Asher looked at James, a soft smile on his face, as he held Alisha on his lap, relishing that she was no longer fighting against him, but rather clinging to him. Iesha was running around with Bradley, Liane’s pup, both of them giggling and laughing, without a care in the world. His heart swelled in his chest, he not only loved his mate with every last beat of his heart, but also the little girl who was giggling with a friend. He could not wait to get them both home, away from this place that held so many horrific memories for them both. He wanted them at Crescent Moon, in his suite, safe from the bounty that was on their heads.
“So, what do you think?” Asher turned to James and asked, praying his best friend would agree.
“Well, yeah, I suppose, but are you sure I am the right person for this job?” James asked.
“There is nobody I trust more at the moment.” Asher smiled, running his hand up and down Alisha’s back.
“I agree, James. It is only for the interim until we can find an Alpha to take over Matlock permanently.” Zander agreed with his son.
“Yeah, well, if you think an omega warrior can look after this place, who am I to argue,” James shrugged.
“Actually, Alisha, can you think of anyone from Matlock who could potentially take over?” Chloe asked her son’s mate, eager to give her a voice. She had seen in a vision what had taken place at Edensor, and part of her was relieved the young werewolf, barely and adult had finally voiced the hurt, pain and emotional destruction, and she would now begin to embrace the peace she deserved.
“Not off the top of my head. The leadership were all corrupt, well not so much the Beta, but he remained silent about what was happening,” Alisha shrugged.
“Yeah, Becca called, apparently, he was under an Alpha command, and was not on board with Jabez plans. That will probably save his life when we take this to trial,” Chloe smiled at her future daughter-in-law.
“A trial?” Alisha asked.
Zander nodded his head at her.
“Yes, Jabez, Qamar and Honey will face a trial, the elders will judge their punishment. They are entitled to a defence, but the evidence is clear, and Honey has already told Becca a load of things that will secure a conviction. Those headlice worked a treat,” Zander chuckled at his son.
“Oh, I really wanted to see her face when that happened.” Alisha pouted slightly.
“Sorry, but it was either using them, or Becca losing her shit with her, and that would not have ended well,” Chloe shrugged.
“What about the Derby pack?” Asher growled out.
“I went to visit Edward. He is being removed from duty, and we all need a conversation when we get back home, to decide who will take over that pack. The kicker is, he was going to refuse the offer regarding Alisha anyway, when he found out she was 15 at the time. But, he never informed us, that Jabez was using her to secure his own agenda and offering an underage girl as a chosen mate. Plus, the guy is too old to keep up, he relies heavily on his ‘ruthless’ reputation, which is not even based on facts, to keep him from being attacked. They need good strong Alpha’s to run it, so it is time for him to retire and Harold his beta, they are all as old as the hills,” Zander sighed.
“Bloody hell, they must be really old then,” Chloe grinned at her mate.
Alisha watched them, a small smile on her face as the King and Queen playfully bantered back and forth, and then she blushed as the smell of the queen’s arousal filled the room, when the king mentioned proving how much life he still had left.
“Sorry, but they are always like this, you get used to it. Seriously, when we get back to Crescent moon, my mother will be over my dad’s shoulder being carted off to the Alpha suite, and we will not see them for a few hours,” Asher whispered in her ear, his hot breath leaving a trail of goosebumps going down her neck, hitting her core, making her squeeze her thighs together in response.
Asher sniffed the air, and raised an eyebrow to his mate, not sure what had turned her on so much.
“It was your breath on my neck, not the thought of you know…. Them” Alisha qualified, nodding in the direction of the king and queen, making Asher chuckle.
“Right, well, Liane is ready to take us home. The Edensor pack members are all gathered outside. Andrew, can Iesha and Alisha stay at the pack house or are you wanting them in the hospital still?” Zander asked eager to get back to Crescent Moon, and remind his mate just how spritely he was.
“Packhouse is fine, I will have a word with Caroline to organise a strict feeding schedule and will check on the pair of them daily. Asher, if you can keep on top of your own headlice and Alisha’s to help stop an outbreak of nits around the pack. We should be able to use the medicated shampoo in a few days. Your wolf is getting a lot stronger, Alisha,” Andrew smiled.
“What about Iesha? She needs to go to school,” Alisha asked, not wanting her sister to fall even further behind than she already was.
“For the moment, I will come up with a lesson plan for her to be tutored at home and give her a chance to catch up before taking her to the Academy. We have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying, but pups are pups at the end of the day, so I want to make sure she can hold her own in the class and not get herself confused, but we can all discuss that later, along with beginning your Alpha Training.” Zander smiled.
“Dad, I have pack visits, we really need to continue those, make sure nothing else has happened under our noses,” Asher sighed, the thought of leaving his mate not sitting well with him.
“I know, however, maybe Hamish can do some of them for a couple of weeks, or your uncle Josh, but you will need to show your face at some of them. If Alisha is stronger maybe you could go with him, but that is up to you, no pressure,” Zander replied.
