My Jolly Alpha - Burgov Series V

20. Orson

I released the loudest, wall-shaking growl in my life, and I tossed the phone to the side, going for the bedroom door. This time I will definitely kill her. Grab her by the thin neck and squeeze until she falls into a forever dream from which she won't be able to come back and hurt anyone.

What a nerve! What a f*****g nerve she has to have to go after my true mate?! Making me miserable for a few months was one thing, probably even well deserved after all the s**t I've done in my life, but to put a hand on Markie… She went too far. And she will pay.

I left my room only in boxer shorts, too riled up to even care that I would have to go outside like this in the middle of the winter, and I stomped down the hall like a jaguar on the hunt.

The door to the left opened and Dave poked his head out and gave me a confused, sleepy look.

"Orson?" - he frowned, but I didn't answer. To be honest, I haven't acknowledged him in any way. - "Orson!" - he called after me, but it felt like I had tunnel vision with Kimmy's limp body at the far end of it.

I passed door after door, going faster with every step I took. It felt like I couldn't get to the cells fast enough. Months and months of stagnation that was slowly killing me, just to try to take away the one person that gave my life a meaning.

She sent a hitman. A f*****g hitman! I don't know how she knew where to, or who he had to chase down, but she sent a hitman to kill my mate. If the guy wasn't such a dilettante, and if Ellie wasn't exceptional in her own crazed way, he could have succeeded. For f**k's sake, I could have lost her before I even properly touched her.

One, two, three, four… Steps were flashing before my eyes as I was covering them two at a time, with echoes spreading in the quiet, dark interior.

What time was it anyway? Four, five? Not that it matters, it's a good time as any to free the world from a treacherous b***h. I don't even care anymore why she did that. Answering that question became meaningless, besides. Besides, dead people don't hold a grudge anymore.

I was almost by the front door when I heard the rushed steps catching up with me, and, without even turning around, I had a hunch it was Dave. But how big was my surprise when the hands of definitely more than one man started grabbing me, just a few feet away from the door.

"Son, calm down!" - I recognized my father's voice, but I couldn't stop, I had to end this madness. So I struggled against them, making another slow step forward.

"Jesus, why is he so freakishly strong?" - Teddy's voice came from the other side, so he was probably the owner of hands grabbing my left shoulder, and twisting it back.

"I don't know, something must've happened." - the owner of this voice, David, put hold on my neck and slowly black dots started obscuring my vision. - "Orson, what's going on?!"

"I. Must. End. This." - I stammered, before losing the remains of air in my lungs and, with that, my consciousness.

I blinked a few times in total confusion, trying to understand what was happening, and to my utmost confusion I found myself sprawled on the living room couch.

"He's awake." - I recognized my Mom's concerned voice and I looked her way. She was standing two feet away, hugging the lumpy gray sweater around herself with aunt Tammy right next to her, and for some reason Teddy's Mother held a dart gun in her hand. Probably in case I lose my sanity again. Okay, message received.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" - said David, and just one glance at his angry scowl was enough to be sure he knew what happened in NIght Walkers.

"You talked with your sister." - I stated rather than asked.

"Of course, I talked with my sister! And then with your mate, and then with Dean and Boris." - he listed.

"What did she say?" - I asked.

"Ellie?" - he frowned.

"No, Markie."

Dave released a deep breath and shook his head.

"She was hysterical, man. She wanted you to comfort her. Someone just tried to assassin her, and her mate instead of being there for her and talking her off of the ledge, lost his f*****g s**t!" - he said accusingly, and I knew he was right. I just saw red and suddenly became bloodthirsty and vengeful, while in fact I should have taken a moment and made sure Markella was alright.

"Have you told her?" - I asked.

"Of course not. But you have my sister to thank for that. She distracted Markie, taking her with her to the hospital."

"Hospital?! So Markie was injured?!" - I asked, feeling every muscle in my body flexing.

"How much did you hear before you stormed out of your room?" - Dave asked with a suspicious jerk of his head.

"Well, probably not a lot. Only about someone breaking in and trying to attack Markie." - I admitted sheepishly, realizing that I actually had no idea how the situation unfolded after that.

"For f**k's sake, Orson!" - Dave groaned, rubbing his face with both hands. Then he set his eyes on me, making his face look kind of odd without his ever-present smirk. - "Do you want to hear exactly what happened, or are you gonna lose your s**t again?"

