The Shadow Alpha
CHAPTER TWENTY

"What do you plan on doing about Austin?” he asked as if fearing the answer, now it was my turn tosigh and run my hand through my hair in an attempt to relieve some of the frustration that I felt.“That's the tricky part. We have to stop him, but how do we do it without damaging Devin beyondrepair?” I asked miserably, Hunter looked at me in awe to which I raised a questioning eyebrow."What?" he shook his head slowly.

“It- It's nothing... I just expected you to hate him. I thought you would have done anything to seehim hurt.” I chuckled softly at his baffled expression.

“Trust me I would love to see him keeling over in pain after I give him the ass whooping of his life-" Isaid making him laugh, “but I never want to see him really hurt. I know I might come off as heartlessespecially towards Devin, but let's face it, he is still my mate and no matter how much I hate it, I cannever hate him and I will never want to see him in pain.” Hunter smiled approvingly at me.

I cleared my throat to get rid of the lump that formed at the thought of him in pain, “Anyway. I havea plan but, I am going to need your help with it. You're the only person Devin trusts withoutreserve.” He nodded thoughtfully, but his eyebrows furrowed.

“You said that Austin wanted to use our own plans against us, but how would he do that if hedoesn’t even know what we're planning?” I heaved another sigh.

“That's another problem. I have certain... Gifts. It won't make much sense to you now but I'm askingyou to trust me. Justin, he is working with them.” he looked even more taken aback now, in fact hesuddenly looked defensive.

"Okay Allison, up till now everything has been a lot to take in but I can see how you would suspectAustin of such things, but Justin? No way! Justin is quiet, but he isn't a traitor. I do trust you, butyou're making it really hard to continue doing so. This is starting to sound like a whole load ofbullshit really quickly!” he said, getting angrier by the moment which irritated my wolf because ofhis disrespect.

Just as he was about to stand up and walk away I caught hold of his wrist and pulled him backdown, “Let go!" he said through gritted teeth which seriously rubbed my wolf up the wrong way, Ifelt a burning sensation behind my eyes and I fought to control my anger from physically showing,it usually wasn't this hard, but this along with all the pressure of having my past and present collidehad my control slipping way easier than I was comfortable with

"Hunter, sit down.” I said calmly, but the Alpha undertone was clear making it impossible for him todisobey my order. “I have a very good hold on my temper, but I warn you not to anger me rightnow.” I narrowed my eyes at him and didn’t miss the way he gulped when I spoke.

"Fine, there is no way you're going to believe me if I don't tell you.” I sucked in a deep breath in anattempt to ease the burning and began explaining the events that ensued after I left the pack fouryears ago. How I became the Shadow wolf and went around the world developing packs andassisting them before coming back and taking over as Alpha and building the pack to what it isnow.

He listened with a befuddled air surrounding him and by the end of my story his eyes were as wideand saucers and jaw slacked in astonishment. I left him to stare and process everything for a fewminutes but he didn't seem to be coming to anytime soon.

'Will you stop staring at me like a retarded fish!" I said in his head which caused him to leap from hisseat and let out a girlish scream. I couldn't hold in my laughter any longer and burst out laughing, Iprobably looked like a retarded seal, but I didn't care, it was just too funny.

"Okay, fine it wasn't thhaat funny.” He pouted and crossed his arms across his chest like a five yearold.

Finally I controlled my laugh and sat back on the bench like a normal person, I hadn't realised howmuch I missed Hunter till now.

My big brother, my Hunny.

I don't know when the tears started flowing from my eyes, but somehow all this made meemotional. I was in no way a stranger to tears, but it had been a while since they were not thepainful kind, Hunter seemed to notice my mood change and turned to face me only to be met withtears maring my face.

"Hey, what's wrong? Is it something I said? I'm sorry for shouting at you and not believing you. Shit,I made you cry. I swear Al I didn't mean to force you to tell me what happened. I was just angryand-" I cut him off by throwing my arms around him, he tensed at first, but relaxed when he realisedwhat I was doing and hugged me back.

Hunter may be an asshole, but he is and always will be my big brother, it's about time we let go ofthe past and mended our family.

We broke the hug after a few minutes, Hunter looked at me with a happy smile on his face, “Imissed you baby sis.” He said quietly, as if he were afraid that I would run away any moment.

“I missed you too Hunny.” I replied which earned me a beaming smile.

The silence was broken when Hunter cleared his throat, “What is your plan?” I thought about it for amoment before answering.

“We are planning an attack. We need to use this window of opportunity before we lose the upperhand. First we have to stake out each location to make sure that it's legitimate and once we havethem all in sights we have to attack all at the same time to ensure that things go down smoothly.” Isaid knowing that it wasn't exactly what he was asking. He looked at me knowingly with a raisedeyebrow; I rolled my eyes but answered anyway.

“We need to plan an attack on Justin, he is the only one who has any information right now and tobe honest it's the only way we can contain him.” I could tell that the idea made him uncomfortableby the sceptical look on his face, “I know you're fighting an inner battle right now, but Hunter it'sthe only way I can think of. I don't like the idea of hurting someone on purpose either, but he is adanger to both packs. My pack is my family, I will not let any danger come to them, I will do what Ihave to whether you like it or not.” I asserted not caring how he felt anymore.

He sighed, “You're right, he is a risk. Do what you have to AL" I smiled up at him in triumph.

"You know you've changed a lot and I don't just mean physically. Everything, you're so amazing! Yourun this pack like it takes no effort, you're a freaking legend! I am so proud of you baby sis and I'mso glad that you found where you belong and found something worthy of the spectacular personthat you are. I don't deserve to call myself your big brother, because I was meant to protect you andI chose to hurt you instead.” The awe in his voice faded into a shameful whisper.

I placed my hands on his shoulders, “Hunter, I am a strong believer that everything happens for areason. You were young; Austin played on your emotions and used you against me. You need toleave the past in the past otherwise how else will we move on if you always have this hanging overyou? The next time I see you sulking about what's done, I will smack you silly.” His eyes widened as Itightened my grip enough for him to get a taste of my strength.

His lack of response caused a smirk to make its way onto my face. Mission accomplished!

"What about Austin and April?” he asked and I burst out laughing which confused him greatly“Uhhh...” he mumbled confusedly.

"We're so weird, we go from serious, to mushy, to goofy, back to serious.” I managed to saybetween laughs making him chuckle.

"Yeah, we are.” he said, shaking his head.

"So?" for what felt like the millionth time tonight I sighed.

“I honestly don't have a plan. We have to tell Devin first, that is my priority now and basically that'swhat I need your help with.” I said looking him dead in the eye, he bit his lip and looked away for asecond.

“Yeah, damn...” was all he said before looking away back at the sky.

“We have to keep him from telling Austin anything though.” I added thoughtfully.

Hunter laughed bitterly, “Don’t worry about that, Devin hasn't spoken to either of them since youleft the pack.” He said which shocked me, “Apart from when they absolutely have to discusssomething regarding the pack, they don't even bother to share pleasantries.” I was puzzled.

“You know what I don't get? Why is Austin doing all of this? I mean besides power he basically loseseverything which makes it even more pointless, I mean if he didn't care about Devin then why takehim from his mother at birth?” Hunter just shrugged,

“Beats me. That question, only the man himself can answer.”

After that was said we both sat in silence, with my head on his shoulder I succumbed to theexhaustion and not having slept much the night before didn't help much either.