A Secret Alpha Mate

(Jackson)

Cam, Lucas and I stare at each other.

“Well. Shit.” My dad says after a moment of silence, “Is there anything else you boys needed?”

“Has Elder John arrived back with you?" I ask after composing myself.

“He arrived last night.”

“He needs to be in on this then, I'm assuming he will know how to report this, this is beyond us now. I think it goes witho saying but Valoria can't be released, even in their care.” She screams in the background, I guess we're still on speaker.

I continue, ignoring the interruption,” She's an accomplice to the murder of multiple pack members and possibly the previous Alpha and Luna. I'll want you to talk to her again tomorrow about what she knows that Benjamin did, how he to over the pack, if she does know. But we have enough to deal with right now." I sigh, not even knowing where to begin witt all this, “Thanks, Dad."

“Anytime, Son. I'll inform Elder John immediately.” He hangs up.

“cam will you inform the trackers what we found out? Il call the Elder back that I spoke with earlier. I say we take the warrior off the table, unstrap him.” Cam immediately walks away and I leave a message for the Elder, I'm sure Elder john would notify everyone this evening. Even though this happened years ago it was too big to ignore for another minute. cam comes back after a few minutes, “Alright, that done, they will inform the Elder's they were in contact with too. Now, about that warrior.”

“I don't think we should all do it at the same time, in case something happens we can't lose the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Lucas says, making a point.

“Let me grab two of my men. I'll do it” Cam says, Lucas and I look between each other.

“What do you think is going to happen when we break the spell?” He asks.

“That sounds like some Disney shit.” I laugh, “But I have no idea, people will remember who their true Alpha is?”

“l wonder how long that will take.” Lucas kicks some dirt around.

“I have no idea, I don't think even Valoria does, this spell obviously wasn't supposed to ever end.”

cam comes rushing back followed by two warriors, “If you don't mind, Alpha. My men and I will unhook the warrior. The doctor has already been notified and is ready for us.”

“Cam, are you sure? This could be dangerous.’

“'m sure, you're my Alpha, and you have a mate. I'm sure everything will be fine but I would rather take the risk”

“Thank you"

Lucas and I wait outside a few steps away from the hut, collectively holding our breaths, not even bothering to make sma talk.

I don't know what I was waiting for, something horribly wrong to happen. Maybe an explosion or something. After a long five minutes, Cam comes out supporting the warrior from the table.

He can barely open his eyes, let alone walk.

“Take him to the clinic immediately, the doctor is ready for him. Try not to be seen until we can explain this to everyone” Cam instructs.

“Now what?” Lucas says,

“We wait, I'm not sure what to do with the previous Alpha and Luna. They should be buried, but I don't want to touch anything in the tank. I got a close look, they seemed pretty well preserved but there's no way they are alive, there were large wounds on both of them. My guess is that they were preserved almost immediately after they died” Cam says, “Let's head back to the packhouse, we've all been gone for too long." I say, this was a lot more than I was prepared to dea with on my first day at Silver Moon.

“If it's okay with you, Alpha. I was going to wrap up here. I want to re-assign shifts so that this place isn't left unguarded.” “Thats perfect. Thanks, Cam." I turn back, “Please try to get some rest yourself” He nods, and turns back to go talk to the others.

“l wonder if anyone has remembered anything.” Lucas says as we take our time walking back towards the packhouse, “Would it just hit them all at once or would it be a more gradual thing?”

I shake my head, “I guess we're going to find out”

The barbecue is winding down, some of the omegas have already started to clean and there are just a few straggles left, finishing their drinks.

Isla comes out of the kitchen carrying a trash bag, Bryce following right behind her.

“Hi, Jackson.” She smiles and rushes up to me, placing her hands around my waist pulling back to look at my face, “Is everything okay?” I take a deep breath of her cinnamon and vanilla scent, letting it calm me, temporarily erasing the stre: and confusion of what just saw.

“I think everything will be okay. I'l explain it all to you when we're alone” She nods.

“'m going to help them clean up and then I'll be up.” Her eyes shift to the ground, “We don't have to sleep in Alpha Benjamin's room, right?” She asks me.

