My Jolly Alpha - Burgov Series V

16. Orson

The night was... eventful. If the manual we got from Ellie was correct, the betrayal pain was caused only by direct touch on intimate places. What she brought us even had a diagram of a man and woman's body with those places neatly circled. And the toys came in handy too.

All and all, we made use of everything Ellie provided us. Although, as Markella pointed out, it would be hard to face her at breakfast, especially since I'm pretty sure she would sport an amused, all-knowing expression just to get the rise from us.

"It will be hard staying without you." - Markie sighed watching me pack the few belongings I actually unpacked. - "I kinda got used to having you all to myself."

I smiled at her, and zipped the bag, abandoning it on the bed, just to join Markie's side and cup her face in my hands.

"It's just for a short while, and only for your safety." - I assured her, my lips brushed her cheek, which turned out, was a perfectly safe spot even between true mates. It wasn't nearly enough of what I wanted to do while telling her goodbye, but it was still better than nothing.

"I know. But it still makes me sad."

I hooked my finger under her chin and made her look into my eyes.

"Count the days, Markie, because the next time we'll see each other I'll make you mine in every way possible." - I announced, or rather promised in a low voice, and she didn't blush nearly as much as before, but her eyes lit up and the most gorgeous smile curled her lips.

"You better."

I started laughing, because it was freeing to finally have someone whose head is in the same place.

"Let's get down for breakfast, before Ellie tells everyone what she thinks we did last night."

Her eyes went wide, and I think she wanted to ask if that was really possible. But something in the short time Markie had known my cousin must've assured her she absolutely would, because she dashed for the door, and started walking towards the dining room at a fast pace. Chuckling, I, of course, followed her, but with the certainty that damage was probably already done.

The dining room, however, was occupied only by the Beta couple and the Gamma, who all had pissed expressions on their faces, but remained silent when we entered.

"Are we interrupting?" - Markie asked, apparently reading the room exactly like I did.

"No you're not." - came Ellie's voice when she turned the corner and also appeared in the doorway, with Huxley trailing after her. Her light-brown hair was still a bit wet at the ends, and I smirked, because she was a creature of habit.

"Morning run?" - I asked.

"Of course." - she shrugged.

"During winter?"

"She wouldn't skip her run if a natural catastrophe occurred." - the Gamma commented, but it was a bad move, because Ellie's eyes narrowed at him.

"I think I didn't give you a hard enough time today." - she crossed her arms to look more intimidating, despite her tiny frame. - "And was I not clear that you can't keep on pestering your sister? Their relationship is between them."

"But he, lie…"

"I don't care!" - Ellie raised her hand up. - "Whatever they did, they had their reasons, and if you don't shut it, I will come up with something so mean that you won't have the time or energy to think of your sister for a week." - ah, yes, Ellie's famous threats. Everyone was wary of those, because she always delivered them exactly where it hurt. I think Huxley is the only one who survived and was well, after she staked her threat on him.

And apparently the Gamma knew that too, since he gruffly nodded and, without speaking to anyone after it, focused on his food.

Markie shot me a look that clearly stated she figured it out who was in charge here, and I nodded confirming her unspoken words.

The rest of the breakfast went on smoothly. Ellie and Dev, her Beta female, invited Markie to all the activities they were having today, including some training with the other she-wolves that, from the looks of it, they both had high on their agendas. It made me feel better, knowing that Markie wouldn't be left all to herself, but properly included. It made me almost sure that what I was doing was right.

Almost, until Ellie announced the worst possible news for me.

"Come again?" - I asked her in disbelief.

"There's nothing wrong with your ears, and you heard right. Maddy will drive you to Stonewall."

I looked at Huxley, who smirked before nonchalantly cutting another piece of his omelet and shoving it in his mouth.

"Maybe I'd better take the car and Boris can retrieve it from there when he comes to visit." - I suggested, but my words only made Ellie put down her utensils and glare at me.

"Just f*****g say thank you." - she seeth.

I held her glare, but it wasn't like I had much of a choice, so in the end I nodded.

During breakfast, Ellie told my mate about her plans of visiting Stealth Death, where my brother resides, and she invited her to come along. It was great to watch how fast she was becoming one of us. I know that comparing her to the imposter currently holding the Midnight Banes Luna title is unfair and unjustified, but it's like day and night.

After breakfast and not nearly as hot goodbye as I wanted, not that I wanted it in the first place, but people need to adjust, I joined Huxley in one of his Pack's SUVs. Apparently his shiny Jag wasn't made for this weather. The first few moments of our ride together we spent in silence. It was clear as the day, that neither was going to pretend to enjoy this trip. We weren't friends, nor anything alike, Ellie was just the only thing that connected us. Not to mention, he probably still sulks because of the punch I served him a few months back.

But there were some words that needed to be said.