"No, I won't. Just tell me." - I asked, feeling like the last moron with both my parents, Teddy's folks, my Gamma and Beta watching me as if I was on the verge of insanity.

"Markella is fine. Ellie woke up just in time to make it to her room, and they have the guy in their custody…"

"Who is he?" - Dave shot me an annoyed look, and I leaned back. - "Sorry, continue."

"He came with the knife and he slashed Ellie's palm." - my eyes went wide, because it was strange that Ellie got injured at all. - "It was dark, and she's fine, well enough to claim she'll strangle Maddox with this hand if he won't stop fussing over her." - he added after seeing my expression. - "The guy is apparently from this pack, Markie recognized him, and from the picture they sent me, I agree, although my sister scattered him hard."

"Who is he?" - I asked.

"It's Russ or Russell, I'm not sure by which he's going, but I know for a fact he's an Omega here, and he's been assigned to work around the Pack House, shoveling, mowing etc." - Dave said, clicking a few times on his phone and showing me the screen with the guy's picture.

My hands balled on their own. I saw him also. Most recently talking with Kimmy right before I took her shopping. Had I been more suspicious back then, none of it would have happened.

"What Ellie did with him?" - I asked, almost choking on my own words, because this was entirely my fault.

"She packed him into the trunk of the car and he's currently on his way to Stonewall, from where Carter would bring him here."

"s**t, you guys haven't been slacking." - I murmured.

"No we haven't." - Dave answered in a tight voice, with his eyes cold and unyielding. He was pissed about the way I acted, and he had every right to be. But all I could hear was we had an incident and he was trying to get to Markie, on the constant repeat, over and over in my head, making me want to throw things and snap necks like twigs. But that won't do any good.

"I'm sorry." - I told them all, lowering my head and tugging on my short hair. - "I know I overreacted, but it was an impulse."

"We know that." - surprisingly it was my father who offered an absolution and reassuring smile. - "But now you have to keep your head in the game."

I nodded, making a silent promise to do so.

I rested my head on the back of the couch, focusing my sight on the ceiling, and for a change, thinking about my next move.

"How did she even know about Markie?" - I asked out loud, directing the question to no one in particular.

"Um, I may be to blame for that." - Teddy admitted sheepishly after a moment of silence and my head whipped his way in confusion. - "I'm sorry, it kinda slipped when I brought her dinner last night." - he added hastily, defending himself.

"What exactly have you told her?" - I asked.

"I told her that she disappointed me, trying to move her sensitive side, and I may have said that my new Luna won't do it. I'm sorry, Ors, I really am…" - I raised my hand to stop him from rambling. If what he's saying is true, which I think it is, he hasn't said anything bad. But I, however, gave her the timeframe for when I figured out that she was playing me, and those two combined must've given her the obvious candidate. It couldn't be Cilia, because we're related, so it has to be Markie.

But how did she know where she was?

Not that it matters now. It's more like a pebble in my shoe that irritates me with no end. But I'll find that out sooner rather than later.

"It doesn't matter now, Teddy, so don't sweat about it." - I assured my Beta. - "But she found that out when she was already locked up. How did she pass the message? Do you think those could be guys from the Harvest Moon?" - I asked the latter, looking at Dave.

"Not a chance." - he shook his head - "They were handpicked by Mickey, and they are mostly our school buddies, so I can vouch for them with my life."

I nodded, yet knitted my brows, because that still hasn't explained how Kimmy did that.

"Boys, have you blocked her mind-link with the rest of the Pack?" - my mother asked, giving me the answer to my most pressing dilemma.

My eyes went wide and I glanced in question at Dave and Teddy, but they looked as speechless as I was. Such a rookie mistake, and it could have cost us… No, it could cost me my entire life.

"Fuck." - I cussed under my breath, and glanced at auntie Tamny, our head doctor since I can remember. - "Auntie, can you give her something?"

"Of course, Orson." - she nodded, and without even needing to be asked twice, she started walking away.

"Teddy, go with your mother." - I told my Beta and he followed her suit.

"So now that we know how she did that, what do we do next?" - David asked.

"You said the attacker is on his way here, right?" - David nodded - "Then we'll wait for him. And once he's here, I'll force him to tell me everything." - I said sternly, wishing I could do that to Kimmy, but the stupid mark I left so recklessly on her neck ties my hands in this matter.

"Ors" - Dave started and by the sounds of this one syllable, I knew I wouldn't like the rest of this sentence - "Ellie also suggested that we may have more than one wolf working for Kimmy. That's why when you were unconscious we decided to leave Markie with my sister, instead of having her come back here."

