The Shadow Alpha

“It's time to make our move.” Devin's strong voice carried across the room and with it a look of astonishment settled on the faces of each and every person cramped up in what I'd always considered a big office. We were all equally puzzled when Devin requested for us to gather in my office this afternoon, but I chose not to pry and allowed him to take the lead.

It's been two days since the attack and Devin has been distant to say the least. While it irritated me to no end, I opted to give him space rather than forcing him to talk to me when he clearly wasn't up to it; he would talk to me when he was ready.

This on the other hand was not what I bargained for.

A part of me wanted to call him out on his rash decision, but the more I thought about it, the more I became curious to hear his reasoning. Once everyone got over the initial shock, a rumble of murmurs erupted amongst the pack members, each one holding a sceptical look on their faces. "Hear me out!” he held his hands up in a “wait’ manner and on cue everyone's attention focussed solely on him once again. Devin reached down into the secret compartment beneath my desk and pulled out the map that we had previously marked the rogue camps on and yes, I added him to the security system so that he is able to access my office without my presence.

He unrolled the map on the table, but instead of being in the condition I expected, a series of new markings greeted me.

"We went back to Full Moon pack land yesterday to look for any clues that Austin may have left behind. We found a book hidden under a floorboard in the Alpha’s office; it was a record of all the rogue locations in the past twenty-two years.” he spat the last part through gritted teeth.

So that's what he’s been up to.

The tension in the room increased with each word that he uttered, before he could continue a thought struck me,

"Why would he keep a record of such a thing, that too in a place that would obviously be found if someone actually looked?” Devin eyed me with an “exactly’ look.

“By now the rogues must have word that Austin and April are compromised and they knew we would look for evidence and clues of their deception. I spent every day for almost three years in that office, I think I would have noticed a loose floorboard.” He reckoned and the picture was suddenly becoming clearer.

“They planted the evidence knowing we would look for it and placed it in plain sight to make it seem like it would have been there for years without question.” I added to which he nodded.

"I cross referenced the locations in the book to the ones we had marked on the map and noticed that each one is about a mile from the ones we have. I once overheard Austin talking over the phone about an ambush under false evidence, the conversation was vague, but enough to raise suspicion and when I asked him about it he simply stated that it was an age old tactic to feed the enemy false information to be ready for an attack.” A soft warning bell was sounding in my head, a sort of instinct when something was wrong.

"We'd have to assume that everything Austin did and said in the past was to further his plot, that being said, we need a foolproof plan should the original strategy fall through.” I added and with an affirmative nod from the other occupants of the room Devin proceeded to convey his proposal

A total of five hours later we emerged from the office, there was a deafening silence amongst the group as each person remained lost in their own thoughts.

Devin fell into step with me as we walked towards the kitchen to feed the monsters growling within us. Shadow grumbled in annoyance at me and I giggled out loud mistakenly earning an incredulous look from Devin which caused me to grin. It must have been contagious, because for the first time in two days I saw his eyes light up as he returned my smile.

I couldn't look away from that smile.

The smile that I unexpectedly fell in love with.

Noticing my stare, gaze, his lips quirked up into a smirk, “Like what you see?” he asked cockily and cued the eye roll.

“I was just admiring the cutest smile I've ever seen.” I replied with innocence plastered across my face.

"Cute? I am not cute! Sexy, handsome, hot, beautiful even, but not cute. Never cute.” He emphasized in what could only be described as a whiney voice. That did it for me; I could not stop the hysterics from breaking loose.

I must have looked like a dying seal, but I ended up hanging from Devin’s arm for support. Through the tears I noticed the disbelieving look on his face and when I was finally able to control myself the fits of laughter turned to a low breathless chuckle, I looked up at him with tears of amusement still swimming in my eyes and cupped his face in my hands.

Despite the irritation he displayed, he still leaned into my touch and relished in the electricity between us.

“Such a man. You are indeed very handsome-" his huge smile made me pause for a moment before continuing, “but, you're also cute-" the smile fell and his eyes narrowed, “I love you just the way you are and I wouldn't have it any other way.” I declared honestly, but the smile I had anticipated never came, instead his jaw clenched and before I could speak another word he pulled away and disappeared through the nearest exit.

I stood frozen, gazing at the spot where he stood just seconds ago.

