After speaking with my wolf, my thoughts were running wild. I could sense that she was impartial to Jacob. I could feel her desperation as much as she tried to hide it. I knew it wasn't solely her fault. It was how she was designed to be. She was built to be loyal to one person. I accepted her nature but there was no way I could accept Jacob as he continues to run this pack into the ground.
There was a war brewing between Redbridge pack and the Rouge pack which was being run by Xavier. Both men were fighting over a woman who was nothing but a traitorous bitch. I had no doubt that it was Xavier's child and I understand he did what was right and avenged the murder of his son, but Jacob he started a war for no reason. He started a war to keep his already damaged reputation in tact. It was shameful how he was behaving. The pack was blindly supporting him because they thought they had lost the heir to the pack.
If this pack was ever to become what it once was he would have to strip down his pride and ego and tell them the truth. He had to undo all his mistakes. After my run in wolf form I went in search for the Alpha of Mistakes. I shook my head and heavily sighed as I entered the pack house and located his office. I took a breath and inhaled deeply following the scent of strawberries which both aroused and tormented me at the same time.
It wasn't long until I found the door to the Alpha's office. The large mahogany door was still the same. Heavy and soundproofed. I hated knocking, I hated the fact that I had to be polite to a man who had done nothing to earn my respect. Honestly, the more time I spent here, the more I hated it. No matter how I treated this place didn't feel like home anymore. If anything, I missed New York more as each day passed. My hand quickly found it's way knocking heavily on the door.
"Come in." Jacob's voice bellowed from beyond the other side. I quickly turned the knob and entered the office. Jacob looked up from his paperwork, his eyes widened in surprise. I could sense he was shocked that I graced him with my presence.
"Loretta." He spoke respectfully. I could see the corners of his lips curve. I looked at him and I could see that his eyes were red from crying. He had dark circles that were deep under his eyes from the lack of sleep. I quickly sniffed the air and could tell that his scent was stronger than usual meaning that it had been a while since he last showered. It wasn't something that I disliked because his scent was highly intoxicating, I could hear my wolf purr in the back of my mind.
"May I have a seat?" I politely asked.
"Please." He desperately replied as he gestured with his hand for me to take a seat. I took one of the chairs that sat directly opposite his desk. My back was perched and I crossed my legs as I sat down. It was then that I realised I was in nothing but a training bra and leggings. I could sense Jacob's arousal in the air, the lust was thick and heavy.
For a moment I let the smell permeate the air. It was then that I thought about something I always wondered. What would it be like to be with my mate? How would it feel to kiss him? To hold him in my arms? Never had I let my thoughts wonder in this direction, I never had the chance to think about it. I always thought it would be impossible to be with my mate, I never thought I would live to see the day that Jacob uncovered my sister's lies.
I shook my head, hoping to escape those forbidden thoughts. "Watch your thoughts. I do not need your lust wafting though the air." I warned.
He shook his head. "Sorry, I forget. My wolf he has done nothing but whine and ignore me for years. Seeing you like this, well it does things to him and me." He admits.
"I understand." I reply curtly.
"I'm guessing you are here for a reason? There is something you wish to discuss?" He questions. He does nothing but gives me his full attention. His eyes are unwilling to leave my face. It's like he is trying to remember every last feature on my face.
"Yes, we need to talk about how you are going to bring your pack to what it once was." I explain.
"You mean our pack." He whispers.
I groan at his words, he knows that I heard him. My thoughts quickly drift to what my wolf said earlier. As much as this place doesn't feel like home, I know that deep down that I can't deny what she said wasn't true. Regardless of how they treated me, I know that I feel the connection to the pack members. Just because my mate and family treated me badly does not mean I should neglect my duties. It was my birth right to be a Luna, I didn't need an Alpha to be one.
"Your pack, my pack, our pack. It doesn't matter. What matters is the mess you have created here and it is your duty to make things right." I command.
Jacob sighs deeply. "I know."
"Then what are you going to do?" I ask sternly.
A small tear escapes his eye. "I'm going to be honest with my pack, about everything." He closes his eyes.
"Where are your parents?" I ask.
"They live on the outskirts of the pack. They want nothing to do with me anymore. They are ashamed of me." He hung his head low.
It was then that I realised how truly alone this man was. I didn't have sympathy for him. He had paved his own way. He had condemned this pack with his own actions. He had attacked Rouges who didn't deserve to be killed. They were being managed by someone who had changed their ways. Nothing about Xavier said was a lie. For I had grown up with a pathological liar it was a skill that Leanne had taught me from a young age.