"Huxley, if you so much as try to…" - I started, but the deep booming laughter cut me off.

"I was waiting for this day." - he announced with a smirk. - "You made my way into this family a living hell." - he continued, and I knew he was somehow right. Sean and I were the hardest on him. Even after Ellie was on board, it still wasn't good enough after how he practically stole her from her home. - "But I hope you've learned your lesson." - he glanced at me saying that. - "I won't sabotage what you have with Markella." - I breathed in relief. - "And I believe you finally understand what it's like to have someone you're able to do absolutely anything for."

"Yeah." - I said flatly.

"Good. You were a loose cannon and Ellie was worried about you."

Ouch. It's never easy to hear that your baby cousin thinks so little of you.

"And FYI, she wanted me to tell you that if you don't solve the Kimmy issue by the end of this week, she's coming down to do it for you." - he added, making my head snap his way.

"She's going to do what?"

Maddox sighed, as if that was something they were arguing about, and apparently he lost.

"I don't support this, so do whatever the f**k you can to avoid it, but Ellie is ready to organize Kimmy's disappearance, she's actually really excited about it. And while she had a sinister smile on her face telling me that, I wouldn't want her to do that."

"She's insane." - I muttered, but the smallest smile crept onto my lips.

"I prefer the word devoted, but yes, her actions aren't by the book. And I wouldn't want to lose my mate, because she killed someone, and I think we both know nothing would stop her if she put her mind into something." - he said, and I felt the deeply rooted concern in his tone. But he wasn't wrong, Ellie was all those things, unpredictable and ready for anything for those she loved. It was sometimes scary to be on that list, but it also had its perks.

"I'll do my best to solve it as quickly as I can. Trust me, I want my mate back with me just as much as you want to keep yours in place." - I assured him.

"Finally, something we agree on." - he chuckled - "Oh, and man to man, you better don't miss out on her next gala. There were some major threats to your throat and genitals last time."

I snorted, looking out the window.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

We drove some time in silence, a much more comfortable one than before, when I had to ask.

"Why have you agreed to drive me?"

"Agreed? No, no, you have this whole thing wrong." - he shook his head. - "I'm going there to check on my sister. I can't stand her mate. Sleazy bastard." - Huxley spat the last part in utter disdain.

"The younger Freemont, right?"

"Yeah." - he said with a grimace, gripping the steering wheel harder. - "I hate that guy." - he added, like this information just had to come out one way or another or he would burst otherwise.

"Goddess, I'm glad my little sister picked someone I already consider a family." - I chimed in.

He glanced at me briefly.

"You know him? Carter I mean?"

"Not great, but yes." - I nodded.

"Anything incriminating on him?" - he asked, and I thought about it hard and long, before a smile spread on my lips.

"One time, he was probably seventeen or eighteen at best, he got so drunk visiting Harvest Moon that he barfed all over the floor, and then he slipped and fell back first in this puddle and lost consciousness, or fell asleep. But wherever that was, we found him some time later." - I said, and when I glanced at Huxley, the big grin spread on his face.

"This is perfect." - he said mischievously, and I finally understood why he got my cousin for a mate, they were equally disturbed.

Maddox dropped me off and stayed for lunch with his sister, the one I was almost sure would bring up the story I shared with him, and I met with Dave and the rest of his family, who all waited for me to go back home.

"How's Markie settled in at Ellie's?" - Dave asked when we boarded the plane and sat on the first available seats, with his brother Mickey next to us.

"Good I think."

"Don't worry, Ors, our sister will keep her safe." - Dave assured me and I nodded, having no doubts in that department myself.

The flight went on without a hiccup, cutting the time I would spend on the road to one-third and I didn't even blink when we were pulling into the cars that were meant to take us to the Harvest Moon to get my truck and then back home.

But right as I was about to climb in, uncle Ilia stopped me.

"Sasha called me. You haven't turned on your phone yet." - he said, and sure enough, when I checked it was still in plane mode. - "And I will be back on your land tomorrow. Dan agreed to stay a night longer."

"Thank you, uncle Ilia. If I haven't said it already, I really appreciate your help."

He smirked, looking almost identical as David does when he's this smug, and he shrugged.

"That's what your favorite uncle is for." - he said nonchalantly and clapped my back, allowing me to get it.

I turned my phone back on, and it started immediately pinging from all the notifications of missed calls from my mother. As if she couldn't text me.

I sighed and dialed her number, which she answered even before the first ring was heard.

"It's done. I have the results!" - she announced excitedly.

"Enough of the suspense, mother, what does it say?" - I asked with a groan, because she did it every damn time, trying to show off how brilliant she was.

"It says that she won't be my grand baby's mother." - she said in absolute glee.

"So she's not…"

"No, she's not!" - Mom confirmed.

