The Alpha's Ghost Bride

Chapter 6 – Find a Ghost Bride

Alpha Jake



As I arrived at the mansion of the Crest Moon Pack, the familiar sight of its towering structure loomed ahead, its grand halls and rooms now filled with uncertainty.

My heart raced with the knowledge that I was supposed to be dead in the eyes of those inside. I reached into my pocket and grabbed one of the blue potion orbs, feeling its smooth surface before swallowing it quickly.

The effects were immediate. I became invisible, the world around me shifting slightly as my presence disappeared from sight and sense. No one would notice me now, and that’s exactly how I needed it.

I moved through the mansion’s corridors with ease, avoiding the staff and any wandering pack members. My destination was the second floor, where the conference room was located. That’s where I’d find the answers I sought.

As I approached the room, voices filtered through the door. I slipped inside, unnoticed, my eyes scanning the room. Beta Lucas was there, sitting with a concerned expression. My Aunt Lucille was crying, her face twisted in grief, while Norton, my cousin, sat beside her, trying to comfort her. Along with them were the Elders: Victor, Simon, Marlon, and Edgar—all high-ranking officials of the pack.

Aunt Lucille’s sobs filled the room as she spoke. "Now that my nephew is gone... if Alpha Jake is truly dead... we need to give him a proper funeral." Her voice cracked with emotion. "And we need to find a Ghost Bride for him."

I frowned at the unfamiliar term. Ghost Bride? Gary, my wolf, stirred in my mind, his voice a quiet whisper as he spoke through our mental link.

"Ghost Bride?" he repeated, his tone filled with confusion. "I think we heard of that before."

I shook my head slightly, still listening closely. “Yes,” I replied mentally.

Aunt Lucille continued through her tears. "Even if it is heartbreaking, we need to go on with our tradition."

My mind raced as I tried to process what she was saying. The ritual with the Ghost Bride was something they do not often do now. - The past alpha before him, they do not die before they give up the throne to their heir, so the Ghost bride is not needed.

Gary’s voice broke through my thoughts again, "Do you think one of them ordered the attack? One of the people in this room?"

I studied each face, each official and Elder. “Maybe,” I answered, my voice quiet even in my own mind. “But not Lucas. And not Aunt Lucille or Norton. They’re my family. They’d never turn on me.”

Gary growled softly, clearly not fully convinced. "So maybe it’s one of the Elders. Victor, Simon, Marlon, or Edgar? Or other officials here?"

“It’s possible,” I replied. “But we’ll need more than suspicion. We need evidence before we can make any accusations.”

As I watched, Aunt Lucille spoke again, her voice trembling. “Any Alpha who dies... he must have a mate, even in death. If we don’t find a Ghost Bride, we can’t proceed with selecting a new Alpha.”

Norton put a comforting arm around his mother, his voice thick with emotion as he spoke. “We need to find my cousin’s body first. Only then can we truly say goodbye.”

Aunt Lucille nodded weakly, her grief apparent. Just then, Elder Simon leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Norton. “Since you’re Alpha Jake’s cousin, Norton, you could act as the interim Alpha until we sort out the leadership.”

Norton blinked, clearly taken aback by the suggestion. He wiped his eyes and looked at the floor. “If... if Alpha Jake’s spirit agrees, then I’ll do it. I’ll act as Alpha, but only until we can vote properly. I still wish my cousin is still alive.”

Elder Victor nodded his approval, but Elders Marlon and Edgar shook their heads, their disagreement clear.

“No,” Elder Marlon said firmly. “Norton is too new to leadership. He’s only just been appointed Gamma. Beta Lucas could be the logical choice to act as Alpha in Jake’s absence. Norton hasn’t proven he can handle the weight of this pack yet. One of the elders here could also become an acting Alpha as well.”

Norton’s face fell, his eyes downcast as he whispered, “I understand.”

Elder Simon frowned at Marlon, his irritation clear. “Why not Norton? Are you saying you or Edgar want to act as Alpha instead?”

Elder Marlon shot him a sharp look. “Why are you so mad? You know Norton is not capable, but you still choose him. What are you suggesting you want to be the acting Alpha, Simon?”

The tension in the room thickened, the air growing heated as the Elders glared at each other. But Beta Lucas, calm and authoritative, stepped in to stop the argument before it escalated.

“Listen,” Lucas said firmly, his tone leaving no room for debate. “No one is acting as Alpha until we find Alpha Jake’s body. Until then, we will wait.”

Lucille sniffed, nodding in agreement. “Beta Lucas is right. We must find a Ghost Bride, though. It’s important. Without one, we couldn’t even begin the process.”

Elder Victor’s expression darkened with skepticism. He waived his hand, “Who’s going to agree to be a Ghost Bride? It’s not exactly an easy role to fill.”

Lucas offered a solution. “We’ll send out letters again. We’ll offer a hundred million dollars and other benefits to any woman willing to take the role. Money talks.”

Lucille and Norton both nodded, and even the other Elders seemed to agree this was the only viable plan.

Elder Victor leaned back, his arms crossed. “Fine. After the funeral and the Ghost Wedding, we can proceed with the voting.”

Elder Edgar, still unconvinced, asked, “But what about the body? Can we hold a funeral without it?”

“For now, we’ll hold a ceremony. A prayer for his soul,” Lucas replied. “We’ll continue searching for Alpha Jake until we have more answers.”

I clenched my fists as I listened. They were already planning my funeral, ready to replace me as if I were truly dead. The idea of a Ghost Bride and these Elders so eager to move on from my leadership didn’t sit right with me.

Gary’s voice, now laced with suspicion, echoed in my head, “Elder Victor and Elder Simon seem too eager to get to the voting. They could be prime suspects.”

I nodded mentally. “Maybe. But we can’t rule anyone out yet. The one who paid the rogues to attack me might not even be one of the high officials. We need to investigate carefully.”

Gary growled in agreement. “We’ll figure it out. But we need to move fast.”

I turned and silently exited the room, my mind spinning with everything I’d just overheard. The effects of the blue orb began to wear off as I made my way toward Lucas’ room.

Once inside, I quickly donned the mask I used to hide my identity and scent. I couldn’t risk being discovered just yet.

As I waited for Lucas to return, my thoughts were consumed by the pieces of the puzzle still missing.

Who had ordered the attack on me?

And why were these Elders so quick to move forward with a Ghost Wedding?

The more I thought about it, the more questions I had.

Just then, Gary’s voice broke through my thoughts again. “We’re getting closer, but we’re still in the dark. What’s next?”

“We watch. We gather evidence,” I whispered, my eyes narrowing in determination. “We’ll figure out who’s behind this, but we need to be patient.”

Gary didn’t reply, but I could feel his agreement. As the silence stretched on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching me, lurking in the shadows.

And then, the door opened.

I froze, heart racing as I wondered who it could be, my hand instinctively reaching for my weapon.