28. Jackson

28

Jackson

Charlie and the girls are off at the bakery, Wyatt and Killian went with them, which put me at ease. After last night and this morning, I know Charlie is ready to be the Luna this Pack needs; her wolf finally met mine and relaxed.

Now, I need to get my head around being the Alpha she needs me to be. The first step is getting to know my Pack, and I plan on spending the late morning at Nan’s. Apparently, most of the Pack goes there for breakfast or lunch, and I haven’t seen my mom in a while, so I assume she’s there.

The Lodge is quiet as I walk through the halls towards the kitchen. The pups attend a school program during the day, and the parents usually stay on their side of the Lodge. As I push out the backdoor towards my truck, I hear Reacher call for me. “You need some company?”

“Sure,” I say as he jogs up next to me.

Reacher bumps my shoulder and says, “So, how’s it going? Charlie seemed to relax last night and even this morning.”

I nod. We both slip into my Bronco. “She seems better. We talked about her past—“ My truck revs to life as I pull out of the parking lot.

“And…” he says.

“And there is a lot of fucked up shit in her past, but her brother died when she came here. That loss has stayed with her; you heard the story this morning; she believed she killed him.” I glance at my friend; he knows that kind of loss and guilt. He lost his entire family in a wildfire. He was the only pup to survive the blaze.

His hand drags through his dark hair. His eyes stay straight ahead as he nods, silently understanding that pain. “Yeah, that stays with you,” he finally mumbles as we pull into the parking space in front of Nan’s.

I turn the truck off and rotate my body to my friend, “You know, being with her, talking about this, has made me realize that I need to check in with my Pack more. You’re Pack Reach. You’ve been Pack for twelve long fucking years. You will always be my Pack. God, this is some sappy shit; what’s that woman doing to me.” I laugh, “just…just if you need to talk. You let me know.”

Reacher says nothing but watches the people moving inside the old brick building. The large windows allow us to see Pack members eating and visiting. “It’s good to have a Pack,” he says quietly, his eyes a little misty as he looks at me. “Now, what’re we doing here?”

Wiping my hand down my mouth to hide my smile, I say, “I thought we would get the gossip.”

“Gossip?” He questions.

“Yeah, Charlie said the Pack really likes to gossip, and I thought what better way to get to know my Pack than to get in on the gossip.”

“Sure, man, whatever you say,” he chuckles as we slip from the truck and head to the front door.

I pull open the chipped wooden door with the large brass handle and gesture for Reacher to walk in first. His large frame fills the doorway and the small reception area, and I realize we messed up. I didn’t think. The Pack hasn’t met my friends; a bear shifter is a big deal.

A small wave of gasps rolls through the room as the conversations all shift toward us.

“Good, Lord, do you see that man? He’s larger than the Alpha,” an older woman whispers off to the side of the restaurant.

“He’s easy on the eyes,” the other responds.

Reacher smothers his laugh, “Guess we are the gossip.”

“Fuck,” I respond.

“My darling son, how is my firstborn and Alpha?” My mom’s voice is warm and soft as she approaches. Her delicate fingers tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.

“We came to eat, Mom,” I clip.

“What a fun surprise,” she mumbles distractedly as she peers around Reacher and me.

“It’s just us, Mom. Charlie is at the bakery.”

She lets out an annoyed huff as surprise fills her face, and she smiles at me. “Charlie?!” she nearly yells.

I shush her, “Yes, sorry, Charlie is my mate,” I say.

My wolf perks up as more hushed whispers roll through the dining room.

“Charlie is the Alpha’s mate.”

“The Alpha’s mated!”

“What a splendid surprise.”

“That tall, dark, and handsome one’s still single, right?”

Reacher shakes his head next to me, hiding his laughter as he listens to the ongoing chatter from other Pack members.

“Mom, can we please get a table?” I say, pulling my ears away from the chatter.

“Oh yes.” She grabs two plastic menus and leads us to a booth in the back corner.

I feel everyone’s eyes watching us as we maneuver our large bodies through tables. I give low hums and hellos to everyone’s greetings.

“Well, this is already going very well,” Reacher says in an amused tone as we both slide into the booth and take in the crowd, who all seem to be watching us.

“Yeah,” I mumble as I look down at the menu.

A quiet whisper reverberates through the dining room as we take in our menus. Everyone seemed to settle down from the spectacle that was us. My mom slides down into the booth next to me.

“Jackson, I didn’t know you found out the way you did.”

My eyes flash to hers, “Really here?”

“Yes, here, the truth is I didn’t know the whole story of where you came, your father…” her voice falls to a quiet whisper. “He just told me he knew someone with pups who lost their families. I always believed you just needed a home. Like Will. I wanted to just love you and raise you like my own.” Her eyes are misty, and I wrap my arms around my mom’s small frame. Her heartbeat is fast, but not cause she’s lying. It's cause she’s scared.

Have I been so much of an ass that my mom is scared of my reaction? “I didn’t know, Mom,” I say gently as I kiss her temple. “I thought you were in on the rouse, I thought…” I let me words fall off.

