The Alpha's Secret Luna

16. A HOPE IN HELL

I shouldn’t have been surprised as I was by Harrison’s question, but I sat there in a state of shock. He really was prepared to fight to the death for me.

“Killing Iain may be easier said than done Harrison. I explained to Cora earlier that if he has made a deal with a demon or devil, he may have been granted eternal life. We could kill him over and over again and he would just be resurrected, we would need to find and kill his benefactor.” Penny, being our resident witch, was going to be a sole source of knowledge in the ways of warlocks. Witches could take their powers from demons and devils as well, but those kinds were killed off years ago as they had become monsters. Power fuelled creatures who used the devils of the underworld to do their dirty work, the witches were in a thousand-year war with each other before they were finally wiped out. The warlocks never cared much as to who did what, just do what you wanted and sod those who get hurt. Warlocks came to Penny’s coven when she was a child and slaughtered every last woman, man and child. To say she despised them with her very soul was an understatement. She was found as a baby not far from Twin Falls territory, this was one of the reasons we got along so well together. Both orphans of war beyond our control and both with extraordinary powers beyond our means. Penny was a very skilled young witch, and it didn’t take long for Harrison’s father, Alpha Theodore, to take great interest in her advancement. Partnered with her incredible sense of caring, and tutelage under some of the greatest minds she grew to be a formidable woman, and a frighteningly talented witch.

“How do we find out his benefactor?” Harrison quizzed.

“That is relatively easy. Iain would carry something; a pendant, ring, charm, that would be inscribed with the insignia of his benefactor. We find the item we know our target.” Penny was brilliant.

“Simple enough, then we need to find his benefactor.”

“That is where things get complicated. And dangerous.”

“Let’s not forget the other option here.” Carlos interjected. “About getting Iain to reject the bond.”

“I doubt he will go for that one Dad; we can’t walk up to him and say, ‘you know your mate that killed you years ago, yeah she’s still alive and in love with our Alpha so do you fancy rejecting the bond?’” It was uncharacteristically like Lyam to be so defeatist or sarcastic. I had a feeling that all this was putting him on edge with his mate being so close. “Why can’t Cora just reject him?”

“Because the rejection has to be accepted, if he isn’t going to reject her then he damn sure won’t accept her rejection. And I’m trying to come up with options that isn’t us diving headfirst into hell to kill an ungodly demon, which has never been done before!”

“Then make the options realistic at least!” This was definitely not like them to be this on edge with each other.

“We’re all on the same side here. Let’s explore all possibilities.” Harrison eased the tension slightly.

“If we go down that road dearest, we will need Iain to be exact with his wording. If he doesn’t say it right, then it won’t work.” Penny comforted her husband who was still glaring at his son. “He would need to say her full name and state he rejects her, and then Cora accepts it.”

“And to do that we would have to announce who she is to him, and as Lyam said I doubt he will so freely reject her.” Harrison slumped back in his seat, debating the options.

“What if we tricked him?” Carlos had an idea. “Hear me out before you look at me like that Harrison.”

“This will be good.” Lyam’s sarcasm started to grate on his mother who sent a small bolt of thunder at his head.

“Thank you. He doesn’t actually have to say the words to her, just has to say them for someone to hear. If we find a way to get him to say ‘Cora Evergreen, I reject you as my mate’ then it’s possible.”

“And how do you propose us doing that?” Harrison rubbed his fingers against his temples, all of this was getting more confusing. He just wanted to kill the bastard and be done with it.

“Get him talking about her, he strikes me as a man whose focus is on his appearance. If people here know that Cora was his mate, then he must have told a story about why he left her. He wouldn’t be able to hold his head up high if he told the truth that he’s an abusive bastard who got what was coming to him and his mate stabbed in the heart and ran away! I’d say he created a story probably along the lines that she died, or he found someone new. Some bullshit like that anyway.”

“That… is actually pretty smart Dad.”

“Then all Cora has to do is accept his rejection. You’ve been awfully quiet Cora, what do you think?” Harrison placed a hand on my knee, but I was off in my own little world. All of them here were prepared to go to the ends of the earth for me, but I knew him rejecting me wouldn’t work. He would have to state my real name, Cora Evergreen would do no good. Of course, none of them knew that Iain didn’t even know. Could it work if he called me by the name he believed?

Cassie, are you okay?

No Cora, I most definitely am not.

“Cora? What are you thinking about?” Harrison tapped his fingers.

“That it all seems impossible.” And it did. The best option was actually the worst one, finding a way to kill an unkillable demon.

“I know it feels like it my love, but there is a way.” His smile did little to reassure me. “I will search our records to see if there is anything written about demons in there. We might get lucky. Penny, can I ask you to use your feminine mystique, or your talents, to see if there is any footing on Carlos’ idea? If we can get him talking about Cora, we may have a chance to do this quickly.”

“I’m sure I know a trick or two to try.” Penny had an evil smile, I kind of wanted to know what she was thinking of doing but decided it was best to have plausible deniability.

