His Hidden Luna

Fourteen

Jackson's Point of View

After I'd cleaned myself up and got dressed, I made my way downstairs to the front room where my father was regaling our guests with tales of his Great Grandfather, Grandfather and Father. How they had started off with a small pack of around 100 wolves and that three generations later he had grown it into one of the largest packs in the US. Despite the fact that my mother had listened to this story so many times, she dutifully stood by my father's side looking like she was hanging off his every word. She was playing the doting mate, and it pissed me off. Meanwhile, my father was just a few steps away from being completely plastered!

Before I went inside, I spent a few minutes outside of the room hidden in the shadows of the doorway. It gave me the chance to people watch and give me an idea of what I was walking into. Other than my Dad talking about himself at the top of his voice, the rest of the room seemed to be pretty quiet. Clearly, people weren't as impressed with him as he'd like to think they were.

The majority of Alpha's and Luna's in the room were around the same age as my parents. Some of them had their grown children with them. Future Alpha's, Beta's and Luna's attending their first coming of age celebration. I hoped they were having a better time than I was.

There was only one young couple in the room. They were listening politely to my father, but neither of them were particularly enjoying the crap he was spouting. The Alpha looked to be in his late 20's whilst his Luna was probably a few years younger. They were holding hands across the table. Each of them stealing glances at each other whilst the other one wasn't looking. They looked incredibly happy. I wondered if my Mom and Dad ever looked like each other like that.

As if she felt me starring at her, the Luna looked up and smiled warmly at me. I nodded once and went to join my father in the middle of the room.

"And here he is now. The fourth generation of Carter, who will be taking over as Alpha just as soon as he finds his mate." He clapped me hard on the back. "And he has agreed that if he doesn't find her after the party tomorrow night, then he will select a lady to be his bride."

'No I f*****g haven't!' I thought to myself. And it was a mute point anyway, because I'd already found her and right now I'd do anything to spend time with her. I looked across at my Mom and rolled my eyes. She shook her head gently warning me not to disrespect my father in front of other Alpha's. But I couldn't agree with what he said, so I just stayed silent.

I wasn't sure what my father expected the reaction of his audience to be, but it certainly wasn't an uncomfortable silence. A couple of people cleared their throats as if he'd told an inappropriate joke at a wedding. Still, my father being my father, just carried on regardless. "And his very choice could already be sat in this room." He followed up his remark with a wink at one of the Alpha's daughters. She was obviously his choice for me!

I inwardly cringed! For Goddess sake, what decade did he think we were living in? I looked up and caught a glimpse of the young couple I had seen earlier. The Alpha looked murderous, and his Luna was blushing.

"Well, Dad, if my future mate is here, I certainly don't want her to starve. Shall we go through to the dining room?" I clapped my hands together with fake enthusiasm. I felt like a complete i***t!

"That's a great idea Jackson." My mother chimed in. "The dining room is at the bottom of the hall to your right."

People started getting to their feet and making their way to the dining hall. My Dad, who was clearly annoyed that we had interrupted him, flounced out of the room like a child. With any luck, by the time dinner was served he would have forgotten all about it. Otherwise, my Mom and I would be in trouble.

As the room emptied, my Mom came to stand besides me. My shoulders dropped and I dragged my hands down my face. This evening was going to go on for hours. I would have to be polite, laugh at his jokes, feign interest in whoever it was he winked at when all I wanted was Rose.

"This is ridiculous" I told my mother. "Did he really invite all these people just so that he could show off? We're nowhere near one of the largest packs in the US anymore, and the way he spoke about me picking a mate.... that was just embarrassing. No one is going to want any dealings with this pack if it carries on for much longer."

"I know this is difficult Jackson, but let's not upset your father whilst we have guests here."

She turned and left me standing in the room alone. So here we were again, back to doing what ever made my Dad happy so that neither of us would cop a beating. In the past, Mom and I had enjoyed a little dig at my Dad when we were on our own, but today I noticed that all the fight had gone out of her.

"We don't have to turn out like our fathers, you know?" Said a soft voice behind me. The young Luna was sitting at the table alone.

"I'm so sorry Luna-?"

"Campbell, April Campbell." My eyes widened. She was the Luna of the Cerulean Moon Pack. Now that was the largest pack in the States.

"Luna Campbell, I apologise, my mother and I thought we were alone."

"Please call me April, and don't worry about it. I hope you don't think I'm interfering with your personal life, but I had a difficult relationship with my father. I was adamant I would never be like him, and that makes me determined to be the best Luna I can be to my pack."

"Is your father an Alpha?"

"No, thank the Moon Goddess. He was a warrior, but he fell out of favor with our pack. So he and I were Omegas. He's no longer on this earth." There was no emotion in the way she said that. She wasn't glad, or sad, or bitter. She was just stating a fact. "We don't have to follow in our fathers' footsteps, we can forge our own paths."

I nodded. Luna April seemed very wise for her age.

"Lucas has gone on ahead. He's determined to have a conversation with you tonight about you taking over this pack."

"Why? Is there a problem?" I certainly didn't want to go toe to toe with Alpha Campbell. He was massively respected and would undoubtedly win if we went into battle.

"More of an opportunity, so if we're not seated at the same table, come and catch up with us later, ok?"

"Of course."

She made her way out of the room and I followed a minute or so after.

'Jackson it's Jude. How's your evening?'

'It'll be much better when you tell me Rose is ok!' I growled. For the first time since we left the hospital, Seth seemed to perk up at hearing his mate's name.

'She's woken up and she's doing well. No permanent damage,' Thank the Moon Goddess! '...although she is very confused'

'What do you mean, confused? Is that due to her head injury?' My brain was working through all possible scenarios and none of them were good.

'No, it's due to the fact that she is in a private room in a hospital being protected by a Beta that she thought hated her! Honestly, when she first woke up she thought that you had sent me there to punish her for being on the decking at the same time as you. Were we really that awful to her?'

'I really don't want to think about that now, Jude. Has she said anything about what happened?'

'No, and as soon as I mentioned it she clammed up. She just kept saying she didn't remember. Something has obviously frightened her though.'

'Don't push her on it, Jude. I'll try and talk to her about it later. Just go back in there, ask her if she wants or needs anything and then give it to her. I don't care what it is she wants, just do it.' I disconnected from him and allowed myself a few seconds to feel the enormous relief of knowing that she was alright.

I had to get this overwith as quickly as I could.