Chapter 49

Jared's POV.

I watched Becca fall asleep in Alexandria's arms wishing they were mine. I wasn't really jealous though. I just kinda figured that maybe Alex needed comforting too. I even saw her smile when she realized that Becca had drifted off.

Everyone was talking to each other about this and that. Mostly stories about raising all of us. I was tired, but I couldn't fall asleep as easily as Becca did. I was thinking of asking someone to help me get my beautiful mate upstairs when Alex moved herself out from under Becca. She seemed a bit anxious about something.

" Everyone, I have been thinking about something for a good hour or more now. I just want you all as witnesses. Jack, I know that you have been using Kormac to get to this pack. I don't know what exactly you had planned, I don't even want to know. What I do know is that you had good reason. I may not agree with your methods, but I know in most ways, it wasn't just to clear your name. It was to protect your pack. We abandoned you when you needed us to listen. We turned our backs to you and the truth. For that I am truly sorry. But using Kormac, using my son, that is the only offense that I can think of that, even though it wasn't directed at me, it still affects me personally." Jack tried to interrupt her.

" I am sorry Luna Alexandria, please forgive me." He put his head down.

" I wasn't finished. Please lift your head and look at me. Thank you. Now I'm not saying that everything you have been through is an excuse for your actions. What I am saying, your motives were in good faith. Therefore, I not only forgive you, but will recommend to whoever becomes our new Alpha, that you should not be punished at all." Wow, I was not expecting that.

" May I Nathan?" She looked at her mate as he nodded, then continued. " Jack, the only crime that I can see that you committed towards my pack, my family, and us, would be the kidnapping of Nikeeto. But since that was to protect him, not to harm him. The other would be for drugging and kidnapping us. However, I believe that wasn't done maliciously, that you had done it to make sure that this pack was safe. We do forgive you for that, and I will gladly speak up for you to whoever the new Alpha is. I am sorry for everything; my family would be proud of you." And she sat down.

My parents just looked at each other for a long minute before my mom nodded to dad. It's like they too could hear each other's thoughts. I guess being married for so long, they probably could.

" As for Mary and me, we find that the only real crime you committed towards us, well, that would be not telling us the truth when you came to us. Well maybe scaring the crap out of us, but neither is a crime that is really punishable. We forgive you for everything, you gave us our family, you directed us to a pack we didn't even know we needed. And you helped our son to become who he is truly meant be. We would like very much to be friends with you and your pack. And when it's time for you to stand before the new Alpha or the elders, I would consider it an honor if you would allow me to be your lawyer." My dad reached his hand out to shake Jack's.

Listening to everyone made me realize that I needed to apologize. As tired as I was, I managed to stand up and walk towards them. They all looked at me in shock when I started speaking.

" Well, this must sound all good to you, right Jack. Everyone has decided to forgive you. Well, I can say that I won't be forgiving you." I paused long enough to see the looks of shock on their faces.

" That's right, I said it. Now let me tell you why. The way I see it, you have committed no crimes at all. I see a man that lost everything, was broken and left for dead, but you managed to bring yourself back to life to fight for a pack that turned their backs on you. I see a man that I would be honored to fight this battle with. The way I treated you earlier, I'm sorry. You deserve better than that. I was wrong about you. I can't take back the words I said, but I can say from here on out, your part of my pack, my family. And to everyone else here, I know that you are all ready to make plans on what we need to do, but I already know what needs to be done. I just hope that you all will support my decision." I wasn't sure if they would like what I was going to say next, but I think they would understand why.

" Wait, Jared. Before you say anything. First, I just want to say thank you, all of you. I know that it wasn't easy for any of you to believe my story, even with the Moon Goddess telling you it's true. I have missed you all so much. I just need you to know, I was never angry at any of you. Hell, it was my story and at times I found it hard to believe. I want you all to know, I never wanted to be Alpha because I wanted the power, I wanted to be Alpha so Darius couldn't hurt any of you. When we do this, you all know the only way is going to be for someone to challenge Darius and kill him. Alex, I'm sorry. I know he's your mate, and I know the pain of losing a mate. But this is the only way." He gave her a look that wasn't for pity towards her, but as though he was asking her forgiveness.

" I know Jack, and yes, it's going to be hard to deal with, but like you, I'm tired of protecting people that don't deserve it. As long as everyone stays by my side, I can survive this. Jack, this isn't your fault. Don't think for one second that it is." I know that Alex's heart was breaking, but she wasn't going to show it right now.

She needed to be strong for her pack in the days come. I knew that's just what she intended to do. I was amazed by her strength and wisdom. Darius deserves everything he gets, but she didn't deserve this.

" So, who do we plan to send in for this challenge?" Liam asked, although I think he already knew the answer.

