A/N The Healer's Mate is #860 in the Werewolf What's Hot list!! YEAH! (09/02/15)
Chapter 22: Alpha...
"Sleep well because this time tomorrow you'll be dead."
Alpha Neal stood up tall and nodded to the woman still standing beside Romero. She injected a blue liquid into his arm and I saw his muscles relax and his chest move with shallow breaths. Alpha Neal walked out of the cell to Jayden and I.
"I am going to be calling a pack meeting tomorrow at noon. I want you both to be there. It will also be a good time to introduce the first mated couple of the Alpha household then as well. Many of my wolves have been wondering why a neighbouring Alpha and his next in line are here and it high time I told them the truth."
I nodded and he placed his hand on my cheek giving me a tight smile but one that held warmth in his eyes. I placed my hand on top of his and leaned slightly into his palm.
This will be over soon. His voice ringed in my mind. I am so proud of you my dear.
With that he left the basement to make arrangements for the pack meeting. The remainder of the day Iris and I helped Kate prepare food for the entire pack tomorrow. We stayed in the kitchen and Jayden, the twins, and Damon helped clear the backyard and lawn for the meeting.
The day went by before I even knew it and I found myself wrapped in Jayden's arms on my bed. His minty forest scent calmed my soul and I could sense his wolf was also at peace to have his mate in his arms. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes allowing sleep to carry me off.
**********
The backyard was cleared of the fallen leaves and the back deck was lined with tables where the food for later tonight would be served. For now one a few chairs were opened and placed around the far side of the house. Only the elders and some of the warrior wolves were present. Jayden and Damon hung around in the back and I could see Alpha Cairstay and Alpha Neal talking to each other at the front. I saw Kegan sitting with the rest of the warrior wolves and Ryan caught my eyes. He smirked at me and I saw his eyes move to the mark on my neck, he bowed his head in a mocking gesture and brought his gaze back to Kegan. Kegan must have told him I had found my mate but seeing as it was true must have amused him.I felt Jayden's gaze on me and I looked up to meet his eyes.
"A few days back my daughter, Layla, was kidnapped by a rogue wolf. The wolf was following her from Black Moon territory and when Alpha Cairstay tipped us of his location we were set to go raid his cottage. However as you know, before we could set out to rescue my daughter, she escaped and drew him back to our land where he has been kept captive. We interrogated him the past few days and have found that his motives for targeting my daughter were to take her healing ability." Alpha Neal paused allowing the news to sink in and I saw some of the elders scowl at this.
Alpha Neal nodded to Alpha Cairstay and everyone turned their attention to him
"Romero is an evil wolf. He is not like any ordinary rogue. He is known for poaching and hunting Shifters for their abilities. This man has broken laws made by the Goddess herself and has practice the dark arts. He has tried to take the life of one of your own pack mates and my only advice is to rid this world of a being like him." Alpha Cairstay stopped and we saw a man wheel out Romero on a wheelchair.
Alpha Neal continued.
" I have come to the verdict that he be killed for kidnapping a wolf from the Alpha family, trespassing on claimed lands, and for murdering two innocent wolves. Using his own weapon I, Alpha Neal of the White Thorn Pack sentence Romero to death." With the last words said Alpha Neal took the hunter's blade out of its case and slit Romero's throat causing him to bleed to death.
A black cloth was placed on his body and he was wheeled back inside. His body would be burned and no trace of him would remain in this world.
The elder's stood up and an eerie silence fell around us. The wind blew in the trees and the smell of blood filled the air. As tradition no one spoke until the scent was carried away from us. The elders made their way out of the backyard and the remaining wolves waited to be dismissed. Alpha Neal gave them a nod and the backyard cleared ending the meeting.
I felt hollow inside and knowing the threat of Romero was gone did not relax my soul. I still had an urge to do something and in my subconscious I knew there was something else that had to be done today.
"Angel? You okay? I can feel your anxiousness. It's over. He won't ever hurt you." Jayden said and I looked around to see that only me and him remained in the backyard.
"I guess you're right." I said giving him a small smile and turning to walk inside. We opened the back door and I climbed up stairs to my room and Jayden followed his Father to the living room. I laid back on my bed and I shut my eyes. I didn't know why but I felt sad inside. I wasn't sad about Romero's death but the thought that everyone who actually knew my parents were now dead bothered me. I missed my parents greatly but at the same time I wouldn't have met the people in my life if I hadn't lost them. I felt myself drifting off into sleep and I allowed my body to take a quick power nap.
After what felt like ten minutes I felt someone shacking me awake.
"Layla! Wake up! You have to change and come down. Alpha Neal is about to make the announcement." I opened my eyes and I saw Iris standing above me I looked outside and I saw the sun going down.
"Where's Jayden?" I mumbled getting up.
"He's outside. We decided to let you sleep a little longer thinking you needed the rest. The pack is outside and Kate told me to get you ready. Plus I have the cutest dress for you to wear!" Iris said beaming at me.
I stood up and flattened my hair on my head and walked over to the washroom. I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth and hair. I walked out and I saw Iris holding a navy blue dress and a cream shawl.
"Here. I thought you should look good for your pack. Put it on and meet us outside!" Iris said closing the door behind her. I heard her running down the steps and the back door opening. I looked out my window to see the collecting in the yard and the back lights were on. Chairs were placed around round tables and a lantern was placed in the centre of all the tables.
I slipped the dress on and straightening my hair I made my way downstairs. The urge to do something was still stirring inside me but again I had no idea what I was forgetting.
