Chapter 44 Guilty Conscience
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I lowered my head in defeat as I accepted Beta Don's words. "This is why I told you that night at the Lone Wolf that she would have been better off without me as her mate. My world is too dangerous for a soul as innocent as hers. The official news of Adeline being my mate isn't public yet, and she's already been put in danger. Can you imagine how much worse it will get once the news is out?"
Beta Don nodded sympathetically for a moment until I felt a fire of determination ignite within him. "You're wrong, Jax. She's your mate. You deserve her as much as she deserves you. You've done so much for Midnight Moon; it's time you had your little piece of happiness too."
I reached out and took Adeline's still hand in mine, taking time to recognize how small it was pressed against mine. I was grateful for Beta Don's supportive presence and for staying with me as I just watched my mate. "That's what the problem is, Don. Not everyone gets their happily ever after." My wolf was disgusted with the words that had escaped me, growling in frustration at how I could think of our bond with so little confidence.
"You underestimate her. This isn't the world she knows; she's still adapting to this new life of being mated with an Alpha. I've seen how protective she is of those she cares about. I've also seen her commitment shine through on more than one occasion. She has what it takes to be Luna of Midnight Moon. I think she's even good for your wolf." Feeling his nerves in the air, he stood up from his chair and walked toward the broken bay window. "There's no way this was a freak accident either. Someone is out to get her, and I suggest you find out who the mole is sooner rather than later."
I could feel the love he had for Adeline. It made my wolf agitated with his presence in the room with Adeline and me. He was clawing to come out, still recovering from the events that had unfolded. I assumed that now that she carried our mark, it only made him more possessive over what was his. I pushed down his erratic jealous behavior, knowing that Beta Don cared about her well-being first and foremost as his Luna.
He was right about everything he had said. I found myself eager to listen to advice, which was out of the ordinary for me. Before I met Adeline, my word was law. I wondered if being mated to her was making me softer or more understanding in some way. I mind linked Sophia to meet me in my bedroom. I had matters to attend to, but there was no chance I was going to leave my mate alone to wake up.
A comfortable silence sat in the room. I knew Beta Don was struggling with his thoughts as much as I was with mine. I took the time to glare at my mate, memorizing each of her perfect features. In such a short time, this woman had me wrapped around her finger, and I was strangely content with it.
A light knock came from the other side of the bedroom door. "Jax, it's me. You called for me?" a familiar friendly voice echoed through the door. Beta Don turned from the window he had been staring at and trudged toward the door while turning the knob gently. Sophia's bright smile morphed into a sorrowful, dejected frown. Water formed in her eyes, and I could feel her heartbreak in my chest. I stood up, letting go of my mate's hand, and paced toward her, taking her in my arms. The water in her eyes turned into full tears as she sobbed into my chest. "What happened to her? Who did this?" she asked, letting out a panicked sob.
I rubbed my hand down the back of her head and stroked her hair, attempting to calm my sister down. I took a deep breath and whispered, "...rogues." She shot a look up at me, waiting for me to explain further. I could feel her body trembling in fear as the word "rogue" left my lips. "The border was secured. Beta Don and I both made sure of it. I told Adeline to wait in my bedroom until I returned, but a rogue somehow broke through the window and attacked her. She was losing blood fast; I had no choice but to mark her," I said softly, trying to keep my sister calm. She stood there stunned, and I could feel her heartbeat pick up pace. "We're going to figure it out, Soph. I need you to be strong for me. Can you be strong for me?"
Sophia's eyes hardened as I stared at her while flashbacks from the day my father died replayed in my head. I knew she was having those same haunting images too. "I need you to stay with her for now until I get to the bottom of this. If she wakes up, I need you to mindlink me. The pack doctor will be back soon to observe her. No one else is to enter this room, Sophia. Understood?" I warned. She gave me an understanding nod, still wrapped in my arms, and said, "I won't leave her side, Jax. I promise."
I waited for Sophia to get comfortable in the chair beside my bed and let out a low growl toward Beta Don. "Let's go." I was determined to piece together how this rogue got through my border and harmed my mate. If the rest of the pack knew about this incident, it would undoubtedly strike fear among the wolves. Fear made people weak. I didn't need weak wolves under these unknown circumstances.
