Unrelenting Destiny [COMPLETED]

11. One at a Time

Orianna Reid-Deveraux

Orianna had been at the far northern border of Astral Twilight since the night prior. She had spent yesterday with some friends and elected to spend the night at one of their houses. Jasper had been distant since he left for Sunset Waters and it clawed at her with jealousy and anxiety. Of course, Jasper had always been faithful to her and never so much as looked in the direction of another she-wolf. But Orianna knew that their bond was fabricated and even she sometimes let her eyes wander to others. She remembered when they first created their bond four years ago, how after she was marked, they were unable to keep their hands off each other. She always wondered with faux-relief how she did not end up pregnant afterward. 

She knew Jasper didn't want pups, he had always said that Alpha Ivan would pass his position to his son and he never had to worry about becoming Alpha. Therefore, he never had the need for pups. So Orianna took measures to ensure she would never become pregnant; she did not want to be anything less than what Jasper wanted. The magical properties needed to keep a she-wolf from becoming pregnant were potent and she had made a few friends in the witch community to keep herself secretly stocked. 

It was one of these friends she had been staying with, until news of a commotion at the packhouse drew her home. She had been in a fog of wine and weed and her mindlink capabilities were weak, so she was unable to connect with Jasper. But upon arrival, the packhouse was cleared out. The scent of blood and the feeling of erraticism and fear hung in the air. As she took the few steps up to the main foyer, she saw her mate standing against the banister, looking distraught. 

Orianna moved to him, circling his broad body as his name left her lips, "Jasper?" 

The Beta turned silently and almost hesitantly hugging her back. She chalked it up to nerves as she murmured, "I don't know what happened. But I'm happy you're home."

"M-me too." He uttered, pausing as she moved to kiss him. She turned around, seeing the deserter from The Claiming hiding behind the doorway. 

Orianna's nose scrunched, "What's she doing back here?"

Jasper let her go, causing a small noise of complaint to leave her lips. The girl - what was her name? Lisa? Lizzie? - scooted behind the doorway even more, trying to hide herself, "Oh... I didn't mean to intrude..."

The small girl finally elected to stop hiding, taking a few tentative steps into the packhouse. She forced a smile as she greeted the Beta female, "Orianna, I'm Luciana if you don't remember. I never got the chance to thank you for helping me a few nights ago."

"Right, Luciana." she nodded still confused before repeating, "What are you doing back here?"

Before the girl could respond, Jasper rubbed the heel of his palm against one of his eyes, clearly flustered, "Sorry for leaving you in the truck, Luci, I just got... a lot happened."

"Luci?" Orianna scrunched her nose. Since when were they so familiar? They had only been gone two days and he was giving her nicknames? Jasper never even deemed to call her "Ori" or any other sort of pet name in the four years they had been mated.

"Luciana." Jasper corrected, exhaling in an exasperated huff. He looked between the two, one increasingly nervous and one increasingly angry, "I-"

He was cut off once again as Gamma Embry emerged from the basement, "He's in one of the cells. I have Fighter Wilson guarding him for now." The Gamma looked between the befuddled three, one brow raising in a peak, "You're the Sunset Waters she-wolf that ran from The Claiming, right? I thought Beta Jasper was supposed to drop you off there?"

"That's exactly what I was just asking." Orianna said, crossing her arms over her chest as her eyes began narrowing into an accusing glare.

"Right, I was about to-" Jasper fumbled.

"Beta Jasper? What's going on?" another voice sounded from the doorway, the four of them turning to see the return of the pack - their curiosity and concern clearly trumping his original orders. The packhouse erupted in noise, questions spouting from everyone all aimed at Jasper. 

Suddenly, the deep roar of pack royalty erupted from Beta Jasper, "Enough!"

Jasper Orion Deveraux

The pack quieted at his word, his Beta voice carrying to their ears and silencing them. But this time, it seemed a little different, more authority backing it. He looked between Luciana and Orianna, groaning inwardly. He would surely have to deal with that situation but the pack came first. Luciana seemed to understand, nodding feebly and stepping back to blend deeper into the crowd. Orianna did not seem to, however, and he turned to grumble at her, "We will talk later, Orianna." She opened her mouth to protest but his Beta voice disallowed her from doing anything but quieting down.

Jasper turned to Embry, "Gamma, assemble the pack in the pack square for address."

