Chapter One-hundred-and-eight: The Alpha returns

“I want all of the ranked members and my family in the meeting room in twenty minutes. I expect you all to be there on time.” He says, then cuts off the mind link, probably blocking anything from coming in.

I instantly feel a few connections coming in to me, even from those who didn’t know I was back. I block them out, not wanting to reveal what’s happening. I look to Lukas and can tell he’s done the same.

Lukas looks at me with a determined look on his face. “Let’s go see what they have to say.”

I smile and nod, and he holds his hands out, willing for me to take it, which I do instantly. I feel the tingling sensation run up my arms, Athena purring in the back of my mind.

We start walking, slow at first so he can get his legs used to working properly again. We then head down the stairs until we reach the bottom floor, heading out the door. We see Doctor Lowe on the way out who looks amazed that Lukas is walking without issues.

I shrug and we continue, knowing Lukas is fine and I’d be able to feel if he wasn’t. I can feel my power giving him strength, just as he gives me strength being with him.

We continue to walk out of the hospital and we head straight to the pack house. We get several pack members who have to do a double take on Lukas and I see most of them widen their eyes as they realise. They bow their head and shout to their Alpha, surprised to see him up and walking when not too long ago they were preparing for his funeral.

“Alpha Lukas. We’re glad to see you back.”

“Alpha, Thank the Moon Goddess.”

Among lots of others sending their prayers and thanks to the Moon Goddess that she returned him. I say or do nothing, even when Lukas looks down at me. None of them have to know it was me that wished it.

We make it to the pack house around thirty minutes later. Lukas looks up at it before sighing and pushing forward without saying a word. We head into the meeting room that was the largest, knowing this is where everyone would have congregated.

We enter the room and most of the members there gasp loudly. I drop Lukas’ hand, knowing he’s about to get bombarded, and I’m not wrong.

I hear a wail, and I see Melinda get up and run to her son, hugging him relentlessly. She has to pull away to check that it’s definitely him, crying and kissing him on his cheeks. I smile, seeing that she’s happy.

Markus looks over to me and nods his head, thanking me silently. He walks over and pry’s Melinda away from him to hug him. Mandy and Loretta stand up and rush over to him, all of them joining in a group hug.

Lukas wriggles himself out after a few minutes.

“Please sit down, Mother. I’ll still be here.” He says with a chuckle.

She scolds him. “You were dead, of course I’m not going to let you out of my sight for the rest of my life!”

He looks to me for help but I shrug at him. Melinda looks to me and her eyes become slits.

“This is your doing, isn’t it?” She asks and I nod.

She moves to me and squeezes me in a Motherly hug. “Thank you, sweet girl.” She whispers to me, and I can feel the tears on my cheek as she hugs me.

I look around the room to those who have not made a move. The Elders are in deep thought, no doubt. I see Elder Wyatt looking at me, curious. It seems they were probably unsure what I meant when I said he was back, I guess they didn’t expect him to be back in the flesh. I take a mental note to apologise to them later about not explaining it all.

Blaine, Estelle, Albion and Nina are looking at Lukas with relief. They know that a lot would have been put on their shoulders if Lukas had not returned, but also because their friend is back. I see Blaine nod at me with a smile across his face.

I turn my view to Lukas who is looking around the room, with his mum and sisters still by his side. He greets everyone, then his eyes turn to Nolan, who has Rochelle on his lap, smiling at her uncle. I notice she is much bigger from the new-born I had met months ago. She has jet black hair like her Mother and a cute Sunflower dress on.

He looks to me then to Mandy.

“No, surely not.” I hear him whisper. Mandy grips onto his arm tighter.

“I wanted to tell you brother. But you were taken. I’m sorry I didn’t mention anything before.” She says sadly.

He looks down at his sister and cups her chin. “No one knew. Tell me her name.” He asks softly, kissing her forehead.

“Rochelle. We called her Rochelle Vivian.”

Lukas’ smile lights up the room. He removes himself from his family’s embrace and walks towards baby Rochelle, well who wasn’t so much of a baby anymore.

Nolan stands and bows to his Alpha, and Lukas pats him on the shoulder. He then looks down at the little girl who is looking at Lukas curiously.

