A Secret Alpha Mate
Chapter 29

(Isla)

I was having such a lovely dream about the scent of pine and cloves, the scent of the forest on a warm day.

My dream, that scent, was abruptly replaced by the smell of bleach, no it's not bleach, something just as strong and clean smelling.

Behind my eyelids seems very bright, they look red, and I close them tighter, not ready to face what's on the other side of them. Am I dead, or am I still with the rogues? I couldn't decide which one was worse. Probably the rogues.

A soft consistent beeping sound gets louder and louder until it's the only thing I can hear. It rings in my ears.

Sighing, I realize that wherever I am I'm unfortunately awake.

Dead or alive, I'm awake, I wonder if that makes sense, I laugh to myself, or maybe it's out loud.

I count to three and open my eyes and flinch.

Recoiling against a light as bright as the sun. Is it the sun? No, it's too white to be the sun, so I must be inside somewhere.

That seems like a good sign. I blink trying to get my eyes to focus.

The beeping speeds up and a door opens. Yes, I am inside then. Someone leans over me, placing their hand on my forehead, I'm grateful for the sudden reprise from the bright light.

"How are you feeling?" The sound echoes in my ears. I realize she must be speaking to me.

I open my mouth to talk but my throat is so dry I couldn't get anything out.

"One second, lovely. Let me get you a drink, you've been out for a few days now. Don't worry, your fluid levels are perfect," She says motioning to a tube stuck in my hand, "But no fluids through your mouth I'm afraid." She helps me sit up a bit and brings a gla*s of water with a straw and helps me take a sip.

I'm suddenly very thirsty and drink the whole thing in a few long sips. "Woah, woah, calm down, there's more where that came from." I try to smile at her but I'm not sure if I do.

"I'll give you some time to try to recoup, the doctor will need to ask you a few questions when you're feeling up to it, just to make sure you're getting the best possible treatment." "Uh," I groan, wincing and looking at the lights.

"Would you like me to dim the lights?" I nod a bit. The room gets darker and I feel a lot better, almost relaxed.

"The Alpha will come in to see you in a bit, I'll tell him to give you some space." She closes the door behind her.

Oh my Goddess, I start to panic and the beeping speeds up, I realize that the beeping must coincide with my heart somehow.

I don't want the Alpha to come in here, I know him and Meghan must be so mad at me for skipping my "special task" and also leaving the omegas one pair of hands down during Hailey's weekend, oh my what about Seth? I am in such a vulnerable position. I bet they're going to be so angry with me.

I must be in the pack hospital. I'm grateful that I'm alive, and somehow made it back home, but I would pay for using the pack's resources like this.

The door clicks and I try to hide inside myself, I wonder if I could replace a way to slip back into unconsciousness. Maybe I could pretend to be sleeping, before I could make up my mind a tall man walks through the door, almost taking up the entire frame. That's one tall doctor.

I look at his face and I have never seen anything as beautiful before. He looks like he a statue, a god that an entire society would have worshipped. His midnight-black hair contrasts with the most piercing blue eyes I've ever seen. Even in the dim light they were bright and attentive.

Was that worry in those eyes? It made me sad, I didn't want this man to ever be worried. His jawline and cheekbones look like they were carved, there is no way someone could have been born this beautiful. Adrastea is running circles in my mind, giving my already tender head a headache.

Will you stop that

Mate

What?

Mate mate mate

What.

That's when I smell it, the scent that has been enveloping my dreams. Pine and clove, the scent of pine after it had rained. The most heavenly scent I've ever smelled.

My parts slightly, is there really any chance that this beautiful creature was destined to belong to me?

We stare at each other for a while. I wish I knew what he was thinking. He closes the gap between us in three long strides and pulls up a chair beside my bed. He hesitates slightly but takes my hand in his.

My hand feels like it's been energized and pleasant sparks radiate from my palm. Warmth spreads out from where his hand is touching mine and spreads through my entire body. I feel completely comfortable and at ease.

"Hi Isla," A silk voice says. I still can't catch my breath. I'm not sure if it's because my throat is still dry or because he said my name. "My name is Jackson." He goes on. Jackson, I like that.

I smile at him. Thankfully, the doctor comes in so I don't have to attempt to talk.

"Hello, Isla. Do you know where you are?" He says with concern in his voice, studying my face intently.

He looked to be the late forties his dark hair graying on the sides and had kind eyes. He reminded me a bit of Abigail and I oddly felt comfortable around him already.

