A Secret Alpha Mate

(Jackson)

“Is there even a way to fake those kinds of things? The doctor said it matched my DNA by almost 100%."

“Not naturally, no." He sighs, “But if she had help from someone used to bending the rules of nature, a dark witch perhap My eyes bulge, “ I can't imagine that"

“I honestly can't either, I told you it's a small percent, a very small percent, chance this is wrong. I just think that it couldr hurt”

“She's not stupid, dad, as much as she might play that she is, she is cunning. I can’t just ask her to take a blood sample without her knowing something is up.”

“Wait a few days and start pretending that you're on board. Move up your next appointment saying you want some more photos or Gianna does and then have the doctor draw blood at that appointment.”

“She won't let that happen.”

“Blood gets drawn for so many reasons during pregnancy, have the doctor come up with something. Check iron levels, I don't know.” He waves it off, I guess he has done this before.

“Okay, let's bring the good doctor in then” I shake my head, and my dad smiles.

I kept trying to say that I wouldn't get my hopes up, but this was the last time I promised myself.

(Jackson)

The doctor agreed immediately and agreed to keep his schedule open but wanted us to wait a few days. If there was something in her system that could change the DNA temporarily he wanted to make sure that it worked its way out. He sz he wasn't sure how long anything could last in her system and this was new territory for him too.

None of us knew what it was she could have taken or how it might have worked. There was no way to confirm that she toc anything either. It was a complete shot in the dark, and the fewer people that knew the better.

I told the doctor to take the night off and spend it with Abigail and Isla at his place, more importantly, to keep them ther was going to have Jennifer's parents over for dinner with mine. I needed her to trust me in the next few days and believe that we were going to all be a united front.

“You can't act too happy about this, more resigned.” My dad whispers to me as we walk down to the dining room later tha night.

“You're right, I might have a talk with her tomorrow and try to patch things up. Did you tell mom?”

He looks guilty.

“Well, that will make it more convincing” We're laughing as we walked through the dining room doors.

Lisa, Greg, Jennifer, and my mom are already sitting there. They look up when we enter the room, mistaking our smiles fo happiness about this situation. My mother looks relieved to see me put together.

“Well, its nice to have us all together again, now that we have that silly test behind us we can celebrate as a family," Lisa says as we sit down across the table from them.

“Of course, it's best to just move forward with this and make the best out of it” My dad agrees. I don't say anything, playi the indifferent father-to-be.

“I thought us two might be helpful getting the nursery together?” Greg turns to my dad, “Only a few months away and the little Alpha will be here. The ladies have it all designed already but there's a lot of furniture that they ordered that needs be put together”

My dad nods, “Sounds good, Greg. I think I can remember how to put together a crib but it's been a while.”

“We need to discuss the baby shower too,” Lisa adds excitedly, Jennifer looks at me surveying my reaction. I look at Lisa and nod, hoping to seem resigned.

“We can host it at the pack house, that would make the most sense.” My mother adds a bit quietly.

Lisa and Greg look at each other with smiles, happy that my family is finally accepting this baby and moving forward with the plans.

“Yes, I think that would be perfect, don't you Jenn?” Lisa turns to Jennifer,

“Of course! Thank you, Gianna, that sounds amazing. I want your help too to plan it since you weren't around to plan the nursery” She adds, a bit harshly.

“Well, we are here now.” My mom gives her a tight smile, “For this baby." She adds.

“It will be easier once we find out the gender but that's next week, so we can hold off on it until then,” jennifer adds. “Actually,” I say for the first time this evening, everyone at the table looks at me, “The doctor said that we could come in this week to try to find out the gender” I go back to my plate of food.

“Do you want to do that, Jackson?” Jennifer stares at me.

“Sure, might as well know as soon as possible.” I shrug, trying to seem nonchalant, “I'll have him set it up after dinner” Lisa squeals and grabs her daughter's hand, “I can't wait to see if we're going to have a little girl or boy! Isn't it so exciting Gianna?’

