Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
“Take him for me,” Alexander said, indicating Jackson. “I don’t think I should be alone with him.”
“Where should I take him?” Galen replied.
“He’ll come back to Summer. Selene wants him to pay for his crimes.”
“Understood.”
***
Galen pushed Jackson ahead of him out of the main entrance to the mountain.
“They let him live?” a growling voice from the trees whispered.
Galen lifted his eyes to the forest. He held tight to the bindings on Jackson. He would not let this vile creature get away, no matter who stepped forward.
“Who are you?” Galen called.
Jackson lifted his swollen eye to the tree line. He wondered for a moment if it might be Holden coming for him.
The leaves rustled as the tall, dark blonde Viking stepped out from the shadows. His hazel eyes held a fire in them neither Galen nor Jackson had ever seen before.
“Axel…?” Galen said quietly.
Axel stared at Jackson as though nothing else existed.
“Alpha Axel,” Galen quickly corrected himself, giving Axel a respectful bow.
Axel nodded to Galen and then closed the distance between himself and Jackson.
“I am surprised,” Axel said. “I expected to find a corpse.”
Axel turned to Galen.
“Is Alexander that forgiving?” Axel growled.
Galen swallowed. Had he felt so intimidated by Axel before?
“Actually,” Jackson said with a bloody smile. “It was Selene that spared me.”
Galen tugged aggressively on Jackson’s bindings.
“It seems that Selene had lost control of her power and almost killed both this idiot and Alexander.” Galen began. “She regained her senses just in time and decided that he should face judgment rather than receive a quick death.”
Axel turned his head slowly back to Jackson. He smiled.
“The mercy of my sister… what a fine gift.”
Jackson furrowed his brows suspiciously.
“Beta Galen,” Axel said, staring into Jackson’s bloodshot pale blue eyes.
“Yes, Alpha Axel?”
“As Alpha of Winter, I claim my right of judgment on this former wolf of mine,” Axel growled.
The corner of Galen’s mouth twitched with delight. But then, he quickly relaxed his expression and stood up straight.
“Of course, Alpha. I am sure Alpha Alexander will understand Winter’s claim is stronger than that of Summer,” Galen replied with a bow.
Axel smiled at Jackson.
“You’re coming home, Jackson,” Axel said menacingly. “Everyone will be so happy to see you.”
Galen handed the lead to Axel.
“Tell Alexander that she can go with him tonight, but my sister must come home,” Axel said.
“But–” Galen started to argue.
Axel let out a low growl.
“My mother, father, and your wife need to know for themselves that she is ok.”
Galen nodded.
“You might as well get it over with now,” Jackson said. “I know you want to kill me yourself.”
Axel let out a chuckle as he looked back into Jackson’s eyes.
Jackson pulled back and tried to step away when he saw the unnatural glow of Axel’s eyes reflecting back at him.
Axel tugged on the lead, pulling Jackson so close he would feel the heat of Axel’s words.
“I do want you dead, Jackson. We all do,” Axel said. “But, get it over with?”
Axel smiled with a fake laugh before letting out a heavy sigh.
“I’ll tell you a secret, I want you to suffer. I want you to live in pain and misery. But your existence also fills me with a rage I have never known before. So, rather than allowing you to poison my soul with this hatred… I will grant you death. In Winter, according to tradition.”
“What… are you….” Jackson started to say, his unswollen eye widened when he understood.
Axel smiled.
Jackson took in a ragged breath but spoke no more.
Axel turned to Galen.
“The full moon is in four days. I will pass judgment with her blessing. Consider this a formal invitation for Summer to witness. Alpha Alexander, Luna Fiona, and you are invited to attend.”
“I’m not sure that I am allowed to witness for Summer….” Galen replied.
“Not officially,” Axel smiled, “But Bell’s husband should be by her side that night. She’ll need your support.”
Galen nodded in both acceptance and appreciation.
Axel gave a parting bow and pulled on Jackson’s lead, turning back into the trees.
Jackson followed, letting out short, ragged breaths.
Axel glanced back at the look in Jackson’s eyes. He knew what was coming, what tradition demanded of a traitor. He was terrified.
Axel smiled as he looked back to the path ahead of him.
‘I will make sure you suffer for all you have done… all the people you’ve hurt,’ Axel thought. ‘For Selene, Renee, Whiteridge, Shadowcrest… and Alice.’
A few minutes later, they exited the trees to a waiting car. He had borrowed it from Jonas. After securing Jackson in the back, Axel grabbed his phone and dialed his mother.
“Hello?” she answered quickly.
“She’s safe,” Axel said.
He heard the sigh of relief from the other end of the line. Axel smiled, knowing how scared she must have been over the past few days.
“I told Alexander to bring her home tomorrow,” Axel said.
“Oh,” Corrine replied. The disappointment in her voice was unmistakable.
“She’s been through a lot,” Axel continued. “She needs to rest tonight. Tomorrow she will be home again.”
“I understand,” Corrine replied. “It’s the right decision.”
She agreed, but she was still disappointed not to be able to hold Selene in her arms this night.
Axel looked into the backseat. Jackson lay against the window, clenching his jaw and letting angry tears fall from his eyes.
“Mom,” Axel said.
“Yes, dear.”
“I do have a gift to make you feel better for tonight,” Axel said.
“What?” asked Corrine, confused why Axel would bring her a gift.
“They chose not to kill him,” Axel said. “I’m bringing the traitor home to face judgment.”
She was quiet, but he heard her measured breathing on the other end of the line.
“Axel,” Corrine said, her voice still and calm.
“Yes?” he replied.
“You’re a good boy, now hurry home.”
The surviving children of Whiteridge totaled twenty-two. From Shadowcrest, there were only ten, and two women in their very early twenties, one from each pack. They had been kept alive to mind the children.
They were weak, hungry, and thirsty. Jackson had provided only the bare minimum for them to survive. Brought back to Summer, the surviving members of Eclipsed were the first to greet them.
Having suffered their own tragedy, Amy, the surviving teenage daughter of their alpha, thought they would be more understanding of what the children were going through.
Members of Eclipsed spread out among the children, never leaving their sides as they went through their medical checks and were taken to eat and find a bed of their own.
Galen stayed close with the survivors of all the packs, trying to ease their transition and meet any needs they had.
Fiona and some of her team had stayed behind to scour the mountain and be sure there were no other survivors or secrets that Jackson was keeping.
Selene and Alexander had ridden back with the children, but once she was cleared by the medics, they retreated to his room.
As they entered, Selene stopped, looking around at the mess of shattered glass and destroyed furniture.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?