My Alpha and Beta

Ch. 101 - Life After Death

Riley POV

We waited another day for the funeral so we could settle Jackie into her nursery and to talk with Star about Jax. Claire was supposed to be returned with our baby, but the witches who brought Jackie claimed Claire ran away. She was a powerful hybrid, but I felt something wasn't right about it.

Freya arrived later that afternoon distraught not to find her daughter. I felt her pain, knowing what it was like to be separated from your child. Liam and I promised to help search for her.

Star came the next morning with not so great news. We searched high and low of anyone that knew of a way to break this curse, but our only answer was the Kin of Mildred. One coven spoke of an elderly witch deep in the caves of a war torn land that they believed to be her mother. No one knew for sure though.

Mildred was raised by her father in a strict order of witches loyal to Demetrius. Her mother was believed to be dead, but none knew if that was true.

It was some hope for now.

We placed my father in the cold ground, giving him a warrior's tombstone. He was praised as the true Lycan King and savior of our people.

Jax was placed in a clear box inside a concrete mausoleum that held our past Alpha's honored for their leadership. It was in the gardens of our pack house and could be seen from my new bedroom. Star spelled the glass so only Jax, Liam, or myself could open it. This way he would be protected from any harm until he woke.

Many nights I cradled my daughter, watching over the building and wishing I could crawl in beside him. I saw Liam go to him often, even spent most his nights there. He kept his room in the pack house, but I moved a few of his clothes in mine. I had a small cove with a rocking chair that lead to a larger room for our daughter's crib. You could only get to Jackie's room through mine and we liked it that way for her protection. She was a Lycan and already feared by many. Being so small, Liam and I worried some would try to take her from us again.

Liam and I had a divide between us, one only Jax could bridge, but when it came to our daughter we were always on the same page with each other.

Every week we found new spells to try and wake Jax with, but every week we failed, making the wedge between us grow greater.

My belly grew with our three children. Two Lycan females and one Alpha male. My Lycan never came fully back to me, but she gave me her strength when ever I needed it. Liam tried to push me to connect more with my wolf, but I was too afraid. I didn't like becoming that powerful beast.

Freya and her three mates took two omega males as their mates and ruled over the territory once belonging to all the Lycans in our world. Now it was a safe haven for any abused wolves. They nurture all they could and created a peace their land had never seen before.

Liam and I spent a lot of time traveling between packs, much as his father did when he was Alpha. Liam told me how his father kept peace between the wolves, and he wanted to carry on that leadership. Plus, we could search for more answers to bring Jax back to us.

Maverick somehow took a piece of me that day we killed Demetrius. He was once again the most powerful Alpha. He wasn't as strong as before, or even close to as strong as me, but he became the more powerful by earning their respect.

Liam was looked to as our protector, and the four mates once tied to Demetrius was our nurturers.

Time passed quickly, year after year spinning by, yet somehow it also felt excruciatingly slow. All of the supernatural world seemed to be at peace, while Liam and I lived with a hole so deep we couldn't find much love in anything except our children.

"You ready gorgeous?" Liam watched me dress from the door frame. He watched me often, but rarely touched me. I felt the guilt fill him whenever we were too close. Without Jax we didn't feel complete.

"Can you put this on for me?" I held out a necklace with diamonds along the chain. It was a gift from Liam on our anniversary of marking him as mine. He never marked me and I don't think he would until Jax woke.

"Of course." He moved behind me and I grabbed my hair to the side. My body was tall and lean with natural muscles fortifying my bones. I gave birth to our triplets two years ago and finally had my body back. My hand ran over my belly feeling empty though.

"Are you ok?" Liam kissed Jax's mark on my shoulder. He was always so gentle with me now. He lost his playfulness in his eyes and roughness in his touch. Every time we failed waking Jax, I saw another piece of Liam disappear. I missed him just as much as I missed Jax.

"Perfect." I smiled to him through the mirror.

"This is the right thing to do. We kept so much of Jax's business alive and we will continue too. It's too much though, Riley."

"I know. I agree this is the right move."

"Then why are you so sad?" His hands came to my waist. He felt good touching me. Liam always held me, kissed me sweetly, and made sure I was taken care of. He didn't think of any others than our children or myself.

"I miss you." I looked down then turned to meet his eyes.

"I'm right here, gorgeous. Once we sell part of this company we will have more time to search for answers to wake Jax."

I nodded my head at him. I knew pushing Liam too far would hurt him. He felt like he was betraying Jax if he indulged in our bond without him. His strong exterior began cracking as he watched sadness fill my body. I wanted my mates.

"It should be me out there and him here with you." Liam clenched his jaw in anger. "He deserves this life, not me."

"That's not true." My hand rested to his cheek. "You both deserve this life and one day you both will. We aren't giving up on our mate, Liam. We never will." My words hurt saying. A part of me has given up on Jax. I didn't want to, but it's been years with no solution. Watching him sleep in that glass coffin was tearing us apart inside and I felt like I was losing both of them.

"I'm sorry." He leaned his forward to mine, letting his anger wash away.

"I love you! I'll always love you, Liam. With or without Jax you're my mate. I chose you." I looked into his bright green eyes full pain and sadness.

"I love you too." He kissed my lips, taking a moment to let go and just feel our bond between us. Goddess, I missed him so much.

"We have a party to get to." He backed away from me and closed himself off again.

"Yeah, let's give our babies a kiss goodbye and head out." I intertwined my hand in his and pulled him to our children's room.

I loved seeing him with them. It was the only time guilt didn't live inside him. Liam was the perfect father and I loved watching him become this incredible man for our children.