Beta Don and I made our way to my office, my strides clearly longer than his. "I want two guards stationed outside my bedroom door at all times," I demanded. Whoever was out for Adeline's blood wasn't going to stop until they had her, and I was determined not to let anyone or anything get to her.
We pushed back the door to my office with such force it almost flew off the hinges. I paced toward my desk and pounded my fist down on it as if I were losing control of my anger. I cracked my neck from left to right in an attempt to calm myself and walked around the desk, sitting abruptly into my chair.
Beta Don closed the door behind him. "My bedroom needs to be cleaned up, and the window needs to be replaced before Adeline wakes up. She'll be even more scared if she sees the room in that condition. You are to monitor the work and you will not leave her alone until all the jobs are complete," I said, holding unwavering authority in my voice. "The Alpha meeting scheduled for tonight is canceled. Send my regrets to the other Alphas. It will now be a lunch set for tomorrow at noon," I proceeded and watched him bow his head as if checking off boxes mentally.
He placed his hand under his chin as if concentrating. "What is it, Don?" I scoffed, my voice tense. "With all due respect, sir, you marked Adeline, sir. The announcement needs to be made sooner rather than later," he said worriedly, as wrinkles formed across his forehead.
I had been so wrapped up in my mate possibly dying that I hadn't thought about that. As an Alpha, there were few secrets I could keep that impacted the pack. The pack would already have to adjust to taking a new Luna, and it would only get worse if I kept it waiting longer.
"Tomorrow. Tomorrow, once I announce that I will not be taking Beverly as a mate to the Alphas, the announcement goes out. Once Adeline wakes up and I have a chance to speak with her, we will proceed with the official announcement of her being my fated mate and future Luna of Midnight Moon," I responded. An unusual tinge of pride formed through my chest at the thought of Adeline finally being announced as my mate.
Footsteps pounded down the hallway, growing louder with each stride. I glanced over at the clock on the wall and noticed that an hour had already passed—undoubtedly, the worst hour of my life as I waited in limbo to see if the marking was working.
I assumed Beta Don's sharp wolf ears had heard the footsteps as well because he quickly turned on his heels and left the room, leaving the door open.
A terrified Asher stood in the doorway, head bowed submissively. "Alpha Jaxon, you said you wished to speak with me," he said slowly, clasping his hands together.
"Proceed," I grumbled, watching his every move as he entered my office.
I rubbed my index finger across my lips and examined the body language of the frightened guard standing before my desk. "How did you get to the packhouse so quickly?" I snapped, still focused on his demeanor. My wolf growled deeply. Something about him was leaving me with a sinister feeling.
"I swear to you, Alpha Jaxon, I waited for the orders dismissing me. M-my mom, I knew, she was in the packhouse," he said, pausing between his words. I was getting annoyed because the man who stood before me was supposed to be a guard, yet he looked close to soiling himself from fear.
He unclasped his hands and rubbed them on the side of his jeans; it was evident that his palms were wet with sweat. I nodded understandingly and kept my tone sharp. "Continue."
"After I found my mom and knew she was safe, I made my way upstairs to search for Beta Don. I was going to ask him for the night off, sir. I've done a few extra shifts this week and thought I could take a night off to spend time with my family. My mom was frantic after the attack," he explained, and I noticed his upper lip quivering.
My eyes hardened as I focused on him while he continued, "I came up the stairs and heard glass shatter, then a female scream... I ran into your bedroom thinking it was Luna Beverly, and I—I'm sorry, Alpha. I know it was not my place to enter your private quarters, but I reacted in the moment to keep the Luna safe. When I entered, I saw the rogue attached to Adeline's leg, so I shifted and rushed to peel him off her," he mumbled frantically.
I stood from my chair and moved toward him. "Why was my bedroom door locked, Asher?" I scolded, my Alpha aura clearly radiating.
He dropped to his knees and clasped his hands together as if begging for his life. "I don't know, Alpha. I'm so sorry. It must have locked behind me. Please, Alpha, don't kill me."
I could smell his guilty conscience; I was sure the entire pack could. Something was terribly wrong.
"Jax! Hurry, she's awake!" Sophia shrieked through the mind link.
