Chapter 85: Her Alpha’s Orders Chapter 84

Jo-anne POV

She was up with the sun today, had slept like the dead it seemed. Felt a bit more like her normal self right this minute.

Showered and dressed for the day. Pushed open all the curtains and opened all the windows in her room. It was already warm outside, unusual, mornings were usually cool and pleasant, as were the evenings, the perks of living in the mountains.

It was going to be one of the rare super hot days, it seemed. She stepped outside of her room to find Ricky and Ben right there, stood and stared at them for a moment before she remembered that everywhere she was going to go they would go to, it was going to be annoying.

“Breakfast Luna?” Ricky smiled right at her, seemed very happy to her.

“Yes Ricky.” she nodded “Do you have to call me that?” she questioned. It was a bit weird to hear it.

Saw him chuckle “Yes, and I do so enjoy it.” He waved for her to walk ahead of him.

Jo-anne had no idea what her schedule for today was, but figured the Luna would come and tell her, sat down to have breakfast, opted for a plate of cinnamon and blueberry waffles with fresh fruit and freshly whipped cream on the side.

Sprinkled some powdered sugar over the top and then added a raspberry syrup too. Was starving, hungry it seemed. But she had not eaten dinner.

Both Ricky and Ben stood just off to the side of the table she was sitting at, wondered if they had had breakfast yet. Likely they would have, “eat boys.” she told them.

Both informed her they’d already eaten as she had suspected, but did see Ricky walk over and get coffee for himself. Seemed relaxed and comfortable watching over her. Knew it was early, most would be having a lazy day, but the Alpha and his Unit would be out training today. Looked at Ricky, it was Sunday. “No training for you today?” she queried.

“Not at this point, my duty as the Gamma comes first, Luna.”

“Oh, everyone else?”

“I believe West, Terence and Cole are all training right this minute.”

“Do l have any restrictions other than the Doc’s rest order?” she asked him, he would know.

“Not as far as I am aware. What would you like to do? l’m certain that West will allow you to do whatever your heart desires.”

She was looking at him now, raised eyebrows, that would be new, “Nothing, I was just curious is all.” she turned to eat her breakfast.

“Where is Ella? | thought I would have seen her yesterday. She’s not here this morning either.” looked right at him. “Did she find her mate?” was a bit worried. What if she’d found her Mate in someone from Pale Moon Pack, who was she to gift to Terence?

“Not as far as I am aware.” he commented, but said no more.

‘Ella.’ she tried to connect with her via the mind-link.

‘Hey girl, what are you up to?”

‘Breakfast, you?’

‘Coming down for breakfast now. See you in a minute. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks, see you soon.”

Ella sank down in the chair next to her, a full plate of bacon, eggs, hash browns, toast and two apple danishes and a croissant already in her mouth, smiled right at her, then giggled softly “I’m starving.”

“Why?”

“Nothing.” but there was happiness in the woman, practically was radiating off of her “I hear you have two mates.”

“Don’t remind me…Why? T have no idea, more of a pain in the proverbial than I blessing.” She shook her head. “But I was hoping to talk to you about some stuff.”

“Sure.” she looked at Ricky and Ben “They going to be hanging around us all day?”

“Yes. Not a moment to myself since getting two Mates.” she sighed and shook her head.

Ella grinned at her, a little mischievously, before turning to eat her breakfast. ‘We could ditch them.’ she giggled down the mind-link.

I think I would get in so much trouble considering what happened, West would go nuts if I suddenly disappeared.’

‘Might end up tethered to him.’ Ella snorted’

Now, now, wouldn’t that be fun?’ she laughed.

‘For Clova, I imagine a lot of fun, would spend the whole time antagonising Volt.’ she snorted and felt Clova was her tail. ‘Patterson has me on rest for today anyway. Hmm, well your room is sound proof, so is mine.’

They made their way to Jo-anne’s room and the second the door was closed, Ella grabbed on to her and was squealing with happiness. “Terence is amazing.”

Jo-anne stared at her. “You managed to get him?” she smiled, happy for her friend.

“I did, and oh my Goddess, Jo-anne. That man,” she flopped down on to the couch and sighed dreamily, “I’ve never felt so hungry, needy for a man or goddess that wanton ever. And afterwards..” she sighed ” slept like the dead.” she giggled “once l got to sleep, that was.”

