3. Jackson

3

Jackson

The view from the front library window is one of the best in the house. The large estate was built on the mountainside, overlooking the entire town. The sharp cresting peaks, still covered with white snow, contrasting the pale blue sky, have kept our Pack safe for ages. The sight does little to alleviate the pulse of unease that’s thrumming through me at being home. The emotions I’ve kept safely tucked away quickly overriding any rational thought as my sister flew into my arms when I slid from my truck earlier.

She’s all woman now with her pin-straight blonde hair and soft curves. A pulse of sadness swept over me that I missed her growing up. She was fifteen when I left, and now she’s… well, she’s not fifteen anymore. The years did not take away her chatter or her ability to bounce around me as I walked up to my room. The weight of being home made my feet heavy as I followed the aged rug up the two flights of stairs to my old room.

Holly stayed with me, talking about various aspects of the Pack. I grunted and hummed along with her. Not hearing what she was saying as I considered what I was doing here. After discovering my family’s truth, I wanted nothing to do with it. Not that I didn’t love my siblings, but the secrets I was sworn to put a rift between them and me.

My hand slides through my shaggy hair as I consider my options. The peaks and view of Solaris do little to help ease my mind. I sigh into the empty room. While I watch Hunter’s truck turn down the front road, entering our property. My manners and patience are lacking. I don’t even attempt to go and greet him. I know he’ll find me. A steadying breath does little to quell my rising anger at being back.

Everything Hunter has told me has me on edge. Apparently, Pack members have been disappearing for over a year. My father, who is sworn to protect them, has done little to help, the entire weight of it falling heavily on Hunter and Will’s shoulders. It wasn’t until the phone call I got six months ago that Hunter told me it was really bad. He hired a human to run a clinic to figure out how to help. Still, my father adamantly disagreed with the decision, once again, leaving the Pack in shambles.

“Brother?!” Hunter’s voice echoes in the tall library as I turn and pull him into a tight embrace.

“I missed you, Hunt,” I say into his shoulder. Smothering the emotions that pull at my chest as I take in his familiar scent. He is bulkier now, his chest full and arms strong. His lean, muscular frame has grown, too, from the small eighteen-year-old he was when I left.

He pushes me back, not letting me out of his embrace. “You’re a tank now, man. These,” he squeezes my biceps, “Are much larger than before.”

I almost smile but tip my head down instead, “I could say the same about you,” I mumble.

Will pushes in the front door. “Jackson!” I hug him as well. I can’t believe how much my brothers have grown up; when I left, Will was only sixteen, but now his giant body is as strong as mine, and he’s nearly as tall. His long brown hair hangs sloppily on his forehead as he pushes it back with a big smile.

The emotion that swells inside me is similar to the one I have with my unit—a brotherhood. I didn’t realize I missed my siblings so much. Maybe it was a survival tactic. When I left, I threw myself into my work. I wanted to be the best and pushed myself harder each day, burying the emotion of missing my Pack.

Missing my brothers.

I swallow the extra emotion and try to keep the stoic look plastered on my face. I breathe deeply. “Let’s get this over with,” I say, gesturing towards the office.

I can feel the relief, or maybe hope pulsing from both men as we walk towards my dad’s office. I hope their strength will bleed into me and give me the control I’m trying to maintain as I face the one man who has single-handedly ruined my life.

The three of us push into my Dad’s office. The space hasn’t changed since I left. The smell of whiskey is thick in the air. That’s new. I wonder if he’s tried drowning his sins in alcohol. It sure smells like it. We can’t get drunk as shifters, but I think my Dad is testing the limits of his metabolism.

My wolf pushes forward, ready to fight anger at his negligence. I smother it and try to approach the situation with a level head. “Dad,” I say. My tone is short. I’m trying not to sneer it out. “Alpha, we’ve come to talk to you about stepping down.”

My Dad leans back in his chair, a sinister look on his face as he takes me in. I stand taller. His thick arms crossed over his chest, studying me. “Jackson, you know nothing of what has been happening.”

I look to Hunter, and he nods at me.

