Alpha Erebon ☾ Book 2

Chapter 11

I can't sit out here and not help, I see everyone else is more interested in breakfast, even Orpheus isn't that concerned about the teen on the doorstep.

Becca looks worried but is happy when I stand up to go check.

"I'll see what's going on," I tell her and she nods.

"I'll look after your girls, Sabrina," Becca promises me and she looks excited too. I remember being that excited about my first child. It was fun to practice how to parent with other kids.

"Behave," I tell them while Noah is nibbling and Alice is already almost finished, licking her fingers clean.

"Yes, mommy," Alice sighs, "...tasted funny... wholemeal?"

"Don't you know, Alice? White bread turns that color when it's toasted," Scorpeo explains to her, "Right, Orpheus?" and he mmhmms.

"Oh, yeah," Alice believes it, "That's right!"

I move to the door, amused and happy the pack can help raise my gorgeous brats.

I open the front door and slip out onto the porch to see Erebon speaking with Jack on the grass.

However...

There's no talking out here.

Rather, Erebon is staring at Jack with annoyance, while Jack sees me walking down and only then does he relax a little.

I think he was intimidated to talk one on one with Erebon.

"Why are you here, Jack?" I ask kindly, but as I try to step forward, Erebon puts an arm around my shoulders, keeping me back – untrusting of a stranger, even if it's just a teen.

"He said he got kicked out, then he said he ran away," Erebon snarls low, "Get your story straight, kid."

"Yes... Alpha Erebon," Jack looks away and turns his back to us, almost looking like he might run from here instead of telling his story, "...there... there were these rumours going around about me..." Jack starts off, whispering with shame.

Erebon scoffs, "Rumours? I don't care about that shit," Erebon cuts him off, "Tell me why you're here, kid. You're interrupting our pack breakfast. I give you a chance to talk business and you freeze up on me, are you an Alpha? Speak up like one! Straight to it."

I feel bad for Jack and I'm angry at Erebon for being so harsh – however, when Jack turns around, a fresh bout of teenage rage has filled his eyes – and he lets the truth spill.

"I just found out that my mom was gang raped by werewolves off their minds on Awstone..." Jack snarls out each word, then whimpers in a breath and tries to steady his voice again, "Years ago," Erebon is abruptly silenced, not expecting to hear that, "That's – t-that's not all. My dad was there – he raped my mom too. And I'm the product of that crime. Everything is fine between my parents now, my dad paid his dues," Jack looks like he's turning green, breathing hard, he starts to pace, "But justice was never done – and they could never find the – the others in the gang. I want to find them. I want to kill them. I'm from the Firwood pack, madam," Jack turns to me, meeting my eye, planting his feet firm, "I'm 15 years old. Rumours kept coming back to me, they were so outrageous, I knew they were lies until my dad told me the truth last night."

"You tried to kill him, didn't you," Erebon asks more gently now and Jack nods once, clenching his fists, "That's why you got kicked out."

"Your horrible father," I whisper, "I'm so s –"

"No," Jack shakes his head, he meets my eye, but not Erebon, "Seth's a good Alpha. I acted in the moment. Blind rage. I wanted to protect my momma. Even Seth is still looking for the wolves who gave him the awstone that night. There's not a single trace of them."