Alpha Siblings

Chapter 8

Kate POV

As I pull my SUV into the parking lot of the Red Moon Pack, I can see Alpha Samuel and Luna Jasmine standing at the top of the Pack house stairs. I had only given Alpha Samuel a couple hours’ notice and he was not pleased. I did not want to continue trying to communicate by phone. We had much to discuss, and I wanted to get some plans in action. And I wanted to see Maddie. I felt a connection to her. Maybe it was because we had lost Louise and I still carried some guilt at not fully making the effort with her. She had tried to cause so much harm, but in retrospect she was lost. Who knows what the outcome would have been had I made more of an effort? I can’t change the past, but I can change the future. And I would change it with Maddie.

Stepping out of my SUV, I quickly check my phone. I see a missed call from Colby. He will understand me calling him back after these meetings. As I move up the stairs, I see Luna Jasmine with a big smile and Alpha Samuel showing a tolerant smile. Sighing I move toward the couple, extending my hand to Samuel and then Jasmine.

“It is good to see you both again, although I wish it were different circumstances,” I say. Nodding both Samuel and Jasmine agree as we move toward their meeting room. Sitting down at the other end of the table, Samuel sits at the head of the table, with his Luna to his right and his Beta to his left.

“I spoke with the Packs on my list, and nobody has had any rogue attacks,” I share with them. Looking agitated, Samuel shares, “Same with my list. Although they did offer support, if needed.”. “Yes, same with the Packs I called,” I share. “What are we doing now?” Samuel asks. “I think we have to wait and see what their next move is,” I state. “They have sent their weakest rogues in so far; there must be stronger ones coming in the next wave,” I observe.

“Yes, that was my assumption as well,” Samuel says. “We have our warriors training overtime; have more patrolling our borders. We are doing everything at our end to be prepared,” Beta Luke offers. Nodding, “Yes we are doing the same at the Golden Moon Pack; we also have the offer of support from the Silver Crescent Pack,” I add. Colby’s Pack is always ready to support us. Colby would send additional warriors, if necessary.

“We appreciate that, but I hope we can handle it on our own within the Alliance, if necessary,” Alpha Samuel says. Nodding I recognize the need to be able to stand on our own. I wasn’t too proud to accept help when necessary. That was the difference between me and everyone else. If we need help, I will be asking the alliance and Colby, if necessary.

“Well, it sounds like we have done everything we can, at this point. Do you mind if I go over and see Drake and Maddie?” I ask cautiously. I didn’t want to be too keen, but I wasn’t going to leave unless I got to see her.

Seeing Jasmine tense up, I wait for the reply. Alpha Samuel stares me in the eyes, considering his reply. I can see Beta Luke shift uncomfortably in his seat. “Yes, I guess it’s time we fill you and Drake in on some additional information we have since learned about Maddie,” he says sounding annoyed.

He’s caught my attention. What could he be referring to? And why the delay in sharing the information? He knew Drake was doing everything he could to maintain his cool. Why keep him in the dark?

Samuel POV

Frustrated that Kate had asked about Maddie, I had suspected she would, but annoyed just the same. I have wanted to protect Maddie as much as possible. I still do not believe she is the twin they are referring to. Yes, I learned from my parents that Maddie is a twin, but it didn’t mean she was the missing twin Kate was looking for.

Standing, I take Jasmine’s hand. Luke excuses himself to get back to training. Nodding toward Kate, she moves to follow us. “I don’t want to upset Maddie with too many visitors. If she seems to get agitated, I will expect you to leave,” I say to Kate. Kate nods in agreement as we move toward the Pack hospital.

Moving through the halls of the hospital, again, the staff stop to acknowledge us. Greeting everyone, we move towards Maddie’s room. As we enter, we see Drake sitting by the bed, reading some files he had brought with him. As he hears us come in, he looks up and stands to give Kate a quick hug. Acknowledging me and Jasmine, he remains standing looking at us expectantly.