“Of course not, there are a few spare guest rooms on his floor. Lucas and Cam are staying with us up there too” She nods, satisfied.

Have your men checked the packhouse? ~ 1 link Bryce

As soon as Cam told me that there wasn't any trace of him in the village, I had them check every room. Twice.

I nod. It would have been stupid for him to stay around, but he wasn't always known for making rash decisions.

Have you had a chance to check the rest of the grounds?

He shakes his head.

We only checked the inside of the packhouse and the near vicinity, as well as running our regular patrols.

I doubt he's still here, we just can't be too sure.

Don't worty, we will be patrolling all night on shifts. We can have someone assigned to your floor, as well

That won't be necessary. Lucas and Cam will be there. Thank you.

Bryce nods, “Alright, Luna, let me carry that bag for you and we can get finished down here.”

I mouth “thank you’ to him as I head up to one of the guest rooms to grab a shower. I thought about calling my dad but w already had already annoyed him enough tonight.

I checked my watch seeing it was a little past midnight, I would let him get his sleep.

I needed to try to sleep, as well. Tomorrow we had people coming in to try to open the lock and to hack into Benjamin's computer. We needed access to the pack funds, if he hadn't managed to run everything into the ground.

This place was in far worse condition than I could even imagine, it was going to take a lot longer to get it back to a functioning pack, but I was up for the challenge. I had to be.

I linked Lucas and Cam to let them know that their rooms were ready and where they were staying, something told me th cam wasn’t going to be staying here tonight.

After my shower Isla linked me that she was done and I went to meet her to walk her up.

“What are we going to do with all of their stuff?” She asks, one more thing I hadn't thought about.

“I have no idea, donate it? Or maybe we can give the nice Stuff to the omegas since they will need to fill their new closets She smiles at me,

“I love that idea" I fight to stay awake as she showers until she joins me in bed, I didn't realize how tired I was until I was laying down. She curls up next to me and I fall asleep within minutes, having her small warm body in my arms, breathing her scent.

(1sla)

I sit up with a start. The sky was gray outside the window, but it was just black. Of course it was just black, that's how sunrises work. My parents were both sick, a sickness that didn't go away in a few day or hours like it usually did.

We took a walk outside to sit by the lake, our favorite spot.

My dad's arms encircle both my mom and 1 as he pointed out constellations that I already knew.

But it was light out the window, there was no way I could see the stars.

Confused I grab my head, and shake it. This was a dream, right?

The smell of the earth, the soft lapping of the lake on the shore, the cool breeze in my face.

I was warm with my parents, the changing seasons couldn't get to me.

I let myself fall back into this wonderful dream. I was happy, content, and loved.

The sound of someone walking up to us, muted by the damp leaves of the morning storm.

My parents don't look back, they don't look concerned, but I feel the hair on my arms rise as the footsteps stop. Somethi felt off, these weren't just normal patrols.

“Alpha?” A man came out that seemed familiar, he. He grinned widely at my parents.

My dad looks behind him and then helps me and my mother stand, “Is everything okay?” He asks wearily, I can't read his voice.

“It will be." The scary man takes a step forward, my dad stands in front of me and mom, protecting me and his mate. Something was wrong.

“What is this? What's wrong?” My dad looked around as ten men step from the forest behind him.

“No use linking your Beta or Gamma, they're already gone.” He laughs, gone. What did that mean? We just saw them at dinner, they wouldn't have left at night.

I tugged at my dad's shirt, “Daddy, I'm scared.”

“It's okay honey” He says to me, not taking his eyes off the man in front of him. My mom puts her arms around me and wraps me tight.

A coldness washes over me, my body clammy with fear, the first thick drops of rain make their way down.

“No use dragging this out then.” The scary man says, “Now!” He yells.

Everything happens at once. Ten men shift into wolves, my dad yells at us to run before he shifts in midair, meeting them couldn't move, I couldn't tear my eyes away. Someone had to come help us. Why wasn't anyone coming to help us?

My mom grabs me into her arms and pushes my head against her chest, running, the sound of her unsteady breathing no able to cover up the howls of pain, that I knew had to be coming from my dad.