Jo-anne laughed “Well it’s about bloody time.”

“He’s insatiable. I love it. Like he can’t get enough of me.” sighed again softly, this time. “now I understand you. Being exhausted after West.”

Jo-anne laughed softly “That good, huh?”

“oh my Goddess, Jo-anne, he’sa bloody lvst-filled machine, that needs no rest.” Was practically drooling just thinking about it. Jo-anne smiled.

“Been there,” she nodded, still smiling. “utter exhaustion follows. Well, it always did for me. West used to get up and go off to Alpha training even after hours of s*x.”

“Alpha blooded I guess.” Ella grinned. “So have you and West since finding out he’s your Mate?

“What? No!”

“Why not? Imagine how much better it will be, now with all that smoking hot tingly Mate bond in full swing.

Jo-anne stared at her. S*x with West the last two times had actually been better than during their Bond and she knew that, but she had not even thought about it. And even now she didn’t want to think about it. Also, it probably wasn’ta good idea.

Likely end up Marked by one of them. No, it was definitely not a good idea, or those two would kill each other. When the other found out, it would start a fight for sure.

“Not a good idea, but I have had to have a meal with both of them yesterday. Didn’t really go down so well, they both just end up confusing me.”

“Why, I thought Jayden would be all charm, confident and elegant. West well, that’s, of course, going to confuse you. But explain it to me.”

Jo-anne thought about it for a moment. “Jayden seems nice, and we do have a lot in common, both right into the arts. But I don’t know, Clova doesn’t seem to like him, doesn’t want to interact with him and every time Loch, his wolf appears. Clova acts like he’s a threat to us or those around us.”

“And he’s already tried to Mark you. Terence told me. He does not like the man, Jo-anne.” She shook her head and stated “Something is off about him.”

She thought so too, hiding something maybe “He’s honest with me though. To a point, I’m hearing things I don’t particularly like. Trying to be up front with me, I suppose. But…”

“But?”

“He’s quick to anger, and told me l have to keep Clova in check. I really don’t like that. Clova is usually so gentle, placid even. But lately, I don’t know, I feel a change in her. She even runs faster now.”

“I did notice that on the pack run.” Ella nodded.

“But what do you mean by a change in her?”

“I don’t know exactly, just feels…stronger, and is really quick to rise to a challenge from another wolf…. don’t know, when she’s in control she kind of feels like nothing can stop her. She was ready to take on Alpha Jayden yesterday. Like she really wanted to, wasn’t even scared that she didn’t have any training, of the opinion she could take him. West had to talk her down.”

“West talked her down?”

“Yeah, Clova’s all happy to have West and Volt as her Mate. Purrs for them all the time, rubbed herself all over him.” she shook her head.

“Those two, Clova and Volt, were always hot for each other.” Ella nodded. Didn’t sound that surprised.

“Yeah. Now, as Goddess-Gifted Mates, goddess help me if they get out. They were insatiable back then, and exhausted me twice last week. I can only imagine what they will be like now.” Felt Clova chortle inside her mind.

Ella laughed at her, “Won’t be able to walk straight afterwards.” she whacked Jo-anne’s arm, thought it was completely hilarious it seemed, “So what about West? How’s he been with you?”

Jo-anne sighed she was even more confused about him. “Told me he loves me.” she shook her head.

“Sweet Goddess really, just like that?”

“Yes, I just kind of stared at him. Didn’t know what to say.”

“Mm. I get it though. You two were not good back then. That’s why you left.”

“Yeah,” she sighed “I don’t know what to do.”

“I’d say give it more time. A decision like this, should not be taken lightly, take all the time in the world. Which ever one pushes you to hurry up, is not likely to be the right one. Or that’s my opinion, anyway. If they love you, they won’t want you to make a rushed decision.”

“There’s more Ella.” Jo-anne sighed “Did T.J. tell you I died?”

“He didn’t have to have. I knew you were going to. Broke my heart to see it. I made him promise me, that he wouldn’t hurt Karen. He sent me away and told me to go and be safe. I ran right to his room, didn’t want to be alone when I got the news. Knew deep down neither would he, waited for him, to comfort him.”

“How did you know?”

“Gut instinct,” she shrugged, “not many can survive a silver dagger to the heart, I also know you.

You’d never tell anyone if you were dying.