I realize Kate already advised him of the rogue situation. He’s looking pissed off. “So, were you going to tell me?” Drake asks. “When I felt the time was necessary. It didn’t seem necessary until we realized the Golden Moon Pack was also being attacked,” I say calmly. I don’t care to be challenged by a guest visiting my Pack. “Well, I would say since Maddie is in some way involved, I had a right to know,” he says.

“We don’t know that Maddie is involved. Everyone is speculating and until we know that Maddie is your mate, there is nothing I owe you when it comes to protecting my sister,” I snarl at him. Drake starts to move toward me when Kate steps in and pushes him back, “This is not the time, Drake,” she says getting him under control.

Drake turns away from us running his hands through his hair. Kate moves toward the bed, and I hear her breath catch. “She’s identical,” she whispers. I cringe when I hear this, “Well she wasn’t a match,” I remind her. Looking at me with a confused look, “Why are you so afraid she could be a match?” she asks me pointedly. This causes Drake to turn back to me with the same question in his eyes.

“I’m not afraid of her being a match. I simply am going with the science. There is nothing to indicate they are twins, other than your words,” I say to both her and Drake. “I’ve shown you the pictures, man – why is it so difficult for you to wonder what the hell happened with that DNA test?” Drake asks angrily. I don’t know why I am so afraid she is a match. “I don’t want to lose my sister. I don’t want her to be a twin to this woman. I know we could still lose her, and I can’t accept that. I won’t accept it. She’s not a match. There is some other reason she is caught in this nightmare, and we’ll figure it out,” I say forcefully.

Recognition in their eyes tells me I have perhaps gotten through to them. That is until Kate says, “She will come back to us, Samuel, and then she will decide if she wants another DNA test. You won’t be able to stop her then.”. Shaking my head, I give up. I cannot keep having this conversation with these two.

“Alright I have some information to share with you about Maddie. Some information we, Jasmine and I, learned in the past week,” I say reaching my hand out to Jasmine. I needed her strength to share this information. I knew it would feed into their desire that Maddie be the missing twin.

“Maddie was adopted,” I say letting that sink in with Kate and Drake. I can feel both of them tense up. “Okay?” Drake asks. “Well apparently a rogue approached my parents,” I start to say when Drake throws his arms in the air, pinching the bridge of his nose as he waits for the information to come out of my mouth.

“They gave her to my parents with some conditions. Maddie would never learn how to fight, she would always be protected, and she could never leave the Pack,” I say. “What does that mean? Why couldn’t she learn to fight?” Kate asks. “We don’t know, that was a condition of my parents getting her. My mother couldn’t have any more children after me, so both my parents were desperate to have her,” I shared with them. “So much so they were willing to negotiate with a rogue?” Kate asks. “Yes, I asked the same thing,” I state.

“So, once he left, why continue doing what he said?” Drake asks. “Apparently this rogue told my parents that he would be watching and would know if they went against his wishes. If they didn’t do what he asked, he would come and take Maddie from them,” he shares. “That’s ridiculous; why not just kill him before he left?” Kate asks.

“He indicated if he died others would continue and fulfill his wishes,” I share with them both. “What was the rogue’s name?” they ask. “I don’t know, why?” I ask. Looking at everyone Kate moves forward. “My father had a relationship with a woman, before meeting my mother. The woman had a mate. The mate was the Pack’s head warrior at the time. The head warrior attacked my father for the betrayal. The warrior and his mate were banished from the Pack, and became rogues,” Kate shares.

She continues, “She then had, what we recently realized, twins. We had been told her child died with her, but that wasn’t the case. We found all this out through a rogue, the banished warrior, who led attacks against our Pack. I had been captured, and fought my way out,” Kate says. She seems like she has more to say but changes gears.

“At first, we only found Louise, and through Louise and Boyd, we learned there was a missing twin,” she adds. So, this is where Maddie comes into their picture I consider. Had I never gone to the Golden Moon Pack, I would have never opened this can of worms. “And you believe Maddie is the missing twin,” I say quietly. This is so f****d up.

“So, what happened to the rogue who attacked you, Kate?” Jasmine asks. “I killed him,” Kate replies with no emotion.