My voice is sharp as I say, “Hunter has kept me informed about the issues surrounding Emma, the sickness, and now Holly. He told me you’re reluctant to protect those in my Pack. I think it’s time we take a stronger approach and keep everyone safe.” I bring my fists together as my nails shift to claws. The anger building in my body. Hunter and Will sit beside me while I stand; I will not be on their level until my wolf claims his seat. Despite the turmoil of not wanting to become Alpha, the dominant side of me demands respect in all aspects of my life.

I watch as the weak man in front of me lets his head fall. I fight the urge to take it right off. Then his body jiggles almost unnaturally as he laughs as if this is all a joke. My wolf pushes forward. A sneer pulls at my lips as a growl ripples through the room. This coward hasn’t done shit for twelve fucking years. He has let my family believe a lie. He has ruined our Pack and dares to laugh at me.

I take one singular step toward him. Hunter stands quickly, ever the peacemaker, my Beta brother. He presses closer to my side. If they knew the truth, I’d hope they would stand by my side while I burn this place down.

My Dad’s voice cuts off my angry thoughts. “Jackson, our agreement said you would return at thirty. You’ve neglected to do so. You haven’t even contacted me. Now, you expect to show up and take over?”

He’s right. The shame of not wanting to deal with the family drama pulls at me.

I should’ve come home. I felt obligated to finish my contract and help my team—a team that’s been more of a family than him. “I had people who relied on me. I had my own Pack. You wouldn’t understand that, would you, Dad? Doing right by your Pack?”

My Dad’s lips pull back in a cruel smile, and I welcome the fight he wants. I would easily destroy him.

Then Hunter starts in on him, “Is that why you’re bitter and angry? Because Jackson should’ve been here? You’ve taken out your wrath on the Pack, me, and Emma because you feel you are owed something for being the Alpha a few years longer than you planned.” Hunter’s body is vibrating. He has been going through hell lately, and the biggest challenge was how hard he fought to bring Emma to help with the sickness and then fought to keep her when he told her the truth of our kind.

I hope that, as Alpha, I can help alleviate his stress and that he can feel supported as he navigates everything with his new mate.

I cut in. “Regardless of the Alpha’s reasoning, I’m here, and I’m taking over.” My tone brokers no room for questions as my Dad presses up to stand. I let my hands fall to my sides, not hiding the claws I’m ready to tear his throat out with.

My wolf pushes at my skin. The tell-tale tingle of a shift. He wants to earn his spot in this Pack and prove his worth. I hold on to my control but only slightly. My Dad rounds his desk, and brings a chubby finger to my chest.

I raise a brow as my head tilts to the side.

He says, “I’ll step down, but we aren’t leaving the Lodge.”

I suck in a deep breath. The frustration of this entire situation has me clenching my jaw and fists. My mother doesn’t deserve to be uprooted, especially with everything happening right now, so I won’t argue for her sake.

“Fine. Stay in your room. Mom doesn’t deserve to be kicked out anyway. Welcome to my Pack, Dad.” My finger pushes into his chest as I step forward and assert my dominance over him. A deep growl fills the room as I force his body out of the way with my own. I go around the desk to take my seat as Alpha.

“You’re dismissed.” I sneer as I sit in the oversized red chair and take in my new mantle. Questions of uncertainty flicker through my mind as I consider my ability to lead a Pack I don’t know and have neglected for twelve years.

My forehead presses heavily into the cabinet above the stove. The events of the day have been draining. I smell Holly as she walks into the kitchen, not moving my head as I fry up a steak for myself.

“Hey, big bro, what’s on your mind?” she asks.

I turn but don’t respond. Holly works around the kitchen island, heading to the large fridge on the other side. She hasn’t been eating well, or her wolf is sick. I don’t know all the details. I trust Hunter and Emma are working through that problem, and I’ll support them with whatever they need.

“Just thinking about everything that happened earlier.”

She nods. “So, you’re the new Alpha?” Her tone is curious and calm. “Should I bow to you, almighty?” Her teasing has my lip twitching.

“No need to bow,” I say back, unable to tease her. The reality that I’m the Alpha now is still sinking in. The things I want to change overwhelm me; the issues I’m facing.

After the conversation with my brothers ended, my dad told me about another issue he’d gotten into. A few years ago, he made a deal with a young man to give them refuge from the Umbra Pack.