Lukas makes a face to her and she smiles, a giggle following after. Lukas, with Nolan’s permission, takes Rochelle and lifts her in the air, a small joyful screech coming out of her mouth as he does. Lukas turns to me with a huge smile.

He continues to hold Rochelle in his arms as he comes back to stand beside me.

“Please take your seats. The Luna and I shall stand.” He requests, and everyone returns to their seats, sitting down, whilst he holds onto the baby who is looking at all the members in front of them, enjoying the front row seat.

“I reckon you’re all wondering how I’m here and not…well dead.” He starts. Silence ensues so he continues.

He looks to me and smiles. “The Luna here has told me she’s told you everything, or at least nearly everything. She was granted a wish from the God named Zeus. She asked for me to return to the living from Selene, our Moon Goddesses realm. She did so with risks to her gifts.” He says, not giving any further details about my immortality.

“The main thing though, is that it’s time to start getting things back to normal, starting with the Moon funeral…”

He continues to go through a list of tasks needing done, delegating things to his beta and Gamma, or to the Elders depending on the task. He says nothing more about his death or what happened when before or after he died which I know the Elders will no doubt be wondering about.

“I must say though, that I am disappointed in you all. No one stepped up to take the Alpha position, even in standing, when I was taken.” He says, causing surprise amongst those present. He looked at Blaine.

“You are my Beta. You’ve been trained to take over when needed.” He looks to his Father. “You should have stepped up.” He stops, knowing that his Father did try. He shakes his head.

“Look, I know it’s difficult when an Alpha dies, especially as we’re close knit, but I didn’t for a second think you’d all succumb to sadness that you’d fail at the most important thing. The pack. It comes first. We are family, yes, but the pack is also our family.” He says, causing a few of them to bow their heads in shame.

He continues. “However, we’ll start incorporating this into Alpha and ranked member training. There needs to be someone to take over when the worst happens. I will not have it happen again on my watch.” He states, finishing the conversation there.

There is silence for a few moments. Then Blaine stands, bowing.

“I am sorry Alpha. You are of course right. Albion and I should have stepped up.” He starts, but then looks around the room. “The fight was so sudden and the pack was in turmoil. A lot of our warriors died, you were taken.” He looks to me and I signal for him to continue, knowing I was also not in a great state back then. “Our Luna was also not completely here. A part of her was missing. You have to understand Alpha, your disappearance was a catastrophe. You’re a big part of our lives. But we will be ready, Goddess forbid if it does happen again, with your guidance.”

Lukas sighs and nods, accepting what happened. “We’ll focus on this over the coming weeks. Now, I’ll ask you to fulfil the tasks I’ve given you.” He looks to the Elders.

“My Luna tells me that the elven Elder, Liandor has come to you. What did he request?”

Elder Wyatt stands to respond. “He’s requested to stay on pack lands. I am aware there are others who would like to request this also.” He pauses a second, then continues. “This of course is up to you, Alpha.” He finishes.

Lukas looks down to me then back to the room. “If my Luna approves them, then I’m happy.”

Elder Wyatt looks to me for an answer and I think for a moment. “Elder Liandor should be welcomed here with opened arms. He’s experienced a lot and I’ve no doubt he’d be an asset to the pack. I’d like the Elders to consider adding him to their Elder circle.” The Elders listen to me and say nothing, so I continue. “As for the others, I believe our pack can welcome them in. I doubt very much that any of the vampires would want to stay, but as for the other elves and witches, we can get along with them and learn some things from them. Only if they wish to stay though. If not, they are free to leave.”

Lukas looks around the room. “The Luna has spoken. Elders, take these words and write them into our pack law books. The borders are no longer closed, however anyone crossing them will need to have a details history rundown and personal check.”

“Yes Alpha, Luna.” Elder Wright responds, taking a note on a notepad he’s pulled from somewhere.

I smile, feeling a sense of relief that Lukas is being more relaxed with the pack borders, despite what’s happened here and what he’s been through.

“Before you go.” He starts questioning the room as everyone is standing. Every turns their heads to their Alpha.

“Where is Hugo being held?”