A Secret Alpha Mate

(1sla)

I hear Jackson's voice on the other side of the door. As much as I wanted to go to him wanted him to comfort me, I know that he couldn't. I would have to talk to him eventually but I'm not sure when that would be. I couldn't face anyone right now. I drifted off back to unconsciousness, falling into a dreamless sleep.

When 1 wake back up the room is dark. I try to close my eyes again but sleep won't take over again. I sigh and slowly unct myself, my limbs are tight, and fight against the sudden movement they haven't had in a day. I try to shake out my muscl and lay on the bed staring at the dark ceiling not having any desire to get up or do anything.

Adrastea, what do we do now

I don't know, Isla, I really don't.

I could feel her pain in my head too, knowing that she just lost her mate too.

I felt like I was going to cry but to my surprise, I didn’t have any tears left in me.

Isla, Isla? Abigail's voice sounds in my head

Hi

Oh Isla, are you okay? I've been trying to reach you all-day

sorry

Are you okay? Want me to come to you

(ll come down, give me a few minutes.

I didn’t want to explain it to anyone and relive the memory of last night just yet, but I couldn't lay in this bed all night alone with my own thoughts. I slowly crawled out of bed and listened to the other side of the door, I didn’t want to run in anyone.

As soon as I knew the coast was clear I opened to door and almost tripped over something. I looked down to see a breakfast, lunch, and dinner tray all laid out in front of my door with Jackson's signature flower vase. The sight broke my heart and made my chest hurt. I stepped over them and headed to the elevator, not wanting to risk running into anyone the stairs.

The elevator dinged loudly and it made my heart race.

I held my breath but no one came. I got in the elevator and let out my breath only when the doors closed and we were ascending to Abigail's floor.

I stood outside her door for a minute debating on if I wanted to knock or if I should just go back upstairs when the door opened. Abigail surveyed me, in last night's clothes, makeup I forgot I was wearing smeared down my face, puffy eyes, an tangled hair and pulled me into the tightest hug.

“Oh, sweet girl!" She murmurs, “You don't have to say anything, feel free to talk when you're ready” I nodded into her shoulder.

“Let me get a bath started for you and get you cleaned up and in new pajamas, Lucas filled the closet with about ten pair Abigail gives a little chuckle but there is no humor in it. She leads me to the sofa and wraps me in a blanket and goes to the bath started.

“I know you're probably not hungry but I want you to try to eat something, and drink as much water as you can. It will hel you feel better.” I nod. “Are you okay in the bath alone? I'l go down and get you some food” I nod again, thankful that Abigail wasn't going to make me talk about it.

After the bath and I was in fresh clothes I had to admit I did feel a bit better. Abigail and I sat in silence as I nibbled on th sandwich she made me, she watched me closely until I drank an entire glass of water, and then she seemed satisfied to return to her food.

We crawl into bed but I'm not tired, as much as 1 still wanted to be alone, Abigail's presence comforts me.

“We're going to figure this out, Isla, I promise. Whatever happens, I'm here.” She squeezes my hand before she drifts off tc sleep.

I see the soft light of daylight stream through the curtains before I finally fall into a restless sleep.

(1sla)

I feel someone softly push the hair out of my face. I wake up smiling hoping to see Jackson. Abigail's face comes into vie and then everything hits me again. It was nice to forget for those few seconds.

“Sweetie, you need to eat, I brought you up some food.” She says gently. I sat up, I would have to get out of this funk eventually, lying around wasn't going to solve anything. “Jackson has come down twice already wanting to talk to you. I sigh.

I would have to talk to him eventually. He wasn't doing this on purpose, but that didn't make it hurt any less. I pick at the fruit bowl that Abigail set in front of me, not wanting to actually have to face anything, maybe I could drag this meal out f another few hours.

“I know what you're doing” Abigail eyes me, “The sooner you talk to him the sooner that will be over. Then you can come down here again and we can watch something and have a girl's night like we've never had before” I smile a bit at that, something to look forward to, even if 1 did lose Jackson I wouldn't lose everything.

I pull myself out of bed and shower, Abigail pulls a suitcase out, “Gianna packed some of your things for you 50 you woul be more comfortable down here” I pull out some clothes not even noticing what I'm putting on.

“I guess I should go try to find him.”

“He said he would be in his office if you were ready to talk”

I take the stairs, still not ready for this conversation, at this point, I could hold on to a shred of hope, the last little bit th was us. Even to myself, I sounded dramatic, we've known each other for a week, but in that week my entire life changed. The mate bond did crazy things and I couldn't imagine living without him, or the pain that rejection would cause both of us.

I pushed that thought away, I would deal with that later if and when 1 had to.

Sooner than I wanted I reached his floor. I paused outside the door, I could faintly smell pine after rain and cloves and I breathed in trying to calm myself and work up the nerve to knock. The door rushed open and his scent hit me, not smelli it for almost two days it was like the first time again.

I felt charged but calmer than I felt since I found out about Jennifer's baby, his baby.

He pulls me into a tight hug, and I let him hold me, not knowing if this would be the last time.

(Jackson)

I catch a soft whiff of cinnamon and vanilla, did I fall asleep again? I rub my face and pull myself out of my office chair, th faint scent getting stronger, this is real.

I rush to the door and open it, the most beautiful sight is standing in front of me, even with her eyes puffy and red, she u the most breathtaking thing I've ever seen.

