Mine

~|| Chapter 19 ||~

Being the only Alpha within 15 acres for this pack sucks.

Half of them are loyal and the others don't trust me. They think I did something to Val and that I'm not actually his mate.

And it sure doesn't help that we won't let anyone except for high ranks and pack doctors to see him and that he never formally introduced me.

I've been doing his paperwork, keeping down rebels, and actually interacting with the pack so I'm technically classified as tired, cranky, and as bipolar as a... well... Alpha.

But who can blame me? I'm the only one qualified to do this for my sick mate. It's wrong not to see your mate everyday but it makes me sick to see him.

I yawn widely. I feel like I've been run over by a car and it's only 10 A.M.

I walk past the kitchen on my way to the office and grab a coffee. Maybe it'll help me wake up a bit.

I walk into my - Val's - office and see a huge group of about fifteen men that I happen to know are high ranking warriors.

They seem to be yelling and arguing but stop when I walk in.

I run my eyes and when I see they're still there I walk to the center of the room to the desk.

"What's going on here," I groggily ask.

Derek, one of the highest warriors, steps forward, "Luna I've caught wind of an inside attack happening. People are scared without their Alpha. They're starting rumors - there have been rumors. For a while now."

That seems right. Considering Val has been in his... condition for a couple weeks now.

I groan and put my head into my hands.

"But Luna, there is no need to worry because we're all on your side. And I have Jason recruiting more. But I'm sure if the Alpha just came back everything wou-"

"He's not coming back! Not for awhile at least," I scream.

Derek and the others look taken aback until there's a shift in Derek's eyes and he nods. "Yes Luna. I'll just keep recruiting and get back to you with more information."

After that he nods and leaves with the others following him until the last guy shuts the door.

Now the only people left in here with me is Hillion and Riley.

They say they won't leave me as to honor their Alpha. They make it sound like he's dead.

I sit in the office chair and start in the mountain of paperwork on the desk.

It's like Valentino has been blowing off all paperwork just to hang out with me. Wait... Has he?

I shake my head and discard that thought I'll ask him when I get the chance... When he's better.

I start getting into a nice groove when the door opens. I put down my pen and looked up seeing Courtney.

I haven't seen Court since we were kidnapped with Terence. My excuse is because of my becoming the unofficial Luna but I've probably just been a bad friend.

"Hey Toria. How's Luna treating you?" She gently asks. I know she's trying not to rude so I'm going to try to also not be rude.

"Besides my mate and the impending doom of an attack it's been fine."

Was that rude? Or was it too rude?

She smiles and sits on the couch near the window.

"Jake tells me he's getting worse. I'm so sorry Toria," she whispers looking at me, then starts again. "You should go see him. Bree and Olivia are down there. Olivia doesn't know what's happening though. But you should be down there. By him. Helping him."

"I don't know how to help him Court," I whisper.

She nods.

A few minutes later, she gets up from the couch and leaves without a word.

•••

Another day, even more stress.

Today is Friday. And Friday for Valentino was the equivalent of doing rounds. As if in a hospital.

Check the Dungeon, training grounds, preschool, nursery, and everywhere else. Until the only place left is the one place I can't make it to.

The pack hospital.

I sent Hill and Riley to do the hospital rounds. They wanted one of them to at least stay with me but I'm a big girl. I can do some rounds without getting kidnapped.

I go through the list starting at eight saying hi to Val's siblings, then playing with kids, talking with mothers, and after only a few hours I'm on my way to the training grounds.

Usually, Jake would be helping train but he's taken time off to help Cassidy.

So I'm not exactly aware of who the trainer is at this moment. I walk out the back door into the woods. Training takes place in a large clearing in the woods.

I'm nearly half way there and I start hearing whistling. And I would think of it as creepy whistling if I didn't see the owner walk out of the woods and start walking in the same direction I'm in.

I have to admit it's still creepy but it's less creepy than if the whistle didn't have a sound.

Whistle guy gets closer and finally stops whistling. "So what's a pretty Luna like you doing out here walking all alone," he grips my wrist and whispers in my ear.