" This is where I say, yes Jared, I agree with your decision. You are an Alpha by blood. But more importantly, you are an Alpha by heart. You took Kormac without a wolf. Let's see what you can do with one." I don't think I ever felt truly proud of myself until that moment.

" Hold on a second, think about what you're saying Jack. You want to send Jared in to fight Darius? This is crazy. He hasn't trained with his wolf, he can't even turn without it causing him excruciating pain, how is he supposed to fight like that? You'll be sending him to his death." Oh ye of little faith. How could I convince Liam?

" I know I need more training. I'm the first one to admit it. But at least see what I can do with my wolf. No one thought I could go against a wolf as a human and look what I did. Just give me a chance to prove to you that I can do it Liam. Know that I'm not doing this to become Alpha, but to avenge the fallen, and protect my pack, my mate, and my daughter." Another thought just hit me like a ton of bricks.

I started feeling sick to my stomach. The realization of two things were too much for me. It was Darius, both times. I knew I was the one that had to make him pay for his crimes. As an Alpha male, it had to be me.

" Liam, what is the name of the couple that accused you of betraying Darius?" I already knew who they are.

" The Zellerman's I believe. Why do you ask?" I held my finger up for him to wait.

" Jack, the wolves in your pack, I noticed none of them were really rogues. Is that right?" I knew the answer to this question to.

" No, they were actually stragglers from Lolina's old pack. They all trusted me, so they made me their Alpha and we stayed a pack. I mean we do take in wolves that don't want to be or stay rogues, as well as outcast witches and vampires. But no real rogues. Why is that important?" It's just what I thought.

" I need you all to train me. Starting tomorrow. And you only have four days to get me ready to fight. I need to take Darius out before he destroys this pack, and I mean literally. He's already got his plan to kill us all." With shaky legs I got up to get a glass of water.

" I don't think he would Jared, without his pack, he can't be Alpha, and that's the only thing he truly cares about." I had to make sense of this.

" Elizabeth can't take over. She found her mate and he's taking over as his packs Alpha. Darius knows that no one will ever accept Kormac as Alpha because of his evilness. So, he has no one he can control to take over this pack. He has to choose someone before Fridays bonfire so they can start training as an Alpha, if he doesn't, then come time for him to step down, the elders choose. And who is the next in line?" They all looked at me with confusion.

" I read it in one of pack history books. The next in line would be the one that's supposed to take over as Beta. Which is why Darius sent his rogues to kill Bryon." Now I see that they understood.

" But he's been my best friend since we were babies. He wouldn't kill my son just to stay Alpha." Liam was hurt bad by just the thought.

" Why not, he killed his parents so he could become Alpha. Not to mention the fact that he's setting you up so when he kills you it looks like self-defense." They aren't going to want to hear this.

" How?" That was all Liam could say because shock was setting in to his mind.

" The Zellerman's, that are currently being held in our cells, are taking orders from Darius. With their statement as to knowing your plans to take over, Darius can just say you challenged, or you attacked him. Either way, no one would dare say it was cold blooded murder, and he gets away with it yet again." Darius really did have everything planned out.

" How do you know Darius has them in the cells? We haven't been down there." Please don't break down when I answer you, Alex.

" Mr Walter and Mrs. Nadine Zellerman. I don't think Darius knows we put them down there." I turned to look at everyone else.

" That would be Stephanie's birth parents. It was Darius that made the call Alex. The one that ended up with my daughter in the clinic, forced to take the mate bond, and now fighting for herself and two babies. See with everyone out of the way, he still gets to be Alpha, of a whole new pack of rogues. I bet if you take a look, almost all the new members that have joined the pack in the last few years, have all been rogues. He has them join the pack, then they stay hidden. They live like they really belong to the pack, that way they can get rid of the feral smell. That's when he has them come in as they have lost, they're pack to a rogue raid, that way if there is still a hint of smell from rogue, it can be explained away. So, when he decides to take us all out, he already has his new pack in place. One that would respect Kormac when Darius decides to finally step down." At least I figured it out before Darius could attack.

" And he would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling wolves." Garrett tried to make things a little less tense, but it didn't work.

I let everything I said sink in. I was having a hard time believing it myself, but it all made perfect sense. I think I will have Alex take me tomorrow to go see the Zellerman's, I only had one question to ask to prove my theory. How long has they been rogues before they actually started living with the pack?

" Look, Jack doesn't want to be Alpha, Elizabeth won't be here to take over. I'm the only one that stands a chance at a challenge. I know I can do this." It really has to be me.

" Fine, I'll test you tomorrow. We'll see how much training you're going to need. I'll give you three days to prove you can do this. If not, then we figure out something else. Agreed?" At least he's willing to give me a chance.

" Agreed, and I won't let you down Beta, I promise." And I don't like to break my promises.