Chapter 19 - Jasper

Seeing how April was able to encourage and uplift the pack had been an eye-opening experience the past few days. There was still a good deal of aggression within the ranks, but overall, huge improvements had been made.

Meal times, especially, had become almost celebratory. With the increase in help from the men in the pack, the women had been able to put their attentions toward cooking a wider range of foods. Nutrition among the entire pack had increased now that they had access to better ingredients, and everyone's health had taken a turn for the better.

We also hadn't needed a doctor to deal with sickness since April had arrived. She'd discovered that one of the women had experience with healing herbs and had relieved her of her cleaning duties so that she could focus on foraging and creating tinctures and salves for the pack.

April had prioritized the bathing of the children and women, and without being told to do so, the men had followed suit.

Where once there was a dirty, ruthless, listless pack, I now saw a thriving one.

As much as I was enjoying the positive changes in the pack, I knew that my work was far from done. If I wanted to keep things going this way—if I wanted to keep April—I would need to make things right with other groups as well.

My mate's old pack was my first stop.

"Killian," I said, drawing him aside from the main group, "have a minute?"

"Of course, Jasper," he replied, following me to his cabin.

"I need you to go to Sparkle Hollow, alone, to drop off a message from me," I told him.

Killian paled at my request. I knew exactly how big of a risk I was asking him to take, but I had no choice. I couldn't count on anyone else to manage the task without being seen and captured.

"What do you need me to tell them?" he asked. "Can't it be done over the phone?"

"I need to make sure they get the message, and I can't be certain that they'd allow me to speak if I called. The last thing we need is to escalate things any further," I explained.

"Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it," Killian said.

I scrawled my message quickly.

Alpha Lex McCloud,

I received a message from Alpha Aiden of the Moonstone Pack. I assure you that April Rose is alive and well. She is now the luna of the Dark Moon wolves.

Although we wish for her to remain here, our pack would like to acknowledge our past mistakes, especially regarding the kidnapping of a Sparkle Hollow wolf. The mistakes of the past cannot be easily rectified, but we wish for a temporary truce to investigate how best to create a lasting peace between us.

Alpha Jasper Sanders

"That should do it," I said, handing the rolled-up scroll to Killian. "Make sure you get it onto Alpha Lex's desk without being seen."

"What are you going to do next?" he asked, tucking the message into his inner pocket.

I sighed. My own mission might turn out to be just as dangerous as his was bound to be.

"I'm heading into Pinedale to speak with Alpha Nile," I said. "It's time he knew the truth about who I am, and what we're doing here."

Killian grasped my arm, showing his solidarity with my plan. Not once had he questioned my leadership or any of my methods. He was a true friend.

As Killian departed, I made my way to find my luna. If I tried to leave again without telling April where I was going, there was no doubt in my mind that she would try to follow me.

She was busy cleaning when I entered our cabin, but she paused and greeted me with a smile. I sat at the table to rest my feet while we spoke.

"Hi," she said. "I figured I'd tidy up while I waited for the little ones to finish their naps. A few of us are taking them all for a hike this afternoon. Did you want to join us?"

"I actually need to go into town," I told her.

"Did you need some company?"

"No, I need to speak with Alpha Nile. Alone."

She set down the broom and dustpan she had been using to sweep the floors and came to sit at the table across from me.

"Should I be worried?" she asked, concern lining her face as she reached her hand across to hold mine.

"I don't know how the conversation will go," I admitted. "But it's time for me to tell him about the rest of the pack. If things go south—"

"They won't," she insisted. "Nile is a kind man. He won't hurt you."

"If things go south," I continued, ignoring her interruption, "Killian has his instructions on what to do next."

There was nothing else to say, and I had never been one for emotional scenes. April, likewise, didn't draw out our goodbye.

***

In no time at all, I was approaching the front door of Alpha Nile's home.

"Jasper!" Terry said in surprise as he opened the door to greet me. "We weren't expecting you. Come in, come in. Where's your bride?"

"She stayed at the cabin. I was hoping to speak with your alpha, if he's not too busy," I explained.