"That was a good call. Thank you, David." - I curtly nodded at him, hoping he knew just how much gratitude was in that simple gesture. - "Tell a few of Harvest Moon's guys to keep guard on the Pack House, I don't want to risk anyone getting hurt again, and until I talk with this Rus guy, no outsider comes in here." - I ordered.

"On it." - he agreed, immediately reaching for his phone, making the necessary arrangements.

"And I think we should catch some rest. Tomorrow could be even longer than today." - I suggested, and others seemed to agree with me, all but my Mother, who was watching me with a stern look in her eyes, biting on the inside of her cheek, her ultimate sign of thinking. - "What is it, Mom?" - I asked her.

"Would you mind if I called Troy and told him about what transpired in Night Walkers? I know it's an awful thing, and you probably want as few people as possible to know about it, but that might speed things up by pushing through your petition to renounce Kimmy from her Luna position."

I watched her in astonishment for a moment. Sometimes it feels like she has a devil whispering into her ear and her perceptiveness took me by surprise more times than I care to count. Growing up under her wing was hell. I couldn't get away with anything, but I wouldn't want to have her for my foe.

"If you think that'll help, do it. I trust your judgment." - I agreed and my Mom smiled weakly and nodded.

With Kimmy deprived of mind-link connection and the Paak House secured, there was nothing left for us to do than wait until the men who attacked my mate would be safely delivered. Although, I wouldn't mind if Carter ruffled him a little, as long as he can still speak, I don't care if he even has hands and legs still attached to his body.

I went back to retrieve my phone from where I tossed it in my bedroom and I tried reaching Markie, but it was for no use, and the new wave of adrenaline pushed me to pace back and forth. Only when I contacted Ellie did she inform me that Markie took something to calm herself from her own personal stash and she was out cold, which in my cousin's opinion was better than her stress.

I felt awful that I couldn't be with her in a moment like this. This was never supposed to happen, that's why I sent her to Ellie, far, far away from here. She should be unreachable and out of any danger, but I underestimated Kimmy, and I won't do that again.

No matter what I did, I couldn't bring myself to fall asleep again. I was too scared that once I did it there would be another call, another attack, or another clusterfuck I hadn't thought of - and I was sure there was a lot I hadn't taken under consideration.

So I sat on my bed, clutching the phone in my hand, in case Markie called, and I stared into the distance, counting seconds until the sun came up. Somehow, in my mind, days weren't as dangerous as the nighttime, even though I was sure it was absolutely not true. That was just an illusion, created only to make me feel better, while in fact, the most dangerous person was hiding all this time in plain sight. I still can't wrap my head around how easy it was for Kimmy to come into my life and turn it completely upside-down in a matter of weeks.

Was I that weak? Was I just an easy target?

Probably.

My phone announced it was almost seven and the pack outside my window was waking up to life, when my mother came into my room, and I felt so small and helpless when she sent me that pitiful look, as if I was once again seven years old.

"You haven't slept, did you?" - she asked, sitting at the foot of the bed.

"No, I haven't."

She sighed, and normally I would take it as a sign of disappointment, but this time it felt like she understood, yet, as a mother wished, I was in better shape.

"I wanted to let you know that I talked to Troy. He was very concerned and so he summoned the proceeding for this afternoon."

"That soon?" - I raised my brows. Wow, sometimes it's a true blessing to have a family with such connections. What am I saying? My family is always a blessing. There was even a time when I thought they were the best thing I had to offer to my potential mate, but then Kimmy came along and even that went to s**t.

"Yes. That soon." - Mom nodded, with a tense expression that made her look older. - "We will have the answer soon, and hopefully you will be able to reject her and move on with your life."

"How am I supposed to move on with my life when there's someone after my woman?"

"Honey." - she put her hand on mine and squeezed it for support - "She's Luna only because of you. Once you reject her, she'll no longer be one, actually she'll be just your regular pack member. Do you understand where I'm going with it?" - she said with a pointed look and my eyes went wide.

"Goddess, how I wish I had inherited your brain." - I said, making Mom giggle.

"You have got my eyes, and the famous Burgov sense of humor and that makes you perfect." - she smiled. - "Come down for breakfast. I made your favorite."

