The Alpha's Secret Luna

13. SECRETS CAN'T HIDE FOREVER

I stood still. My heart beating in my ears. Good Goddess, take me now.

“It’s a pleasure to meet a fellow Gamma. Not many are allowed out of their pack grounds.” Iain cordially extended his hand for mine, but I couldn’t move, I willed my brain to start working to avoid suspicion, but it wasn’t cooperating. How is he here?

“Cora. Everything okay?” Penny rested a hand on my shoulder which was enough to snap me out of my state.

“Yes, sorry. Just Alpha Harrison checking in.” I lied, Penny and Carlos knew that he would periodically link with us when we were away.

“What a strong bond you must have for the link to catch you all the way out here…” Mused Marc.

“It’s not unique to Cora, Alpha Marc. Both my wife and I can connect with Alpha Harrison, it’s more a uniqueness to him than to us.” Carlos quickly interrupted. “Is something happening back home?” He was quickly concerned.

“No, all is fine. He wanted to know what our plans were for today, in preparation for his arrival.” I lied again. I must remember to mention this to Harrison so as not to raise more concern than already here. By the slight eyebrow raise of Penny’s I knew she didn’t believe me, but I would explain to her later. “I apologise for the rudeness Gamma Iain, it’s a pleasure to meet you too.” I forced every fibre of my being to shake his hand as politely as I could, and not crush his bones in my grip.

“That’s quite alright. A Gamma’s job is never done with, it’s heart warming to see another who takes their job as seriously as I do.” He ended the handshake with a firm grip and a spark went through me.

“And to meet yourself Beta Anthony.” Carlos greeted his respective role.

“Likewise.” Anthony gave a subtle nod.

“Now all the pleasantries are out the way… Penny, would you do me the utmost favour of assisting with the celebrations? We are arranging catering, decorations, entertainment and I feel a woman of your class would do wonders in bringing it all together.” Marc was laying the charm on thick. Did he know that we had found out he was hosting a huge ball?

“You give me too much credit Alpha Marc, it’s but a simple meeting between two packs. Shouldn’t be too much effort.” Penny quipped.

“Ah…” Marc rubbed the back of his neck. “Perhaps it’s time to come clean. I have a rather extravagant ball planned, and I may have accepted your visit here under a false pretence. But judging by how none of you seem shocked by this fact, you have discovered this for yourselves.”

“Your Omegas should learn to talk a little quieter if they plan on gossiping…” Penny was being cheeky herself, but keeping Marc on the defensive with charm was going to be very helpful to us for the next few days.

“I always say if you need to know something ask the omegas, they know everything.” Grinned Marc. That’s exactly what I said to Penny earlier today, was he listening in to us? Damn perhaps the paranoia really is in the air.

“I would love to assist with the party planning but every morning after breakfast I always take a stroll around the grounds, a little fresh air. If you would give myself and Cora about half an hour and I can meet your team back in the grand hall?” Penny was just as skilled in diplomacy as Carlos was, and I knew she wanted time alone with me to talk.

“For you my dear, we would wait for hours.” He charmed with a slight bow before turning his attention to Carlos. “So, Beta Carlos, perhaps you are Anthony here should be discussing security and guests arrangement?”

Carlos had a look of surprise, why was Marc being so welcoming today? “That’s a wonderful offer Alpha Marc, I would be glad to assist Anthony. Any excuse to learn some new tricks from fellow Beta’s.”

“Me and Iain here have some business to attend to, the matter of the rogue attacks recently.” Marc was really a different Alpha today. “Lyam, would you care to join us?”

“Erm…” Lyam looked lost in all of this, all he wanted was to find Alicia. “I was actually going to have a walk around the grounds, if that’s okay, my father has been training me in security, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to have a look around and help my father, and Beta Anthony, with their preparations?” That was incredibly smart and quick thinking on his side.

“What a remarkable young lad you have here!” Marc grasped Lyams shoulders. “Absolutely my boy, with all the officers due to arrive I would want my pack ship-shape and secured better than the crown jewels!” It was a delight to see the spark of the old Marc back, but it was disconcerting that it seemed to appear out of nowhere. “What beautiful teamwork we’ve started with, it soothes my worried soul. I shall meet you all at lunch.” And with another gesture of his head Marc and Iain heading to his office, with Iain lingering his eyes on me for a little longer than necessary. An act that wasn’t missed by Penny or me. Carlos kissed his wife goodbye and headed off with Anthony which left myself, Penny and Lyam.

