Alpha's

Sweet Cake

Jerome had applied for his annual leave to start a few days before her birthday. He'd "somehow" ended up as a contracted warrior for the Council of Councils. He was mostly grateful for the distraction.

In the last three years, he'd learned a lot. His desire to be with his mate was increasing. He could hardly believe that in another 2 years he would be able to shower her with all sorts of affection.

It had been tough being away from his pack. He was in frequent communication with both his parents. Even Aunty Ramona.

He now called Gaby at least twice a day. It was his favourite part of the routine. He felt as though talking to her kept him sane.

He looked at the selfie she'd sent him. A wave of tenderness went through him. She was all the reward he wanted. His tenure at the Council of Councils was finally coming to an end.

While they hadn't caught the culprit behind the kidnappings, many girls had been rescued and returned home. That filled him with pride. Despite the accomplishment he couldn't help but think that the decrease in trafficking was just a smoke screen.

"Hey boss!" Pieter slapped him on the shoulder.

"Piet." Jerome nodded at his second in command. He looked around his dorm room making sure they were well and truly alone although he knew it through his other senses.

"You excited about going home this weekend?" Pieter asked already knowing the answer.

"Very," Jerome grinned.

Pieter grinned back. His Alpha was about to be whole. He knew that when they got back his Alpha would be allowed to mark his mate, and if she were willing, go through the entire mating ritual.

That was a big deal. The Council of Councils had approved his application to fast track what he'd normally have to wait another two years for. Pieter knew it was because of how loyal Jerome had been when many of the Alphas had abandoned the Council Guard for their mates.

Jerome had informed the Council of Councils that he was blessed with a mate but as she was underage he chose to protect her by apprehending the culprits. It had been a bold move. One that now was allowing them to take leave until needed.

Gabriella rushed through the corridors of the school. She was not about to be late. She'd heard that these men Jerome had left to catch were planning on capturing another girl today. If it hadn't been for the fact that Pieter's sister had been terrified she would have ignored the news.

As she rounded the corner she saw a van with out of state plates. She pretended to check her face in her camera and took a picture of the license plate. She quickly sent the picture.

A guy came toward her. He seemed frustrated. She let him approach with caution.

"Hi, I seem to be lost. I'm looking for the Alpha's residence."

Gaby sighed in relief. " No problem," she turned to point out the direction of the  Alpha's residence and she felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck. Her knees buckled and the ground rushed up to her.

When she woke up hours later she was in the back of the van as it drove swiftly over a tarred road. She knew she needed to call Jerome. She tapped into pack link.

Alpha, I'm in trouble. I'm in the back of a van. A man asked me for directions to your house.

"Oh, you're awake. Guess I'll have to up your dosage." A familiar voice spoke to her from the front of the van.

Gaby looked up and saw other girls lined along the edge of the van. All of them were chained to the van walls with their hands cuffed together and their feet shackled. She quickly sent the picture to the Alpha.

 All of the girls were unconscious except for her. The man who had asked her for directions came towards her very cautiously.  When he was about two feet away he pointed a dart gun at her leg.

Gaby projected everything to her Alpha, she didn't know if she was too far away or if she was still close to home. As the dart hit her leg she hissed at the pain before the tranquilizer knocked her completely out.

When she woke up again she was in a dingy looking motel room on a bed with another girl. Her head ached and she felt disoriented. She couldn't remember what had happened and her first thought was she was late in cleaning Alpha Jerome's room. 

The panic had her jolt up and dash for the door. As she touched the doorknob a jolt of electricity went through her. It was unpleasant enough for her to let go of the doorknob. She frowned.

Slowly, it started coming back to her, she'd been tricked by Alexa, the Beta's daughter. She had been in a van with other girls. And now she was here.

She looked down at her clothes, she was still wearing her own clothes. She checked her pockets, her phone was still on her which she found strange. Why would anyone kidnap her and not take her phone away?

She tried the doorknob again and the voltage that went through her body seemed to increase. She released it again. She went to the window and saw that although she could open the window there were bars that prevented one from getting through the window. 

The shape of the bars looked aesthetic but she doubted they were there to make the windows look pretty. The entire complex looked top of the range on the outside. She could see brightly painted buildings which she assumed looked like the one she was in. The exterior looked very upmarket.

The walls were white with a forest green trim on the window exterior. Gaby again projected the image to her Alpha, she didn't recognize any of the buildings and she didn't recognize any of the surrounding landmarks. She was flooded with disappointment, she had failed her training.

