Austin's POV
Standing at the edge of the crowd, I watched my mate face down her father with a strength that made every fiber of my being burn with pride. She was magnificent. The way she held herself, the fire in her eyes as she claimed what was rightfully hers - I knew without a doubt that this woman was meant to be mine.
Most packs would never accept a female Alpha, but I didn't care about tradition. I never planned on leading my own pack anyway. That's exactly why I enrolled at the Academy in the first place. Now, watching Dad work alongside Lara to prepare her for leadership, I felt certain she could handle this pack while I pursued my goals with the Council.
Of course, our future plans might need adjusting depending on whether my mate was carrying my child. If she was pregnant, it couldn't be far along since she'd been able to shift during the challenge.
