Luna Aleksa's Escape
Luna Aleksa’s Escape Chapter 42

*Jackson POV*

“Aleksa? What a pleasant surprise.” I said to her. And then my eyes moved to the large mark on her neck. It was practically glowing, which had me wonder if she had recently been marked. She looked shocked to see me, and another emotion, fear or anxiety perhaps, not the reaction I was hoping to invoke in her.

“Jackson, we met at Evergreen,” I said, stretching my arm out to shake her hand.

Aleksa looked at my face and then at my outstretched hand, eyes flickering back and forth. As she reluctantly reaches to shake my hand. A loud growl rips through the air.

“MINE!” Growled an alpha with an enraged aura about him, as he stalked towards us and pulled Aleksa aggressively into his arms.

“Jackson,” I say redirecting my outstretched arm towards the threatened alpha in front of me. In an effort to show him that I’m not intimidated by him and that I’m not a threat.

“Blue Moon Pack,” I said, moving my hand towards him in a bid to shake his hand as a peace offering.

“Kingston.” He says, shaking my hand firmly. You can tell a lot about a wolf by his handshake.

“I could sense my Luna’s distress. Am I right to assume you know each other?” Kingston asked, raising a brow.

“We do, but not in the way you might think. You are newly mated I take it?” I reply to Kingston. He looks at me with a hard expression on his face. Clearly waiting for a proper answer to his question.

“We both spent some time in the dungeons in Evergreen,” I told Kingston. Who has a look of confusion on his face.

“Jackson of Blue Moon Pack. I recall communicating with you via email, welcome to Rocky Mountain.” He says, still not convinced whether or not I am a threat.

“I think you should come and join us in my office, we should have a chat. Just to make sure we are all on the same page. What do you think?” Kingston asks me.

“Sure. Lead the way.” I replied. I was curious to see where this was going.

Aleska seemed to have calmed down a bit. I noticed that she seemed very comfortable in Kingston’s arms. Luna again – So Kingston is her second chance mate. Strangely, I don’t feel disappointed, I feel happy for her.

Kingston starts by asking me how I ended up in the dungeons at Evergreen, being that I was an alpha myself. So I begin recounting the events that led me to Evergreen, as well as what happened in the dungeons.

“After leaving Evergreen, I made my way back to my pack and I assembled a few of my warriors with the intention of freeing Aleksa.” I tell them both.

“I’d never liked Lachlan, how he even ended up in control of the pack is beyond me. His father had been a great leader, it’s a pity none of his traits had been passed on to Lachlan.”

” Although Evergreen is currently part of an Alliance that was formed by our fathers, the general consensus was that no one in the Alliance could stand Lachlan, he was arrogant and reckless, and dishonest.”

“Wolves talk and it was a known fact that Evergreen had gone downhill drastically since Aleksa had left. Lachlan had taken out a lot of debt and owed the wrong people money, it was no secret that he was struggling to pay them back. It was only a matter of time before he lost control of Evergreen.”

“Lachlan and I had been forced to work together and be in each other’s presence since we were pups, but even then I couldn’t stand him. I had worked with him out of respect for my father and the other founders of the Alliance. Not that it mattered now, as Blue Moon and Evergreen were no longer allied together. That ended the day I came back to free Aleksa. But it had been on the cards for some time.”

“I was curious as to what had become of Aleksa and wanted to make sure she was far away from Lachlan.”

I then look over to Aleksa and tell her “I knew you had your pups with you so I sent a Private Investigator as well as some of my own trackers out to ensure you were all safe and with the intention of offering you and your pups, as well as the wolves you escaped with, safe haven in my pack, although we were unable to trace your movements past Iowa.”

“Aleksa, for some reason, I felt an overwhelming need to protect you and your pups. I won’t lie, I was instantly drawn to you. Initially, I had wondered if I might be your second chance mate, as my wolf seemed adamant that we needed to protect you, although he wouldn’t tell me why. But then I realized that I couldn’t scent you. So I knew you weren’t my mate.” I told Aleksa and Kingston, seeing no reason to hide anything.

A growl came from Kingston, who appeared to be gripping Aleksa even harder.

“I mean no disrespect, Kingston, you have to understand this is all retrospective,” I say matter of factly.

“Aleksa was in a bad situation at the time and I felt compelled to help her and her pups.” I replied.

“I can see you are safe and happy, and that you are newly mated and marked. Honestly, I am happy for you both.” I say meeting Kingston’s eyes to show my truth.