The door opened suddenly jarring her from her thoughts, she stepped back quickly to give herself space from whoever was coming in. A tall man walked in, he must have been at least 6' 7" as she saw him bend down to get in the door and he looked down at her from the very high ceiling. He smiled. 

"You must be Diamond."

She shook her head, "No, I'm Gabriella." 

He frowned then grinned before slapping her hard. Her neck whipped to the right and she could vaguely feel the throb of her left cheek. He swore loudly and shook his head. 

"You b***h! You'll soon learn never to slap me!" He grabbed her by the throat and held her up, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. She watched him curiously as his face began to turn blue and he dropped her to the ground as he gasped for breath. 

He growled in frustration. "You're cursed aren't you?"

She shrugged despite her accelerated heartbeat. She didn't know what to expect. She suspected that the Alpha had put her under his protection and for that she was truly grateful. 

What happened next was horrifying. The big man woke up and tortured the other girl brutally and warned Gabriella that if she didn't behave her roommate would die. Gabriella took the broken, bruised body and held it to her rocking her unknown fellow prisoner.

"Diamond, I am coming to pick you up for work tomorrow. You'll have clothes in your dressing room. Be ready at 3:30 in the afternoon."

Gabriella nodded tearfully. She would not get someone else's daughter killed. Not today, not ever. 

Jerome woke up feeling weird. He was in his room. At his parent's house. The air was slightly dusty.

He sniffed. There were traces of Gaby but the air in the room was stale. He growled and his growl turned into snarls. 

Enforcers, guards, and his future top two rushed into his room. Pieter swore and held him down. Jerome threw him off. Two more grabbed him at his feet and shoulders and a third at his waist. He shook them off as if they were kids. 

Soon, a large circle of his top fighters had him surrounded. His growl made most of them wince. Pieter knelt down before him in obedience and the others followed. Jerome, no longer seeing a challenge, looked for one face.

"Ryan!" He bellowed. 

Ryan dashed into the room. He'd heard the commotion from miles away and had known Jerome knew. He bowed his head. "You called Alpha?"

"Where - Is - She?"

"She disappeared yesterday, Sir, in the middle of school. She told me that the girl-nappers were on the prowl and that Alexa had told her they were taking some girls."

"Alexa De Wit!" Jerome bellowed. His Voice was so commanding that everyone who saw Alexa all but  dragged her to the pack house.

"By the time I got to where she said she was going all I saw was a black van speeding off. I ran straight to the first guard I could find and told him what I knew then I went to your father."

Jerome shook with rage. Alexa walked into his room boldly taking in all the most powerful wolves on their knees and with beads of perspiration on their brows. She'd always suspected that Jerome was powerful but this, this was even better than she thought.

"Alexa, submit or be killed!" Pieter snapped at his sister who brazenly admired Jerome.

Jerome's eyes changed colour and his upper body started shifting. "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you , right now?" He snarled.

"Because I know where she is."

Jerome saw red, his control snapped and lifted her by her throat over the three rows of men surrounding him. "I know where she is. I know who has her. I'm going to get her. When I get her, you better have prayed to the Goddess that not a hair on her head has been harmed or I will do everything to you that was done to her."

"She's probably having s*x with one of those guys now. Are you going to sleep with me as punishment, mighty Alpha?" Alexa asked with a smirk.

Jerome looked at her as he would inspect an insect under a microscope. He tightened his grip on her neck until she started choking. "Perhaps I should just kill you now. I have no use for you."

"Please Alpha! Please have mercy, she's my only sister. If you must mete out justice, do it on me." Pieter shouted still looking at the ground.

Jerome loosened his grip and dropped her body to the ground. "Lock her up in the dungeon, put her on rationed meals until further notice. Have all her school work given to her every evening and the answers collected before sunrise. No cellphone, no internet, no visits from anyone, including her parents." Jerome instructed a pair of guards. They both stood up knowing he was speaking to them and lifted her out of the circle. 

"Jerome, what is the meaning of this?" Johan, his father's Beta asked as he saw his daughter kicking and screaming at guards.

"She has broken the terms of her hearing. She endangered the pack doctor's daughter and exposed her to a trafficking ring that has been exploiting young women. She also challenged me, and mocked me. I will not tolerate disobedience from anyone." Jerome spoke evenly though his tone was very clipped.

"Surely Alexa didn't mean it?"

Jerome growled the sound filling the entire house. "If Gabriella dies, she dies." His island accent came in full force.