“That… went a lot better than I thought.” Penny released a sigh of relief. “Come on then.” And she strode towards the front door with me and Lyam quickly behind.

Outside the warm sun had just started its rise into the sky, and the golden hue was breaking through the trees. The birds were awake and twittering and the Lycans of Shadow Bane were starting their days.

“What happened back there Cora?” Penny asked as she slipped her arm round mind.

“I froze.” No point keeping up the lie, Penny wasn’t going to fall for it.

“You didn’t just freeze, you stopped. You broke for a minute there.” There was a hint of concern in her voice. “Maybe you coming here was too much to ask, I know you were angry and wanted to distance yourself from what is happening back home but-”

“It’s not being here. It’s—just---I didn’t expect to run into him.” I stuttered.

“Him? Anthony or Iain? Surely you know them from your previous time here.”

“Yeah… but they weren’t the Beta and Omega then. Iain wasn’t here when I was banished.” But she didn’t know the whole of it.

“Maybe you know them better than I think?” There wasn’t a s****l connotation to her voice, more a hurt that she didn’t know me as well as she thought.

“Penny, I…” I tried to find the words.

“I’m going to go scout the grounds.” Lyam broke the silence. “I think you two need some time to talk, and I need to do something to add credence to my story. And Cora? Breathe, we will find Alicia. Or perhaps she will find me.” He added with a childish grin before heading to the far east side of the grounds to start his patrol.

“I recall the name Anthony from your stories Cora, he was a friend of Marc, and he tried it on with you once or twice before you shot that down. But you’ve never mentioned the name Iain to me. Why?” Penny didn’t break her stride or release her arm from mine.

“Because there’s parts about my past that I don’t want people to know… or truthfully parts I don’t want to remember.”

“We all have those Cora, and I won’t push you to tell me anything you don’t want to.” I could feel there was a but in her sentence. “But-“ There it was. “But you aren’t alone anymore, you aren’t that lost, lonely, scared, orphan. You have me. And Carlos, and Lyam and you have Harrison.” She squeezed my arm tenderly. “And you listen to me, you pay that little ladies claim to Harrison no mind. I see the two of you together, when you think you are alone. If I didn’t know better, I would call it the mate bond.”

“But it’s not.”

“I think that both of you are scared to admit it. You think it’s this big secret but the only two Lycans who think you don’t love each other are you two. The rest of us have figured it out.”

“Lyam said that same thing last night to me. Said he didn’t care there wasn’t a mate bond.”

“Good. And neither will I or Carlos. And damn the Guild!”

“It’s all become so complicated Penny. Marc is being accommodating all of sudden, which I don’t trust, Harrison has a mate claim and I’m back here with—”

“Him. Yes, you said. So, who is this him?” We had stopped by the woods edge and Penny had sat down on a stone bench.

“He’s…” I could not find the words. “He’s…”

“Cora.” She took my hands and squeezed. “He’s something to you, and I’m concerned. I can tell it’s a sore subject, so I won’t push the matter further, just promise me that it won’t cause issues for us?”

“It could… particularly when Harrison gets here.”

“Does Harrison know who he is?” I was concerned she would be insulted that he knew and she didn’t, but she seemed more comforted in the knowledge that at least he knew.

“Yes. But it’s going to get complicated.”

“How so?”

“I love Harrison, I do. And with the Goddess blessing I would spend the rest of my life with him. I thought it was the mate bond, but it just felt distant. Like there was something in the way.” She didn’t say a word, just a smile when I said I loved him. “I thought that perhaps it was because of my past, that I was distancing myself from him.”

A couple of kids ran by on their way to school who gave me funny looks which is when I noticed I was crying.

“Why is it more difficult to tell you than to tell Harrison?”

“Because you love me more.” She shrugged. “Oh Cora, distancing yourself from past trauma is understandable. It’s not like you have a mate bond holding you back?” She laughed and I stayed silent. “You have a mate?” She let go of my hands sharply.

“Had.” I corrected.

“No not had Cora, because if you had a mate, you could find a second. If you have a mate, you won’t.” Sparks of electricity sputtered around her fingertips, a sign when she was getting livid. Then she realised. “Iain?! Iain is your mate?!”

“Penny please don’t shout.”

“I will bloody shout if I want to! Iain is your mate; you didn’t tell me, your best friend, and if Harrison knows how in the Goddess green earth is Iain still alive?” The sparks grew wilder.

“Because he is supposed to be dead!” I spat at her.

“Oh, and how do you suppose that one?” She screamed at me.

“Because I’m the one who killed him!”