I walked outside and I saw the pack children running around playing tag and the younger teens hanging around by the tree line. I saw a few wolves from school seated around a few tables and without giving them a second glance I walked over to Iris and Kate.
"Oh dear you look lovely! That dress looks great on you." Kate said and I sat down beside her.
Iris gave me a genuine smile and I joined in on their conversations. I felt the hairs on my neck stand and I turned my head to see who or what was causing it. I turned around and I saw Kegan standing alone by the tree we use to have picnics under. His gaze was ice cold and his eyes were on me. He looked ready to attack judging from his stance but why?
"Hey Lay!" I heard Tony and Andrew come and sit down beside us. I smiled at them and I saw them place their plate piled high with food in front of them.
"Hi guys. I see you are enjoying mom's cooking." I said teasingly and grabbed a fry off Andrew's plate. He swatted my hand away and I chuckled at his face. I still felt Kegan's gaze on me but I ignored. But I guess the twins felt it too because I saw their shoulders tense and they looked over behind them. I didn't ask them about it and they didn't acknowledge it either.
Jayden and Alpha Cairstay were speaking to the ten wolves who were with Jayden and I saw them shaking hands as if they were making a deal. They nodded their head to Alpha Cairstay and bowed to Jayden then disappeared into the crowd.
Alpha Neal was speaking to a few elders and I saw Derek with them too. I didn't see him much after we came home from the Black Moon Pack. I'm guessing he was in charge of training some of the younger wolves who weren't warriors. I scanned the yard and the pack was laughing and catching us with one another oblivious to the threat their Alpha family had just come out of. I saw some of the pack women sitting and gossiping about the latest stories and I could over hear them talking about Damon, Iris, and Jayden.
Some of the girls from Northern hung around their mates and I could see them watching Jayden and I. Alpha Neal took the mic that was set up on the deck and cleared his throat getting everyone's attention.
"Hello and welcome White Thorn Pack! I have very important news to share with you all tonight but before I tell you that I would like to introduce some of our guests. I'm sure you all have been wondering who some of the new faces in the crowd are. Visiting us is the Black Moon Alpha family: Alpha Herold Cairstay, Damon Cairstay and his mate Iris Winters." They stood up and I saw the pack tilt their head in respect.
"We also have Jayden Cairstay and his wolves visiting us as well. I'm sure you have seen him around out territory. I am truly thankful towards him for he has protected my daughter and has done everything in his ability to keep her safe." Alpha Neal nodded towards Jayden who stood alongside Damon.
"Coming to the topic of my daughter. Some of you know already that she has shifted. However what you may not know is that not only has she shifted but she is a Shifter." I heard a gasp and murmur spread in the crowd. I saw a few heads turn and I draped my hair in front of my face.
Don't hide Angel. Show them you are not scared or weak.
Jayden's voice flooded my mind and I looked up to see him smiling at me. I returned his smile and swept my hair behind my ear exposing his mark on my neck as well.
"However that is not the only reason I called this meeting." Alpha Neal said smiling at his pack mates. "Jayden. Layla. Can you please come up here."
I saw the eyes of the pack follow me and Jayden as we walked to the front and once he was near me he laced his fingers in mine sending a warm sensation throughout my body. Alpha Neal motioned us to stand beside him and we turned to face the pack.
"My daughter, Layla, has found her mate. Layla and Jayden Cairstay and are the first mated couple of the seventy-fifth Alpha family generation of the White Thorn Pack. Let this mark the day the White Thorn pack and the Black Moon pack form an allegiance and bond between our two lands!" Alpha Neal's voice echoed in the yard and the pack cheered for their Alpha. The children laughed and clapped as they watched us and some of the wolves from Northern also clapped along. Howls erupted in the background and I saw ten dark grey wolves lined along the tree line. I now knew they were the remaining wolves of the Shadows pack.
Jayden's pack.
I watched the smiles appear on the faces of my pack members and I saw my brothers, Kate, Iris, Damon, Alpha Cairstay, and Alpha Neal smiling at us.
My family stood around me and the man who I was destined to spend my life with stood beside me and watched me with pride and love in his eyes.
"To mark their union as a mated couple they will lead the pack, alongside myself, on a run to the west boundary and back." Alpha Neal's voiced ringed out and I saw many of the younger wolves shift into their wolves and being playfully biting their friend's tails and chasing their siblings who didn't shift yet. Alpha Neal walked into the crowd and a shifted shacking his golden fur and trotted towards the front where Kate waited for him. I say Iris and Damon shift and they were the only pure white and jet black wolves in the field. I saw some of the kids watching them in amazement.
"Let's go Angel." Jayden said and without saying another word he dropped down on four legs in front of me. His dark brown wolf nudged me and I walked behind a tree to shift.
Come on Angel, I've already seen everything.
Jayden's voice filled my mind and I felt my cheeks burn from remembering what he was talking about. I visualized my light brown wolf but unlike before when I shifted my wolf was taller and held an air of superiority.
I walked around the tree but when I came to the tree line where the pack had collected they all stiffened and turned to look at me.
I saw the elders lined on either side of Alpha Neal in their wolf forms but once seeing me a deep howl resonated through their throat and they brought their muzzle down the ground in front of them and hunched their shoulders forward. Alpha Neal followed and after howling up at the sky he too brought his head down. Line after line the entire pack did the same and once they all were hunched over one word came rushing into my mind.
Alpha.
A/N School is starting next week so I have been really busy. I'll try to get in more time to write and update but there are no promises. Sorry :(
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