"As you wish Alpha, perhaps it would be best to have the Luna oversee the matter between the two girls?" 

"If the future Luna lives through this she will personally mete out Alexa's punishment. Alexa is lucky to be alive as it is." Jerome handed his father's Beta the official approval letter from the Council of Councils. "Leave me, all of you," Jerome turned to face his window. 

He recalled his dream vividly. He was looking at a series of buildings, with similar motifs. Gaby had called him Alpha and shown him where she was and whom she was with. He knew he had to turn in the evidence. He called his commander.

"Jerome, I was wondering when you would get bored." His commander chuckled.

"I'm afraid, I have to report for duty though it is a personal matter. My mate has been taken by Alexandr. I want her back, I know exactly where they are. I have evidence. Requesting permission to lead the investigation, sir."

He commander sucked in his breath. "Come in and see me, son. Bring your father and his command team. I can have your transport ready to pick you up in 20 minutes."

"No need, I will inform my father of your request." Jerome turned to leave his room and found his father standing at the door.

"Let me talk to him." His commander instructed. 

"Father, Commander Weiss, would like to speak to you," Jerome handed his phone over to his dad. Ten minutes later they were heading to the training base. Jerome was silent, the entire way.

When they arrived Commander Weiss was waiting for them at the door to his office. There were enough chairs for everyone placed at the large conference room adjacent to his office. Everyone sat down except for Jerome. All eyes eyed him warily. He was far too calm.

His future was literally on the line and apart from pacing he had no reaction. That unnerved the older fighters and guards. The second he lost his cool there would be hell to pay for anyone who stood in his way. 

Commander Weiss cleared his throat. "Son, why don't you take a seat?"

Jerome shook his head. "I'd rather stand, thank you. If I sit, I will feel a greater need to destroy things. What do I need to do to lead the investigation?" 

"I need to know that you will follow the law. To the letter, so that we can bring these guys down for good. How much danger is she in?"

"She is being manipulated. No one can harm her without being harmed themselves. However, Gaby won't leave unless she can take the other girls with her. She will do whatever she needs to to protect them. Someone is trying to have s*x with her. She's holding him off but I don't know how much longer she can do that. If he succeeds, the law will have to pardon my actions. It will not happen again." Jerome stated factually. 

An uneasy silence settled in the room. The amount of power that emanated from Jerome was unsettling. Particularly as there was already a lot of power at the table.

"I would like to apply to defend her honour when this is over and done with. I swear by the Goddess that I will follow all laws to the letter until these men are apprehended. Once they are in the hands of the Council I seek the permission to defend her honour." Jerome stated. He wasn't expecting to be argued with.

Commander Weiss knew that he was being ordered in the least obvious way possible. Jerome was making a promise, not asking for permission. He chuckled to himself marveling at the boy's apparent diplomacy.

"Jerome," his father began.

"Father," Jerome looked at his father his emotions open for everyone to see.

"Son, I know this is hard." Jacob began slowly. "I know there is nothing worse than knowing she needs you right now and you have to wait."

Jerome stopped pacing. "If anything happens to her..." His voice broke and he clenched his fists. The air in the room chilled substantially.

"Boss," Pieter began, "We'll get her and help her rescue the other girls."

The air started warming up. Jerome nodded. He resumed pacing.

Commander Weiss coughed and his breath came out misty. "Jerome, are you aware of the level of power you are exhibiting, inadvertently?"

"Sir?" Jerome asked. He looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

The look was just the comic relief everyone needed as everyone chuckled at the sudden wide-eyed, innocence. Jerome grinned sheepishly. He settled for a shrug.

"God and Goddess be with your enemies. I would not want to be in their shoes when you are allowed to defend her honour." Commander Weiss commented to Jerome. He turned to the elder Wilder. "Jacob, you realize we have to test his DNA?"

"I did that when I was six. I can make my findings available for your inspection. I'm certain your team will not find anything I don't already know." Jerome casually remarked.

Jacob started. "You had doubts, Son?"

Jerome smiled. "I am a little different from your other sons, Father. I had to be sure I was not going to burden the clan of Wilder. I had to be certain that I belonged."

"You are family, of course you belong." Jacob Wilder's accent had shifted into Island, and True Nature.

Jerome embraced his father, "I know that now. Your love has been constant."

Jerome let go of his father and turned to the rest of the group. He took a swab from a nurse that appeared at the door and scraped the inside of his cheek. He handed it back to her.

"I'll be in the tactical planning room if you need me." He nodded at Pieter who stood up and followed him out.