"How accurate are those tests? We did it not that long ago, so maybe it's too soon to tell?" - I asked, needing every scrap of confirmation before I passed the information to Markie.

"It's accurate. Tammy swears it on her life."

I released the biggest breath of my life, and nodded, even though Mom couldn't see me. Finally, something was going according to the plan, or at the very least not completely downhill.

"Thanks, Mom. That was some badass scheme you came up with."

"Aww, that sounds like you finally started appreciating your Mama. Markella has a good effect on you." - she teased me, and I smiled.

"I guess she does." - I agreed.

"Okay, son. Talk to you later." - she said hastily and disconnected the call, meaning that someone had probably entered the room.

In Harvest Moon, I briefly checked on my sister, who looked as miserable as ever, claiming that this baby just didn't want to come out. And then I was questioned by Cilia over how well Markie was doing in Night Walkers.

In moments like this, when Cilia allowed her bitchy facade to slip, showing that she actually cares for someone, I realized how close those two were to one another. It also made me grateful that this misbehaved, at times annoying princess brought my mate literally to my doorsteps. And it left me thinking.

"You know, Cilia, when this is all over, why won't you just come live with us? f**k Igor and his obnoxious ways. Just denounce him and stay in Midnight Banes." - I offered.

"You're serious?" - she asked, watching me suspiciously.

"Of course, I'm serious. Markie would love it to have you there."

"And you?" - she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"And I'm in debt to you, so whatever you want is yours."

At my choice of words Cilia smirked.

"I want your firstborn." - she announced.

My eyebrows shot up, because it sounded like signing an agreement with the devil with my pup in the middle, and that's not what I was going for.

"For f**k's sake, Orson, don't make that face. I just want to be its Goddessmother. Markie has no sisters, and I know there's Liana, but as you said, you owe me." - she explained slyly and, I'll admit, I breathed in relief.

"Done." - I said, but then thought better of it - "If Markie agrees, that is."

"Look at you, getting a grip on how to handle a relationship." - she praised me with a certain dose of sarcasm laced in her words.

"Says a woman with grand experience in the field, I see." - I snickered right back, and her icy-blue eyes started getting dangerously even brighter. - "I should get going."

"Yeah. You definitely should." - she nodded stiffly and I marched out of the Beta's penthouse chuckling to myself.

Dave was already waiting for me in the car and we drove back home in a tense silence, as if we were both preparing ourselves to enter a battlefield, and not the home I was born and raised in. But what can I say? It's time to get the pests out.

As we entered my land, I frowned at how deserted the streets were at that time of the day. I figured my mother went all in planning her little ploy, but I can't deny it was really clever of her.

But when we entered the Pack House, I was almost tackled to the ground by Kimny, who for some strange reason greeted me with a fierce hug, like never before.

I raised my brows, suppressing the urge to push her away, and instead awkwardly pat her back.

"What's wrong?" - I asked.

"Your mother has gone crazy. She wouldn't allow me to leave the Pack House." - Kimmy whispered in outrage.

"I know. I asked her to do that." - she looked at me strangely, in disbelief and maybe with a little bit of annoyance, she really tried to hide. - "The fever my father has, can be dangerous. It's for our people's safety."

"Then what about you? You could have it too?" - she tried to argue her case.

"I know, that's why I've been tested at the Harvest Moon, and I'm negative." - I lied, having the best time of my life seeing her surprise. She probably counted on the strange diseases my mother made up, to end all the VanWoerts at once. She must be really disappointed.

"You got your results back already? Why didn't I get mine?" - she asked in an irritated, high-pitched voice.

"I don't know. Maybe their lab is simply better. Uncle Norvin made sure his hospital worked like a Swiss watch."

She huffed, pursing her lips and looked annoyed to the side.

"So you support her decision?" - she asked, not even looking at me.

"I do. And until this matter is resolved, anyone who has been exposed stays inside." - I said, and enjoyed how she nodded and marched away, without her previous warmth towards me.

Dave and I shared the look, before we followed her deeper into the home, where, just like it always happened during my childhood, I found my mother in the kitchen.

She smiled when seeing us approach, and before we even sat on the stools in front of her, she set two plates with cheesecake on the counter.

"She's losing her mind. We argued twice today already." - Mom said, sounding damn proud of herself.

"And you haven't taken the quarantine down because…" - I trailed off waiting for her explanation. She could have avoided any interactions with Kimmy whatsoever if she had only done that. So, knowing my mother, she had some motive behind that action.

"Because, for one, it's satisfying seeing her all riled up. And two, she's getting agitated, so she might make the one wrong move we need to lock her." - she whispered, but Dave held his thumb up, saying we're all good at talking openly, and at the same time stuffed his face with my mother's pie.

" Anything else happened when I was gone?" - I asked.

"No. She mostly stayed in. But she went out one time when you weren't there. However, Dan, Ilia's friend, told me she only visited a few empty homes."

