A Secret Alpha Mate

(Jackson)

“So, I think I have the code figured out. Sorry it took so long, haven't seen this make in years.” The man who was looking the safe stands up and wipes his hands on his pants.

“Thats great, thank you."

“Not 50 soon,” He shakes his head, “You'll need a fingerprint.”

“Whose fingerprint?”

“Whoever's this safe belonged to, I'm assuming.’ He shrugs.

“I mean, we technically could get that." I look to Cam who joined us an hour ago, Lucas makes a face, “I mean they are preserved.”

“What are you suggesting? We bring them, or one of them here, or we bring the safe to them?”

“This safe isn't going anywhere.’ The man interjects.

“Wouldn't they be all pruny?” Lucas faces scrunches up.

“I mean, I guess we could. I don't like the idea of it" I say, thinking it over. Bringing one of them up here to open the safe felt wrong.

“We can try something else.” Lucas shrugs

“You need a fingerprint.” The man says again.

“What about Isla?” Lucas asks, “She was part of the family, maybe hers opens it

“She was a child, why would a child need access to a safe?” Cam asks

“ll ask her but I don't think she would be up for it just yet” I wanted to go check on her again anyways.

I passed by before and saw that Abigial had cleaned the room, it was sparkling, but she left everything in place. Isla was still curled up facing the wall, Abigial sat by her side worry plastering her face. She made eye contact with me and in that moment I knew just how bad it was.

(1sla)

I missed them, for the first time I could actually miss them. I always wished I had parents, but I missed the idea of them. This was something different, something tangible. I knew who they were, I remembered them and I missed them.

I knew I needed to pull myself out of this but I didn’t know how. Grief was overpowering any other emotion any other ne I didn't feel fear that Benjamin was still out there, I wasn't hungry or thirsty. Grief consumed me, and I knew if 1 didn't do something about it I would be pulled under by it.

I was aware of someone speaking to me but I didn't want to pull myself out just yet. I wanted to stay in this blanket of sadness, it felt familiar. I knew I couldn't stay here much longer. Oh, that's nice. That was a rational thought. Maybe I was already pulling myself out.

(Jackson)

Some of the elders arrived with some more of their men later that afternoon. They brought two light witches with them t try to dispel and make sense of Valoria's spaces. I didn't think anyone would want to touch the old omega village for a while but we wanted it to be secure.

I was already missing Moonstone, as much as I loved this pack, it wasn't home to me. It wasn't what I was used to. I misse having my own space, knowing all the pack members, but that would come with time. I wondered if my sour mood had to do with Isla’s reclusiveness, and I knew that it was a huge part of it. I had to be honest with myself, anything that Isla was part of, I knew I would be interested in.

I worked up the courage to go back to her room. Her childhood room. I wouldn't lie that this wasn't under a pretense of asking her a question, I wanted to see her, make sure she was okay more than anything.

I knocked on the frame where the door used to be, Abigial had it propped against the wall with all the splinters cleaned L I would have to thank her for that later.

“Isla, my love," 1 shook her shoulders, Abigial moved out of the way, “We need your help with something so small. We thir there's a chance that your fingerprint could open this safe that we found, and we would love if you could try. We can't bri it here so if you could come to the office, “She doesn't move, I wonder if she’s registering what I'm saying.

“Could 1," I pause for a second, suddenly nervous of asking something simple from my mate, “Maybe, uh carry you there? Just to use your finger print to try before we have to figure something else out.”

She looks back at me, the first sign of communication from her all day. I take her face in my hands, it seems so normal, b felt foreign after the day we spent apart. I didn't know how exactly to approach her right now. She was my mate but this was new territory for both of us, I wondered if this was how she felt about me when Jennifer might have been carrying my child. I pushed those negative memories away.

She looks like she’s studying my face but then nods slightly, I think? I look towards Abigial who nods at me in confirmatio I take Isla’s small frame into my arms and carry her to the office. Her face was buried in my chest the entire time, she did say anything or make any more eye contact. I felt hopeless again.

I carefully set her on the floor in front of me, Lucas and Cam took a few steps back when we entered to give her her space and I appreciated that.

I showed her the safe and typed in carefully the code that was left for us.

“Your thumb I think" 1 tell Isla and carefully pick up her hand and guide her to it.

She softly places her finger on the pad after I type in the code.

With a few clicks and a flash of a red light the door clicks open.