A Secret Alpha Mate
Chapter 88

(Jackson)

I got dressed and rushed down to Jennifer's parents house. As much as I wanted a relaxing day, I was beginning to think those were a thing of the past. Besides, if I could get this behind me, there would be one less thing for me to worry about after the challenge

tomorrow.

Six of our warriors are standing behind a tall, brown-haired, werewolf. He seemed to be an omega, there wasn't any air or authority radiating off of him, and I could smell his fear when he saw me. Good. This would be easy.

"Who do we have here?" I ask, circling around him, Cam, and Lucas.

"The potential father of Jennifer's baby." The mans face goes white.

"Oh, now that is someone I want to meet," I say, taking a step closer to him and he cowers.

"N-n-no there is no way. She said she got a paternity test. The baby is yours. She w-w-wants you." He looks away from me not able to even look at my face.

He thinks Jennifer is Luna and you're over-protective - Cam links

Oh, I can play that.

I smile, "Then what are you doing here?"

"I-uh. I just wanted to make sure she was okay."

"You need to leave my Luna alone." I roared, and he cowered in fear. Even my warriors were taken aback. I smiled internally, I hadn't got to play the angry Alpha in a while.

"I will, I just wanted to check. S-s-o I'll leave and never come back."

"You don't think I could take care of my Luna and our child?" I circle around him slowly. I see Lucas grin from the corner of my eye

Pull it together, man. I'm channeling Shakespeare right now - I link Lucas.

His face immediately goes stoic. It's my turn to grin and I circle around out of sight again.

"Thats not w-w-what I was I-implying."

"Then what were you implying?" I get close to his face and he tries to back up, but Cam and Lucas are holding him firm.

"I-I guess I missed her." He hangs his head.

"This boy misses my Luna." I laugh loudly, Cam and Lucas join in and so do the warriors a little while later, even though I can see they have no idea what's going on.

"Take him to the dungeons." Lucas and Cam drag him backwards, quite theatrically, so his feet are dragging on the ground. He struggles for purchase but they're pulling him so fast he can't get his footing. I stalk behind them still playing the angry Alpha.

"I didn't do anything. Please forgive me. I didn't mean anything by it." His shouts echoed through the front room. Elder John, my parents, and Isla emerge from the dining room.

Isla looks confused. I motioned for her to follow.

My mom rolls her eyes and my dad heads back into the dining room without so much as another glance, my mom following closely behind.

Elder John raises an eyebrow at me.

Dad, tell Elder John that we think we found Jennifer's accomplice.

My dad walks back out and I see him whispering to Elder John. They both turn back to finish their lunch.

Do you want to tell me what's going on? I was enjoying dessert

I think this is Jennifer's baby daddy, also her accomplice for the fake DNA test

Isla lets out a growl

We make it to the back of the packhouse, a few people stop what they're doing to look at us but quickly go back to their work.

"We have one more," Cam says to the guard at the door.

"Yes Gamma." He opens the door.

"You can't do this, I'm not part of this pack. Let me go. My Alpha will come looking for you. People know where I am."

"Actually, I don't think they do." Cam's icy voice says.

They drag him down the stairs towards Jennifer's cell. Her hands are clinging to the bars hearing the commotion.

"You have a visitor, Luna," Lucas grins. Jennifer's face is sheet white, even in the dim light when she recognizes our new prisoner.

"J-Jenn. W-what are you doing down here?" He asks her.

"Thomas. What the f**k are you doing here? In general?" She glares at him.

"I was worried," He starts whispering, "You never responded to my messages."

"Bro, we can hear you." Lucas chimes in.

"Well. I haven't been okay. So what the f**k are you going to do about it?" She spits, "You came to check on me and now you're in the dungeon too?" She crosses her arms, "Pathetic."

"Jennifer, how could you? After everything." He sounded, I almost felt bad for him, until I remembered he played a part in me almost losing my true Luna.

"Take him into a cell. We can deal with him after the challenge."

Jennifer's eyes lit up, "Challenge? What challenge?"

"Not one he has any hope of losing, sweetheart." Cam says, "Wipe that stupid look off your face." Cam throws him in a cell next to Jennifer and locks it, "It seems you two love birds have a lot to talk about." We leave the dungeon amidst Jennifer's angry screams and her lover, Thomas, screaming at us to be let out.

"I think we need to notify his Alpha that one of their cars is missing." I say to Cam.

"On it, Alpha." He starts walking away,

"Oh, Cam?" He stops in his tracks and turns back to me, "Ask him if we can keep him for a week or two. He won't be harmed. I just want answers. Then he can be returned to his pack and dealt with accordingly there." "Yes, Alpha." Cam smiles and walks away.