I could feel Shadow’s hurt increasing mine tenfold. I hadn't noticed the people around us till I heard the whispers and the bitter feeling of rejection washed over me once again

A feeling I did not miss.

A feeling I would not allow myself to succumb to again.

I inhaled a lungful of air and plastered a nonchalant smile on my face before looking up at the pack members around me, “No wonder the television in this place never goes off, you all love drama.” I smiled teasingly, trying hard to stop myself from reacting to the pitiful looks on their faces. “Come on, I'm hungry, now feed me peasants.” I ordered mockingly. Just like that the tension drained and the crowd dwindled down to one.

Christopher stood leaning against the wall beside the main door,

"Hi." He said simply.

“Hello Christopher.” I greeted calmly.

“Do you have a minute, I'd like to talk.” I noticed a strange look in his eyes which caused my curiosity to pique.

"Of course, let me just grab a bite to eat and we can talk.” I spoke after feeling the rumble in my stomach; he merely nodded and stepped towards the kitchen.

I don't know whether I was relieved or anxious about the fact that Devin was nowhere in sight when I entered the kitchen, everyone was buzzing around the food on the counter, hurriedly grabbing their plates and disappearing to various corners of the house.

After filling up my own plate and taking a bottle of water I walked over to the breakfast bar where Jo sat feeding Tatiana while she and Hunter listened to an animated story about a bunny in the woods related by the Princess.

“Then he hopped on top of the lo- Queenie!” she cut herself off upon seeing me and surged forward into my arms, I sighed out loud in relief at having put the plate down in time to catch her. Between pack business and the rogue threat, I had been neglecting just about everyone. I can't even remember the last time I spoke to my parents or spent time with my friends properly, I haven't found the time to check on Tatiana Grace nor have I spoken to Oliver regarding his sisters. I held on tighter as realisation dawned upon me, I felt disappointed in myself.

I'm a terrible Alpha.

She began to squirm, that's when I noticed how long I'd held on to her. Hunter and Jolene sent me worried looks, but I brushed it off and sat down on the chair with my baby sister in my lap.

“Now, what ever happened to that bunny?” I asked, which was promptly followed by the rest of the story.

Once she was full, Ana ran off to play with Drey and both Hunter and Jolene looked at me with concern, but said nothing. With an irritated sigh I looked at the both of them with an impatient look, "What?" they shared a look before Jo spoke.

“Are you okay Allie Cat?” The name was accompanied by another wave of regret; I was so busy being Alpha Allison that I forgot all about being Allie Cat.

“I'm fine guys; you don't have to worry about me.” I reassured them with a smile, they seemed sceptical, but chose not to argue.

"Of course we have to, we care about you Allison. You're always so busy taking care of the pack- the world even; it's okay to let someone take care of you sometimes.” Her words were sweet, but they felt like a knife through the heart.

That person was supposed to be my mate.

“Thank you for caring, it really means a lot to me, but I am fine, I always will be.” I smiled to set their minds at ease. Hunter stood up suddenly and pulled me into a hug and I relished in the familiar warmth

"We are here for you little sister. Wow, it feels weird calling you that, you have grown up so much that it's hard to see that little girl in you anymore.” He chuckled lightly and I smiled in return.

Just as I turned to leave a thought struck me, turning to face them again I spoke seriously, “Promise me... Promise me that you will take good care of them-" I looked around the room at the pack and back at them, “Promise me that you guys will be okay, no matter what happens.” They were about to protest, but I cut them off, “Promise me!” I requested urgently.

"We promise.” Jolene replied after sharing a concerned look with Hunter. With a grateful nod I stepped out of the kitchen

“Christopher?’ I questioned through mind link.

"Alpha Allison.” He said out loud as he stepped up next to me. With a nod in the direction of the forest I gestured for him to follow.

“What did you want to speak to me about?” I asked when we were out of ear shot and I confirmed that there was no one nearby. He gulped in a deep breath and began speaking.

“I met my mate four years ago on a mission; we had infiltrated a rogue camp in the Philippines, she was one of their prisoners so obviously I had to rescue her and so we did, the mission was a success too, we managed to get the information we went there for and I had my mate, what more could I have asked for?” he laughed bitterly, but kept his eyes trained on the ground.