The Alpha's Claimed Mate

Chapter 10: A Force To Be Reckoned with

--Jeremy--

We were at the edge of the woods. "Come out from your spots of hiding, Rogues!" Slowly, one by one, they came out. There were probably about forty-five. Their spokesperson stepped forward to meet me. His eyes were mere slits, his coat muddy and shaggy, his appearance completely rugged. "Who are you?" I growled as he stepped forward. He bowed low, and others followed. Usually, that was a sign of respect and greeting from rogues to Alphas. This time, I suspected it wasn't such.

"Young Alpha Jeremy, James, Winters. Pleasure to see you. I've been watching you as your pack grows. I left you alone, but now, you have something of ours," he said in a silky voice with an underlying growl. I was confused. We didn't have anything of theirs. "What do we have that belongs to you? As far as I know, there's nothing."

He laughed. "We want the girl." His tone went dark. "Marietta. Belongs to us."

I tensed and growled. "She's mine!" Again, he laughed, a wild look in his eyes.

"Marietta is not yours. She is ours. Her mother promised her to us when she turned eighteen." I scoffed.

"Likely story. Her mother's dead and she ain't eighteen yet." He stepped forward, getting dangerously close.

"Master Winters, the girl's mother is in your pack. She is Thomas Goldfrost's father's mate. Marie Hazel Bloodmoon, only she don't go by Bloodmoon now. She is my sister. We aren't rogues, but of the Golddust pack. Give us the girl, or you'll die."

"Actually, Brother, he won't." A new voice, female, piped up behind me. Dammit! I told them to stay behind! He looked in surprise. "When I promised her to you, it was ONLY if I died and ONLY to train her. Recently, I learned that I could never die, so you won't get her. Plus, she's mated to the Alpha here, allowing him to live for eternity." Having said her piece, she lunged for him. Had Marietta known? Surely not, or she would have told me.

Mary, your mother is alive.

I know. I just found out and was going to tell you when you got back. That means Thomas is my step-brother. Damn, life's complicated.

I turned off the connection and back to the matter at hand. I noticed that wolves from both sides were struggling to pull the two siblings away. Suddenly, he was dead and she emerged the victor. This resulted in several people calling her their new alpha. She looked confused. "Has father died? He was Alpha last I knew."

Several nodded then one spoke up. "Alpha, your father died last week which is why your brother had only now come for the girl." Thomas and his father glanced at each other, before his father spoke up. "So, that means we are over your pack? What does this mean for my son, who's already beta to this pack?"

Marie sighed before turning to me. "What would you have me do, James?"

"Hazel, if you want Thomas to go with you, I can have another as beta. It will be okay. You'll want to say goodbye to your daughter, Marietta, though." I regretted saying that when a look of pain crossed her face. She nodded then looked at her husband. "Go ahead honey. We don't need to be leaders of a pack. Do what you think is best," he said softly to whatever she said through their mate-bond.

She nodded and turned to her pack. "As Luna, I resign as leader of the Golddust pack, turning it over to Jeremy Winters."

That wasn't what I'd expected. They all looked at me while I debated it. "Okay." I said, accepting the position.

The small pack followed me back to the manor and the surrounding houses. The manor itself had two hundred bedrooms. The four hundred surrounding houses had about four bedrooms each. We were like our own village. There was even a bar, a general store, and a doctors office. Those who didn't want to live there, lived in pack territory elsewhere throughout the eight states. We had about nine packs merged with our pack. It was huge and a force to be reckoned with. Mama used to say "A pack on a mission is a force to me reckoned with."

As soon as we got back, she ran down the stairs to greet us. Seeing me, she flung herself into my arms as I lifted her up and spun her around. Several chuckled then called her name. Seeing one who looked identical to her mother. Padding over to him, she sat down.

His head bowed, "Luna Marietta."

She c****d her head. "You know me, but who are you?"

Her mother stepped beside her. "This is your Uncle Baitey, my twin brother."

That explained why he looked just like her in wolf form. Everybody was ushered into the Winters Manor to get some fresh clothing, food, and get cleaned up before finding a place to stay. The women rushed out to greet the visitors.

Suddenly, a growl came from behind us. "Mine!" She whirled to see Uncle Baitey going to my twenty-five year old aunt, Autumn. We laughed, knowing she'd found her mate.

About two weeks later, I snuck up on Marietta sitting in the gardens talking to her mother while the five children slept. Suddenly, she was whisked away, bridal style, by me. Her mother automatically knew what was going on as her eyes danced with laughter and she broke into a wide smile. Laughing, she pounded my back, playfully demanding to be put down. When I did put her down, it was on the bed. I gave her what I hoped was a devious grin on his face. "I'll be back. Don't go anywhere." I went to shower.