Jo-anne sighed “It was Karen, you know.. who did that to West and I back then.”

“Stupid b!tch,” she grated out, “But I hear you killed her.”

Jo-anne nodded, “I did,” sighed heavily”

“What is it, Jo-anne?”

“I need your help, when I died…” she looked at her closest friend, so happy to finally be with T.J. where she belonged. Told her everything about T.J. and what the moon Goddess had told her, then sat and waited for her to react.

It was only a few minutes, “You’re going to pick me, right?”

Jo-anne nodded” Yes, out of all of that. That is your one concern.”

“I love him, Jo-anne, you know this. So let’s qet this sorted out and fix it. Get me pen and paper, let’s write it all down, work out what your choices could possibly be and narrow down the odds a little if we can.”

“You took it rather well” Jo-anne stated as she got the pen and paper.

“He’s Mate-less, I’m Mate-less and I have only ever really wanted him and after having him..” she sighed “There will be no other. I only want him from now on.. with how it felt to be with him. Maybe we were supposed to be Mates. Maybe I was the one str!pped from him.

“That’s actually what I thought,” Jo-anne admitted with a nod “So let’s get him gifted back to you.”

“Agreed.. though.” she giggled, “the s*x, f*****g amazing even without the Mate Bond. I can’t wait to go back to bed tonight.”

“His room again?”

“Every night. I’ll not sleep anywhere else and he so much as points at the door and tries to send me away. I’ll kick him where it hurts and then get into his bed anyway. If he tries to drag me out well, I’ll beat the living hell out of him. Till he has to pin me down to stop it, and then,” she grinned, “well, I’m betting I can get him all hot and bothered and I’ll be staying put. Got one hell of a fight to get rid of me now.”

Jo-anne laughed. She loved the spirit of this woman. Willing to fight for T.J.

“You know Jo-anne, what just occurred to me”.

Ella looked at her after a while.

“What?”

“If you and West can sort all your stuff out, and you choose him. No pressure, of course. Choose only who is right for you. But say it’s West you want. Then you would be the Luna and I would be the Beta’s Mate. We’re besties now. It would stay that way, we’d be together all the time.”

“Goddess, you’d have me drunk and in trouble ail the time.” Jo-anne snorted every time she’d gone out here it had been with Ella and they’d gotten drunk each time.

“Right.” she grinned “A right f*****g we’d both get”

Jo-anne laughed “You’re crazy, do you know that?”

“Ah come on, you gotta have one crazy friend. It might as well be me.”

The two of them sat and Iooked down the list they had written, titled it ‘only one can be happy’.

Ella insisted on putting both West and Jayden on there, even though Jo-anne didn’t think that either of them were who she had to choose from. There was T.J. and Jo-anne on the list. Jo-anne put herself and Ella on the list and got a raised eyebrow from Ella.

“What? What if the choice is your happiness over mine? Who knows what it is?” then added to chose neither West or Jayden.

Ella sighed “What do you think she meant by that, if all is revealed, everyone can be happy?”

“I don’t know, just that my once choice will affect a lot of people. Probably all of those on that list.”

“No clues to that either, mysterious woman, that Goddess of ours.”

“Yes, didn’t even tell me who they were?”

“Well, she did warn you it was going to be difficult, it is by all appearance… would you really reject them both?”

Jo-anne looked right at her, thought about it and then nodded, “If I knew that choice would release T.J. Yes. It’s my fault he’s Mate-less. So, yes I would become Mate-less in his place if it would grant him a Mate. Though the Luna doesn’t seem to think that is it. Something about she and the moon Goddess would know I’d choose T.J. in a heart beat. So not difficult.”

“She’s not wrong on that, Jo-anne. The two have always been weirdly connected, at least now we know why.”

“Yeah, my birth ruined his life.” She muttered.

“I don’t think T.J. would see it that way and stop saying it’s your fault. It’s not. You didn’t ask the moon Goddess to do that to him. Didn’t the Goddess tell you, your birth mother asked for someone to protect you.”

“Yes, but still.”

“No. No butts, you did not ask for this. You did not do this to him. If you must blame someone.

“Blame your birth mother.”

“No, I couldn’t do that” Jo-anne shook her head “she likely had very good reasons. Wolves do not just abandon their pups without extreme circumstances.”

