A Secret Alpha Mate

(Jackson) I decided to ease up on the intense training and listen to my body, the challenge was two days away and I spent the morning sparring with Lucas and Cam and some of Cam's promising warriors. cam could almost beat me. Occasionally. but I knew his and Lucas’ fighting style as well as I knew mine. The newer warriors were good, they threw me for a loop with a few of their moves that were new to me, but I beat them without too much trouble. Cam was right, sparring with them helped a lot, I didn't know how Benjamin would fight at all. we all stopped calling him Alpha after what we discovered from Valoria and about Isla’s potential history. I was excited for the challenge, well, to get the challenge over with. I could do so much good for Silver Moon, especially with Isla by my side. Isla and 1 spent the afternoon reading the rest of both books, it was interesting, but we didn't learn anything more. I kney the history of Moonstone better than anyone, and the rest was the history of the other founding packs, but nothing new pertaining to Silver Moon or Alpha Amos. I was in my office, talking logistics of taking over Silver Moon, now that I was comfortable with where I was physically, bac up to speed. There was a sharp knock at my door. “Come in” Elder John walks through the door, “Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, I can come back another time.” “No, this is perfect, we were actually discussing the takeover of Silver Moon to see how to make it work best for them.” “What are your thoughts?” He comes to sit across from me in the chair Cam got up to give him. “For the near future, I think it would make sense for me and maybe Cam to stay there for a few weeks, get the lay of the land and try to figure out what the state of the pack is. I trust Lucas to watch over Moonstone” Elder john nods, “Cam war to have a talk with the warriors there, when they were, uh, running surveillance, they didn't see one warrior on patrol.” Elder John looks shocked and turns to Cam who is standing behind him. “Is this true?” He asks him. “Yes, Elder. Not one warrior, and we were near enough to the pack boundaries.” “That is strange.’ “There seems to be a lot of work to do to get the pack up to our standards," I say, “After we figure out the situation there, want to meet with the members. They will need an explanation of what is going on and I want to address their concerns directly.” I looked to Elder John, “You know, I've taken over packs before.” He nods, “You have a reputation for it.” “Those were small. I think the largest was maybe one hundred members, and so poorly run. They were easy to incorporat into our packs. This is a large pack that is well established, since, well, the beginning of our kind. I haven't dealt with anything similar to this before." “I think the plan is good, at least in the beginning. It will be important to show face-time with the members. From the omegas perspective, there will be no love lost, it seems. I would be curious to see what the other pack members think of him” He muses, “What is your long-term plan? The packs are close, but still almost an hour away, it would be hard to moy them all here." “That isn't my intention, I don't want to uproot any of their lives, and the packhouse and grounds are already established and it is an incredible territory. Lucas and I were playing around with the idea of joining our packs, but still letting the members that wanted to live there stay there. Of course, anyone, especially the omegas that want a fresh start, are welcome to move here. The omegas that would stay behind would have a completely new life, and new quarters, freedom, nothing like what we saw.” I'm starting get angry thinking about Isla’s old room, how she shared that space with six other women. “Sorry, I looked up at them, getting back to the topic at hand, “We were thinking of appointing someone, probably two people, to stay at Silver Moon in the long run, manage it for us, help build us as a unified pack, and be my eyes and ears, and a direct line to Silver Moon.” “Hmm that is interesting. I've never seen anything like that done before.” “Neither have I," I answered honestly, “It wasn't my intention to take Silver Moon, just to take it away from Alpha Benjamil If his son, or even Beta, were halfway competent, I would have no problem handing it to them. But I wouldn't trust Silver Moon with either of them. This is the best option that we've come up with.” “How would security and patrols work? Would you treat the packs as one, and have joint territory?” He looks over his shoulder, directing his question at Cam. “We would run them separately. It