“Lyam. You just stay close to Cora; I don’t want her alone in this place.” It wasn’t a request from Harrison, more an Alpha command.

There was a knock at the door before Lyam could respond, Penny got up to answer it.

“Hello?” Before Penny stood a young Omega, no older than 17.

“Good afternoon, ma’am. I’ve been sent to come gather you all for lunch. Alpha’s orders.” She made a slight bow and scurried away.

“I forgot about that; I suppose we should keep up appearances. It gives me a chance to try one of my tricks I was thinking about…” Penny was lost in her little daydream.

“That sounds like fun.” Carlos nudged his son, as they shared a thought about not wanting to piss her off.

“Will Iain be there?” Harrisons grip on my leg tightened slightly, he released when I rested my hand on his.

“Marc’s behest, him, Iain, and Anthony with all of us.” Carlos answered.

“Perhaps it’s best that Cora remain here, just for today. It seems pulling you through took a lot out of her, and we won’t be lying to them when we say she isn’t feeling well.” Penny was a life saver; I was dreading having to sit down and share a meal with them but couldn’t find a way to say that without sounding like I was chickening out.

“That is a sound idea Penny, thank you. I shall talk to you all either tonight or tomorrow depending on how we all get on.” Harrison got up to say farewell to them all, but Lyam stayed.

“Shouldn’t I stay here. Keep an eye on Cora as you asked?” Lyam realised his foolish question halfway through asking, even without his mother’s widened look. “Actually, I’m a little hungry. I’m sure she’ll be safe here for a little bit.” He quickly got up and ran out the door.

“I’ll stay for a while, make sure Cora gets her strength back before having to send me home.” He rested his hand on my shoulder, and I was grateful to have a moment alone with him.

“I’ll get a plate made up for you Cora and bring it by later.” Penny gave me a peck on the cheek, and I noticed her sly smile, before she headed out with her husband.

Harrison bolted the door shut and heading back over to me. He knelt down in front of me and took my hands in his.

“I promise you we will make it through this.” He nuzzled his face into my hands.

“I wish I never came back here.” Tears brimmed in my eyes. “I wish everything wasn’t so complicated, I’m scared Harrison. Scared that Iain is going to figure it all out and steal me away, he won’t reject me himself nor accept my rejection.”

“Then I’ll take you as my own, he can’t do anything about that.”

“But the Guild can. They will not condone you claiming me when I’m an invalid mate, not with a mate claim against you already. We’d be outcasts, ostracised. We would both lose Twin Falls, you’d be stripped of your Alpha title, and we’d be nomads. Doomed to wander with no home.” It all came crashing down on me, I wanted to run away in a deep, dark, hole somewhere in the world and waste the last of my life.

“You listen to me.” He took my face and held it close to his. “I will never let you go. Never. If we can find a way that keeps us all together that’s fan-bloody-tastic. But if the only way we can be together is by just us, then I have no concerns that all of Twin Falls would be behind us. My father would go back to being Alpha, Penny and Carlos would keep the pack running and Lyam would grow to be a fine Gamma. I know you’ve lost 2 homes already, and do not want to lose a third. But let me be your home. You will never lose me.” He kissed me gently. “You hold my heart, my hopes, my life in your hands. You are strong, you are loved, and you are the best goddamn Gamma I’ve ever had. You are not one to run from a fight Cora, and I speak for both me and Conor that we would hunt you down to the ends of the earth should you run away from us.” He flashed that wicked grin again, Conor was his wolf half and I saw his eyes spark in Harrison’s.

If they weren’t so hopelessly in love with us, I would take that as a threat.

I’m sorry Cora. I haven’t asked how you feel in all this?

Iain has no wolf Cassie, the only one I’ve ever bonded with is Conor. To leave him would take a part of me that couldn’t be replaced.

Hold on a second…. The Guild can’t fight that!

What do you mean?

“Harrison, Cor-Cassie just made a valid point.” I nearly slipped up calling her the wrong name, it got confusing at times. “Iain isn’t a wolf.” He looked at me blankly. “He never mated with her! The bond exists between her and Conor!” I was excited, how had I never thought of that before?

“The Guild can’t stop our claim then!”

“No, but we would need to be rehearsed in the bylaws just in case they throw something back at us. When you research demons could you check to see if there is anything on non-Lycan mates?”

“Absolutely. You, my love, are a genius.” He showered me in kisses.

“It’s Cassie that deserves your praise.” I said between them all.

“Thank you, Cassie. I’ll leave Conor to convey our thanks better whereas I have you here.” He grinned and lifted me up, I comfortably wrapped my legs around him and let him carry me to the bed.

Thank you, Cora.

Thank you, Cassie. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to relish in the praise of my mate. Goddess, I love this wolf.

I laughed to myself as I felt her break the link and go off with Conor, and I was left with Harrison who was currently kissing down my neck, his hand working his way underneath my top.

Goddess, I love this man.