The Forbidden Child

Sit Down

Mason sighs, "Jay, what are we going to do? Alpha will kill us when he finds out."

"Mason, we can't hide it. It will come out sooner or later. You know I can't live without her, and neither can you."

"But you know who she is. I may be Alpha's Beta now, but my father told me the truth on his deathbed when he knew I would become the new Beta." Mason continues down the hall to the stairs, "He's not going to be pleased."

"We will cross that road later. Do you think Skylar has met her wolf yet?" Jay wondered out loud. 

Mason shrugged his shoulders as he took the stairs two at a time. Entering the kitchen, Becky, his sister, smiled, "Good morning, James. Are you hungry?"

"Rebecca Maire Mason, do not call me by my given name. You know it is disrespectful," Mason growled as he pecked her on the forehead. "Yes, I am starved. I would like some coffee as well, please Beck."

"James Edgar Mason, if you ever call me by my full name in my kitchen ever again, you will starve. Do you understand?" Becky snarled back as she fixed him a plate and a cup of coffee. 

"Becky, my beloved darling sister, I love you," drawing out love as far as he could.  

Becky rolls her eyes, handing him the plate and coffee, "Shoo, get out of here. By the way, Alpha was looking for you. He is in the dining room."

"Did he seem to be in a good mood?" Mason asked as he turned to leave. 

Becky let out a harsh laugh, "I guess so."

Walking across the hall from the kitchen, Mason entered the dining room to find the Alpha eating alone, "Good morning, Alpha."

Jackson glanced up at him before continuing to eat. "Mason, good morning. I wanted to thank you for doing the errands in town for Sarah yesterday."

"Luna, and you can always count on me. Is everything alright, Alpha?" Mason noticed that Alpha was distracted but wasn't sure what was bothering him. 

"Not really, you know that Sarah insists on having a coming of age party for Skylar. I do not want to have it because..." Jackson took a deep breath. "Well, you know we haven't always treated her well. Anyway, when you finish breakfast, let's continue this conversation in my office." Jackson gets up and leaves Mason all alone with his thoughts. 

Mason eats in a rush because whatever is on Alpha's mind is weighing on his heart as well. He leaves his plate, knowing that Jericka will be along soon to clean the dining room. She and Skylar usually did all the cleaning together. But this morning, Skylar was in for a huge surprise.  

Mason slowly walks toward Alpha's office on the other end of the bottom floor. He isn't sure what all the Alpha is going to tell him, but it seems that the Alpha's actual age is shining through this morning. Knocking on the door, Mason waits to enter. 

"Enter, Beta," Mason hears the strain in the Alpha's voice when he responses. 

Bowing his head, Mason says, "How can I help you, Alpha?"

"Have a seat, son," Jackson motions to the chair in front of his massive oak desk. 

Mason walks forward and sits. He waits, knowing that there is nothing left for him to say until Alpha talks to him. 

Jackson took a deep breath, "Eric and Lisa are coming today. Mason, I haven't seen them in almost eighteen years. We both know why they are coming; I am feeling guilty and nervous. How do I talk to them? How do I explain what happened?"

"Alpha Jackson, maybe just wait. They may not ask, everything may turn out just fine. See what they say before you open up." Mason knew that no matter what, he said Alpha was going to worry and stress over Alpha Eric and Luna Lisa coming for a visit. "What do I need to do to help you prepare for them?"

"I am not sure. I think Sarah has everything under control. She told me last night that she was scared of what might happen. She has been crying herself to sleep for weeks now. I try to inform her that everything will work out. Sarah just wants to go back and change everything. She wishes things could be different," moaning, Jackson continues. "And so do I."

Mason nods, knowing that there is nothing that can change the past. They can only pray to the Moon Goddess that everything will work out. "When is the last time you talk to Alpha Eric?"

"Besides a week ago, we talk about once a month; he wants to know everything that's going on and how we are handling things. Sarah usually finds a way for the conversation to be cut short. He has tried to even call in the middle of the night while she's asleep, and she finds a way even then."

Mason nods in understanding, "That can't be easy. Dad told me everything that he knew about the situation before he passed. Is there anything else that I need to know?"

Jackson shook his head, looks up, and says, "Why is Skylar in your room?"

"It is a long story. I found Skylar face down in the ice-cold river. I rescued her and took her to my room for her to warm up," Mason spoke with a shaky voice. 

Jackson's eyes wide with fear, "What the hell was she doing in the river?"

"I don't know. After I fished her out, she felt strangely warm. I figure it was because she had a fever, so I mind-linked Jessi. Jessi came and checked on Skylar and told me that she seemed perfectly healthy, just weak. She wasn't sure if it was because of the cold water or the beating that it looked like Skylar had received."

"Beating? You better find out how this happened," Jackson spoke with his Alpha voice. 

Mason bowed his head from the authority that rang out, "Yes, Alpha." Mason turned to go, but Alpha cleared his throat, and Mason found himself turning slowly to face Alpha. 

"What happened after Jessi left?" Jackson questioned Mason with a strained tone. 

"Nothing happened," Mason groans. 

Alpha Jackson speaks again, "Then why is she in your room? You should have taken her to the pack hospital."

Mason lowers his head. Jay whined out. Now was not the best time, to be honest about Skylar being his mate, Mason rushed his thoughts to come up with an explanation that Alpha would buy. "Finding her unconscious in the river made me panic, and I knew that you would want her safe. I knew she needed to be in the packhouse because of the party today and I couldn't remember which rooms had guests, so I took her to my room.  While Jessi checked her over, I stepped out of the room. When I returned, Jessi had dressed Skylar in one of my t-shirts, and I lay on the couch, trying to figure out who would ever hurt her." Panting from his rushed words, Mason finally looked up at Alpha. 

Finding it hard to breathe at this point, Jackson growled out, "Find the answers and find them now!"

Mason didn't hesitate, and he left Alpha alone. He knew that he couldn't face him again without an update.