makes more sense to stay closer to home instead of patrolling the areas between our lands. We don't have the numbers for it, and it would leave us open and vulnerable. Two things I don't like my pack to be Cam states, “Of course, if any sign of danger for either territory, we would join together as one united front.” “Very good.” He turns his attention back to me, “And would you now be the Alpha of Silver Moon and Moonstone? Or wou you combine and change the name?” “That I haven't thought of, Elder. They are both original packs, as you know, and I don't want them to feel like they are losing anything by me becoming their Alpha. I don't want to take away their identity” I think of what might be best, “Honestly, I think I want to leave it up to them to decide. I want to do this right and I don’t want to step on any of the pac members’ toes.” “But you are their Alpha.” Elder John raises an eyebrow, “Or you will be very soon.” “I know, but I want to make the best decision for my pack members, all of my pack members, not just myself.’ “spoken like a true, Alpha.’ He commends me, “Well, I think you have everything settled here, you have planned more tha I thought you would have." “Even though the challenge isn't over, we know it will be chaotic in the days following it. I initially only wanted to focus o training, but I realized that we needed somewhat of a plan in place.” “What do you plan on doing with his Luna and children? Oh and his Beta. I don't think he has a Gamma for some reason.” “Any advice on that?” 1 laugh, “I don’t know much about his Beta at all. The last time we met him I don't think he spoke a word. His Luna, or fake mate, Julianna, is a bit of a loose cannon, and so is her daughter, but I don’t think they're dangerous. The little I know about Seth I don't like." “Neither do we,” Lucas interjects. “Do you mind me asking why?" Elder john asks him, “We caught him too close to the Luna at her ceremony, we taught him a lesson, but someone like that doesn't change.” “Ah, that explains why he looked a bit worse for wear the next morning” Lucas nods. “What normally happens? In the packs I've taken over either their sons have tried to fight me too, and died. Or they escaj and run with the rest of their family. I haven't actually had to deal with them.” “It's a unique situation. You could offer them to stay as part of Silver Moon, but in order for them to realize that they arer ranked, you should move them from the packhouse. I don't see that going very well “I don't either,” I agree, “Maybe they will leave? Try to get away after the fight?” I doubted it though. They wouldn't leave without a fight. “I guess we will cross that bridge when we get to it He smiles, “There is one other thing." “Yes! “I spoke to the Elders, well, the other Elders about the witch you caught and her connection with Alpha Benjamin. They couldn't agree what to do with her either, she is a danger to you if you let her out, but she didn't do anything to you to elicit her death at your hands. We want to transfer her to our care.” “That's fine with me, as long as we wait until after the challenge, I can't take any risks and I know she is secure where she for the time being.” “Naturally” He agrees, that was one thing off my plate. “I won't tell you the place that we have chosen yet. You wont get to find out until tomorrow. Actually, I don't know where they chose either. They knew I was coming to visit you and I asked that I not be told so that if, and when, you win, no one could say you were more prepared than Alpha Benjamin was.’ He explains, “However, due to the circumstances, we have decided to enlist the help of a light witch that has worked with us in the past, she is going to ensure that the place chose is protected, and dark magic can't be used there.” “That makes me feel a lot better, even with Valoria here, I have no idea who else Benjamin could be in contact with." “No one new has come to the pack,’ Cameron states. “You're still watching him?” Elder john sounds incredulous. “On a hunch, we found a dark witch whose idea it was to poison Jackson, I won't take any chances for my Alpha.’ “Very well, I guess it will be your pack in a few days, if all goes right “I intend for it to go my way," I say with finality. (Benjamin) Two days before the trail. No word from Val. When she gets back I might f***g kill her myself. I can't believe this. She's stubborn, irrational, and flighty, but she has always been there when I needed her. Was she going to show up last minute I was out of options, I couldn't stand against Alpha Jackson, he was half my age. Could I find another witch at this hour? Two days left there couldn't be much time unless they already had the potion. I knew enough about witches to know that they only kept simple spells bottled up, nothing to the extent that I needed. She would show up, but if she didn't? Could I run. No, what would be the point of that? What would be the point of leaving behind everything I built, worked so hard to maintain? No I needed to maintain this pack somehow, if only someone could step in. Wait, maybe someone could. Seth Ves, dad? Come to my office immediately. A knock comes about thirty minutes later. Where could he have even been? We live on the same damn floor. I took a deer breath and pulled it together, reigning in my anger. “Son, sit down. I say, standing up and going to my bar cart, pouring him and myself a generous glass of whiskey. I walk o and hand him one. He looks at me for a second but takes it. “Uh, thanks." I sit back in my chair and swirl my glass before downing it all in one drink. Seth takes a sip, and looks at me “Is everything okay?" “Better than okay." I stand up to refill my glass, “More, son?” “Uh,” He looks at his still full glass and downs it, “Sure.” I bring the bottle of whiskey to him and fil his and mine before placing it on the desk. “I was thinking," I take another long swig, “It's time. You're ready,” I don't make eye contact, just look down at the glass. “Ready for?” He asks, and I finish my drink. “Ready. For the title. For all of this." I motioned to my office. His mouth hangs open. “I've made you wait long enough, and you've proven you're more than prepared. You've done all the training I've put you through, and conducted yourself as an Alpha should at events” I lie. “Dad, really?” He asks, putting down his glass on my desk, looking serious. “Yes! I look at him “But when? The-" “Tomorrow too soon?” I smile at him and refill my glass. I wanted to give Val one last chance, before she extinguished my last glimmer of hope. “W-what? But, the challenge?" “He wont challenge you, boy. His problems were with me. You'll be Alpha and then he will let it all go, water under the bridge” I stand up and walk behind my chair, “His problem was he thought his b***h omega mate was mistreated.’ I roll my eyes, “There will be a new omega village. His revenge, all of the challenge nonsense.” I wave my hand, “Was just petty.” “But, you said we didn't have to worry, that you had it under control?” He studies my face. I pause to look at him. “I did, I mean I do, but why not just call it off for once and for all?” “Are you sure he wasn't doing this because he wants Silver Moon for himself? Because if so, he will try to take it from me, and I, 1 just am not ready for that." “Ah, sure, yes you are. You are the strongest fighter I've seen, no one can stand up to you.” In all honesty, I can't remembe the last time I watched him spar, I usually made him train with the head warrior. I couldn't waste time watching him. He looks down, “Okay then." Really? He was accepting just like that. I walk back to my desk and refill my whiskey. I felt a bit bad that I was doing this, but it was what had to be done. Part of me wanted to wait until tomorrow, to give Val some more time. Seth was my bloodline, my heir, but I was more important than any of my family. They were nothing without me. “Why don't we plan something small tomorrow, your mother wont want to miss this?” “Uh, sure” He swirls his whiskey in his glass before downing it, “We can do it tomorrow then.” He looks at me with resolution in his eyes. What an i**t. Was it my fault he was so naive? No, it couldn't be, Juliannas genes muddled with mine. She was his son, nc doubt. “Vl make the arrangements then for tomorrow evening. It is settled.” I down my glass. ideally, Val would show up, I kill Alpha Jackson and take his pack, like we planned. If something happened to Val, Goddes forbid, or she changed her mind, I couldn't lose, and I would if 1 went face on. Switching the title to Seth meant that he would have to challenge Alpha Jackson, and he stood a better chance than 1 did. He wouldn't keep the title for long, anyways. Besides, I could have more kids. I just needed a younger mate, and that wouldn't be a problem. If Seth lost though, what would that mean? Maybe they would actually call it off, seeing that I “changed my ways” and gave the title to my son. I doubted it, Alpha jackson was a power-hungry d**k. I could respect it, as long as he didn't encroach on another man's territory, my territon something poetic in sacrificing a son, 1 looked at him who was looking at my office in awe. Oh well, I would get it right the next time around. The Hemming bloodline would live on.

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