"Of course, come on in."

Terry and I walked inside, and I found Nile reading to his daughter in the living room. The two of them were cozied up together on the loveseat, the very picture of amicability and peace.

"What brings you by, young man?" the alpha greeted me. "Everything is alright with you, I hope?"

"It's a rather… difficult conversation," I began.

Nile took the hint and shuffled Penelope out of the room, instructing her to go play while we spoke.

"You've known since we met that I'm a werewolf like yourself," I began. "But I haven't been completely honest with you about why we're near your town. My mate and I aren't rogues, as we led you to believe. I am the alpha of the Dark Moon Pack, and April is my luna."

The old man's face registered his shock, and three of his warriors suddenly came into the room. They had overheard our conversation from their posts throughout the house and had come to the aid of their alpha without question.

"We mean you no harm," I insisted, holding my hands up in supplication.

"How can we be sure of that?" Terry spat from behind me.

I glanced at him and saw that his expression was fierce, but behind his eyes, I saw the look of betrayal at my secrecy.

"We have done nothing to harm anyone in your pack since the moment we arrived," I pointed out.

"When was that, exactly?" Nile asked, leaning forward in his seat.

I grimaced, knowing that the length of time we had spent near his territory without alerting him to our presence was unacceptable.

"Four months," I admitted.

"Why haven't you come forward before now?" the alpha continued.

"We broke off from the Moonstone Pack a year and a half ago and have been struggling to find a place to call home ever since," I explained. "When we came to the area, we didn't realize the town was already occupied by another pack. Once we did… I'm ashamed to admit that my first thought was to take it over from you. But things have changed. I have changed. My pack deserves to have a peaceful home, and all we wish for is a place where we can co-exist with the Pinedale wolves."

"What changed, exactly?" Nile asked. I could tell he was still trying to decide whether I could be believed, so I thought it best to continue being as honest as possible.

"My mate, April. She was the one who showed me that change is possible," I said.

"No, Alpha," one of the warriors interjected. "You can't possibly consider this."

Nile sat quietly, analyzing me for a long moment before speaking.

"The mate bond is a powerful one," he said finally. "If your luna has been able to sway your mind toward peace, then I am grateful to her. Pinedale has a way of making newcomers feel at home. It shouldn't come as a surprise to any of us that your pack has found comfort here."

"We have, Alpha Nile," I said deferentially. "We would like your blessing to become a part of your community, but remain as separate packs. My wolves have experienced great loss and upheaval in their lives. We seek peace."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Moonstone Pack wasn't always a peaceful one. If you broke apart from them last year, I would imagine that the more… violently inclined wolves were the ones that followed you, as opposed to staying behind with Alpha Aiden," Nile surmised.

When I didn't respond to his allegations, he continued, "I admit that I am unhappy with your decision to move in secrecy until now, but I am glad you finally came forward to explain what you're doing here," Nile said. "It will take some work, but I will see what we can do to allow your wolves to live here in town with us. We will be in touch when my council has made a final decision about how to proceed."

I bowed my head, grateful for his kindness. He truly was a reasonable and fair man. I hoped that living in town would help us get to know each other better in the future. There was a lot I could learn from him.

I left his house, feeling hopeful for my pack's future and anxious to get back to April. Of everyone in the pack, I knew she would be most excited about the good news.

She was still in our cabin when I returned, putting newly laundered sheets on the bed.

"You're back!" she said excitedly. "How did it go?"

I strode to her, grabbing her waist and pressing my lips to hers passionately. Her mood immediately shifted from concern to elation as she responded to my advances.

"That good, huh?" she mumbled against my lips.

"Nothing was decided for sure," I told her. "But yes, it went well."

I didn't tell her, but I felt that my success with Nile today had all come down to her. She had made it possible for me to be the leader that my pack needed, and I couldn't wait to shower her with the affection she deserved.

I lifted her onto the freshly made bed and began to undress us both. I was ready to share all of myself with my mate, and right now, I needed the comfort of her body entwined with mine.