"Silver Lake?" I say, "This must be the pack clinic?" He looks at me curiously, "I've never been in the clinic before so I'm not exactly sure." I try to explain. Jackson and the doctor exchange a look.

"You must have been healthy then."

"No, sir, I'm an omega." He doesn't say anything seeming to wait for an explanation, "So we don't use the clinic unless it's an emergency?" I explain confused how he doesn't know this, "We have some omegas that have trained themselves in first aid so there's really no need." "That, um, okay." The doctor doesn't know what to say and exchanges a look with Jackson, "Well you are at Moonstone pack, our Gamma found you in the woods after you lost consciousness due to a head injury."

"Oh." was all I could manage. The Alpha was supposed to be ruthless and had expanded his packs by taking over other smaller ones. I didn't want to face him and I was kinda hoping Jackson might come back to Silver Moon with me, but I was getting ahead of myself. "How are you feeling? Be honest."

"Um, weird," I say honestly. My body hurts but I've also never felt so content or comfortable in my life.

He looks at his clipboard, "Two broken ribs, a shattered knee cap, a mild concussion, and you needed a few stitches. I would imagine you're not feeling the best." The gorgeous man, Jackson, lets out a growl next to me and I jump pulling my hand away. He looks remorseful and puts his hand at the edge of the bed palm up, an invitation. I look at him and put my hand lightly back into his.

"Don't scare her, she's been through enough." The doctor warns him and he looks apologetic. "It shouldn't take you that long to get back to normal, I don't see any lasting injuries."

He goes back to looking at something on his clipboard and then looking at some of the machines around me, that I now realized I'm hooked up to. "I would like you to stay for another day or two for monitoring." I nod.

"How long?" I leave the question open.

"Have you been out?" I nod, "Almost two days now." My eyes go wide, "You have only just got your wolf am I correct?" I nod again, "She's doing your best to heal you but you've had a lot of physical and I'm sure mental trauma in the past few days so the healing is taking a bit longer than it will in the future, not that you'll probably sustain these kinds of injuries again, although. I hope this is a one-time thing, Luna." Jackson coughs and the doctor looks at him with a raised eyebrow then nods after a silent conversation, probably mindlink.

"Well then," He continues, "You should make a full recovery, I'll get a few more pain meds in your system while you wait out the rest of the healing."

"Thank you." He gives me a wide smile, this man was easily likable.

"Uh, Jackson?"

"Yes." He looks into my eyes his face lights up.

"Do you think I could send someone a message? I want someone to know I'm safe."

"If you're talking about Abigail, she already knows. I spoke to her directly today." I was confused about how he knew but relieved that she knew I was okay. I wondered when I would see her again if I would see her again. I actually had so many questions for him, how did he even know I was at the hospital? When did he know I was his mate?

I figured I would start with the basics, I was too worn out to get the answers to the million questions swimming in my mind.

"And you're part of this pack? Moonstone?"

"You could say that, yes."

"Okay," I say not sure what else to say. This has been one of the craziest weeks of my life. From all the drama with the ranked members, gaining my wolf, leaving my pack, and then now replaceing my mate.

I didn't know what to feel besides worn out. My eyes suddenly felt very heavy even though I've been unconscious for I'm not sure how long.

"You can go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up, that is if you want me to?" He asks me. I smile at him and lay back down my eyes heavy. I feel something lightly brush across my face sending warmth through my body before I drift off into comfortable sleep. (Jackson)

I watch my mate sleep, despite some bruises still covering her face that haven't fully healed, she was still the most perfect thing in the world.

Her thick hair fanned out all around her on the pillow and a few tendrils fell across her face that I brushed back behind her ear. Her thick eyelashes twitches against her eyes as she dreamt, I hope of good things, now that she would always be safe with me.

I traced the outline of her heart-shaped face wanting to memorize everything about her. Her soft pink lips looked so kissable, but I was determined to take this slow.

She's been through a lot recently, she's probably been through a lot her entire life, actually. I was determined to make the rest of her life amazing and fill it with all the experiences that she might have missed out on in the past.

I brushed my lips against her forehead and she sighed and seemed to drift into a deeper sleep. I hope I would never get over the way she made me feel by just being in the same room as her. I couldn't wait to introduce her to my parents and the pack. Again I was getting ahead of myself, I would take it slow and let her get used to the Moonstone pack before she took it over as Luna.

Jax man do you have a minute?