(Benjamin)

I decided to walk back to the packhouse in human form after there was still no trace of Val.

I needed to think. It was almost dusk and I had to get on with Seth's "Alpha Ceremony"

Her phone went to voicemail. Once again. If she didn't show up before the challenge, Seth would have to fight to keep our pack, my pack.

I had something small up my sleeve, but nothing to give him much of an advantage over Alpha Jackson. I was hoping Seth could do enough damage to him that I could come in and use a silver knife to end him myself.

There were a million ways tomorrow could play out. Some in my favor and, honestly, a lot that didn't seem to work in my favor. Nothing I could do about it now. The challenge was set, Val was gone, and I was down to my last hope, my i***t son.

I looked back and wondered if there was anything I could have done to have avoided this situation. No, it was Isla and Alpha Jackson that started this feud. That young Alpha who had to "defend his mates honor" and get in the way. Calling the Elders on me like the child he was. f*****g narc. He should know how real mean dealt with things.

I needed to replace a way to destroy him for trying to destroy everything I've worked so hard for. He just got handed the title. I worked for mine. For years, I had to plan and then years after I had to pretend. I would not let it fall at the hands of Alpha Jackson.

I enter through the back of the packhouse in the kitchen. Meghan is fuming, but doesn't dare say a word to me. She hasn't spoken to me since Julianna tied her up, and honestly, I didn't have time to play nice with an omega, even one that sucked d**k that good. Time to get this over with, I sigh and press the elevator button to head to my floor. It opens immediately and Julianna rushes out almost bumping into me.

Her face was tear stained, and she looked at me as if she couldn't tell if she wanted to hit me or cry on my shoulder.

"Ben-Benjamin." She chokes out between sobs, "H-how could you?" I guess Seth told her.

"Dear, let's take this upstairs, I can see that you're upset." I say, eyeing a few omegas that are carrying dinner plates behind us. I never liked anyone, even the omegas seeing our fights.

Strong front. Strong pack.

"You-how-he-is-my- he's going to. My b-b-b-aby is going to d-d-ie." I looked at her with fake shock plastered across my face. I brush her limp hair behind her ear.

"No, my love. Nothing of the sort will happen, we both will be fine." She studies my face before breaking down in tears. I pull her into my chest and guide us both into the elevator pushing the button to my floor behind her.

"You agree that it is overdue that Seth becomes Alpha?" I pull her back and look into her eyes, she tries to bury her head in my chest again but I hold her away from me, "Look at me, you wanted this."

"B-b-ut not like this. The challenge!" She blubbers.

"The challenge won't go ahead, this is what is best for everyone. Alpha Jackson's problems aren't with Seth or with Silver Moon, they are with me. I am ensuring our blood line and this pack remain strong." She seemed to visibly calm down, and I almost believed it myself.

"See? No need to worry." Hailey comes out of her room hearing us.

"What is mom so sad about?" She asks me, exasperated, rolling her eyes.

"I'm giving the Alpha title to Seth." Now she looks mad.

"To Seth?! You really think he's ready?" Her voice gets high.

"Yes, he does." Seth walks out his door.

"You are not ready." She turns to him and glares, "What have you ever done besides slack off?"

"Don't be mad just because I'm becoming Alpha and you don't have a shot in hell at becoming Luna of any pack." He smiles at her.

"Ugh! Dad! You can't be serious." She turns to me, "And, for your information, my mate is still out there. I'm an Alpha's daughter, I'm sure my mate is ranked too."

"You're about to be an Alpha's sister." He retorts.

"Calm down!" I yelled in my Alpha voice, "Seriously, both of you." They shut up and look at me.

"Now, in thirty minutes, we are having an intimate ceremony in the back. It's set up already, I expect you all to be there." I turn my back on them heading to my office, "And Julianna, please get changed." I close the door, her shocked face turns to anger and embarrassment.

I already had the chalice set aside for the ceremony. It was deep in the vault in my office that no one knew about. I had it installed the day I became Alpha and the person who installed it became one of Val's play toys.

I take it from the drawer of my desk, a lone silver wolf, howling at a diamond moon that reflected even the dim light of my office, the Moon Goddess in human form standing next to the wolf, her dress billowing out around her.

Even I wasn't powerful enough to change some things, I could remove the symbol from the packhouse, but I needed this chalice to pass on the title of Alpha.

I sighed and placed it back in the box, it feeling heavy in my hand. Let's get this over with. I wanted to head down before them to get a stiff drink.