“I really need to learn to be the Alpha of my own pack, before I even contemplate the rest of what my future holds,” Alisha sighed.
“I totally agree with you Alisha. You have a wise head on your shoulders, just like I have,” Chloe grinned.
Asher cleared his throat and cocked a brow at his mother.
“Not sure I totally agree with that mother,” he laughed, knowing that Chloe was just as mischievous as he was.
“Pot, Kettle, Black.” Chloe giggled, shaking her head, pointing at her son.
“Right, well that is all sorted for now, let’s get you all home,” Zander smiled, as Asher said his goodbyes to James, and telling the Omega Warrior and interim Alpha that he was just a phone call away if he needed anything, as they walked out of the Matlock pack house, then stood, arm in arm together with the rest of Edensor pack, and Liane transported them back up to the highlands of Scotland.
Iesha looked around the huge royal pack house her mouth hanging open, as suddenly ,the little friendly pup became shy as she saw so many people gathered.
“Look Iesha, there is snow, like real snow!” Alisha said pointing out of the large glass wall that ran the length of the massive room, which she quickly realised was probably bigger than her full-pack house at Edensor.
“There is, we can go out a build a snowman tomorrow if you want Iesha, but for now, you need to get some rest… you both do,” Asher said protective of both his mate and her sister.
“So, quick introductions, then bed.” Asher continued.
“This is my brother Hamish,” Asher smiled.
Alisha looked at the younger brother of her mate. He was almost identical to Asher, but slightly smaller in height and build. He had a kind face, but you could see he was a lot more serious than her mate was.
“Nice to meet the woman who is going to tame my brother,” Hamish smiled in welcome at Alisha.
“Yeah, good luck with that,” A beautiful sing-song voice said, as the most beautiful girl she had ever seen with long flowing purple locks, just like her mother stood in front of her.
“That is Becca, my sister,” Asher proudly introduced Alisha to his sister.
Becca smiled brightly as Alisha, then hesitantly approached her to give her a welcome hug.
“You look more yourself,” he whispered to Becca.
“Yeah, interrogating scum bags helps channel my anger.” Becca shrugged, before turning around and sitting down her eyes becoming vacant once more.
Alisha looked up at Asher, and not for the first time wondered what had happened to her.
“Welcome to our crazy family,” A man said, approaching her with his hand stretched out, a human woman by his side, who looked very similar to Cheryl.
“This is my Uncle Josh, and Aunty Nicki. Alpha and Luna of the Silverback Pack. Nicki is Cheryl’s daughter,” Asher explained.
“Nice to meet you,” Alisha smiled, as Iesha still stood looking up a little bit of fear washed over her, scared she might do something wrong, and Alisha may get punished.
Cheryl looked down at the little girl and hunkered down to match her size.
“It is okay Iesha, both you and Alisha are safe here,” She reassured the little one recognising the look on her young face.
“Right, well, I think we need to do these introductions slowly, the girls have had a day of it, so I will take them upstairs,” Asher said, not wanting either Alisha or Iesha to be overwhelmed.
“I have placed a single bed in your suite Asher, for Iesha, but also made-up Phoenix’s old room, next to yours if Iesha would like to stay in there when she is ready. I am sure she can have fun redecorating it, and making it her own, for when you all stay here,” An Omega said.
“Thank you, aunty Caroline,” Asher grinned, then quickly introduced her to his mate, as James’ mother.
“What about my pack, where will they stay?” Alisha asked, looking at the small amount of Edensor wolves and Brenda, who were all stood not uttering a word.
“Oh, well, we have rooms on floor two, for everyone tonight, then you can decide what you would like to do tomorrow, alpha Princess.” Caroline smiled.
“Oh, please just Alisha,” Alisha shook her head, not at all comfortable at being called a princess.
Caroline chuckled and then looked at Chloe.
“I think she reminds me of someone, she is certainly going to fit in well here,” The kindly omega laughed, then looked over at Daphne and began to chat happily with her.
“Hum, bed sounds like a good plan, I have to remind my mate, that I am not that old,” Zander said, hoisting up Chloe and throwing her over his shoulder, as she giggled, the sound of a slap on the ass echoing around the pack house, as Rebecca, Hamish, and Asher all groaned slightly. Josh and Nicki laugh along with the rest of the welcome committee of wolves that Alisha had not yet been introduced to.
“Are they going to play horses?” Iesha innocently asked, as Asher rolled his lips together, and nodded at her.
“Will you and Asher play horses?” Iesha asked her sister.
“Erm, I think we should head up,” Alisha said, her cheeks burning, not sure what her sister was going to say next.
“Do you want me to help get her ready?” Cheryl asked.
“No thank you, I should be fine, but thank you, for everything,” Alisha smiled.
Asher led her up the stairs holding Iesha in his arms, as they made their way to his suite, his heart pounding in his chest, as the night was finally here, where his mate would sleep beside him in his own bed. Chapter Thirty- One – The Forgotten mate and The Alpha Prince.