A Secret Alpha Mate

(1sla)

I wake up again to someone shaking my arm, it didn't feel warm and I felt suddenly alone, the absence of the comfortabl warmth was palpable.

I fought my eyes open and saw a dimly lit room, the beeping of the heart monitor comforting me now, an indication of where I was, some semblance of familiarity.

I turned my head to face what was touching me and in Jackson's place sat a beautiful girl. Perfect dirty blonde curls fram her angular face.

“I thought you would never wake up, how much sleep do you need?” She complains, rolling her hazel eyes.

—

“I thought I would come down here and officially introduce myself. 'm this packs Luna.’ She smiles, something about her smile feels off.

“Oh."I'sit up a bit, she was young but I guess the Alpha was probably young here too, I was just used to Julianna being in her forties now, “H-hi, thanks for coming down?” I say hesitantly, still not sure why The Luna was here greeting me personally.

It was a nice touch but I wasn't entirely sure it was necessary. Maybe it was because she thought I was going to be part of this pack because my mate was here. Maybe Jackson told the lead omega, and they had to do that new member ceremon Abigail mentioned, where is he anyway? I already missed him.

“I just wanted to welcome you to our pack, how long do you think you'll be staying?” She said, eyeing the machines attached to me.

“Thank you so much for all your hospitality, I know I must be a huge burden on your pack and I promise I'll find a way to repay you once I'm better.” She nods, a sour look on her face.

“Well, you're nice, a bit too nice” She muses, “Oh well” She stands. “Yes you do owe me, I was the one that saved your lif not that you remember you were out with some trivial head injuries, prone to fatigue are we?” My previous theory was. correct, all ranked members, even from other packs, kinda really suck.

She leaves without a backward glance. I wonder if she would be okay with me staying in this pack, if Jackson wanted me t that is, I would go wherever he would.

I wonder if his omega quarters were nicer than ours. When omegas found a mate, well if they found a mate, at Silver Moo they got to share a room all to themselves. For making omega babies Abigail explained once. Maybe we would get our ow room here, as well.

My head feels a bit light and I slip back into sleep.

I wake up again, this time not so disoriented but I smile when I see Jackson's face replace The Luna's.

“Hil I smile.

“Hello, mate” He says that was the best thing I've ever heard. So he's accepting me. *I brought you a few books, I noticed you had one packed and I thought it might mean that you like reading?” I nod enthusiastically as he piles ten books that I've never heard of on the bed next to me. I sit up slowly and run my hands over the covers reading them, 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Little Woman, Animal Farm, The Great Gatsby, The Hobbit. I've never read any of these before.

“I didn't know what you liked to read so I brought a bit of everything!” He smiles sheepishly and it was the cutest thing I'v ever seen.

“Thank you so much, can I borrow some of them while I'm here?”

“You can keep them. Anything you want here is yours.’ That seems a bit excessive, way too much for him to promise, but sure he was feeling these mate jitters too. Although, it's hard to believe that he would think the same way about me as I him. He was without a doubt the most perfect looking person I've ever seen, and so sweet and attentive too.

“Once you're allowed out, I can show you around the packhouse and the grounds. We won't push it, but there are a few amazing spots I want to show you. My mom has gotten a few clothes and essentials for you but we can buy whatever you need." I gulped, his mom. He must have noticed because he patted my hand and said, “Don’t worry, she’s under strict instructions to give us space until you're ready” I nod.

Even though I'm frightened at the prospect of meeting this beautiful man’s mother, 1 was excited because maybe they would like me and I would have kind of a family here.

“Do you want me to stay here?” I blurted out without thinking.

He looks confused, “Yes, of course. You are my life now, I want to be where you are always unless there was somewhere else you want to go?” He pauses, “Did you want to return to Silver Moon?”

I shake my head, although I would miss those packlands and the only home I've ever known, well the only home I could remember, I knew I could never leave him, “I want to be with you."

He smiles and takes my cheeks in his hands and looks at me with such intensity it's hard not to look away. He kisses my forehead and then both cheeks and lastly my nose, my heart monitor gives me away and he lets out a low chuckle, his warm breath fanning my cheeks. I let out a ragged breath that I was holding as he let my face go.

“I promise we will go at your pace, Isla." I smile at him. How did I get so lucky? “Now, are you hungry?”

“Ym starving," I say not realizing until he asked just how hungry I was. I guess I was getting my nutrients from a tube but that still didn't exactly satisfy me.

“What would you like? I'll have anything you want made.” He looks at me with such intensity again.

“Oh no, I don't want anyone to go to any trouble. Whatever is easiest, I'll take a sandwich or any leftovers from the last meal” He frowns.

“But what is your favorite food?”

