The Secret One

16

Chapter 16

Some days have passed since my bathroom meltdown. No one told me how it got cleaned up so fast. Even the mirror was replaced. I have been eating small. I can't keep heavy food down right now. Izzie took me off training to heal my body. I am not injured, but she said it would help my mental state. So now I sit in the living room with Sloan while everyone trains and finds more information about Waylen. We still need to find out how Kyle gets through the pack lands. I rub my eyes because I focus on the TV, filling the empty noise.

"Want to cook something?" Sloan pops out. I shake my head no. I hear him let out a puff of air. No new letter has come in yet, but I have yet to leave the house. Even the Luna ceremony was postponed. Waylen hasn't even gotten me yet, but I feel trapped. I am his puppet, and he is playing with the strings. Sloan slumps next to me. "I want to talk to Storm," I tell him.

"He is at training," Sloan states the obvious. I turn the TV off, get off the couch, and head to the door. "Where are you going?" Sloan rushes towards me. "To talk to Storm," I don't wait for an answer. I dart from the house and jog to the field everyone is at. As I approach the pack members bow at me. Jake noticed me. Looking worried, he meets me in the middle. "Are you okay?" He asks while grabbing my hand.

"Yeah, I just want to talk to Storm," I tell him. He looks at Storm and Jason and motions for them to come over. "Ruth wants to talk to you, Storm. I thought I would bring both of you over so I don't have to repeat myself," Jake tells them. He kisses me and leaves to return to training. Jason has gone to Jake's small group since I took Storm. We both began to walk away from the field. Sloan stays behind us.

"Is this about the run? Storm asks, going right to the point. "Yes, but not here. People can still hear us," I remark, making him go quiet because he knows I am right. We enter the house and head straight to Jake's office to talk. Sloan stands outside of the office door. I sit on the couch, as does Storm.

"You felt it the day we shook hands," I say, making him nod. "It was like I knew you my whole life. Yet we just met right there," He chuckles. "You didn't bow your head," I say if I remember correctly. He hums, "I didn't, which is weird. I don't understand. Even Jason's head drops," We both question. " I have an idea why. I may not have the title of the Alpha, but your wolf knows. I believe you are my beta, Storm," I ease into the conversation.

"Is that how that works?" Dumbfuly asking. "That's why I wanted to talk in the office. We're surrounded by wolf history here. There has to be a book about it here," I say. We both stand up and start looking for a book. I am still determining what book, but the book. It doesn't make sense that I am an alpha. I don't have the alpha gene. I don't have super hearing or feel powerful.

"Here!" I hear Storm chirp. We both make our way back to the coach. He hands me a leather-bound book. Alpha is the title—clever, really clever. We flip open the page and skim through the pages. Female Alpha reads on a random page. I began to read it out loud. "Female Alpha do exist. They are caring leaders who use their female instinct to protect loved ones. They tend to have no show of an alpha till put in danger or someone is challenging them," I finish thinking about protecting Teddie in the woods.

My lips are thin. "Great, I am a self-leader," Storm rips the book from my hand and continues to read, "Female Alpha tends to run in smaller packs. Typically alone. People say they are more comfortable around female Alpha than male Alpha. Having softer features means being approachable. Female Alpha tends only to surface once the carrier's life is changed dramatically. If people are a part of her pack, they are not afraid of the Alpha's voice, knowing she could never hurt her pack. The warm feeling of knowing will take over when you come into contact with a female alpha," Storm gets out before he slams the book shut and sits on it due to Jake walking in.

"You missed a great training day," Jake mocks Storm. Storm laughs in return. He gets up with the book behind him. "I will talk to you later, Alpha. See you, Ruthy," I laugh at the nickname he calls out. "Everything okay?" Jake peaks. "Yeah, just trying to find more about packs and leadership," I say, not all a lie. He smiles, pulls out a map, and sits at his desk. I go over and lean over the desk. I was seeing the pen work Jake had put on the map.

"The red lines are the borders of packs you can not cross without permission. Blue lines are the possibilities of how Kyle got in twice without tripping the lines. The purple circles are packs I talk to about the Dark Shadow pack," Jake tells me, tracing the map's lines. "What are the yellow ticks then?" I ask because he didn't state that one out. "Those- those are the only spots my cameras don't cover. I'm trying to find how to connect more cameras in those spots without the lens being seen," He huffs out while scratching his face. I nod in agreement to his statement. "Until I can figure out how. Three warriors stand front at all six spots," He sends me, trying to make me comfortable again.

"I don't want anyone hurt on my watch, though!" I preach out to him. He gives a soft chuckle. "Spoken like true Luna," I give a fake small smile and agree. "The one pack I have yet to talk to is the Linder Pole pack. Only because I cannot get a hold of anyone. I am afraid to travel there due to being so close to the Dark Shadow pack," He expresses his fear. I walk around the desk and place my hand on his shoulder. He puts his hand over mine. The warm feeling leaves when he turns away, folds the map, and tucks it back into his deck. " We need to set a date for your Luna ceremony," Jake changed the subject. "About that," I start before Sloan comes running in. "There has been an attack!"

"We will finish this later," Jake tells me while sprinting to the door and out into the yard. We make it in time to see warriors carrying stiff body over their heads. Tears prick my eyes as I see Jewls get lowered to the ground. Kevin, his twin, is amess next to him. Everyone's eyes are filled with tears. Jake walks over to his body and closes his eyes. His heart ripped entirely from him. He probably didn't even notice. I cry as I walk over to his lifeless body. I grab Kevin and pull him into me. There is a warm feeling. Kevin looks at me with hope. I smile, and he eases into my touch. "Ruth," Jake breaks me away from the weeping Kevin. Dare he hold another note? Jewels die to deliver a note.

*I love playing chess. Your move now, Alpha*

Jake rips the paper up. "Let the war begin,"