Within a whirlwind of moments, Jasper was standing in the pack's version of a town square, surrounded by their pack. Astral Twilight was not a big pack, but everyone gathered together made for quite the spectacle. Murmurs filled the air around them as Jasper stood next to Embry, their expressions somber as they spoke through mindlink. Orianna stood closer to him, but remained within the bulk of the pack, and Luciana stood blended in the crowd, quiet with her eyes trained on him. Truly, her gaze was the only one he seemed to feel.

Finally, Jasper addressed them, "Astral Twilight, this morning has brought us great tragedy."

"Luna Saravie, as well as her three pups, were found... murdered," The Beta squared his shoulders as gasps filled the air.

"Who did it?"

"Was it a rouge?"

"Are we safe?"

"Where's Alpha Ivan?"

Jasper raised a hand, quieting the questions as he spoke, "Gamma Embry found that the wolf who murdered them... was Alpha Ivan." He practically choked out the last words, unable to hide the disbelief and pain in his expression as the pack erupted one more in chaos.

Gamma Embry raised his voice above them, "We are unsure of why Alpha Ivan did such a thing. He seems...confused and apologetic. I personally believe that he was not in his right mind when this happened. But we have Doctor Bea and Elder Elroy with him right now trying to figure it all out."

This quieted the pack for a moment, before a question rang above them.

"So is he still our Alpha?"

Jasper froze. Truly, he hadn't even thought of that. In his mind, Ivan was still their Alpha. But after murdering his entire family, the pack clearly didn't. He understood that. His gaze found Luciana, her soft face bringing him some comfort. She offered a small encouraging smile. Suddenly, he was filled with a renewed energy, "In this time, until we figure out what had happened, I will act as Alpha, as is my duty as your Beta."

Murmurs of agreement spread throughout them, Embry placing a hand on Jasper's shoulder, "If there is no opposition, Alpha Jasper will take Ivan's place and I will take his. We will hold another address in the near future with any news we receive."

Jasper felt a shiver along his spine. Alpha Jasper. He was not at all prepared for this, but the pack's instant approval felt invigorating. He continued, "For now, the pack house is off-limits. Please filter any and all questions through Beta Embry."

The pack dispersed, still buzzing with the cascade of news they had just received. He was left there with Embry, Orianna, and Luciana once more. They walked towards the packhouse, Luci trailing behind him. As they reached the door, Embry gestured inside, "I'll stay here for now in case anyone comes to ask questions. I'll mindlink you if you're needed, Alpha."

Jasper nodded gratefully, heading inside. He was preparing to go down into the basement until Orianna finally piped up, "Hello? Are you forgetting something?"

His jaw clenched, turning to face the two. Jasper hesitantly led them deeper into the house towards the common room. Luci lingered by the doorway as Jasper looked down at Orianna. 

"What is she doing here, Jasper? You left to drop her at her own pack lands, stayed an extra day, just to bring her back here?" Orianna's tongue was sharp as she glared up at him.

Luci bit at her bottom lip, looking at Jasper. He caught her eye briefly as she shook her head, waving a small hand as if to say, It's okay.

He inhaled and exhaled. It really wasn't the time to address all of this right now. Not with a murderous ex-Alpha in the basement. Not while his true mate stood mere feet away still intoxicating him with her scent. Jasper wondered briefly in paranoia if Orianna could smell her on him.

But he continued, "Her pack banished her. I stayed an extra day trying to explain what had happened before they elected to. I was just trying to do the right thing and at least take her out of hostile territory."

Orianna softened slightly, still not 100% believing him, but she glanced between the two, "So what is she going to do now? Are you taking her in here?" Her words were twinged with jealousy, clearly hoping he would say otherwise.

Jasper puffed his chest a bit, fueled by his new Alpha status, "I have not decided, Orianna. But don't you think this situation with Luna Saravie and her pups is more pressing than a banished she-wolf?" There was a bit of a stab in his chest referring to his mate in such a way. But the way Orianna was faltering in her accusation made him believe it was necessary. He lowered his tone, "She will stay here until we figure out what happened with Ivan. And you will be a gracious host. You are acting Luna now."

Orianna perked up. She clearly hadn't thought of that. It almost hurt his chest to see her renewed hope, and even more so to see the grimace on Luci's face. He desperately wanted to comfort her, but stood fast as Orianna nodded and began turning away, "I'll set her up in one of the guest rooms then. You should go down and handle Ivan, Alpha." 

She pecked his cheek with a kiss before leading Luci away. Jasper sighed, torn and immediately regretful of his decision to continue lying to Orianna. Would it have been better for him to just come clean? Did he really want to deal with that fallout along with the mysterious murders? No, he had to stand by what he said now. There was no going back.