The Demon Alpha

The Talk

Thorn's POV

After a few minutes of just enjoying each other's presence, I sighed deeply and stood up to get dressed. Jake quickly followed suit and once we were both fully clothed, I signaled for him to sit. We needed to have this talk now so that we were on the same page.

'Jake, I need to know if your intention is to step up as Alpha now that we are mated.' The shocked look that crossed his face was almost comical.

'Thorn, I barely want the Beta role you've asked me to take, let alone the Alpha position. That's all yours and I'll support you all the way.' I was quickly relieved, but also confused and now we had a new issue to tend to.

'Can you even be Beta since you're mated to the Alpha? I guess that's another question to ask the counsel when we speak to them.' Once again, Jake was absolutely shocked.

'When we talk to them? Why do I have to go? I don't want to talk to the counsel.' He was panicking.

'Jake, as my mate and potentially my future Beta, you have to be there with me. Don't worry, I'll do all the talking. I just need you there to support me and for them to understand that I have you in my corner as well as my father.' None of this was technically a lie, but I was also hoping they would find Jake, at least mildly, intimidating.

'Fine. But let's do it now so we can come up with a rebuttal while we are all here.' With that, he was up and moving. He opened the door for me and took my hand as we walked out into the world together for the first time as mates.

Unknown POV

When Thorn and Jake left her room I was thrown into yet another rage. They had marked each other. ALREADY. How dare they? That was supposed to be my mark. Seeing this, though, I knew I had to enact my plan sooner than I expected. I'd let them enjoy their honeymoon phase, but as soon as they were back in pack territory there would be hell to pay and if I had my way of it, the debt would be paid in blood.

Thorn's POV

We quickly made our way downstairs where the pack leaders and counsel members were all mingling and discussing various pack business that would be brought up this week. I found my father in the back speaking with Elder Jackson, one of the members of the counsel.

'Father, Elder Jackson,' I nodded deeply in the direction of the Elder as a show of respect. 'Elder Jackson, if I may, could I request a brief meeting with yourself and the other counsel members? I have a matter of great importance I am sure you are already tracking. However, I believe there may finally be a solution.'

Elder Jackson nodded gently and I saw his eyes cloud over as he linked the other members of the counsel. 'May you give us an hour child? Allow us to finish our pleasantries?'

'Of course, sir.' I nodded again as he stepped away from our little group. Then I turned to my father, 'Can you link the Beta and Jake's father? We need to speak with the three of you first.' My father nodded and mindlinked the other two leaders of Full Moon Pack.

'They're waiting for us in the backyard. Jake, have you had time to inform your father of your new...situation?' My father gestured his head towards me as he spoke the last word.

Jake chuckled, 'Unfortunately Alpha, I haven't had the chance. Between dealing with Alpha Ezra this morning and the sudden mate bond, I haven't even seen my father yet this morning.'

'I hope you're ready for another good hit to the jaw then. I can't imagine your father is going to be happy that you have kept such joyous news from him. Also, it's Lucien, you're family now.' He clapped Jake on the shoulder and shook his hand.

'While I appreciate the sentiment Alpha, I will choose to maintain the title in public as a show of respect for you as my Alpha as well as my father-in-law, but behind closed doors we can use the informalities. How does that sound?'

My father looked to me with a knowing glance before responding to Jake. 'I knew you were one of the good ones, but I am so glad you have been mated to my daughter. You're lucky. The both of you. This is a strong mating and will make you both better wolves in the end. I will agree to your compromise, but only because I wouldn't stand a chance in a fight with you.'

With that, we were off to meet with Beta Carlisle and Jake's dad, Gamma Brent.

Jake's POV

Alpha Lucien was right. My father was going to kick my ass. I had been marked and mated without him being any the wiser, and it all happened within a few hours. The look on his face quickly changed as we approached and his gaze switched to the mark on my shoulder. A quick look of confusion was followed almost immediately by a look of shock as he saw the matching mark on Thorn's body. He grinned.

'Well, well, well. It seems as though our future Alpha and Gamma have officially been mated...to each other.' This quickly brought a shocked expression from Beta Carlisle.

'Well this is quite a surprise. I was nearly certain you would be mated to my son.' Beta Carlisle had made a huge mistake and he didn't even know it. Thorn's eyes went dark immediately and her Alpha tone was at the forefront when she spoke.

'I take it your son has been hiding things from you as well Beta. Maybe you should ask him about his mate, unfortunately for you, it seems I'm on the wrong team for Eric.' Recognition dawned on Beta Carlisle like a ton of bricks. He quickly averted his gaze and apologized. Her eyes and tone shifted back before Thorn spoke again, 'Now that the news has been delivered, Jake and I have a few things we need to discuss with the three of you. I would like to start this by saying that I am not asking your permission, I am simply informing you of the changes that are to come.'

This has the attention of all three men as we sat at an outdoor table in the back yard of the pack house. I pulled Thorn's chair out for her and ensured she was comfortable at the table before I went to snatch her some breakfast and lemonade before it was all gone. She had said I needed to be present with the counsel, not with our fathers.

Thorn's POV

Jake snuck off to who knows where, hopefully to grab some food. I was starving. I knew he did this on purpose because he didn't want to be here for this conversation and that was fine with me, as long as he was present with me when I spoke to the counsel.

'We are all aware that the three of you will be retiring in a few months. I am also aware that the counsel has been fighting to keep me out of the Alpha position solely because I am a woman. However, I now have a mate, a strong mate at that, who will be by my side. I am willing to compromise with the counsel that should they find me to be an inadequate leader at any time within the first three years, they may do a formal investigation. If they find through their investigation that I am unable to perform the Alpha duties to their standards, I will willingly step down and allow my mate to take over as Alpha. However, Beta Carlise, I am sorry to inform you that your son will not be inheriting the Beta position. He has proven to me that he is incapable of being a reliable and trust worthy wolf and I refuse to have someone of such low moral standing in a position of power in this pack. Gamma Brent, Jake will be stepping up to the Beta role. I am asking that you and Beta Carlisle work together to find a suitable Gamma for this pack. I will defer this choice to you as long as my father gives his approval as well. I would like to make it very clear that this decision has nothing to do with Jake being my mate. This decision was made long before I had this new information. As long as there are no arguments I will inform Eric myself. He may choose another role within the pack or he may choose to simply live as the former Beta's son. This is not a request gentlemen, I have a meeting with the Elders in half an hour to confirm these decisions as well as solidify my role as Alpha. Concerns?'

All three of the men simply shook their heads. I could see the defeat in Beta Carlisle's face, but he knew that I was right about Eric. Especially since I had dropped the ball about Eric's sexuality on him, and apparently he didn't know either. I stood and shook the Beta and Gamma's hands and hugged my father. One meeting down, now it was time to inform the Elders.