Chapter 142 Not Until The Luna Says So
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The bright red lights stared back at me as I watched them flash on my desk. It was just past midnight, yet there was no sign of Sophia, Adeline, or Alpha Christian. I pushed my body back into the plush leather chair behind my desk, closing my eyes for what felt like an eternity as my mind spiraled through the reality that my sister would become a mated woman within the next twelve hours. I knew I should be happy for her; some shifters spent their entire lives anxiously awaiting this moment. But still, the Moon Goddess couldn't have picked anyone else?
I heaved a sigh and ran my hand through my tousled hair, moments away from opening the mind link to summon Adeline. My wolf had been anxious since we parted and she left to check on Sophia. All he could think about was whether an Alpha heir for our pack had been secured. I supposed I had been living through the same nerves. I expected the pack doctor to rush the damn results, yet here I was unable to get any work done as thoughts consumed my entire being.
A knock on the oversized wooden door ripped me from my thoughts and I called out, "Come in." I watched as the doorknob turned and the door creaked open, only to see my Beta entering and closing the door behind him. "Alpha..." he began, then dropped his head in a bow.
I couldn't help but chuckle as I stared at my best friend, my second-in-command, the man who knew me better than I knew myself. "Alpha? I must say, I enjoy the formalities," I replied with a laugh while taking the open opportunity to break his balls. A smile tugged at the corner of Beta Don's lips, but the deep worry lines etched into his forehead remained intact. I knew something was clearly bothering him. This man was like my brother; reading him was like second nature to me.
"Whiskey?" I offered as I stood up and made my way to the bar cart situated in the corner of the room. Beta Don didn't reply, but I caught a small nod from the corner of my eye. I carefully filled two crystal tumblers with the brown liquid and passed one to Beta Don. He downed the entire glass in a single gulp, and I smirked at him as I began to sip my whiskey. "You know the longer you wait to blurt it out, the harder it becomes," I said, pushing the glass up to my lips.
"Wait," I said as my eyes began to widen. "Did you see Adeline or Doctor Raymond?" I asked, and I could hear Beta Don swallow hard before replying with a "Yes, sir," under his breath. "Do you know?" I pressed, feeling my anger begin to rise that he might have found out before I even did. My own damn kid, and somehow I was last to find out if my mate was expecting.
The look on Beta Don's face suddenly changed as he shook his head and placed the glass on my desk. "No, Alpha, I haven't heard anything. I did see Adeline when she went to check on Sophia, though. It's why..." he said before being cut off by the door slamming open. A small growl escaped my throat as the door flew ajar.
"J-Jax," Adeline stuttered with wide doe-like eyes. From the way her voice hitched as my name rolled off her lips, I could tell that something rattled her wolf inside, even though it was obvious she was trying to mask it. "Sorry, I didn't realize you were in a meeting," she replied as she straightened her posture and nodded at Beta Don. I watched the two of them intently, unsure of what everyone seemed to know except for me. My wolf scratched inside; he wasn't pleased to be kept out of the circle whenever it involved our pack or our mate.
Beta Don looked down sheepishly. His nerves hit me in waves as he took a deep breath. I leaned on my wooden desk, taking the time to examine the way Adeline eyed Beta Don from the corner of her eyes. I cleared my throat and smirked, enjoying how the two of them became more anxious by the second.
Beta Don stood up, puffing his broad chest out and dropping his hands by his sides. "Alpha—may I continue?" he muttered.
I heard Adeline swallow hard as I nodded, keeping my gaze burned into Beta Don. "I must confess," he began, and a loud thump echoed throughout the room as Adeline fell into the leather chair beside Beta Don. "Luna, are you okay? I—I can call the pack doctor," Beta Don blurted out.
Adeline shook her head, wiping the back of her hand across her forehead. I rushed over to my mate's side, crouching beside her. "Little wolf, I want you to be checked out," I said, reaching for her hand and taking it into mine.
Adeline heaved a sigh and sat up straight all too quickly for someone who nearly collapsed. "Beta Don—may I have some privacy with my mate?" she asked, her eyes shifting from my Beta to the door of my office.
"Luna, if you'd please... I'd like to address the Alpha myself," he retorted.
