The Alpha and Her Secret Mate

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After Alisha and James had sworn loyalty to me, Alex was quick to leave. I can tell they are eager to get reacquainted with their wolf sense now that I'd allowed them to remove the blockers, but I stayed a moment longer to ask, "Could you still sense eachother with the blocker?" They both seem surprised by the question, so I babble awkwardly into the silence. "I mean, I know the mate bond is stronger than the usual pack mindlink, but James said he couldn't find you when you were here?"

Alisha smiles at me knowingly. "Layla, I'm sorry. I should have realized this would be as hard on you as it is on Alex."

"Oh!" I fall back on my heels. "No, that's not what I…"

"I promise it's worth the wait. And I'm sure your mate will find you soon." She squeezes my arm. "Alphas usually get their mates early. Some say the Goddess sends Alphas their mates early so they can have an heir, but I really think Alphas just meet more wolves at a younger age with all the travel Alpha duties bring about."

"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm not worried." I give her an uneasy laugh.

"And to answer your question, I can still sense James with the blocker, but it's weaker."

"When she was here before me, I could sense her existence, but I couldn't track her at all. I can't really tell where she is with the wolf sense until I'm actually holding her."

"And even then, the spark we usually feel together is weaker."

Now that there's no blocker between them, they speak more easily and seem less desperate to find little ways to touch. It's sweet.

"Well I'll let you both get some sleep," I say with a wink. "I'll talk to Penny tomorrow and get back to you about joining the warriors."

"Thanks, Layla, goodnight," Alisha says, not looking at me. I go out to the hallway and close the door behind me. I'm sure they won't be getting much sleep and I'm happy for them.

As I wander downstairs, I consider what they told me about the blockers. If they could still sense each other, then how did I lose sense of Alex. He swore he wasn't using a blocker? Abruptly, I realize I can't sense him now.

When I walk into my room, I almost expect to find Alex waiting for me, but it's deserted. Where is he? And what has he done to hide from me? I wonder if he can still sense me even when I can't find him.

I fall back on my bed, exasperated. I'm supposed to be all powerful. I can't even keep track of my mate. And that's supposed to be easy for everyone.

I lay back to wait for Alex, but the room is so warm, and my eyelids feel so heavy. I close my eyes for just a second, and drift off to sleep.

When I feel a breeze on my cheek, I look up. Hovering over me, I see the Goddess, surrounded by a glowing aura.

"Hello, little Alpha."

I scramble backwards away from her. “What? How? Why are you here?” I get a sharp stabbing pain in my palm and hear a branch crack. I look around me, and we’re no longer in my room. We’re in a forest. But not one I recognize from the surrounding pack lands. Maybe one I’ve seen before…in a dream? “Where am I?”

The Goddess seems to smile at me. “You’ll come to understand this space in time.” She nudges me with her snout. “Come with me.”

I start to ask more, but my body begins to shift before I’m aware of it. My body twists upright until I’m standing to land on all four paws.

The Goddess nods her head for me to follow, and I do. I barely feel my feet as we fly across the surface of the forest. I wonder where we’re going, but soon the pure glee of the run overtakes me. She flies over a river, and I splash along behind her, over shrubs and under fallen branches. The wind flies through my fur, invigorating me and I yelp gleefully.

The trees around us start to change, subtly at first. The leaves seem greener, and the brush underfoot is thicker. The Goddess slows, and I notice a structure up ahead. It’s a house. My house.

She trots up to the porch and sits down comfortably.

“Why have you brought me home?” I ask. “What’s going on?”

“Watch,” she says quietly.

I stop on the stairs, and the front door opens. A young man walks out, he looks strong, but if I focus too closely on him, his figure blurs around the edges. I tilt my head. “Grandpa…?”

Now that I’ve said it I’m sure it’s him. He’s younger and he’s carrying a baby.

“She’s absolutely perfect, dear.” He sits down on a deck chair and cradles the baby in the crook of his elbow.

“You still need an heir.” A woman follows him out and sits down beside him. She’s beautiful, with dark hair, expertly curled, but her expression is full of anxiety and guilt.

Grandpa takes her hand. “I don’t care. These things have a way of working themselves out. We have plenty of time to have another baby.” He grins at the woman.

“Grandma?”

The Goddess nods, but grandma doesn’t look at me. I start to move towards her, but the Goddess stops me and says, “They can’t see or hear you. This is just a memory.”

I pout and sit back on my haunches, but I look at the woman in a new light. She’s so young, but I can still see the same fierceness in her posture. Grandma was the strongest woman I’ve ever known.

“The fact that our first born isn’t a male already puts your position at risk,” Grandma says. She smiles softly as she reaches over to stroke the baby’s cheek, and something about the baby sparks in my mind.

“Don’t fret over what should have been,” Grandpa says. “Let’s just enjoy our Anna, and when the time comes, we’ll enjoy having a boy.”

Mom!

Grandma looks into Grandpa’s eyes. “I’m scared for her.”

“But darling, she’ll have the strongest Alpha to protect her. And the strongest Luna to teach her to take no quarter from her doubters.”

Grandma smiles, but there’s still a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. “And the rest of the pack?”

Grandpa answers without hesitation. “The pack is secure. They support dad. They’ll support us, even if it takes a bit of an adjustment.”

Grandma looks away sadly.

“Hey,” Grandpa says. “You just had my baby. And I refuse to let you not enjoy this. You’re a mother. This is a happy time for us. And I will attack anyone who disagrees.”

Grandma just looks away sadly.

“I will attack you if you disagree,” he says with a sly grin.

“Okay, okay!” she says, laughing. “I’ll be happy! And how could I not, Alfred, she’s perfect!” Grandma reaches over to tickle the baby’s belly, and the baby that will become my mother giggles.

I smile watching them, and missing all three of them in different ways. The image of the new family starts to fade, and I panic, reaching out to them. “No! Goddess where are they going? I need them!” The image of my family vanishes and I look to the Goddess in panic. “Please,” I whine, my heartbeat racing, I’m on the verge of tears.

“You’ll see them again in due time,” the Goddess says, her expression passive.

I reach out and touch the empty seat where they had been sitting. It’s not even warm with their presence. “I still need you,” I whisper, wishing my grandfather could hear me.

I turn to look at the Goddess, confusion written on my face. “It’s time to go back, little Alpha,” she says calmly.

I feel a tickle of breath on my face. “No, wait!”

“I’ll see you again.”

“Goddess, please!” I try to walk to her, but suddenly I’m falling and falling. I gasp, and sit up straight back in my bed.

“Shhh, hey. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Alex says, stroking my cheek, and laying me back down on the pillows.

“I was…having a dream?” I say sleepily.

“Oh yeah?” Alex kisses the tip of my nose.

“It was important?” I try to grasp on to the memories, but the harder I try, the more they fade.

Alex nuzzles my neck, and suddenly remembering the dream doesn’t feel that important anymore.