“I am here not only as a guest at the Alpha Summit but as an ally if you will accept me,” I tell them both respectfully.

They looked at one another, and I could see that they were mind-linking. I patiently awaited their reply, looking around the room. Until I remember something that I feel they might want to know.

“Earlier I mentioned that Evergreen was in trouble,” I stated. They stop mind-linking, looking at me with their full attention.

“It’s nearing bankruptcy, the pack is doing poorly, food is scarce, sources report that wolves are going hungry, and the pack leadership is weak.” I pause momentarily then continue.

“Currently, it is easy pickings for any Alpha who may intend to expand his territory.”

“There will be a meeting at the end of the month and it will likely be voted out of the Alliance, it is also likely that another alpha will challenge Lachlan for the pack.”

*Aleska POV*

Jackson. That’s right. He was an alpha too, of course, he would be here. It is an Alpha Summit after all. But then I thought about how he also knows Lachlan and how they seemed to be on friendly terms. So my thoughts were – was he an enemy or ally, friend or foe? I didn’t know what to make of this. I could feel anxiety surfacing, yet I tried to remain stoic. I don’t want to be that panic-stricken girl that can’t speak for herself. I am strong. I am fierce. I am Luna.

I’ve got this, I think to myself, as he stretches out his hand as a gesture. It appeared to be a friendly gesture. As I look at his hand, I move my hand outwards to shake his when I hear a loud growl and I am pulled into Kingston’s chest. The smell of fresh pine invades my senses giving me a sense of calm. I take a breath of his scent and I feel so much calmer already. But I can feel the anger radiating from Kingston.

I listen to Kingston and Jackson talk. Jackson is trying to diffuse this tense situation, he seems to be genuine in his words. Kingston suggests we all sit down to ensure we are on the page and I think that is a good idea. So we made our way to Kingston’s office.

Kingston directs Jackson to the seat in front of his desk and he sits on his chair, directly facing him. He pulls me onto his lap in a show of dominance, making it clear that I am his. It’s not necessary, but if it calms him, then I will oblige.

Jackson tells us of his relationship with Lachlan and it is clear that they are not friends. It seems that Jackson has put up with him for many years out of respect for the alliance the packs have together, and nothing more.

Jackson then goes on to tell us something that shocks me to my core. He went back to Evergreen to help free me from the dungeons. I am gobsmacked. I can’t imagine why he would risk so much for someone he didn’t know. Come to think of it I do remember that look he gave me as he left the dungeons that day, it seemed like a look of regret or pity I thought at the time.

Kingston seems weary of this new information also. Jackson tells us that my imprisonment went against council law and that after hearing my story in the dungeons he couldn’t leave me there. He also tells us that Lachlan has made too many enemies and that Evergreen is about to be voted out of the alliance, and possibly be taken over by another pack.

This makes my heart feel heavy. While I don’t care what happens to Lachlan, I still care for the pack that I was previously Luna of. It just doesn’t sit right with me. I look to Kingston, who I can tell knows what I am thinking. And he nods to me, knowingly.

Jackson explains how he felt he needed to help me and felt protective of me and my pups, he comments that he sees that Kingston and I are mated and seem happy for me, telling us that he respects the mate bond. He assures Kingston that he is no threat and means no harm, which Kingston seems to believe, as I do too.

Kingston apologizes for his outburst earlier, and Jackson tells him there’s no need that he would be the same had the situation been reversed.

***

Asher arrives and offers to direct Jackson to the cottage he will be staying at for the Summit. While our conversation is not finished, we decided that Jackson should unpack and settle in, and we could meet again later tonight for a whiskey, and to discuss the Evergreen situation further.

Once Jackson and Asher leave the office, I nestle my head into Kingston’s chest. I take in his scent of pine again, and he also takes my scent in. We just sit there snuggled together for a while, in silence.

Then Kingston picked up his phone. He calls one of his Private Investigators and asks him to look into Alpha Jackson of the Blue Moon Pack. He wants all the intel they can replace on him. After he finishes his call, he looks at me.

“Was that necessary?” I ask him.

“Yes, Aleksa, you are my Mate, my Luna. I take your safety very seriously. We need to make sure Jackson’s story checks out. I need to know if he is someone to worry about. If he checks out, we will welcome him as an ally. If not, he will be held to account for his dishonesty and intentions.” Kingston tells me sternly.