A Secret Alpha Mate
Chapter 72

(Isla)

"Wake up, baby." Jackson pulls me closer to him.

"I'm awake."

"I know last night wasn't exactly what we expected." He kisses my forehead

"It was fun."

"I know, but it wasn't the night that you expected."

"It wasn't the night that anyone expected. I think we thought it would be over and have some good results." I sigh, "For once."

"It's okay, even if it isn't the process we hoped for, the outcome will be what we want."

I couldn't help tensing up, "Jackson."

"Isla, I know what I'm doing, I'll have Cameron, Lucas and my dad there with me, we already started to plan it out."

"It's too dangerous." I shook my head, they didn't know him like I did.

"We're going to look at it from every angle, and make sure that he doesn't have time to do anything sketchy. We're hoping for a fair fight." "Hoping?" I look at him.

"He doesn't seem to be one that plays by the rules, Cam was worried he would do something to interfere if we gave him enough time."

"I don't know much about challenging Alphas, but don't you have to announce it ahead of time?"

"Yes, you do. It's standard to give at least a week's notice. We want an element of surprise though, so that he can't catch us off guard." I look at him, "Nothing illegal," He continues meeting my stare, "Just maybe leaving the place where the challenge takes place up to the elders or something so he can't plan anything ahead of time to throw us off."

"That makes sense, I still don't like this though."

"I know, baby, but I wouldn't do this if I wasn't sure. If he gets off this is the only way that we can take care of him, and make sure the omegas are safe." He pulls me against him and buries his face in my hair.

"I know."

"Will you support me on this?"

I take a deep breath, "Yes."

I didn't want this, and there was still a chance that the Elders would take care of it but I knew we had to get rid of him somehow. I hoped they didn't buy his pathetic performance yesterday of being sorry for his actions and not realizing what he's done. I trusted that they would make the right decision and remove his title. Even without his title he would be dangerous unless locked up, gone for good.

"Knock knock, sleepyheads" Lucas' voice comes through our door, "We're heading down for breakfast soon."

I rolled out of bed, I couldn't wait until I got a good nights sleep again.

(Jackson)

"Baby go downstairs, I'll get our things and meet you down there."

She gives me a sweet smile and leans up towards me looking for a kiss, which I gladly give her.

"Don't take long." As soon as the door shuts behind her I grab my phone and replace Elder John's number.

"Alpha Jackson, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Elder, I know you said to wait until after sentencing but I need to know if anything changed in regard to the potential challenge."

He pauses, "Ah, yes. I can't tell you the outcome of the trial, I'm not exactly sure what it will be yet myself." That wasn't good, "However, I can bring it up to the other Elders today before the trial to see if they have any objections to you challenging him if he remains Alpha of Silver Moon."

That was more than I hoped for. We might even have an answer today, at least know the direction we were heading.

"I'll let you know after the trial is over what they say. If things don't go as we hoped they would, that is."

"Thank you, Elder."

(Isla)

I'm sitting between Jackson and Abigail holding both of their hands, back in the same dark paneled room I hoped I wouldn't have to see after yesterday.

Alpha Benjamin walks in holding Julianna's hand, with Hailey and Seth following him. There was no sign of Meghan today, I wondered how Alpha Benjamin convinced Julianna to play the part of a good mate and not a scorned Luna.

"Is it just me or have we been waiting for hours?" Lucas whispers.

"I feel the same way," Abigail responds, Jim takes her other hand in his and kisses it.

The Elders walk in and take their places at the front of the room, it takes them forever to sit down, and then even longer for someone to start talking.

The preceding Elder stands up and addresses everyone, "Thank you all for coming back here today, we know it is an inconvenience, but we needed the time to deliberate." He looks down at some papers, I wonder who would be called to give a statement next, could Alpha Benjamin have someone else to testify for him?

"We have come to the conclusion, after much deliberation." I felt like everyone in the room was holding their breath, or was that just me?

A conclusion? Already? I feel a cold sweat down my back. I thought Alpha Benjamin would be questioned more at the very least. I looked at Jackson who looked tense, his brows furrowed together. I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. Abigail squeezes my hand tighter and doesn't stop.

"Although, Alpha Benjamin is guilty of committing crimes against his omegas." I would have liked the word 'guilty' more if it wasn't following 'although.

"We will give him a chance to redeem himself." I felt my heart drop to my stomach, there was no redemption for this man. Couldn't they see who he was? I frantically looked at the other Elders' faces, a few of them looked annoyed and frustrated. I guess it wasn't a unanimous decision.

I steal a glance at Alpha Benjamin and his family at the front. He's looking down and Julianna puts an arm around him.

"We have a list of things that we want carried out for the omegas, a formal apology to them, and we will be monitoring the progress to make sure it's actually carried out. Do you understand this, Alpha Benjamin?"

"I understand, Elder."

"Besides an omega village, the omegas will have shorter working hours, more time off, and if you cannot prove that you or someone has paid them, then you'll owe every single one of the omegas for the years they haven't been paid." That was something, at least. Even if he wasn't stripped of his title then the omegas there would have new homes, wages, and a much better life. "Do you accept this?"

"Yes, Elder. Thank you." Alpha Benjamin says with a short nod.

"Thank you all again for coming back, now that we have our verdict, we are done here." He turns to speak to Alpha Benjamin directly, "We want you to stay so we can set out the expectations for you and show you the plan we expect you to stick to." Jackson shoots up next to me dropping my hand,

"I Alpha Jackson Black of the Moonstone Pack challenge Alpha Benjamin Hemming of the Silver Moon pack for his title and pack."