A Secret Alpha Mate

(1sla)

I wouldn't think of Jennifer, 1 would focus on Jackson, pretend that this was a normal event, or else I would be too paralyzed to go up there.

jackson beamed at me and held out his hand when I got to the top of the stage and my throat caught in my chest. He's wearing a black suit with a white shirt and a slightly silver tie. I didn’t think he could get any more attractive.

He's looking at me like I'm the only person in the world, and I hesitate in my step.

Holy f**k he was all mine.

He reaches for my hand and I remember where I am long enough to take a step forward.

I put my hand forward to his smiling.

“You filthy b***ht" I don't look at the person that the voice is coming from.

jackson doesn't break eye contact with me either.

He looks me over appreciatively. “You are absolutely beautiful my love, I love that you are wearing my mom's dress. It loc so elegant on you.” He pulls me close.

“You're not so bad yourself” I tease, “Absolute perfection is an understatement” I make eye contact with him and he tilts my chin up to meet him.

The click of heels marches up behind us. “You f****g we, get off of my stage.’

jackson turns around and stands in front of me protectively.

“Jennifer, I think there has been a miscommunication. You are more than welcome to show up to welcome my Luna,’ He looks her in the eyes, “From the audience.’

The crowd was completely silent, confused, and enthralled by the situation. Some people knew a bit of the story but mos were completely in the dark.

“No.” She starts shaking, “You cannot take another Luna beside me. I am your only option.”

I peer around to look at her from behind Jackson. She's holding her stomach up, aggressively rubbing it with both hands. “And why do you think that is?" 1 ask walking out from behind his broad shoulders to stand next to him taking his hand ir mine. She looks at our hands and seethes in anger.

She turns to the crowd and shouts, “Because 1 am pregnant with Alpha Jackson's baby, my son will be the next Alpha of Moonstone.” The crowd lets out a collective gasp.

“Prove it," Jackson says.

“I don't know what you are trying to pull,” She whispers to us, “You think that just because you are staging some secret Luna ceremony everyone will accept you, but the Elders won't, you will not get away with this tonight or ever. It's me or nothing, Jackson.” She looks between us.

“There is a Luna ceremony and I am ready to take my rightful place. You need to stop with this stupid dream of keeping your omega mate.” She yells the last two words, the crowd doesn't respond.

Maybe they really don't care about rank, as Jackson said.

“Prove it,” Jackson repeats.

“Where is the doctor?” Jennifer yells, “We got a paternity test done, he's the dad.” The crowd is restless, murmuring between themselves.

“Right here,” The doctor comes up to the stage, I stole a glance behind to see Abigial standing at the bottom peering up af me, her eyes wide but giving me a smile. She mouths “you got this’ and I smile back at her. I knew she was loving this and wish I could have been watching from the sidelines with her.

“Do you mind, Alpha?" Jackson shakes his head and Jim walks up to the microphone.

“Hi everyone, for those of you that don't know me I am Dr. Lockheart of the Moonstone Pack, I have been practicing here: the past twenty years.’ That gets a few claps and cheers from the audience and Jim laughs a bit.

“Thank you, what Jennifer over here claims is true." The audience gasps again, “However, another test was done that confirmed that there is no way Alpha Jackson is the father.” Confused murmurs rise again.

“I can't be exactly sure what happened and we intend to find out, but the first test seemed to have been tampered with, we were tricked by Jennifer. We took blood a few days later when she didn't have time to prepare and the results were different. Paternity tests are pretty accurate and I've never seen one change like this completely. That is why we think, we we know, that the first time around something was tampering with the truth."

“Bullshit! You just don't want to accept that my baby is yours. Sorry, you got me pregnant before you found your mate bu that isn't my fault She yells, the crowd seems to sympathize with her, but it's hard to tell.

“You must have done something to the second test, or faked one. Did Jackson pay you off to fake it and then concoct this elaborate ruse to take your mate and condemn your child?” The crowd seemed angry, seemed like they believed her.

“Is there another doctor out there?” Someone raises their hand, “Come on to the front and you can look at these results, have both of them here. You can see the blood is the same but the results are different” He comes up and looks the test: over, looking confused for a second.

“Yes, these seem to both be legitimate tests" He clears his throat and hands it back to Jim.

“You could have faked it" Jennifer stomps her feet. Jackson sighs.

“We want to get another one done.” Someone in the audience pipes up, Lisa comes to the stage followed by Greg,

“You're accusing our daughter of some pretty big stuff here” Greg says, red in the face.

“Ym sorry, I conducted both tests myself and had them sent away to another lab. The lab confirmed what I tested and I c show you everything.” Jim looks actually sympathetic.

“We will have another one done ourselves,” He grabs Jennifer's shoulder, “Without you." He adds.

jennifer looks worried for a second and then smug, “I'm ready to do another test, give me the time and the day.’ She crosses her arms.

“You can visit her tomorrow.” Jackson says, “Supervised.”

“Visit her? She's my daughter. She is coming with me.” Lisa scoffs, shooting daggers at us.

“Jennifer Stanley, you are hereby accused of lying to the Alpha and his Luna, tampering with evidence, and entrapment.” Cameron comes up to the stage followed by a few men.

More gasps from the crowd.

“No, I will not allow it,” Greg interjects.

“Step aside or you're going with her!” Cameron says, his voice ice. I've never seen this side of him.

Lisa looks wide-eyed and frantic but steps aside.

“Mom, dad! Do something!” Jennifer yells.

