My Claimed Mermaid Queen

Chapter Six

Alpha Nate

"Christian, what can't wait?" I demanded, annoyed I had to leave my pregnant mate. I'm still in shock that we are having a baby.

"It's Xander, Alpha, he called and is waiting to speak with you," he replied. I sighed as we rushed back to the pack house, so we could speak to him in the privacy of my office.

Cooper, my wolf Gamma was waiting as my wolf Beta and I entered my office.

"Xander, what have you found?" I asked, sitting behind my desk. I know they had the call on speaker.

"It's not good, Nate. It would seem he was working with hunters. A group of hunters that are well hidden. I haven't found much, but I'm sure Kaden hasn't found this band yet. I'm still gathering everything, and then we will be heading back," he informed me.

"Good. That's good, Xander. When you get back, Ayla and I will go visit our families while you invite Kaden here to come up with a plan. With her being pregnant, I don't want him anywhere near her." I told him. My beta and gamma gasped and I shushed them.

"I understand, Nate. How is she?" he asked.

"She feels better after being in the water. She's finally able to eat." I replied.

"Good. My mother should be there in the morning, and I'm hoping to be back there tonight. I expected more of a fight, but it would seem this place was abandoned.

"Well, be careful, and we'll see you tonight," I told him, ending the call. Before my beta and gamma could say anything, there was a quick knock on my office door.

"Come in," I called out, ignoring their curious stares. The only ones who knew were Ryan and Xander. And now them.

Devon, the former Alpha's son, entered. He was still young and, since I killed his father, I became the new alpha. If Ayla and I don't have a son, then the pack will be handed down to him and his family.

"Devon, what can I do for you?" I greeted him.

"I found something when I was going through everything that was moved from the alpha floor." It was then I noticed he was holding a folder.

"What did you find?" I questioned.

"I, I," he stammered and tears filled his eyes. Whatever he found, it must be bad.

"It's okay," I said, coming around the desk, he handed it to me, his hand shaking.

"It's bad, Alpha," he breathed out. I leaned against my desk before opening the folder. Both my beta and gamma comforted the young alpha.

I flipped through the stack of photographs and purchase reports. The more I flipped, the more angry I became at what was in this folder. Children and women, mermaids, were being sold. This was not just about scales but skin. The former alpha was a part of human trafficking.

I looked up at Devon, and he had tears running down his face.

"I swear I didn't know," he choked.

"Know what?" Christian, the former beta and my beta approached me. When I first became alpha, I determined that almost everyone in rank was being commanded by the former alpha against their will. So, I trusted them to work beside me with the mermaids to keep Ayla safe.

Christian gasped when he looked over my shoulder at the open folder in my hands.

"What the f**k?" he exclaimed. I handed him the folder, not able to look any further. This was all kinds of messed up.

"It's not your fault, Devon," I assured him.

"It doesn't stop the guilt. He was my father and a monster. Is that who I will grow up to be?" Cooper grabbed the young man and pulled him in for a hug. He and Christian watched him grow up and this couldn't be easy on any of them.

"Devon, the fact that you brought this to me, makes you a better man than your father. You help me keep my mermaid mate safe. You are nothing like him and when you turn eighteen you will enter the ranks because of who you are, not who raised you." He pulled away from Cooper and sniffled.

"Thank you, sir." I gripped his shoulder.

There was a quick knock on the door again before Ayla poked her head in. Her face fell as she looked at Devon.

"What happened? Is everything okay?" She came into my office. Christian slammed the file closed before Ayla could see anything. I didn't need her to worry.

"Everything is okay, Luna," Devon gave her a small smile.

"I had better get back to my post. Thank you for seeing me, Alpha," I gave him a nod before he left my office.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Ayla said, and I pulled her into my arms.

"You're never interrupting, baby. How are you feeling?" I kissed her forehead.

"Tired. So, Ryan walked me back." she yawned. She was wearing the fluffy robe I brought down to the beach for her, since I knew she would rip her clothes. And no one is going to see her naked but me.

"Is everything okay, though? Devon looked upset." She looked around the room before looking up at me.

"Things have just been hard on him." I replied, not wanting to go into details until I had a chance to go through these new finding with Xander.

"But, Xander should be back tonight and after his mother sees you tomorrow morning, we can visit our families," I told her, changing the subject. Her face lit up. I know she wanted to see her father. And she had so much to tell him.

"And Xander is safe?" she questioned and I nodded.

"He is. But right now, I don't want you to worry about anything we are doing. You have our baby to grow." she grumbled as I kissed her cheek. I know she wanted to protest, but she didn't.

"Go rest, baby. I'll be up soon."

"Okay," she mumbled before I kissed her lips. I opened my office door for her. I watched out the door until I couldn't see her anymore. I closed the door behind me when I stepped back into my office. My beta and gamma were leaning over my desk, looking through the folder.

"Congrats, Alpha," Cooper said as I flopped back into my chair.

"Thanks. Don't say a word. Xander, Ryan and you two are the only ones who know. I don't need this information ending up in the wrong hands."

"We will protect Luna and your child with our lives," Copper said, and Christian agreed.

"Now, what do you think we should do about this new mess?" I sighed. All of this has been weighing heavily on me. I've been more on edge since I found out Ayla was pregnant. I needed to keep her safe and the only way to do that was to get to the bottom of this and take them out.

"We need to compare these records with whatever Xander found. Maybe this is the same ring of hunters," Christian suggested.

"Go back and look through everything that was packed up from the alpha room. Maybe there is more that we missed." Both gave me a nod before leaving my office.

I leaned forward with my elbows on my desk. I did the one thing I could think of. I picked up the phone and called my father.