A Secret Alpha Mate
Chapter 109

(Jackson)

Isla was walking the pack grounds with my mother, she seemed in better spirits today, lighter. All traces of the memorial were already cleaned up. We didn't stay long at the memorial reception, and once we left I had my mother pass around a journal to collect written stories of her parents. I didn't know when I would give it to her but the timing had to be right. I wanted it to be a positive thing instead of something that would send her back into her grief.

To my surprise, my mom came back with three large journals full, "People had a lot of happy memories of them, William and I, included." She explained.

Isla was excited to have my mother's expertise on redecoration. I knew that she wanted to upgrade some things but it wasn't of interest to her. She was more hands on and preferred to get involved with pack matters instead of the minute details of renovations. Lucas, much to his chagrin, being a bit hungover, left for Moonstone this morning. Cameron just linked me that he was about to head out, he just had his meeting with Bryce and the warriors. He wanted to come back a few times a month to check in, it was handy that our packs were only forty or so minutes away.

Next week, Isla and I would return for the pack members memorial and then we were going to host the official ceremony to hand the pack over to us. Since everyone accepted us as their Alpha and Luna almost immediately, we didn't feel the need to do the official handoff yet. There was so much going on, we wanted it to be a joyous occasion instead of one that was tainted with everything else we had to deal with.

We went back and forth, but ultimately decided to host it at Moonstone. We wanted everyone at Silver Moon to feel just as comfortable as they were at Moonstone as they were here. It would be a great time to join our packs and have the members intermingle. Who knows, maybe a few more pack members from Silver Moon would replace their mates.

We were surprised to replace the chalice still in the packhouse, hidden in Alpha Benjamin's room. An omega found it actually as they started the clear out of the rooms. Since the omega's were taking up the free rooms in the pack house Lucas and Cam's parents would be staying on this floor with my parents until the omega village was finished.

It was an ode to Benjamin's cockiness, he believed that he would win he didn't even think to take this with him. Or maybe he wasn't thinking about it. I honestly don't know what we would have done if he took the chalice with him, but thankfully we didn't have to worry about that anymore.

My dad knocks at my door, I always knew who was knocking. Cam had one sharp knock, Lucas' usually sounded causal unless there was something important, Isla's used to be soft but it was getting stronger each day, it seemed to be at least as she was gaining confidence.

"Come in, Dad." I say, taking one last look at the notes I prepared.

"Daniel and Delilah just arrived." He informs me of Cam's parents arrival, "I showed them to their room and they're settling in."

"Perfect." Luca's parents, Levi and Scarlette, have been here for an hour or so, getting settled, as well, "Do you mind linking them all to come in here in thirty, we have a lot to discuss." He nods and pours us both a drink from the bar.

"I have to say, son, I know I've said it before, but I am very proud of you." He takes the seat across from me, "Not only have you grown our pack, and our businesses, but in the short time you've been here you've managed to turn Silver Moon around completely." I take a sip.

"It was mostly Isla." I say honestly, "I wouldn't be able to do any of this without her."

"Spoken like a true Alpha." My dad says and smiles widely, I knew he was thinking of my mom.

"I'm happy you found her, all of us are. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect mate for you, or a more perfect Luna for the pack." He raises his glass and I clink mine to it, "You both might be better for the pack than me and Gianna ever were, don't tell her I said that." He swirls his whiskey around, "But that's all we want as parents, well one of the things we want, is for our kids to be better than us. So I can't complain."

"To your parenting skills." I laugh as I raise my glass.

"Oh, and your mother wants me to ask about grandkids." He whispers, not meeting my eye.

"Dad! I just found my mate, she has been through so much these past few months. I would like to have her alone for a while before sharing her with our children." My dad smiles at me and holds his hand up in front of him.

"Hey, hey. I understand, I just promised I would ask. She doesn't want to look like the bad guy."

"But you just told me that she told you to ask."

"Yes, well. I didn't want to look like that bad guy." He smiled and finishes his glass, just as a knock comes on the door and Levi and Daniel walk in.

My dad stands and greets them, pulling out a chair for each of them, "Welcome back to the old days." He claps them both on the back.

"They couldn't keep us away." Daniel says.

"We always knew they would need our help." Levi jokes, "Taught them everything they know." I role my eyes but stand up to greet them, I couldn't hide the fact that I was thrilled they were here. A huge weight was taken off my shoulder, I knew the pack was in the best hands possible. "Where are the missus'?" My dad asks.

"Gianna and Isla are filling them in," Daniel says turning to me, "They are in love with your mate, can't stop talking about her." I forgot they haven't had the chance to formally meet yet.

"I think they're looking over the new omega village and planning packhouse renovation schedules."

"Fantastic, it's amazing having them back here, I know they will do a lot of good." I say, "Now, let's not let them show us up, we have a lot of work to do."

I tell them the entire story, not wanting to leave anything out, my dad filled in if I forgot something. Starting at the very beginning, with my first visit here when their daughter thought I was her mate. They knew some of this, heard it from Cam and Lucas before but I wanted them to get the whole story.

They were shocked into silence by the end of it.

"Isla was Alpha Anthony's heir?" Levi asks after a moment. I nod.

"The dark witch, their memories, everyone's memories." Daniel says, "What a f*****g prick, pardon my language."

"We are trying our best to repair what has been lost and make up as much as we can." I go into an explanation of the upcoming memorial services, the training of the warriors, and the renovations that have been started, and most importantly, the pack finances. "Now this is a tricky one, the pack is basically broke." They all stare at me, "We found some money, well a lot of money actually, in a trust for Isla. Money from the companies Benjamin didn't sell off is in another account. We opened a new one for the pack and are transferring money to it. I'm going to leave it to you, Levi to figure that out."