Cameron escorts her kicking and screaming off the stage.

“You and your rogue mate will pay for this, she will never be Luna, not for long." She laughs crazily, “I am coming for all o you, you piece of s**t a*s f++s."

Greg and Lisa throw us all glares and retreat back into the audience. William and Gianna come behind me and put their hands on our shoulders.

“You okay, son?”

Jackson nods, “A bit more drama than I wanted, but I'm glad it's over” Jackson whispers before turning to the crowd.

“Ym sorry about all of that, that was a bit more entertainment than we bargained for.” A few hollow laughs came from the audience, “It had come to our attention, almost too late." Jackson pulls me close to him, “That Jennifer was trying to trick and entrap me into leaving my mate, saying her child was mine when we later found out otherwise. I just want it to be known that when we thought the baby was mine, my parents and I were willing to accept full responsibility, it was only until we found some things out that we decided there was need for another paternity test.’ There were a few nods.

“Do you mind if we go on? I would love for my mate to officially become my Luna, and then we can continue the festivitie He smiles at me and cheers erupt from the audience.

“Thank you for bearing with us, we apologize for the scene caused here. Jim, please stay on stage, I would like to invite Abigial, my mate's closest family, to come and join us too." Abigail comes up with a wide smile that doesn't leave her face before taking her place behind us next to Jim and Jackson's parents.

william stands by us and takes a gold decorative chalice decorated with sparkling moonstone moons and wolfs howling them with mountains in the background. I was caught up in the intricate detail and didn't notice William speaking for a moment.

“Isla, are you ready to accept your duty as Luna of Moonstone?”

“Yes, 1 am." I look at Jackson, his eyes filled with love.

“Are you prepared to stand by your Alpha, help guide him, and be his counterpart in all pack matters?”

“Yes!

“Do you accept responsibility for each and every member of this pack and put their wellbeing and protection above all else?”

“I do." I nod.

Jackson's eyes are misting over.

“Isla, Jackson, please place your palm face up.’ We do as we're told. William pulls out a gold blade and makes a small cut both of our hands. I wince.

“Please join your hands." He puts the cup under our hands and waits for our combined blood to fall. As soon as a drop fa in the chalice I feel the wind kick up around us, swirling the three of us for a second, before it stops immediately. I

felt my ties break from elsewhere and be reforged to the Moonstone Pack.

Welcome Luna

Hello, Luna

Welcome to Moonstone

We're happy to have you

You're so welcome

Hi, Luna

Voices of pack members filled my head.

“I present, Luna Isla of the Moonstone Pack,” William announces and everyone claps and cheers.

I smile widely at the audience, the feeling of acceptance and complete happiness was overwhelming.

“Thank you so much for accepting me," I say into the microphone, *I have loved my time here so far and everyone I've me and I can't wait to get to know each and every one of you." More cheers erupted.

“One last thing Jackson says, and motions to someone behind me. Abigail walks up confused, “No pressure, but we woul love to have you as part of the pack”

She looks at me and I nod enthusiastically. William comes up and asks Abigail if she would like to renounce ties to Silver Moon and join Moonstone, she agrees and he places a small slice on her palm and she joins her hand with Jackson as I d Tears fill her eyes when it's done and she embraces me, “I was worried I wouldn't be able to mindlink you anymore.” She laughs, I hug her tight and Jim comes up behind us and pulls us both into a hug.

“Welcome to the pack, girls." He says.

we walked down from the stage, Gianna was right. There was no time to sit down or eat food or a drink. There were immediately throngs of people congratulating us. I was thankful Gianna made me shove some food down before we left even though I didn't think I was hungry.

Gianna had outdone herself, it felt like a fairytale. My own personal fairytale. There were warm lights from candles and fa lights that we could see after dark, but it still felt cozy.

I'm sure the food was wonderful and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

“Alpha, Jackson, Luna Isla” Someone comes up and shakes Jackson's hand, “It's nice to meet you in person, my name is John." Oh, Elder John.

“Oh, thank you so much for all you've been doing to help the investigation.” I smile at him,

“Thank you both, I don't know how much longer that would have been going on for,” He shakes his head, “I am so happy you found your mate, Jackson. I know how long you've been waiting for your Luna.’

“John, sorry, Elder john” William comes up and claps him on the back.

“William, old friend, just call me John."

“Last thing before I catch up with your father, if you need me to reside over the paternity test she’s requesting 'm more than happy to stay to make it official”

“Thank you!” Jackson shakes his head and smiles, “That would be appreciated. I don't know the stories that will be spun after tonight but we want to make sure that no one thinks we're lying or screwing anyone over.”

“Thank you, Elder john. It's a pleasure.” I take his hand.

Gianna comes up with Abigial and hands us some more champagne and a small plate of appetizers.

“Gianna, you have outdone yourself, this is all incredible. I can't believe you pulled this together in three days." I gush. Gianna looks around, “It is pretty impressive, isn't it?” She laughs, “But I didn’t do it alone, these were all your ideas and Abigail was crucial in the execution. We did it in three days.” She smiles at us.

“Now we need to have a girl's day and night soon. I want to take you to my favorite spa and maybe a city getaway.” She claps her hands.

“I just got my Luna back and you're taking her away?” Jackson says, a mock frown etched across his face.

“Just for a while, you have to share, she is my daughter now too.” She scolds.

I laugh, filled with complete happiness, everything played out perfectly, way better than I could have ever imagined. The Luna ceremony felt intimate and the party, although overwhelming, was actually really fun.