“l guess not.” Ella nodded “So it’s a short list, but a list none the less.” Watched as Ella got up and pinned it to the wall. Then she stood and looked at it, turned and looked at Jo-anne with a slight frown, then wrote Mother on that list.

That made Jo-anne frown. “I don’t even know who that is.”

“Perhaps that’s the choice. To find out. The goddess did say if all was revealed. What if you have to find out who she is, your real mum? What if she had all the answers and then the choice is her or clearer to make?”

“Well, from what I understand, I was found out in the snow. No one knows who she is.”

“Ah but she knows, maybe she will come forward.”

“I doubt it, Ella, I’m 28. Why would she now after all this time?”

“Who knows why people do the things they do? Saw the woman’s eyes glaze over and then she g*****d when they cleared. “I’m being requested by my brother Cole to have a serious conversation.” she sounded very sarcastic “Training is over apparently”

“Looking to find out where you were all day and night.” Jo-anne teased her.

“Plus the night before.” Ella laughed “I’d better go. He sounded pissed off to the max.”

“Are you going to tell him?”

“I don’t think Terence will want that. I’ll discuss it with him before outing us to my brother. I’m out all the time. I can just tell him it was some rando warrior.” she shrugged. Headed out the door, waved good bye and then was gone.

Jo-anne sat and stared at the list on the wall for a long time, difficult to say the least, shook if off talking about it had gotten her no closer to making a decision. Mind-Link the Luna, she had yet to hear about her schedule for the day, it was past breakfast time, way past and should have heard by now.

Frowned instantly when the link connected to the Luna could feel worry coming down the link, heard her voice, soft a bit sad, ‘Lunch with West, dinner with Jayden Sweetheart.’

‘Luna, what is wrong?’ all her instincts were telling her something was wrong.

‘Nothing.. Just’ felt pain come down the mind-link.

Shot to her feet ‘where are you?

‘My room.’

Jo-anne was gone, banged out of her room, ran down the hall, all the way up the stairs as fast as she could, something was very wrong. She didn’t even answer Ricky when he called out to her, went all the way to the Alpha suite where she knew the Luna lived, banged the door open. “Ricky, get Patterson now.” she shot at him “Luna?” she called out.

“Jo-anne..”

Found Luna Natalia in her ensuite, holding a hand to her stomach, tears falling down the woman’s face. “No,” Jo-anne gasped, and rushed right over to her, put a hand on the Luna’s hand

No! Where is Damien?”

“I haven’t told him yet.”

“Then you need to.”

“No, it’ll only hurt him.” she shook her head and sobbed.

“Ricky get in here now,” she yelled.

“Leave it, Jo-anne.”

“No, you will be fine! I won’t let this happen!

Your baby will be strong and healthy, safe. I will not accept anything else.”

Ricky was next to her. “Calm her. Put her in bed. Is Patterson coming?”

“Yes.”. She stepped back so he could pick her up. Following as he carried her and put her. There had been spots of b***d on the bathroom floor, the woman was sitting on the side of the tub in a towel.

Not a good sign.

Mind-link to Damien “Alpha, where are you?”

‘What’s wrong, Jo-anne?’ he shot right back, picked up on her stress likely.

‘Your Luna, come now, your suite.’

‘Coming.’ he shot right back.

It took all of 5 minutes for Damien to arrive. Hot on his heels was West and Patterson. She was standing holding the woman’s hand, praying to the Goddess, that everything was alright and that the Luna’s baby would be okay, that she was not going to loose her unborn pup. Ricky was doing his Gamma thing, keeping the woman calm. It was really weird to hear a southern drawl come from him, as he talked softly to the woman.

“What’s going on?” Damien demanded.

Jo-anne stepped back so he could take her place. “She’s pregnant,” Jo-anne told him.

Saw Damien’s eyes go wide and then he was on the bed next to her. He seemed to understand instantly, what was going on in this room.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered to the Luna, but she had to tell him, tell Patterson, so he could help treat her.

“Pack hospital now.” Damien snapped and picked his Mate clean up. Patterson agreed, they could find out more and treat, maybe even stop what was or could be a miscarriage.

Her eyes turned to West. He looked shocked by the news and saddened at the same time. As he watched his father disappear out the door with his mother and the pack doctor.

“‘m sorry West.”

“Not your fault.. how did you know?”

“That’s not important, go and be with your mother.”