I look down at my sleeping mate, she would probably be sleeping for a while, I know the doctor gave her some more pain meds to help while her wolf was healing her.

Coming, where are you?

Your office

I kiss the back of her hand and regretfully slip out of the room. Now that she has woken up I didn't want to miss any second of time I had with her.

I ask the nurse on the way out to link me if she wakes up. I slept the last two nights next to her in a chair, well I didn't sleep very well I was so worried about her, especially because she was out for so long. I wanted to be there if anything changed and rarely too far from pack hospital during the day.

I ran back up to my office and opened the door. Lucas and Cam were already sitting on the chairs across from my desk laughing and joking with each other.

"Everything okay?" I ask.

"Yeah, we just wanted to check in with you, we haven't seen you in a few days," Cam says.

"How's she doing?" Lucas looked genuinely worried.

"She woke up a bit ago, we had a short conversation, she doesn't seem to know I'm the Alpha but I'm going to let her ease into life here, she's been through so much with rogues and then being thrown into the dungeon." I give Cam a pointed look. Even though I forgave him after I knew she was taken care of, I wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily. He looked down ashamed.

"How much longer until we can get her out?" Lucas continues.

"At least a day, I'm hoping sooner, but I want her to make a full recovery."

"What can we do?" Cam adds, happy to be of any help.

"That's actually a great question, she came with one bag, that had barely anything in it so she will need pretty much everything. I didn't want to do this yet but we need a woman's help." Mom

Yes, sweetie, so nice to hear from you

Can you come to my office? Bring dad if he's around but no pressure -I say ignoring her sarcasm

Is everything okay?

More than okay, just need a bit of help from you

I'll be there in ten

"My mom's on her way," I explain.

"Alright, then I guess that's our cue." Cam moves to get up.

"No, I need you both here for moral support, you know how long my mom has been waiting for grandkids." I'm nervous about her reaction, or overreaction would be more like it.

A few minutes later and there's a soft but firm knock on the door. I open the door and my mom walks in looking put together as always, the perfect Luna, my dad follows behind her smiling and greets Cam and Lucas. They get up to give the chairs to my parents and move to the couch behind them.

"So sweetie, what is it?" She folds her hands and looks up expectantly.

"Going away again, need us to take over the pack?" My dad asks excitedly.

"Not just yet. I need you to be calm Mom, please. But." I take a deep breath, "I found my mate." I close my eyes and wait for it. My Mom jumps up and is immediately behind the desk throwing herself at me peppering my head with kisses.

"My baby, oh my little boy, I am so happy for you. Where is she when can I meet her? Oh, the Luna ceremony there is so much to be done." She doesn't stop to let me get a word in, "A whole new wardrobe will be in order, is she from here? She couldn't be, so you met her this weekend? What pack is she from? We're going to have to invite her parents."

"Mom please." I stand up taking her hands in mine trying to stop the motherly assault. My dad comes up behind her and gives me a quick but firm hug. Lucas and Cam are laughing holding their stomachs behind us. "Congrats, son, we can't wait to meet her."

"Now can you please sit down and be reasonable." I look at my mom, she brushes her skirt and gives a quick nod but the excitement doesn't leave her face.

I tell them a short version of her long weekend and by the end, they look shocked.

"Wow, son, that is a lot."

"I'm glad she's okay, I can't bear to think about what could have happened to that sweet girl."

"So I'm going to ease her into this pack and her duties as Luna. The thing is she didn't come with pretty much anything, just a bag that was slung on her back with an old toothbrush and one pair of clothes." My mom claps her hands together excitedly, "So, I guess you guessed what I need help with. I don't want you to go too overboard, I don't know what kind of clothes she even likes. I promise you can take her on a massive shopping spree when she's ready." This appeases my mother a bit.

"But she does need everything, clothes, toiletries, anything else you can think of that would make her feel comfortable and at home."

"I'll have it all ready for her in your room by this evening." My mom says, standing up. "Thanks, mom, you're the best."

"I guess that's my cue to go get the car then." My dad says looking a bit worn out already.

"You know you don't have to come with me, I can take a driver to help with the bags."

"Yes, my dear, but you know how much I love being around you, even if it's holding your bags." Cam and Lucas make gagging noises and I roll my eyes at my parents. Even though I get it now, it's less annoying now that I found my mate. I'm sure I would do anything Isla wanted and would be happy to do it just to be around her.

"Alright then, I'm going to take a quick shower and grab some things for Isla. "Link me if you need me, I'll be in the hospital."