in my arms also as he starts wriggling about.

"Yeah, but you know Oliver. Rather come and start gossiping with the girls than get settled in." Lucas sighs.

But I know he's full of shit, if Oliver's happy, Lucas is happy. Since they took on Red River, the pack has grown from strength to strength. They had a few setbacks the first year they took over, some Red River wolves refused to accept them so were shown the door. However, the Black Mountain wolves have now been fully integrated into Red River and are thriving. The pack is out of debt for the first time in years and is turning over a decent profit from selling the iron ore from the riverbanks. Alpha Lucas is building quite the reputation for himself and his new pack.

"How's my girl doing." Lucas says as he flicks his head towards Alice whose now got another cadet in a head lock, rolling them around on the floor like they're a rag doll.

"She made the big guy over there piss his pants last week." I chuckle making Lucas bark out laughing.

"Fuck, she's something." He laughs and I can't help but nod my head and agree.

"She sure is." I murmur as my eyes fix on her whilst pride flows through my heart.

A sharp nudge to my side snaps me out of my daze, I hadn't even realised I'd zoned out, practically drooling after my mate.

"I'm gonna take Kai back to Allannah. I think he's done a shit. Uncle or not, I'm not down with sorting shitty pants out." Lucas grimaces as he holds Kai out at arm's length making me laugh.

"Sure thing, I'll catch you guys up later at the dinner." I reply as Lucas gives me a friendly nod before returning to his mate and Allannah where he promptly hands back the baby. Ok, maybe he's not that great with kids. I don't fail to notice Oliver longing look at Kai as he strokes his nephews hair gently before Drake joins them and they all turn to leave. They really do make great Uncles and leaders.

Finally, the sexy scent of cherries and Apple orchards fill my nose and my eyes dart back to my mate whose making her way up to us with a loving smile on her face that makes me want to pull her instantly into my arms for a kiss.

"Hey there. How you doing their daddy wolf? You want me to take over." Alice's sultry voice chimes in my ears. My dick twitches instantly when she calls me daddy.

"Don't call me that you little tease." I growl at her making her smile. She loves pushing my buttons, she knows exactly how to turn me on.

Smirking, Alice bends down and takes Hudson into her arms as I loop an arm around her waist and pull her into my lap planting a kiss to the side of her head.

"Hey gorgeous boy, have you been good?" Coo's Alice to Hudson as he gurgles and smiles at her.

Fuck I love this woman, not only is she an amazing mother, but she's also my best friend. My soul mate. To think I fought so hard not to have this. A mate and a family. I've kicked myself so many times repeatedly for the time I wasted trying to distance myself away from her at the beginning of our journey together instead of jumping straight in and claiming her. My dad was right, a mate isn't a weakness. Alice has made me stronger. She's made me want to be a better mate and father. Everything in my world is better because she's a part of it.

"You ready to go home?" Alice says as she turns to look over her shoulder. Those gorgeous doe eyes sparkling back at me.

"Will you call me 'daddy' again if we do?" I growl as I lean in and quietly whisper into her ear making her blush.

Biting her lower lip, she giggles and nods before I tenderly kiss her nice and slow until Hudson gurgles loudly making her laugh and pull away.

Sighing, I roll my eyes at Hudson, playfully shaking my head at him making Alice laugh some more. I love the way she looks when she laughs, without even trying she's seducing me in. She'll not last more than a few minutes before I pounce on her once she steps inside our home. By the look in her eye and the smirk on her lips, Alice knows exactly what's coming.

Very gently I push my mate onto her feet as she coo's and cradles our baby in her arms before I strap him back into my baby carrier on my chest and place a kiss on his little head. He smells or mint and blackberries, he's truly perfect.

"Let's go home little wolf." I say as I smile down to Alice as I place an arm around her shoulders and she wraps hers around my waist as I guide her out, back out into the forest where our large wooden cabin await us. Back to where my little family call home.

A/N - Epilogue to follow