I knew that the Umbra Pack was bad, but hearing the story of Ryan and Rose, I didn’t realize it was that bad. The Pack has always held a yearly auction. Ax’s reputation precedes him when it comes to the number of ‘wives’ he’s bought and killed. I guess Rose was his next bride, and her brother helped her escape that fate. The thought turns my stomach, thinking of a woman as a possession and not a person.

Except now I have to deal with harboring a young woman who is ultimately the property of a rival pack. The more straightforward solution would be to give her back despite her fate and let my Pack live peacefully.

“Do you know Rose?” I ask Holly. Curious to learn more about the woman who could cause a war between our packs.

Holly takes a big bite of apple and nods as she chews, holding her finger up. “Yes, but she goes by Charlie now.” She swallows her bite. “Charlie’s, my best friend. I love her like a sister.”

Well, that’s just great. I cross my arms over my chest, sighing heavily. She’s a beloved friend of my baby sister, so I can’t just give her back without dealing with Holly’s wrath.

I nod.

“Why do you ask, Jax?”

“Just wondering what kind of trouble Dad got our Pack into while I’ve been away.”

My sister scoffs, “Jackson White, you’re telling me if a woman came to you seeking refuge, you wouldn’t protect her? What if it was me?”

Of course, Holly goes for the jugular. “No, I wouldn’t turn her away.” I flip my steak in the cast iron pan. “I just don’t want a war either, Holls.”

“Well, before you go around making big Alpha decisions. Know that Charlie is Pack. She is my Pack, and if you do anything to piss her off, you have to deal with me, Alpha or not.” Her voice rises with pitch.

Holly’s protectiveness over the fugitive makes me smile. “Of course, Hellsbells,” I whisper.

She nods in confirmation and takes her apple, and leaves.

I finish cooking my steak and then head to the dining room. The whole house is quiet. I know it’s because I’m here. No one knows anything about me, and being the new Alpha, I know that the unknown comes with a good amount of fear.

I cut into my steak, hearing the back door open. I avoid looking up because I don’t want to deal with anyone. A smell similar to sugar cookies fills the room. It’s soft and delicate, contrasting the Parmesan-roasted steak on my plate.

I breathe deeply, enjoying the sweetness, as I look up to see a woman. She’s short and curvy with beautiful silky black hair and pale skin. Her dark eyes catch mine, and a warmth fills my chest. She sets a bag down quickly and runs back out the door.

I laugh and look around the dining room, wondering if there’s a threat I didn’t see. The chuckle that bubbles up is unexpected as I realize she just ran from me. I push up from my chair and follow the smell to the door.

Just as I step outside, I see her wolf. The small black form has her tail tucked between her legs as she bolts towards the forest. My sister’s white wolf is right behind her. My wolf surges forward, wanting to chase them. Join in on a run.

I’m wondering who authorized their run. Hunter had told me we could only run as a Pack due to a poaching incident, so I pulled my phone out and texted him.

Hey, Holly and some other woman just went for a run. Is this normal?

His response is immediate.

Yes, that’s Charlie and Holly. They run on their own behind the Lodge. Charlie’s wolf won’t run with the Pack, so they are allowed to go for runs on their own.

They have no protection on these runs? Shouldn’t someone be with them?

My frustration surges forward that the woman who has already caused so much trouble for our Pack also gets special permission to run. Add in the fact that both females are running unprotected.

You go with them if you’re so worried. I haven’t had the extra hands to help.

“Fuck,” I say to the chilly evening air. My hands grip the rail that wraps around the veranda. Fighting with my wolf over whether or not I should go run with them or stay here and protect the house.

‘We need to go catch her,’ my wolf says.

I argue back that we need to stay here and protect the Pack House.

One thing my father should’ve done was create an enforcer unit. Given the situations we are dealing with, I need to prioritize that. The poached animals that were found are reason enough to have a unit. Add in the disappearances and sickness, we need more help.

My claws dig into the cement railing as my wolf surges forward again. I know the risk of leaving the house, but something about Charlie and Holly running alone bothers me. I hustle down the stairs, strip quickly, and shift, chasing the two girls into the forest.