"You need to end this war you have with the Rouges. My sister and you have created a huge mess and you need to clean it up. My sister was pregnant with this pack's heir and it is time you admit that to the pack that trusted you and followed you blindly. I may not be your Luna by bond, but I am a Luna by birthright and I will make sure you are accountable for the pain and suffering you have caused." I explain.
Jacob is nothing but silent. No words leave his mouth. "I will make sure that before I leave this pack gets the Alpha it deserves. You will call your parents they will be in attendance, do you understand?"
He gives me a curt nod. "Good. Also I want to know what your plans are with my sister?" I ask.
"What do you mean?" He quietly asks.
"What I mean is what do you plan to do with her? She has not only tried to kill a Luna by birth right but a guest who was in your pack grounds. She was the start of the war between you and the rouges. She not only created a war but she also affiliated with rouges which hindered the safety of the pack. Let's not forget that she interfered with the mate bond between a Luna and an Alpha. Although she can't solely be blamed for that, you too should be punished for your actions." I exhaled deeply. "So I will ask again what will you do with my sister?" I demand.
"Loretta, she is your sister. Your family they have already lost you-" He started to speak.
"Jacob, she is a sister that tried to murder me. What is it with my sister that you are trying to protect her? Why is my family such an interest to you?" I ask. I can hear the anger linger in my voice. He doesn't say anything, he just gives me a defeated look. "Well, I haven't got all day. Answer my question!" I demanded.
"After my family shunned me for ruining the pack. Your parents were the only people who were there for me! They shared my sorrow, they shared my shame. I care deeply for your parents because they made you! We spent years together looking for you when you didn't want to be found. They let me have some type of family when mine won't even acknowledge my presence." He screamed out.
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. My parents were truly disgusting. Honestly the more I heard about them, the more I was ashamed of what they were doing. "Tell me Jacob, were my parents the reason why Leanne simply became an Omega rather than being banished like anyone else would have been?"
"They weren't the sole reason, I couldn't stand to hurt you and them-" He answers.
"Tell me Jacob, forget family ties. If Leanne was any other wolf, if she wasn't a Beta's daughter or my sister, what punishment would she receive?" I argued.
"She would have been killed or banished as a traitor." He sighed in defeat.
"Jacob you are letting my parents use their relationship with you to manipulate you. Leanne is a danger to this pack. She has done nothing but spread her vicious poison and you haven't been Alpha enough to stop it. I get that you two used to have a relationship, she's my sister, no matter how much she tries to hurt, maim or kill me, I still love that bitch. However she has to be accountable for what she has done. Her punishment needs to match her crime without leniency." I finish.
"Your right. Everything you said is right." He shoulders sagged.
"Mind link my parents in here now." I commanded. Jacob's eyes widen. "I mean it, it's time for you to start being accountable to your pack and you are going to start with my parents. So get them in this office now. I won't ask again." I give him a hardened look which shows him that there is no joke and that it is finally time to step up.
It isn't before long that there's a knock on the door. Jacob beckons them in and both my mother and father walk into the room. Their eyes widen as they see me sitting down. I get up from my chair and move to the side of the room where there is a large bay window. I gesture to the chair that I empty, encouraging them to sit down.
"Margaret, John." Jacob greets them sombrely.
"Hello Alpha, you asked for attendance, we came as fast as we could." My mother responds. My father looks at me and I can see that he is looking at the marks on my neck. To that are on my neck, his eyes are sad, his face is filled with nothing but pain. I close my eyes because a part of me can't look at the man that I idolised growing up. The man who I believed would truly know who I was.
"We need to talk about Leanne." He admits.
"What have you said to him about your sister now Louise?" My mother spits out.
"Margaret, quieten down now." My father responds giving my mother nothing but a stern look. She purses her lips and nods her head. I can see that she is refusing to argue with my father. For once he seems to be able to keep her in check.
"Margaret, John there are some things that we need to clarify." Jacob huffs out.
"Of course Alpha we always have time for you." My mother sweetly replies.
"Margaret, John I have lied to you." He hangs his head.
"What do you mean Jacob?" My father curiously asks.
"The baby that Leanne had, he was not mine. He was not this packs true heir. She mothered a rouge's baby. I am unsure whether it was her mate or not." He explains.