I have no idea when she found time to bake black bread and cream cheese buns, but they tasted divine. Mom was always an expert at making the best comfort food when someone was down. She then often told us that according to her mother, my late Grandmother Uliana, ninety-nine percent of problems can be resolved with a good meal and an honest talk, and the rest is in our hands. I used to roll my eyes at her catch phrases, always taking them for granted, but I think I'm finally maturing.

About damn time, being this close to thirty.

We all ate in silence, and even my Mom and aunt Tammy didn't chatter as much as they usually do. But I learned, however, that Kimmy was still out cold in the cells, and they are going to keep her in that state until I know what the hell to do with her. Which I hope won't be that long now.

I was taking my third refill of coffee, feeling how my tired brain started denying cooperation at times, when I got the most welcome message.

'Alpha, Beta of the Stonewall Pack just crossed our borders. He should be at the Pack House in about seven minutes.' - one of my warriors said via mind-link.

'Thank you.' - I said, struggling to contain my excitement.

I looked around the table and those with sharper eyes, like Dave and my Mom, immediately noticed and were waiting for the news expectantly.

"Carter's here." - I announced, and it felt like a breath of fresh air in the room. All the frowns disappeared and even coffee was no longer needed.

But I was up for a surprise, when I went to greet Carter, and one guy with one prisoner turned out to be three Alpha wolves with one prisoner. Carter and Maddox were bickering like an old married couple, barely noticing the battered man dragged by a Fremont, and behind them, with a secretive smirk, trailed my brother, Nicky.

"Do you have coffee? And maybe one or two aspirins?" - Huxley asked, looking even worse than I did and having that distinctive smell of yesterday's booze on him.

I pointed with my thumb inside and he and Carter came in, arguing about entirely different things now, and I watched my brother taking his sweet time with the three steps leading to the front door.

"What the hell are you doing here?" - I asked, giving him a tight hug.

"I heard Mom and Dad were home, so I came for breakfast." - he smirked, unable to keep a straight face at his own joke. - "What do you think? I couldn't let outsiders help my own brother. So when Ellie tried to call you again, after you left her hanging, she asked me to do it, and we've been in touch since then." - he added more seriously - "But I'm warning ya, if Eve goes into labor and I'm not there, I could as well stay here for good."

I boomed into laughter, counting in my head how long had it been since I made that sound? Probably since the cottage.

I clapped his back, pushing him inside.

"I never thought I would say this, but it's good to have you here."

"Yeah, it's good to be here."

There was a bit of a ruckus caused by their arrival. The bastards hadn't even told Dave they were all coming, so we needed a moment to let the emotions settle before we sat the poor schmuck down and got to the chase.

I watched the man for a moment and it was the picture of despair. His nose was visibly crooked and swollen, he had two black eyes, and his naturally profound lips looked like some evil surgeon did a joke on him.

"You guys did that?" - I asked, looking up at Huxley, Fremont and Nicky, who were happily munching my mother's pastries as if they were at a freaking garden party, and not the worst chapter of my life.

"Nope. We gave him a break on our way here." - Huxley said with his mouth half full - "That's all Ellie's doing."

I nodded, pretty amazed by my baby cousin's skills. I knew she was good, but damn… The man looks like someone took him a picture with a wrecking ball instead of a flash. I need to find out what Ellie's latest poison of choice is and send her a box as a thank you.

I cleared my throat and released my aura and the man momentarily lowered his head. Oh yeah, he's definitely one of my men.

"What's your name?" - I asked, using the Alpha command, making it impossible for this man to lie to me.

"Russell Beling." - he said with his head downcast.

"Why have you left the pack and snuck into the Night Walkers in the middle of the night?"

He grunted a few times, struggling with the answer.

"My… My Luna asked me to." - he admitted, taking a breath through his clenched teeth with a loud hissing sound.

"And why did she ask you to attack an innocent woman?" - I asked, only slightly enjoying his discomfort.

"Luna said she was your mistress and you two were causing her pain."

Clever. Very clever Kimmy. The victim card usually works when played well.

"And you listened just like that? Forgive me, but Omegas aren't usually that bloodthirsty, so tell me why did a man like you agree to go through with it?" - Dave asked, and it was, indeed, a very good point. But the man said nothing.

"Answer your Gamma!" - I ordered.

He yelled in pain caused by his wolf being forced into absolute submission.

"Because… BeBecause Luna is… my true mate. I couldn't see her suffering."

Well f**k me. I just got in my hands a man who tried to kill my mate and a walking, breathing proof that Kimmy knew all along that I couldn't be her other half. If that won't make the League speed up their work, I don't know what will.