“I know what you thought, what your father let you believe. But I just learned the full truth last week when you said something, and now—” She shakes her head, “I can barely look at the man. I was so sick to my stomach.”

“It’s all good mom, I love you.”

Reacher has sat quietly next to us, scanning his menu, and my mom wipes a small tear from her cheek. “Okay. Okay, what can I get you boys? Obviously, it’s on the house.”

We both place our order for the pancakes. My mom’s recipe is to die for, and I look over at my best friend. He says, “You gotta good momma there, Jax.”

My head shakes as I look down at the old table, taking in everything she just told me.

My mind is not on food; I’m not hungry at all. The hairs on my neck rise, and I glance at my friend next to me. His eyes are already on the door, “Jax, I have a bad feeling.”

Bear Shifters are extra sensitive to changes; even miles away, they can sense something coming or bomb threats. That’s why Wyatt and Reach were amazing assets in the field, but having him say those words in Solaris with Pack members around me and Charlie just down the street out of reach. My wolf presses for a shift.

“What is it?”

Before he has a chance to respond, someone bursts into the Diner. “There was an accident by the highway.”

Reach and I are already pressing out of our seats as the young man enters the diner. His words cause the entire place to fall silent as I take in his heaving chest. My voice booms through the room, “What do you know?”

My feet quickly carry me back through the tables now frustratingly close. Reacher’s steps are just behind mine as he follows me to the kid, who can’t be older than fifteen with dirty blond hair.

The kid’s voice trembles as he tries to explain what he knows. “Alpha,” he bows slightly. “I don’t know what happened, but I live near the Mill and heard tires squealing and screaming. It didn’t sound good.”

Reacher and I are already climbing in my truck as the boy finishes, “Got it,” I say, dismissing the teenager and turning towards Reacher. “I need you to call Killian and have Holly and Emma returned to the Pack house. I’ll call Will and Hunter and have them meet us there.

“10-4, boss.”

I pull over at the Bakery, needing to see her. To check that she’s okay, “I need to see her. First, I’m sorry,”

“You’re all good, boss. I’ll take care of the phone calls from here. Go kiss your girl.”

My head drops in thankfulness, which he seems to understand, as I slip from the truck and jog into the Bakery. Wyatt’s feet slip off the table when he tries to stand too quickly.

“Holly and Emma? I clip.

“Went with Killian earlier, back to the Clinic.” I nod and continue towards the back.

The blessing about the Bakery is that there is no back door, at least not in the kitchen. My girl is safe, all sealed away in the place that makes her happy.

Her head lifts, and a smile burns across her face as she takes me in. She pops her earbuds out, and I don’t hesitate to pull her into my arms. I say into her mind, ‘Something happened. I need you back at the Lodge. Stay inside until I come and get you. Don’t leave for any reason. Trust me, little mate. I need you to stay safe. Understand? ’

She nods into my chest.

“Are you okay?” she whispers into the small space between us.

“Yes, and I’ll be able to do what I need to once I know you’re safe.”

“Okay. I can clean up.” She leans back in my arms, and I take her lips in mine; she is damn near fuckable right now; her v-neck shirt is loose and gives me a perfect view of her full tits. There is a smear of sugar across the top of one.

“When I return, we’re going to try something new.”

She purrs in response, “You don’t have time now,” she begs.

‘I fucking wish.’

She giggles. “Okay, go take care of your stuff; I’ll be good. Wyatt’s been great. He peeks in the kitchen every twenty minutes or so, but otherwise, he leaves me alone.”

“Good.” I kiss her nose and take her lips again. Her mouth opens, and I press my tongue into hers, savoring the sweet cookie taste that takes over my senses.

She breathes into me, and I know that she can feel my erection growing between us.

I pull away, “I have to go, stay with Wyatt.”

“Yes, sir.” She sasses.

“You better be careful, little Phoenix.”

Her cheeks flush under the new nickname. Her beauty and blaze are beginning to burn through more and more over the last week. I want to chase that color and heat down her body.

“Go, go,” she swats at me and pushes me out of the kitchen.

I kiss her quickly once more and head towards the door.

Just as I slide back in my truck, Reacher turns to me, “Alpha, good news. Killian took Holly back to the Lodge a while ago. Trevor works at the clinic; he stayed with Emma, and she is headed home soon. Everything is taken care of there.”

“Good,” I mumble, shifting the truck to drive. I pull up my brother’s number as we make the only turn out of town. The large truck is smoking in front of us, and a man is in the front seat. However, the passenger door is wide open, and as I slip from the truck and run towards the scene, I know exactly who was in the truck with the man.

My phone is to my ear as Hunter picks up, “Brother, I need you to stay calm. I’m a half mile from Sawmill Road.” I breathe through the line, trying to keep my wolf in control as I have to tell him the worst news of his life. “There was an accident, Trevor’s truck hit a tree.

His voice shakes, “Emma?”

“She’s not here,” I growl. The knot in my chest is so tight that I’ve let my brother down, and his mate has been taken. He curses, his voice filled with anguish, and I hear his truck squeal as he heads our way.