Chapter 24

***Julia POV (con't)***

I started to protest, and I pushed my hands against Reece’s chest. But stopped when my palms seemed to hit steel. His pectoral muscles were so well defined I could trace them through his shirt, had I wanted too. The biceps that cradled me close were equally well defined.

I suddenly realised my palms were flat against his chest. I pulled them back, muttering an apology. We stopped outside a door, not more than a few minutes later. Rather than putting me down, Reece asked a young girl, who had on an omega’s uniform, if she could open the door.
The young girls smile was radiant, as she did the Alpha’s bidding.

'Thank you, Shelly.’ He said, pleasantly. Then he continued into the most beautiful bedroom I had ever been inside.
Reece lowered me down, and I stood on a plush white carpet. The room was done out in white and gold. The huge four poster bed that dominated the room, had meters of white, mixed with gold material hanging from the rails, then down into curtains that were fastened on each post with a long gold ribbon.


It was such an elegant and feminine room. I turned toward Reece, with a puzzled expression on my face.
Seeing me frown he jumped to the wrong conclusion and started rambling about a different room, or a bigger room. I laughingly stopped him. Trying to ease his anxiety.


‘Reece, please, slow down. There is nothing wrong with this room. It’s the most beautiful room I’ve ever stood in. I’m just confused. I’m a rogue. I thought I would be, I don’t know, like your prisoner; or something…’
My words died out at the shear look of anguish that crossed his face.


‘Julia. My lady. You are not a rogue. How could you be. You are home. This is your pack. I know you don’t believe me. I get that you think I’m pulling some kind of stunt. But I can guarantee I’m not. I am hoping, that now you are here, at home. You will start to understand. And perhaps over time, come to accept us, as your pack, your family.’
It was when Reece had started talking about this place being my home, that he picked up my hand and held it against his chest. I looked at him. He seemed to be in earnest. But I was just so confused.


He told me, softly. That he was going to leave me rest and headed for the door. That’s when I remembered the man downstairs. The one he had called Steven.
‘Alpha, what did your man, Steven, mean about it not being the first time. When I accidentally spat my water over him?’
Reece just smiled. A warm, confident, almost caring smile. As he softly closed the door.


***Jackson POV***

Everything was set up. Eva will meet me at the second stop of the trip. Dan will bring her, then we will all double back to the hotel. Dan in his room, Eva and I in another. Where I will finally mark her. Knowing that everything was set up, I went downstairs for breakfast.


I entered the breakfast room, got myself some food from the sideboard and went to sit with my family. The breakfast room was not as big as the main dining room in the pack house. Nonetheless, it was always well stocked with food and drinks. I waved to a few of my friends, including Dan. As I reached the family table, where my mother sat, I saw my father rise.
As usual, everyone else in the room rose, as a mark of respect. I then watched my father completely ignore me. And walk out of the room.

I threw my plate onto the table then flung myself into a chair.
My mother only glanced my way for a second, then looked away. That didn’t mean she was going to stay out of my head though. On cue, I heard her voice. ‘I don’t appreciate the behaviour, Jackson. You are a grown man. Not a pup. You will demonstrate decorum whilst in the presence of your fellow wolves. Don’t make me tell you again. Do I make myself clear?’


I just nodded. I was acting like a spoiled brat, and I knew it. I didn’t want to go on this stupid trip to bring back my rejected mate. It was a ludicrous plan. Out loud my mother said quietly, ‘he is still very upset. Just give him a little time. I know he will be pleased and forgive you, when you bring Julia Mason home.’


My mother rose from her chair, popped a kiss on the top of my head and told me to be outside in an hour. The cars would be waiting.
An hour later, I walked out of the packhouse and looked around to see if I could see Eva, who had told me she would see me off. But there was no sign of her, probably for the better. My stomach was already in knots. I hated this, but I could not. would not, disrespect my father, in front of the whole pack.

My father stood next to my mother as I got into the car. I wasn’t driving, instead, I was in a car with two warrior class wolves. And my fathers Beta, Terry Kingsley. There was a car in front and a car behind. Although my mother had assured me that getting Julia Mason back, would be as easy as asking for her. I couldn’t help but feel that there was going to be trouble. Hence all the warriors around me.


I could look after myself, as future Alpha, I was one of the strongest fighters in the pack, but also, as the future Alpha, I couldn’t put myself in harms way. I was my fathers only heir.
I looked back at my family as the cars moved off, my father had already left. My mother waved once, and she too, was gone.


Terry opened up a large folder, retrieving a heap of papers out from it. I assumed they were just his paper work. I was wrong. Before we had even left the Moons Wane packlands, Terry was already showing me my fathers plans for the trip. Right down to the food budget we had been assigned. I closed my eyes, briefly.


This was going to be a long, couple of days.
I could see in the plans that the first night, or tonight, we will be stopping in a small town. The town sat exactly half way between our pack, and Alpha Reece Cunningham’s pack. Stopping in this town, tonight, would allow us to stop in a motel within the Blood Oath Packs borders, the second night.


Which in turn, should then allow us to arrive at their pack house, fresh and ready to fight, metaphorically speaking. Knowing I would not be around for that part of my father’s plan, made my stomach twist. I tried to ask Obsidian something, but the wolf wasn’t talking to me. It had been radio silence from him for a few days now. I hated having my soul-sharer ignore me.


I just figured, as I will be upsetting more and more people over the next few days. What did adding my soul-sharer to that list, mean, anyway. They’ll all get over it. When I present my Luna-to-be, to everyone. It would calm everyone down. And my father will see that, as the future Alpha of our pack. How committed I am to doing it right. With my chosen Luna at my side.


For the first time, ever. I felt an unfamiliar sensation, that I was not doing the right thing. The feeling lasted a millisecond. But it was the first doubt I had experienced since I chose Eva to be my Luna.
That was weird, but not weird enough for me to fret about it. The next thought I had, made the previous one vanish. After stopping a few times, to stretch our legs, we were finally only half hour away from Midway Town. The smell of smoke and burning rubber hit my nose a few seconds before it hit the others in the car.


The driver radioed the other cars. Everyone could smell the same thing. It didn’t take us long to realise why we could smell the awful mixture.
Something was very wrong, in the town of Midway. I linked my parents, immediately. Ordered the cars to get as close as it was safe to be. Once we had pulled over, I watched in horror as a five story building, toppled down.

Crashing and landing on vehicles and people, alike.
I started shouting, to my men. And we all rushed toward the disaster that was unfolding, right in front of us.