The sound of clamping teeth, one last sad wail and everything was silent. My mom fell to her feet clutching at her heart. Vells of men changed back to human form, asking where my mom and I were. We didn't make it that far.

“Mom? Where is Dad?" I ask her, tears silently stream down her face, her features distorted in pain, “Mommy it will be oka he will come for us.”

“Oh, Isla." She kisses my cheek with such ferocity it almost hurt, she takes off something her neck and fastens it around mine, her necklace I always loved playing with in her arms.

Sounds of soft footsteps come, she kisses me again.

“Go run and hide. Do not come back here, you need to find another pack. Head towards the mountains, you'll find help there, don't tell them your name or who you are”

“But Mommy, I want to come with you.” I begged her, I can't leave.

I've never been alone before. There were bad things out there in the night. Mommy and Daddy told me not to stray in the forest when the sun went away and I was afraid to do it now.

“Please, my love. Stay safe. Your Dad and I love you so much.” She releases my hand and turns away.

I felt more alone than I ever had before. I didn’t want to go too far, I needed Mommy and Daddy to be able to find me. The rain picks up, soaking my clothes, “Mom? Dad?” I call out softly, the rain drowning my voice. It was cold and windy. My insides hurt and I didn’t know why. I was scared and confused and I didn't know what to do.

Which way were the mountains? I just wanted to be back in my bed. My Daddy built me a new one this week and Mommy painted little pink flowers on it. I wanted them to come read me a story and tuck me in so I could be warm.

I tried to stand but I didn’t know where to go. I started running but I couldn't see, my lungs were burning and my chest hurt.

No matter what I couldn't get enough breath. I stumbled and fell. I heard voices, shouts around the packhouse. Could I gc to them? Did I have to run from everyone or just those bad men?

I saw a bright light, flames lapping up the night sky, fighting against the rain. I was going the wrong way, that was where t omega's lived.

I was supposed to be leaving. I trip on something and fall to my knees, hitting my head on something sharp as my hands failed to catch me in time.

I try to stand up and when I see what I fell over I scramble back. My stomach churns, I think I'm going to throw up.

I curl into a ball, not looking. If I shut my eyes maybe it wasn't real. It was all a bad dream. This wasn't real.

The smell of blood was everywhere. Was it mine? Was it theirs? I've never been so cold, my insides felt like ice. My body w shivering, nothing mattered, it didn’t matter if I made it to the mountains because my parents couldn't come find me. The were laying right there in pools of their own blood.

I was frozen, I couldn't look down, I know what I would see, but I couldn't leave them either.

I couldn't leave them.

“There you are.” The scary man's eyes, Alpha Benjamin's eyes look at me.

Every alarm is going off in my body, telling me to run, telling me I had to get away but I couldn't move.

Why couldn't I move?

A light flashes across my eyes, “We found a girl here! Might have been with one of the rogues.” I hear a voice in the distance, it sounded like one of our warriors. Was everyone bad?

The flashlight dances across the trees behind me. Alpha Benjamin's face turns to panic as he looks down at my parents bodies.

Something hits my head, a dull pain, and I drift in and out of consciousness, barely registering that I'm being carried. Lig! flashes across my eyes.

I wake up on a cold table, someone taking off Mommy's necklace, “It will be okay sweetheart, I'l take care of you." Someone says.

“Is she hurt?” A new voice says

“Just a scratch, nothing deep.’ I don't want to be awake, I try to grasp onto the darkness, where I couldn't feel anything, pain in my chest ripping through me, searing pain I've never felt anything close to before.

“Did they put out the fire?”

“Mostly, I think the omega’s will have to stay at the packhouse.”

“Rogues did all this?"

“That's what they said, but to bring your child during an attack?” A familiar voice mutters, “Even for rogues, that is low.” “Mom, Dad.” I call out, one last attempt.

I wanted them to hear me, come for me.

I slipped back into unconsciousness, waking up the next morning confused, with a huge hole in my heart, a deep rooted sadness that I didn't fully understand.

I knew 1 was missing something, someone, but I didn’t know what.

until now.