"Yes, Alpha." I thought I saw Levi crack a smile, I knew they were loving being back in the reigns.

"I have Bryce, Cam's second in command, coming to meet with you tomorrow to go over what is happening with the warriors. There will be a dinner tomorrow night to introduce you to the pack. We already explained what was going on, but we want you as involved and hands-on as possible." They all nod.

"Any questions?" I say, I think I was talking for over an hour, I knew there would be some things I left out.

"Where did the previous Luna, er fake Luna go? Oh and the daughter?" Levi asks

"We transferred them to a pack across the country, a small one, in Vermont." My dad smiles.

"And the blonde lead omega. Please say she's not here, I might have to re-think taking this on" Daniel jokes.

"She couldn't handle Isla being Luna. Isla was generous to her, as she always is, banishing her but letting her choose a pack to assimilate to. I think she's at Black Lake now, I'll check with Cam. She is not, on any terms, allowed back on these lands." He nods. "Any news on Benjamin?" My dad asks, I shake my head.

"The Elder's trackers are actively looking for him, he left no trail and we assume it was from a potion he took from Valoria's place. I don't know how long it will last and they're confident in their trackers. All the packs, literally all of them, have been notified that he is wanted. So if he tries to show up at any pack the Elder's will know immediately.

The warriors here are still new enough so we are leaving back a few of ours to fill in the gaps until they are ready to do it themselves. Most of them are young, but Cam thinks they are promising, and I trust Cam fully on that. Until Benjamin is found patrols will be increased on both Silver Moon and Moon Stone. We don't know where he would go, but we do know that he hates both Isla and I, and I will protect her at all costs."

"Of course." Levi says.

"Alright then, anything else at the moment." No one says anything, "Great, any questions you know my number. We will be able to mindlink these members after next week, but keep your phones on you at all time since we will be too far to mindlink you. I can't thank you enough for what you're doing, putting your life's on hold to help out our pack, taking on this huge responsibility."

"Son," My dad interrupts, "We took an oath to protect this pack, that doesn't end just because our kids take over." I smile at him and get up and pour us all a glass of whiskey.

"To the best role-models we could ask for." They smile and clink my gla*s.

"To reliving the glory days" My dad adds.

"Cheers to that." Levi says,

(Isla)

Lucas and Cameron's mothers were fantastic. I could see how easy and comfortable they were with Gianna and it made me wish that Cameron and Lucas would replace their mates soon so that I could have this bond with them. They lived and worked together for over twenty years, that was something special.

We went through the renovation schedule and Gianna turned to me, "Is there anything you want to do with the packhouse?" I think for a second.

"I love your style, Gianna. I trust you. I just want to keep all the wood. I don't want to change too much."

She smiles at me, "We can make that work. I centered most of the decor around the stone from the mountains at Moonstone, we can make the wood from the forest hear the main component and add some updates decor to compliment it."

"Perfect," I was excited to see what she came up with, "Oh, and do you mind putting Silver Moon's crest a few more places? I remember it was in the foyer right as you opened the front door, but that was removed obviously. I would love the one in my dad's office to be restored too."

'Of course, honey. I'll make that the top priority. This is a pack that anyone would be proud to be part of, especially with you and Jackson at the helm. I want nothing more than to have every pack member be proud of their heritage."

"Let's see what the men are up to, shall we?" Gianna says, "I have lunch ordered in the dining room and it should be ready in a few minutes."

We ate lunch with the parents. I didn't say much, just enjoyed being in the company of them. They were regaling stories of the old days. I could tell that everyone here was thrilled to be back into the day to day of running the pack. Jackson seemed in a great mood too. Less stressed than I'd seen him recently. I know trying to figure out all of Benjamin's mess, on top of taking care of me was a lot for him to handle.

"Thank you for being there." I whisper into his arm. He places a kiss on my head.

"For better or for worse, or whatever the humans say." He chuckles, "I love you, Isla. I will always be here for you, don't thank me." He takes me hand and squeezes it.

"Now that was absolutely fantastic." Gianna says, thanking the omega's as they clear the plates. The omega's still look taken aback that a ranked member is thanking them, I couldn't remember a time Julianna or Benjamin ever said anything nice.

"Our bags are in the car, we're ready whenever you are, Mom." Jackson says.

"Give me a few minutes to get my things together," She kisses William, "I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"

"You can't come back tonight?" William seems upset. She shakes her head but smiles.

"Too many things to pack, my love. We don't know how long they will need us."

"Want to take a walk while she gets ready?" Jackson asks me. I nod.

We stand up and say our goodbyes. Although, I just met them all I already felt so comfortable around them, I couldn't wait to see them again soon.

Jackson and I take a walk down to the lake and he wraps his arms around me as we watch the steady movement of the water reflecting the afternoon sun behind my parents graves.

"What kind of memorial should we have for them?" He asks, "Besides the graves, what would be the best to honor them. A garden? Fountain maybe, or a bench here?" He asks.

"I honestly don't know yet, I want it to be perfect. I think the graves are okay for now." He pulls me closer and I relax into his arms. Taking in the beauty of the place for the first time in a while. It was my favorite space. I was wrong, no one, not even someone as evil as Benjamin could ruin this place for me.

Heading back in the car Jackson holds my hand as Gianna talks about renovations and ideas for Silver Moon, excited about the massive project in front of her. I was so lucky to have her here, not just to support me but in my life. I knew my mother would have absolutely adored her. I was surprised to realize that the thought didn't hurt as much as I thought it would.

I rested my head on Jackson's shoulder, ready to be back home.