"What for?" - I frowned.

"I don't know honey." - Mom said apologetically - "It could be either to check their condition, or to meet with someone. We can't be sure, and I refuse to get paranoid, that's the easiest way to start chasing our own tails."

"Which homes?" - David asked, suddenly interested.

"The smaller, two-bedroom ones on the southern end of the village." - My mother explained.

"I'll go scout them. Maybe you're right, auntie, and I'll get the whiff of her happy helper's scent."

My mother affectionately brushed his hair to the back and smiled.

"You're just like your father, always on the run, but with the biggest heart."

David beamed, shoving another forkful into his mouth. For him, Mickey and Ellie being compared to their father was always the best of compliments. The three of them thought he could do no wrong, but unlike them, I remember Uncle Ilia from before he became an exemplary father. And he was a force of nature back then, not that apples fell far from the tree.

The evening went on uneventfully. Dave was gone for about an hour, but when he returned he announced the empty homes were the dead end, because all he could sense there was Kimmy and Omega assigned to clean them once a week. So we ate a peaceful dinner, peaceful because Kimmy decided to, as a sign of protest, eat in her bedroom. And after that, I retired to my room also, to call Markie.

We agreed that it would be me calling her each time, in case Kimmy was around and she could get suspicious of why Cilia's friend was contacting me.

I smiled all the time listening to how much fun she had with Ellie. She told me about meeting my brother, and she assured me I was the better looking one. And she gloated over my sister-in-law, Evelyn, telling me she was the funniest woman on the planet, joking about her advanced state and calling herself a she-whale.

After she was done with her day, I decided to deliver the best news we've got so far.

"So how was your day?" - she asked.

"Good. The flight with the Burgovs was fun. Surprisingly, Huxley and I haven't killed one another. And I found out I won't be a father." - I listed casually, and smiled when the silence on the other side was quickly followed by a loud squeal.

"Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure?"

"Apparently, blood doesn't lie, so yes, I'm sure." - I said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Orson, I'm so happy right now. She lost her leverage." - Markie's voice was everything I needed to chase all the clouds away.

"I know, I feel the same way…" - my phone started pinging, signaling another incoming call, and I frowned, seeing it's from Uncle Ilia. - "Sweetheart, my uncle is trying to reach me. I'll call you right back, okay?"

"Sure. I'll be waiting." - she said and disconnected, and I was allowed to get the second call.

"Hey, unc…"

"You need to go to her room now!" - he cut me off, making me jump to a sitting position at the tone of his voice.

"Why?"

"Dan thinks she's giving some signals through the window with a flashlight. Just go and check."

"On it." - I said, jumping off my bed and rushing across the hall, feeling the adrenaline cursing through my veins.

It was a real blessing that Kimmy never had a habit of locking her door, so I didn't even have to knock or tear the damn thing apart to get inside. All I needed was to quietly turn the knob and walk in, and sure enough, Kimmy was standing by the window turning on and off the flashlight in her hand in quick sequences.

"What are you doing?" - I broke the silence, announcing my presence and, to be frank, starting the s**t out of her.

"Orson…" - she whispered, clutching her chest. - "You scared me."

"I can see that." - I said, entering the room and giving it a quick scan. - "So what were you doing?"

"Oh, this?" - she giggled nervously, pointing at the flashlight in her hand. - "Nothing really. It's a really dark night and I was wondering if we shouldn't put more street lights in the Pack."

"Streetlights, huh?" - I hummed, knowing she was lying. Her body language betrayed her. Especially how she was trying to cover something on the windowsill with her body. - "What's this?" - I asked, coming closer to her and reaching behind her back for what turned out to be an envelope. A small white envelope, that from the feel of it had a few pieces of paper tucked inside.

"I… It's mine. Please give it back." - she said, and her voice got incredibly shaky, not to mention her unnatural pale face.

"Of course." - I smiled. - "But first I'll look inside. We don't keep any secrets from each other, right?" - she didn't answer, just gulped and kept on staring at the envelope, unable to meet my eyes. I didn't waste time and I ripped it open.

Inside was a collection of my pictures from the Christmas party. In all of them, I had a drink in my hand, or was asking the bartender for a refill. On the piece of paper attached to it was what looked like a short testimony, with the exact amount of glasses I had, to even the brand of the whisky.

But the next two pages made me frown. Those were printed emails I sent to aunt Diana telling her I basically didn't understand a thing about her offers and she's free to do with my funds as she sees fit.

how the hell has she managed to get to my correspondence?

It didn't take the genius to notice that neither the photos nor the emails were showing me in a good light. So mother was right, Kimmy was gathering evidence to sink me as an Alpha of this pack.

I looked at Kimmy, who seemed ready to run for her life.

"I think we need to talk."