Dead Luna
Chapter 54

Jackson's POV "So, Alpha," I address Derrick, trying to sound cordial. The truth was that I wasn't happy about Derrick

friend. "Did you have any particular reason for knocking on my door this morning? Or was this just a s "Oh, right. I nearly forgot why I came here," Derrick begins, and I get the feeling I'm not going to like th Gamma, aren't I?"

"Sure! Are you wanting my input?" I ask, politely. "I may have a couple suggestions for you to consider "I appreciate that. But I've already decided who is most qualified for the job." Derrick starts, but he se "OK, well that's great! Right?"

"Well, to be perfectly honest, I'm planning on making significant changes to our entire team," Derrick during the last two years. It's just that now I'm going to create my team exactly the way I wanted it to suited to that position, while Rick has proven himself over and over by taking on all these extra respo Gamma. You'll be taking care of the one person whom I will cherish above all others in a few weeks. "I am honored." I say, while not feeling exactly honored at all. This was a demotion of sorts.

"What do you think of me promoting Gabriel Simms to Delta?" Derrick suddenly asks me, changing top "My friend Chelsea's husband?" Amy piped up, sounding suspicious of Derricks motives. Only natural, "He's a solid choice," I say with confidence. "Excellent warrior, good work ethic, nice guy, and a loving "Yeah, last night after I dropped his wife back at home." Derrick informs me.

"I see," I say. And I do. He's doing what he thinks is best for his pack. "That's good. I look forward to wo Derrick then excuses himself, and leaves. I take the plate of breakfast that I had brought up for mysel thrilled.

g to conclusions like that, even if he had grounds to do so. The circumstances were understandably fishy, but he really ought to have more faith in me as a sit?"

d solely on his suddenly odd body language. Amelia looks up from her breakfast, clearly feeling the weird vibe in the room, too. "I'm in need of a new

uctant to continue.

es quickly, like he's trying to rip off a bandaid to get the pain over and done with. "And this is in no way a reflection on your performance as my Beta the re mom and Aunt DeeDee coerced me into appointing Leo as my Gamma. So Jackson, the thing is, I want to appoint you to be my Gamma. You're far more ies while you and Leo have been doing other things. He's definitely earned the promotion to Beta. And I need you, my most trusted friend, to become my

not sure why, though. It sounds like he's already made up his mind and he's probably already started putting the plans in motion.

e last few days she's had.

d and father. Have you talked to him already?"

with him. And also your future Luna."

cart eating, despite not having much appetite now. Derrick may have said differently, but Gamma was definitely a step down from Beta, and I wasn't entirely lutes. I've hardly touched my breakfast.

"Jackson, are you ok?" Amy asks, after her plate was empty and the room had been quiet for more tha "Sure. Why wouldn't I be?" I answer, but even I'm not convinced. "The real question is, how are you doing?" "Well, I'm still a bit ticked off with both you and Derrick. However Derrick managed to convince me to stay for our date tonight." She answers, sounding resigned. I don't blame her. "I could hardly be expected to say no to prime rib and my all time favorite flavor of cheesecake, could I? "He really does play to win, doesn't he?"

"Yes. Do you suppose Derrick is making Chelsea's husband the pack Delta to get back into my good graces?" Amy asks.

"No. I think this has been in the works since Leo resigned, if not for years. Former alpha Daniel blocked Gabriel from being made an officer because of some ridiculous rivalry with Gabe's father back when they were kids. Derrick is just trying to right a wrong in this case."

"No, if Derrick is doing anything right now in order to manipulate you, or actually me, it's in making me his Gamma," I tell her. "I suspect he knows how I feel about you. And after this morning he's pretty certain that those feelings aren't returned. He can trust me with his Luna, whether that is you, or someone else."

"Oh, Jackson!" Amy says with such pity that I can hardly stand it. I want to escape for a few minutes to process everything.

I set my plate aside for the cleaning crew to take care of, and then explain that I'm going to bring the car around, then come back to get her. I don't want her walking about smelling like she's in heat while dressed in last nights skimpy top and tight yoga pants. She needs to shower off and wear clean clothes. The enticing smell of Amy's heat cycle was making it difficult to be around her, and not want to hop back in bed with her.

"While you wait for me, I have a peace offering for you." I go to the same drawer that had contained the dildo, and grab an old file folder. And hand it to her.

"Oh, thank goddess!" She says, when she sees the plain Manila folder. The tab on the edge is labeled Juliette Marie Hearst. "I didn't know what to expect after the last item I saw that came out of that drawer! But didn't you say that I had to pay you something for this?"

"This is my apology for getting you drunk last night. And the night before. And anything else I did that I probably shouldn't have done while under alphas orders." "OK.."

And then I go to get the car.

I take my time, giving Amy time to read through the information in that folder and let her process for a bit. It doesn't contain a great deal of information, but what it contains is going to shock her quite a bit, I believe. And perhaps she might forgive my Alpha a little for being so desperate to claim her. Because Amy is special, whether her father's family recognizes her or not. And it explains why she didn't get her wolf at 16, like other werewolves typically do. Her mom is definitely not an omega, not by a long shot. And if the information in that folder is correct and not just the imaginings of a disgraced single mom, Amelia's dad is something else entirely.

I pull up in front of the pack house, and sit there for a few minutes before I head back upstairs to collect Amy from my suite. I knock on the door before I open it, and then ask if she's ready to go.

"Oh. Sure." Amy says, sounding rather distracted. I couldn't blame her for that in the least. She placed the form back into the folder, and stands up. "May I keep this?"

"Sure, all of that information is on the computer now." I tell her. "I was supposed to have it shredded once I finished the job, but I decided to keep it safe just in case."

"Thanks!"

We head to the car, get in, and drive the short distance to her moms little house. I park, and expect Amy to hop out immediately. But she just stares straight ahead as if she doesn't even know we've arrived.

"Why?" She asks, turning to me. "Why does she live here? If what I read is true, then everything is all wrong! This isn't how things are supposed to be, cooking like a servant for decades, working herself to the bone. Living in a tiny shack, and not owning one dress decent enough to wear to dinner in the pack house. It doesn't make sense."

"I have no idea." I say. And I don't. "But it gets even stranger than that. Are you aware that Luna Francine and Deirdre Hart are also your moms cousins? They all have the same maiden name. You and Leo are actually second cousins."

"I didn't know that."

"And if you notice the dates, your mom was orphaned at a very young age. Derrick told me your mom was raised by his grandparents, along with Francine and DeeDee since her parents died when she was just three years old." "Why hasn't she told me any of this?"

"You'll have to ask Julie, because she's the only one who knows the real answers." I tell her. "But please shower before you do anything else! I'm having a tough time not wanting you when you smell like that."

Amy scampers into the house quickly on that note, and then I park my vehicle some distance away and leave the windows down to air out. Then walk back to the Hearst home, in case I'm needed for anything. I wish I had thought to bring a camp chair or something more comfortable to sit than the front porch steps.