My mom smiles, “It will be nice to have a baby around here again.’

The rest of the dinner drags on, I add to the conversation when necessary but not saying more than I need to. My dad anc mom are agreeable, but nowhere near the enthusiasm of Greg and Lisa.

To my surprise, Jennifer seemed to have calmed down after the test. Her anger and confidence that she threw around beforehand is replaced with apprehension. She keeps looking at me, almost worried, studying my reaction to everything being said.

“Next time we will have to have you at our place,” Greg says standing up to shake mine and my father's hands.

“That would be great” My dad replies and I nod curtly.

Lisa pulls my mom aside to talk about the shower arrangements, I already hear talk of a balloon entrance, and renting liv flamingos. I really hope this baby isn't mine.

“Jackson?” Jennifer looks up at me, I didn't realize she came next to me.

“Hmm?”

“I think it makes sense if I move in the pack house,” She pauses before rambling on, “The appointments are going to be every week soon and I want to set up the nursery and get settled before they come, and of course it's going to be hard to waddle around, I would need meals prepared, it just makes more sense.’

I pretend to think it over.

“That does make sense,” Her eyes light up, “But can we hold off until next week?” She looks pissed, probably thinking I'm going to put this off forever, which I hope I can. I scramble for an excuse.

“I think my mom wants to paint all the rooms while we are having the nursery done and I don’t want you around the fumes.” She smiles at me and pats her stomach.

She takes my hands in hers and I try to pull away but then I realize that I was playing a part for the next few days. She places my hands on her stomach and smiles up at me.

I don't feel anything.

I don't either - Flint says

Are we supposed to?

I haven't had a kid before either, I have no f*****g idea.

Maybe it's because it's not our mates baby

I don't feel any connection to it though, at all

“What are you two talking about?” Jennifer eyes me, I take my hands away from her stomach.

“Flint is ready for pups, I guess. I've been holding out on him for too long.” She smiles and licks her lips, were they dry or she trying to be seductive?

“Well, you know, we can always have more.’ She shrugs, trying to sound nonchalant, “This kid will need some siblings. I sigh.

“Let me link the doctor while you're here.”

She's in. When should we come it?

It's been almost 48 hours since the first test, how about in two days just to be sure? 8AM again?

perfect

“Free two days from now?” I ask her, she nods. “Alright, 8 AM again to see if we can find out the gender” I give her a small smile and she returns it.

“Ym kinda nervous to find out the gender, are you?”

“It doesn't matter to me either way," I say honestly.

(1sla)

I haven't seen Jackson since the night of our date, the day after we all spent occupying ourselves in different ways.

The doctor came home that night and there were no results yet which made the waiting even worse, he didn't come hom at all the next day until that evening. Abigail and I shot up when we heard the door open.

“There has been a slight delay." He looks between us, “We're waiting on confirmation from the other lab."

“slight delay? What does that mean?” I had no idea if a delay would be good or bad.

“How much longer will it take?" Abigail adds,

“Hopefully no more than a few days, we might have to get it redone altogether” He says, and heads to his room, “I need t get changed, but I was going to order pizza tonight so decide on the toppings you want, the sky's the limit for my girls” H gives us a shaky smile and rushes to his bedroom.

“I thought he said he would know today.” I mutter, “I can't do any more of this waiting."

“I did too," Abigail puts her hand on mine and gives me a small smile, “I'm sure we will be the first to know.”

The pizza was amazing, we ordered it from someone in the town that started their own pizza place a few years back and i was the best thing ever.

I knew that the doctor was doing everything in his power to keep my mind off of it and I was grateful but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I trusted the doctor but I knew that he had to submit to Jackson's authority.

I didn’t want to think about it too much. My eyes were getting heavy, not sleeping last night and then the emotions of toc had caught up to me.

“Do you want to lay by the fire for a little?” Abigail asks.

