A Secret Alpha Mate

(Jackson)

I wake up early again, I can't help the slight feeling of excitement that is accompanied by my now daily morning stress.

I missed sla but I really couldn't risk anything until after this appointment and the results were back.

The doctor said that he has been entertaining her there as much as possible. Today I told him to try to convince the girls walk to our little town area and do some shopping and grab lunch. I gave the doctor an envelope of money that he kept refusing but I demanded that he took to give to them for the outing.

If 1 could distract her just for today and keep her out of Jennifer's way, everything would go smoothly.

I felt bad having the doctor lie to them, but it was more of a white lie. He told them that the tests had to be re-done because something that was wrong with the vial they collected the blood in, I don't know what he told them exactly but I assured me he made sure it sounded official and confusing.

That bought us a few more days when they thought we were re-doing the test. I knew Isla would understand and forgive i when this was over and I could explain it to her one way or another.

I have been missing training more this past two months than I ever had before and I was definitely feeling out of shape. I decided to go for a morning run in human form and get a quick workout in to try to settle my mind.

After my cold shower, I still had half an hour left before I had to be at the appointment, I hope Jennifer wouldn't be late c sleep in.

Ready for today? - I mindlinked her

Of course, just finishing up some breakfast. My mom insists I eat a huge breakfast every morning, I can't wait until she’s n breathing down my neck anymore.

That will all be over soon

Lying to her over mindlink was a lot easier than doing it in person I found out.

Ill head over as soon as 'm done, meet me out front?

Sure, see you in a bit.

I just wanted to check that she was awake not accompanying her through the packhouse.

Luckily, most people were training until eight anyways and the omegas would be in the kitchen preparing food or starting their work.

I wait for her at the front door for what seemed like ages, until she comes waddling up, she was showing but it was obvio that she was pushing out her stomach more for the attention.

She smiled when she saw me and grabbed my arm for support, I let her take it and walked her through the packhouse to the clinic.

Dr. Lockheart was waiting for us at the front when we arrived.

“Hello you two, how are we feeling, Jennifer?” He asks her as he shows us back to a room.

“Fat, gross, and tired.” She complains as I help her up on the bench.

I see the doctor roll his eyes before turning around to her with a huge smile, “That will be over before you know it. Believ it or not, you're almost halfway there

“It can't come soon enough.” He smiles at her again but it doesn't reach his eyes.

He pulls out his clipboard and looks at the papers, “Perfect, everything is looking good so far, we are going to see if we cz check the gender today, and we need to take a quick blood sample to check your iron levels,” he throws in quickly and keeps talking, “Even if we can't see the gender for some reason you'll still get some pictures, your baby will start looking like a baby now.” She stiffens next to me when she mentions the blood.

“I just had my blood drawn.” She protests.

“That was for the DNA sample, a completely different thing. This one won't be as much, just a tiny bit to check your iron levels, the last time for a few weeks, and then again next month to check to make sure you haven't developed any prenat diabetes. Not so common in werewolves but we have seen a few cases so we like to check to make sure. Especially with a ranked baby." She calms down at this explanation and reaches for my hand which I gladly take, anything to distract her. He pulls out his wand and rubs that clear goo on her stomach again and this time something less of a bean and more of baby flashes across the screen. I was amazed at how fast everything was taking shape, but she was almost two months nc and only have three more months to go.

it still didn't look like much to me and I couldn't see when he pointed out the hand and the foot, but it wasn't a bean anymore.

“So, mom and dad, would you like to know the gender or wait?” Jennifer squeezes my hand.

“Can you write it down please?” She turns to me, “We can read it after just the two of us I smile and nod at her, great mo time together.

He prints out some photos and writes down the gender on a sheet of paper and folds them in an envelope.

“Now the less fun part. Alpha, you can stay there holding her hand, just help me get her sitting please.”

The doctor starts getting his equipment ready to draw her blood and I can feel her tense up, she’s about to say somethin I know I need to distract her,

“Have you thought of any names you like?” I ask.

“Uh, well, yes actually but I wanted to see what you thought. I guess it will be easier to narrow down in an hour or so." Sh laughs a bit and I join in.

“I haven't really thought of many myself’ I try to keep her eyes on me, “I always liked more traditional names."

She rolls her eyes, “I knew you would say that.”

“You are the mother, so you get the final say” She smiles widely at me when I say that.

“Well, that's all for today then." The doctor says, “I'll see you in two weeks, Jennifer” He says to her, “And Alpha.” He quick adds.

“Let's go find out the gender” She takes my hand and leads me out. I nervously look around not wanting to see anyone. “Do you want to go to my office?” 1 ask, hoping she would say yes.

“Actually, I'm in the mood for a walk. Doctors orders that I get as much exercise as possible.” She rubs her belly.

I try to think of a way to release my hand from hers.

“I'll meet you out back, how about I grab us something warm to drink?” She nods enthusiastically.

I pour some coffee in a to-go cup for me and quickly make her some tea, I just want to get this over with and spend the d avoiding everyone until the results came back.

{find her standing outside twirling one of her curls around her finger.

“Here you go” I had her a cup and take mine in both hands, starting to walk so she can't take mine again. We take a short walk around the garden that feels like it's taking hours.

We come to a bench, “Would you like to sit for a second?” I ask her.

I help her take a seat and sit next to her. I pull the envelope from my pocket, really not caring less about her baby’s gend “Do you want to open it?” I hand it to her and she hesitates.

“Let's do it together” How the f**k are we supposed to open an envelope together.

