Stepped Up [COMPLETE]

10

The days seamlessly blended into weeks, and I grew accustomed to having Jack around. To my surprise, I found that I no longer needed Tina's assistance. It was a bittersweet parting, as she had been a reliable help for years, but she understood the change and expressed gratitude for the years of employment. Providing her with a glowing reference and six weeks' pay, I wished her well in her future endeavors.

Jack took on the responsibility of bringing Elena to school on most days. Occasionally, he had early morning meetings or had to return to Tulsa the night before, preventing him from doing so. Regardless, he unfailingly picked up Elena at a quarter past 3 every day.

Our routine evolved to include Jack's regular presence in our home, typically from late afternoon until the evening. He joined us for dinner, helped put Elena to bed, and became an indispensable part of our lives. Over the weeks, Jack and I had grown remarkably close, and expressing my affection for him became second nature. Kissing him and declaring my love had become as natural as breathing, and I genuinely cared for him.

"Elena, come on, or you'll be late!" I called from inside the house, prompting Elena to hurry out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth. She donned her coat and backpack, ready for another day of school.

A knock on the door caught my attention, and I glanced at it, momentarily puzzled. Jack couldn't pick up Elena for school this morning; he had mentioned heading to Tulsa the day before. I approached the door, opening it carefully to see who was there.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I stared at Jack.

"I decided not to go back to Tulsa; Tyler's got it covered," He had sent his Beta, Tyler, back to Tulsa about a week after he realised that I wouldn't come to Tulsa with him just yet.

"Oh, okay," I said, "Elena! Your dad is here to take you to school," I had heard Elena call Jack daddy or dad so many times that it had just become second nature for me to call him her dad.

"Daddy!" Elena cried as she ran to him and flung herself into his arms. He hugged her and placed her on his hip. "I thought you'd gone on a trip,"

"Daddy didn't need to,"

"Yay!"

"Alright, well, have a good day, both of you," I said as I grabbed my hot drink and keys before locking the front door. I kissed Elena on the cheek and kissed Jack on the lips before heading to my car. "Be good, both of you!" I called as they waved to me. "Love you both,"

Rick's POV:

My office door was knocked on, and I sighed as I put down my pen. I beckoned the person to enter, and in walked my Beta, Eric.

"What's up?" I asked him as he came in.

"Some rumours have been going around lately," He said.

"About?" I groaned.

Rumors had been circulating for a couple of years, but one, in particular, irked me—whispers about Cassidy and me. The persistent belief was that Cassidy wasn't my true mate, fueled by observations that our eldest child, Aster, displayed no discernible Alpha qualities. Although Aster was a beautiful baby boy, bearing a striking resemblance to his mother, the rumors gained traction due to his lack of inherent Alpha power. Adding to the speculation, our baby girl, Lily, exhibited even less strength, presenting as a blend of characteristics from both Cassidy and me.

The insinuations about Cassidy not being my true mate were baseless, and I sought counsel from others to dispel any doubts. There was no rational explanation for Aster's apparent lack of strength to inherit the Alpha and Head Alpha roles, especially considering that many children born to Alphas and Lunas without true mates still possessed the necessary strength for leadership. The rumors persisted, casting a shadow over my family's reputation and adding an unwarranted layer of complexity to our lives.

"Not about the kids; it's about another Alpha,"

"Oh?" I asked as Eric came and sat in the leather chair opposite my desk.

"I have heard from the grapevine that the Alpha of the Tulsa Pack, Jack Travis, has found his mate in Texas and has barely been home in the last month,"

"Who told who?"

"Beta female of the Tulsa pack told other Beta females, and the news got back to Annabelle," Annabelle was Eric's mate. They had been together for a couple of years now and had a son around the age of Lily. Guess it was true what they said, women love to gossip.

"Why hasn't he been home in the last month?"

"She's a rogue with a kid and doesn't want to be in a pack,"

"But he's been with her for the last month?"

"Pretty much,"

"Are they true mates?"

"Yes,"

"Well, according to our highest laws, he has to present her to me soon," Every Alpha had to present their mates to the Head Alpha and Head Luna. It was one of our highest laws and an excuse for us to have a party.

"Yes, what would you like to do?"

"Call the Alpha of the Tulsa pack and tell him he has until...." I looked at my calendar, "Until the next full moon, which is in two weeks, to present her to me."

"You got it," Eric said as he exited the room.

Jack's POV:

After dropping Elena off at kindergarten, I returned to Hope's house, where she generously allowed me to spend the day working. Being close to Elena's school, it was a convenient arrangement. I settled in, loaded up my laptop, and delved into a mix of pack-related emails and business correspondence for the various enterprises we owned in and around Tulsa.

During a coffee break, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and, considerate as ever, put on a load of laundry for Hope. As midday approached, my phone rang, displaying an unknown number. Approaching the call with caution, I answered it, curious about the caller's identity.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Alpha Jack Travis of the Tulsa pack?"

"And you are?"

"Beta Eric Lane of the California Pack," Shit, shit, shit, shit, why would he be calling me? Please don't be something about Hope, but something in my head told me it had to be. Nothing else would get me on the California Pack's radar.

"What can I do for you?"

"It has come to our attention that you have met your true mate,"

"Who told you that?"

"Beta females talk, Jack. There is no point in lying; we know you are in Texas. There are no packs in Texas and no reason to be there unless the rumours are true," My stomach dropped out of my ass.

"Fine, yes, I've met my mate,"

"Good; now, as you know, we have high laws, which state that she must be present in front of the Head Alpha and Head Luna,"

"I know,"

"Any reason why you are two weeks late with doing that? Could it be because your mate is a packless rogue with a child?"

"Don't bring the child into this," I growled low. "I was taking it slow with my mate,"

"Well, you now have two weeks to present your mate to the Head Alpha. Get your packhouse prepared for the Head Alpha's arrival; we shall see you for the next full moon," Eric said, then hung up on me.

Shit, shit, shit, shit! Hope would kill me, and I would wring the neck of Tyler's mate. I phoned Tyler and told him the Head Alpha would turn up at the packhouse on the next full moon. I also told Tyler that his mate needs to learn not to gossip. I told him I would phone him tomorrow with a plan if my mate didn't kill me.