“Maybe just a minute, and then I'll head back” I laid down on the couch and Abigail covered me with a soft blanket, I fell asleep to the sound of the fire crackling and Abigail and the doctors loving chatter.

(Jackson)

Two more days, I could pull that off, I could get through that. Tomorrow morning was the doctor's appointment and then would find out tomorrow or the next day. Two days of trying to keep Isla in the dark, two days of pretending to be civil wi Jennifer.

She already agreed to the earlier appointment so I didn't see a need to go out of my way to talk to her today. I would see her at the appointment, play my role, and be friendly tomorrow so that she wouldn't suspect anything.

I kept trying to tell myself this was a long shot, that there was no way Jennifer someone got someone to help her alter science, that the visit from the random guy was really a family visit and maybe they had a fight.

All of that made more sense than her getting in contact with a witch. My emotions have been all over the place the past f weeks. There was constantly a shiny glimmer of hope but the closer I got to it, as soon as I tried to grab it, it turned to as in my hand.

I'm focused on work today, I've been behind with everything and I also needed to meet with Cam to talk over a new traini schedule and approve his new patrol ideas.

it takes my mind off of everything for a minute, I didn't realize how much I put off and I spent a few hours burying myself work. No matter what was going on in my personal life, I was an Alpha first, that's what my dad always told me, but he never had to worry about losing his Luna.

A knock came at my door and the door was flung open before I could respond, in typical Jennifer fashion. I took one last look at the papers in my hand and plastered on a small smile.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“You don't have to be so cold, we are having a baby." She plops herself on a chair across from me, dangling her legs acros one of the chairs arms.

I raise an eyebrow at her, hoping it looked like 1 was flirting. I never had to try to flirt before, and I don't think I was any good at it now.

“I wanted to show you some designs, you said you were painting soon and I wanted to make sure you got the color right. Also, I had some ideas for the rest of the rooms on this floor”

“Jennifer I-"

“I know,” She waves her hand, “Your mom has probably already chosen the colors, but I'm here now, and I'm the one that going to be living on this floor. You don't need to default to her, uh, taste.” She looks around my office in disgust, “Anymor you have me for that” She smiles and pulls herself up plopping a binder on my desk.

“I already have some ideas, of course, but I wanted to make sure you loved them too, because you're living here as well.” She opens her eyes wide at me, I really don't understand what she thinks she’s doing.

“Uh, okay, I'll take a look at them after I get done with this." I pick back up some papers and a pen, indicating the conversation was over.

She sits on the edge of my desk, “What are you working on?” She asks kicking her legs off my desk. I flinch at each tap of her foot.

“Just some pack stuff I've been meaning to catch up on." I don't look up.

“You know, I can help you with that now.” 1 look up at her, “I know, you don't want to take a mate or whatever but you shouldn't have to do this all alone." I did want a mate, my mate, not anyone else.

I have to restrain myself from saying what I wanted to, I take a long breathe pretending to read something complicated. “That would be nice." I finally get out.

“Good.” She claps her hand and goes to stand behind me, “What can I do?”

“Jennifer,” I turn to face her, “As much as I appreciate the offer, how about you take it slow until the pregnancy is over, the you can help as much as you'd like. Your job now is to cook your, er, our, baby." I catch myself.

She gives me a wide smile, “You are going to be a great father, I'm glad you finally came around.” She places a hand on m cheek and it felt cold, not like the warmth and sparks I get every time Isla touches me.

“Now, g0 get some rest, we have an early morning tomorrow.” She nods walks out, pausing at the door.

“Get back to me with the paint approval tonight, I starred my favorites, of course, we have to wait until tomorrow to decic to nursery color, but then we can have them start painting in the afternoon so I can move in in a few days."

I muster a smile, I hope it looked like a smile, at least, “Vl get it done as soon as I sign these papers.’

She beams and slams the door behind her making me flinch. I think I appeased her for today.

One more day.