We both take a side of it and rip it open. That was uneventful. We still had to open up the piece of paper.

“Okay,’ She takes a deep breath, “Let's see what the Alpha baby’s gender is."

“You do the honors!” I smile down at her.

She opens up the paper.

“It's a boy!” She squeals and bounces up and down.

“Ym carrying the next Alpha of Moonstone in here.” She rubs her belly and smiles down, the first affection I've seen her shown for the bump. She looks up at me and plasters a wide smile on my face and places a hand on her stomach.

“I can't wait.” For this walk to be over.

(1sla)

I woke up deciding that I needed to talk to Jackson, figure out what was going on with the test. I wanted to give him his space but he usually would come from a run or spend his evenings at the doctor's house, and I haven't seen him in days. I was starting to get worried about him.

Just a quick conversation to see where the paternity test was at and then I would feel better. I could relax a bit after that. just had to make sure nothing was wrong.

Abigail knocks on my door, “Do you want to go for a walk with me? I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Sure, is everything okay?” I'm worried now,

“Yeah, of course, just discussing options for the future.” She smiles. I grab a jacket and we head out back through the gardens. She doesn't start talking until we reach a forest path.

“So, I don't want to bring this up, I know it's a touchy subject but if; She stops walking and turns to me, “If, the paternity test comes back and Jackson is the dad.” My heart starts thumping

“What do you know?"

“Oh, no, nothing.” Abigail looks flustered, “Yet. I know just as much as you do. I just wanted to know if you still planned to uh, leave”

“Yes,” I look away knowing it would be hard for her when I left too, “I just don't think that I can bear it. Being here but not being allowed to officially be with him, watching him raise someone else's kid that hates me." I know that was selfish, “Sh wouldn't even let me near him, I would drive a wedge between him and his child and I couldn't bear that. It's not fair to t pack.”

“I understand, and I support you completely.”

I look back up at her, “You do?” 1 whisper.

“But I don't want you to go alone.” I'm confused, what other option is there?

“What do you mean? You can't come with me, you found your mate here.’

“I've talked to Jim a few times and we both agree that we don't want you to leave on your own. Whatever pack you choos: and I'm sure Jackson would help you get set up.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it” I start walking again,

“And we would follow you." I freeze.

“No, you couldn't”

“We already discussed it, Jim's been here his whole life he’s ready to try something new. Now that we found each other tr pack doesn't matter as long as we're together” I smile at her, I'm so glad that she found him.

“That is a lot to ask," I say, I couldn’t have them uprooting their lives for me.

“You're not asking, we already decided. If you leave, and if you'll let us. We want to come with you.” Tears well up in my ey and I start walking again not sure what to say. I reach out and grab her arm and we walk in comfortable silence.

I can't say I wasn't happy, the thought of not only losing Jackson but losing Abigail would have crushed me completely. If they were willing to relocate, if they actually wanted to relocate, I would welcome them.

it gave me a bit of hope that when I had to leave everything might be okay in the future.

we walked until the trail split in two, one heading deeper in the forest and one heading back to the packhouse.

“Jim set an envelope of money for us on the table to go into the pack's town area.”

“That is generous of him."

“He wanted us to have a day out to ourselves, shopping, eating, whatever. I know it's not much, but I thought it would be nice. Do you want to head back now?”

“Actually, I might continue walking for a little bit." It was still early morning and I was enjoying this, besides, after shoppir we would have an open afternoon and that did nothing to distract me.

“Are you okay if I head back? I wanted to pop into Jim on his break.”

“Of course not, you do that and I'll meet you after. It will be perfect timing." She smiles at me and turns to head down the path leading back to the pack.

I continue my walk, focusing on everything around me. The leaves were mostly orange and red now, falling easily in the wind. They swirled as they fell, coating the dirt path with their vibrance.

it was cold out now, but with my jacket, I didn't feel it. I breathed in the crisp fall air and it invigorated me. I wasn't sure how far I walked but I started to hear voices, I must be close to the end of the trail, close to the packhouse.

“Would you like to sit for a second?” I hear a voice that reminds me of Jackson, I needed to talk to him today, I decided I would find him after my day out with Abigail.

I get closer to the voices, close enough that I can make out two figures between the sparse trees, settling themselves on bench. The man looks doting, helping the woman sit down and making sure she was comfortable.

I sighed, I wanted that, I wish it could be that easy for me and my mate.

I take a steadying breath, I needed to stop with the self-deprecating bullshit. I made my decision and nothing will change the outcome, I needed to stop dwelling on it.

“Do you want to open it?” The woman speaks sounding oddly familiar, I see her tug on a perfect curl.

That couldn't be Jennifer? Could it? Who was she out here with, maybe she was up to something.

I take a few steps forward quietly, overcome with curiosity.

“Let's do it together” The man says. Jackson says. My heart drops.

They rip open something, I can't see what.

“Let's see what the Alpha baby's gender is.”

I couldn't breathe. He knew the baby was his. He accepted that it was his. I stumbled onto an intimate gender reveal.

Is that why he has been avoiding me? He wasn't sure what to tell me that he found out and accepted the baby and, by th looks of it, Jennifer too?

“It's a boy!” She squeals, “Ym carrying the next Alpha of Moonstone in here.”

A baby boy. The next Alpha of Moon Stone. She's having Jackson's baby. My mate's baby.

jackson places a hand lovingly on her stomach and they smile at each other.

I fall to the forest floor and can't help the bile that rises from my stomach.