The Guardian Wolf And Her Alpha Mate
The Blessed Ones – A Blessing Or A Curse? Chapter 28

Axton POV:

"He said what?!" Luca exclaims as I finish relaying everything that the Beta of the Deep Forest Pack had voiced to me. When I'd mentioned his comment about Bruno and I being related I watched as the confusion, concern and then disbelief crossed his face. "But how are you related?"

"I'm not sure, I'm hoping it was just one of Bruno's Lies" I say, my voice quiet as my body feels drained. The longer I'm apart from my mate, knowing she needs me just as much as I need her is exhausting me. My eyes have dark circles under them and my appearance is becoming more disheleved as I grow more tired.

"So what are you going to do?" Luca asks quietly.

"Well I'm going to find out, I think its time I spoke to my mother" I tell him as his eyes widen in shock.

"She's not in the best health remember" he reminds me, his voice subdued.

"I know" I admit as I think of the frail state of my mother.

"I'm not going to visit her, I've already text my aunty to inform her I will be video calling in the next hour. I was due to visit her next week." I trail off as uncertainty laces my voice. Since my father had passed, my mother had withdrawn into herself; she became quiet and unemotional. She was a shell of the woman I remember growing up, I remember her natural ability to converse with anyone, the way her laughter drew people in and the love and life that shone in her bright eyes. In the last 5 years, she withdrew into herself more and more, and now the memory of how she used to be seems distant, unreachable at times I think sadly. She even left our pack to go live with her sister, saying the memories she shared with my father were too painful a reminder of what she no longer has and the pack grounds caused her too much sadness.

I tried to argue for her to stay, saying she was our Luna Mother and I loved her, needed her. But she refused. Once Nova became my Luna, she left two days after our ceremony, saying she no longer felt obliged to stay. I hurt, a lot. But there was nothing else I could say to persuade her to stay. Instead, I regularly visited and checked in, I offered her any help I though she may benefit from and I constantly asked my Aunt Vivian to let me know how she was once my mother grew further and further away from me. "She still sees my father in me doesn't she" I say gloomily to Luca.

With a sigh he nods and offers me a sad smile, "it must be hard for her, she loved him dearly."

"And what about her son?" I ask him, bitterness lacing my tone. "I told Viv that Mila has been taken, I've updated her with everything that has happend with Nova, that b***h who drugged me, the fights etc. She has told my mother and not once has she checked in to see how I'm coping, her own son...not once."

"I know man" Luca says, sympathy softening his voice. "I know this is difficult for you, I can't imagine having a mother who is there but also feels unreachable."

"I'm sorry" I mutter, guilt hitting me hard as I realise how hard it must be for my Beta, who lost both of his parents.

"At least I still have a mother."

"It doesn't make it easier in this situation man" he says with frown. "My mother isn't here, but yours is and yet you feel like you're losing her each time you speak. I cant imagine what that's like."

"We need to talk about tomorrow" I say wanting to broach the subject before we speak to my mother.

"The alpha meeting?" He checks.

"Yeah" I confirm. "Obviously you need to go."

Sitting back in his chair, he looks at me with a frown. "But what about our pack?"

"That was my concern, how did the conversations go with Alejandro, Mason and Melissa?" I ask curiously.

"Good" he admits. "I feel more optimistic about Mason and Melissa than I do Alejandro I have to admit. Since finding his mate Alejandro has been distracted, his training has taken a bit of a dive and his priorities have shifted. Plus now we lost Zak, he's more wary. While Mason finding his mate has had the opposite effect, his training has improved, his attentiveness is really standing out and during the fight against Charles I was really impressed with the way he motivated the other warriors and helped in the aftermath. I know he was adopted and we don't know his birth parents, but he has been in this pack since he was a baby, he's of Beta blood and to be quite honest I never really considered anyone else for taking over from me if there would ever be a time in need and I had no bloodline.

He has always attended any extra duties I've asked of him and I feel confident in him being my successor."

"So Mason is a strong yes then," I observe.

"In my opinion, yes," Luca replies without hesitation.

"I agree," I say with a shrug. "I've always watched him closely as he has impressed me in the past, but I made the same observations and you during the fight. Alejandro however..how do you think he'll handle Melissa being prioritised over him deposite it being his birthright?"

Zak had taken over as our Gamma as there was no place for him within his original pack, he had four older siblings and would never become a Gamma in his own right. But I'd been close to him growing up, and when our Gamma, Alejandro and Melissa's dad, had died in the same attack as Lucas parents I'd immediately requested Zak step up and transfer due to Alejandro and Melissa both being too young at the time.

Blowing a long breath out as Luca considers my question, he looks at me with a slightly pained expression. "He wont have a choice will he" he states.

"No, I'm his Alpha and I knew he wouldn't be suitable, I'm even more certain now I've heard your opinion" I state.

"What I say goes, he just needs to accept it, I just hope it doesn't cause much family upset."

Pursing his lips Luca nods slowly, "from what I've gathered they aren't that close since their father passed. I would keep an eye on them."

"I will" I assure him. "So back to the matter at hand, tomorrow..I want to speak to Mason, tell him the news and he can step up in our absence. Sophie and your rogue pack warriors will be arriving this evening, I am going to ask her to stay behind also. I trust her." "Oh she'll keep everyone in check" Luca smirks. "Gone is my shy mate I tell you." Seeing his darkened eyes I pretend to gag as he bursts into laughter, "I don't need to know man."

"I did have a thought that might help tomorrow, just to give the pack extra security in our time away following recent events" Luca says after a moment as I look at him curiously. "As you know Gammas Theo and Florence from Alpha Jax's pack are what Nova classes as family, and by extension I class them as mine. They are extremely skilled warriors in their own right and I trust them with my life. I was going to suggest requesting that one of them comes here."

Pursing my lips I lean back as Luca goes to speak once more, waving him off as I contemplate his suggestion, I know its a good idea.

"I hate how weak our pack seems right now," I admit. "I have never had to rely on other packs like I am at the moment.

Since Nova left everything has just gone to shit."

"I know on paper it looks bad, but we have had to be away from here far more than we'd like. I know why, and I do not mean in any way that us helping Nova against Charles was the wrong thing to do" Luca says passionately. Knowing it was also his way of getting justice for the death of his parents I understand where he is coming from. "But once our Luna has returned, this pack will flourish once more.

We have a strong replacement for me, and Melissa is extremely promising as the future Gamma. It will get better...but asking for help right now from the brother of our missing Luna's pack is nothing to be ashamed of."

"i know" I sigh. "Not good for an Alphas ego though, in fact its feeling pretty battered and bruised right now" I growl.

"It'll get better" Luca says with conviction, and I see the belief in his eyes making me feel more hopefully.

"Well life has to get better at some point doesn't it" | sigh as I stand from the desk and gesture to the large screen on the wall opposite us.

"We also have to discuss Zak once you've spoken to your mother Axton, I found some information out which you will want to know. But it can wait till you've spoken to your mother" Luca says as I sigh at the thought of another problem. "Right ok" I mutter. "Time to call my mother."