"You lie! My Leanne wouldn't do that! I know she has made a lot of mistakes but she didn't cheat on you when she was your Luna!" My mother defends.
Jacob's eyes darken and his breathing starts to get heavier. It's at this moment that my wolf yips in happiness. A small smirk graces my lips knowing that the better half of my mate has decided to grace our presence. The one part of Jacob that I actually like.
"You dare question your Alpha?" Jacob's wolf growls out. His voice is deep and resonates through the walls. My parents both bow their head in submission. I can't help but chuckle as my father gives my mother the side eye trying to get her to quieten down.
"No Alpha, it's just Leanne loves you. She still does. She wouldn't betray you, she wouldn't betray the pack." My mother whimpers out.
"LIES." His voice vibrates through the walls. "You are pathetic, your daughter is nothing but a power hungry bitch. She loved the power and I can tell you now that bastard pup that she birthed was not ours. My human may have been stupid in claiming him, but I will do no such thing. Your daughter is a spoiled cow with no class, no dignity. She attempts to kill her sister, your other daughter. The one you forget about, the one you deny the rights of being your daughter. She tried to murder my pack's true Luna and you expect me to listen to your pathetic attempts to defend that bitch!" He shouts.
For the first time I look at the man who was nothing but a coward and I finally see a true Alpha speaking. I don't cower away at his voice, at his anger, his wolf is seeking redemption and it's in this moment that I find myself attracted to him. His wolf is hot and I can understand why my wolf is reluctant to let him ago.
This Alpha has left my mother speechless, this Alpha has caused my father to seep out tears of pain. Both of them cowering away, no longer able to manipulate the lonely Alpha. Even if this his wolf talking, it is the first time that I have seen him take any accountability for his actions. It's the first time that he has been able to stand up and silence my parents.
"You are right Alpha." My father responds.
"John!" My mother gasps out.
"Quiet Margaret. What he says is true. We have shunned the wrong daughter and we have been making excuses for Leanne's behaviour for too long. She has done nothing but bring shame to our family. We cannot keep doing this. We have lost both our daughters because of our decisions." My father sighed.
"John you can't be serious-" My mother interrupts.
"Margaret I said enough! You have got to stop trying to save someone who can't be saved. Do you not get that she ruined her sisters life? She stole something that wasn't hers! She caused a war between us and the rouges and lets not forget that she tried to kill our other daughter, her twin!" My father said in disgust.
"But John-" My mother tried to speak again.
"I won't hear it Margaret, if she was any other pack member she would have been punished a lot more! What don't you understand that she tried to kill our daughter!" My father shouts.
It's then that my mother sobs, gut-wrenching tears escape her eyes. "She's still our daughter." My mother whispers.
My father grasps my mother's face and tilts her eyes to my direction. I can see that his grip is firm as he tries to stop her from turning her face. "So is she! She is also your daughter! Or do you forget that you birthed Louise as well."
I look at my mother in the eyes and they are red rimmed and filled with tears. Still as she looks at me I see no love, no care, no concern. I shake my head at her actions, no matter what I do, no matter what I achieve, Leanne will always be the innocent one in her eyes. My mother is too stubborn to accept that she was wrong. For if she admits that she was wrong, she will have to accept that she abused and neglected me for no reason at all.
"At least one of you is speaking sense." Jacobs wolf scoffs. "I called you in here because it is time that the pack truly knows the pain that we caused their True Luna. It is time for me as an Alpha to repent my sins. I am telling you this because your sins will also come to light. Leanne will be punished for betraying her pack and trying to kill this pack's true Luna. Do you understand?" Jacob's wolf growls.
"Yes Alpha." My father bows his head in respect. He turns to my direction and looks at me. "My daughter, I know my words mean nothing to you and this apology is late." He sighs deeply and a small tear escapes his eye. "But please believe me when I tell you that I am so sorry for the pain that I have caused you. You didn't deserve it." He hangs his head in shame.
I do nothing and I say nothing, all I can do is see my mother fold her arms in frustration at what will happen. For the first time in a long time, I feel like there is hope and potential for me to build a relationship with my father, for he was never as harsh as my mother. However as I look at the woman who birthed me, I see nothing that is worth saving in our relationship, she is too stuck up my sister's arse for me to have a redeemable relationship.
"You are both dismissed and you will both attend the pack meeting this evening. That is not a suggestion but a command." Jacob's wolf glares.
Both nod and respond "Yes Alpha."