“Um,” I actually have to think about that, “We had this one amazing lasagna one time, I remember that Abigail gave me he portion because I liked it so much” I smiled remembering.

His eyes light up, “I'll be back in a few minutes." I know I'm in a hospital bed but I really haven't been happier, I pick up a book absentmindedly and start reading.

He really is yummy

I laugh out loud

ves he is

We got lucky, but we deserve it

I hope you're right

I always am, baby cheeks.

ugh

jackson comes back in a few minutes with an assortment of bottled drinks and something that smells delicious. “What ar you in the mood to drink?” My eyes widen at the selection, “Are you sure we're allowed to have this? How did you get aw with stealing so many?” I didn’t want him to get in trouble on my account.

“Look at me," I look up, “I'm positive, choose whatever you like, take them all if you want.” I hesitate put open up a bottle orange juice downing half of it in one go, “That is delicious." I say it was the first time I could remember drinking orange juice. We were allowed coffee and water, maybe it was different here, that gave me hope.

“So they're working on the lasagna, homemade every step, no corners cut” He looks very serious, “It’s my mom's recipe a she is directing everyone in the kitchen.” He laughs. I am mortified. 1 didn't want anyone to go to any trouble and now his mom is making the other omegas change the dinner menu for her son's mate.

“Don’t worry, she’s happy to do it. But I made you my specialty” He comes to sit by me and lifts a napkin off a plate revealing two grilled cheese sandwiches without crusts, “The lasagna might take a while so I brought you something quic I take one eagerly and take a bite. It was warm, buttery, and gooey, everything I needed.

“This might be the best thing I've ever had.” 1 sigh.

“Ym glad.” He flashes me a perfect smile and comes and sits down next to me and he holds up his grilled cheese, “Cheers smile.

He seems so curious about me and asks me questions about my childhood and growing up in Silver Lake, about Abigail and my hobbies and interests.

'm embarrassed to say I don't have many hobbies as we didn’t get much time to do anything besides work. But I do love reading when I can and being outside as much as possible. He frowned when he heard that but kept on asking me questions the whole time holding his hand in mine rubbing the back with his thumb.

“Now is it my turn to get to know you?” 1 ask, “My life is pretty standard, pretty boring, I don’t have much to tell. I want to hear about you!"

“Ask away, I'm an open book." That second his eyes cloud over, “Well I'm an open book in a minute, let me get your food m'lady.”

He comes back in a few minutes with a massive tray and wheels a hospital bed table over me and balances the tray on it. On it was the biggest piece of steaming lasagna I've ever seen, and nothing smelled more divine. There was a little jar wit flowers on it, a side of garlic bread, and a large glass of ice water.

“Where's yours?” I ask, seeing only one plate. He pulls out a plastic container and a fork and shows them to me.

“Ym more than happy with this, but you've been deprived of the pleasure of eating for the past few days, I thought I woul make your first meal here memorable.”

“My first meal here was that grilled cheese, and it will be one I never forget” I remind him.

“I know you want to know about me but how about we turn something on? You look tired and 1 want you to be able to foc on refueling. I promise we will have all the time in the world to get to know each other.” I cant argue with that and I put a huge forkful of lasagna into my mouth, moaning slightly, Jackson lets out a low chuckle and it makes my stomach fill with butterflies.

“This has got to be the best thing I've ever tasted in my life.”

“I'll pass along the compliment to my mother,” He smiles, “Now what do you want to watch?”

“Um, honestly, I'm not sure. I haven't ever watched anything”

He looks at me, no stares at me, did I say something wrong?

“What do you mean?” His eyebrows pull together.

“We didn't have time after work anyways, and besides, no one had a tv. I heard in the basement someone had a radio though. I would usually read before bed if I had the energy but most days I was too tired." I shrug, “Are you guys allowed here?”

“Y-yes of course, everyone can watch.” He says, seeming to not comprehend what I was saying.

“I guess every packs different” 1 shrug.

“But what could you even have to do every day for that long?”

“We didn’t have too many omegas, well I guess I don't know what to compare it to, close to seventy? But most omegas haven't found their mates” Now his jaw is hanging wide open, “We pretty much stay in the packhouse so if someone's mz is from another pack, or sometimes in the pack but not ever in the packhouse they won't meet them. Naturally, the numbers are going to dwindle.” I explain, “Just normal packhouse duties but you've seen the place, itis pretty big” I shru picking up a piece of garlic bread. I look up to see him still looks at me, seeming angry now.

“Give me a second.” He mindlinks for a minute, and I'm happy enough to continue eating in silence, savoring every bite. “Okay, sorry about that, I'm back” He gives me a genuine smile.

“Everything okay?”

“It's perfect’