I pulled her into a tight hug and held her there as long as she would let me, inhaling her scent, feeling all the stress and anxiety wash away.

“I think we should talk” She murmurs into my chest, I pull her into my lap on the sofa and she shakes her head, “Separat chairs” That hurt.

I get up from the sofa and pull a chair across from her so she doesn't have to move.

“So.” She starts but doesn't continue, the tension in the room palpable.

“50, it does look like she is pregnant.” The sadness that overcame her face broke me, “I'm getting a paternity test as soon as possible, there's a chance it's not mine."

“But there's a chance that it is!” She states, not a question. I nod. She looks at me and tears start brimming out of her eye “Isla,” 1 can't help but get off my chair and kneel in front of her taking her hands in mine, “I will not let this come betweer us” She looks confused, “I will choose you over anything, over this pack, over being Alpha. I won't lose you."

She shakes her head and tries to talk, it takes her a few times, “If the baby is yours you can't just leave him or her”

“We can make it work”

“How? I don’t want to be your mistress, I won't get in the middle of anything”

“You're not the one that's getting in the middle of anything, the baby is."

“It's not the baby’s fault.” She whispers. I knew she was right. “You can't blame the baby, you can't blame Jennifer, this wa a mistake, yes, but, but” She takes a deep breath to steady her voice before continuing, “But this is the outcome of your actions, as much as it sucks, I won't take a father away from their child, it's not fair” I sigh, she was right again.

“Okay, so that takes us leaving the pack off the table, but there are still options.” She looks up at me with tear-stained ey “How? I don't think theres an option. What comes next? I become Luna while Jennifer has your heir? Or she becomes Lun and I'm in the background. Or no one becomes Luna and we're just all in f*****g limbo." She throws her hands up, getting more and more hysterical.

“Breathe baby.” She looks away from me, tears streaming down her face. It hurt me that this hurt her so much.

“We can stay here and I can give up my title, then I can be with you." I hold her chin in my hands, “All that matters is you and me.’

“I wish that were the case, but you have an entire pack to look after and now possibly a child. It's not just about me and you, and you know it

“Isla, I can't lose you." I feel tears I've been holding back for days spill out, she wipes them away with her finger.

“If we were all omegas this might be different, we might be able to make it work, but you are an Alpha of a pack and you took an oath to them.” I wish for once she wasn't so mature and would just promise to run away with me and put everything behind me.

“Can you please come back up to our room?” She shakes her head,

“I can't risk getting closer to you if-if” I nod.

“So, now what?”

“Now we wait,” She gives me a sad smile, “Even though I don't think there's much of a chance I'll stay just in case.” I sigh, “And try not to take it out on Jennifer, it isn't her fault either” That one would be harder. She was right though I was actin like an immature a*s. My thoughts clouded over by Isla and I wasn't thinking about anything else.

There is a possibility it is my baby and if that's the case it's not the baby’s or Jennifer's fault. It was both of ours. How cou this happen? I was so careful.

“You can have our room.”

“No. There was such finality in her voice I wouldn't question.

“I'll get you a separate room set up then and some of your stuff moved.” 1 say, “Temporarily.” I add.

“One on the second floor please.” She looks down at her hands.

I didn’t want her so far but I'm glad she was staying until we found out at least, that would give me enough time to figure out another solution or a loophole in this Alpha rule.

“/ll set up the one across from Abigails.” I mindlink Lucas to have it set up. “It should be ready and your stuff there in a fe hours.” She nods and stands up.

“Can't we hang out? Maybe watch a movie." I plead,

“Ym not sure if I can handle it honestly, maybe another time, but right now I just, I just, can’t”

“Okay, how about I get Lucas to set up a movie in your theater for you and Abigail tonight then, I bet she would love Shre too.” This earns me the first real smile from Isla this entire conversation. That was enough for me if I could distract her ev for a few hours to make her forget all this pain.

“ll have it set up and ready to go in an hour, when the movie is done Lucas will show you to your room.” She turns to leave.

“Wait She turns around, “One last thing, I meant to give this to you the other day before, uh, you joined the pack” I slide box across the table to her and she holds it hesitantly.

“I promise it won't hurt you!” I try to laugh.

She opens it, “It's an iPhone, already programmed with everyone's numbers. Just in case you need any of us.”

“Thank you, I can't accept-"

“Yes, you can. Enjoy the movie, text me if you need anything, I will always be here for you I hope she can hear the promi in my voice.

She turns and closes the door behind her. I would figure this out. Even though the conversation didn't go as well as I hop I let out the first real breath in the past few days.

(Unknown POV)

“What are the next steps then?” I demand.

“You knew this would happen.”

“Yes, but I need to make sure. There can be no chance that this goes wrong or backfires. Ever. This has to be bulletproof.’ “I told you, I would take care of it. Everything will be ready when you need it. The only thing you have to do is get a sampl of the DNA

“I can do that, no problem.”

“So then stop your worrying, everything will work out and then we can finally be together again.’

I sigh, “Yes. Thank you." add.

“Goodbye, Mate."

“I rejected you, remember? You're not my mate anymore.”

He hangs up. f**k. I need to keep my temper under control until I didn't need him anymore, at least.

I would have to f**k him to make up for it, make him believe that I wanted him again. I rolled my eyes, the effort.

A small price to pay.