Page 61 of A Luna's Revenge

"Alpha Noble Wright of the Still Waters Pack."

"Alpha Jon Mills of the Lonely Pines Pack."

"Alpha Rowan Reems of the Bloody Paws Pack."

"Alpha Rich Simpkins of the Lazy Moon Pack."

"And everyone knows who I am by now." He says sheepishly with a flushed face. The room chuckles. "Alpha Rex Stone of the Wind Howl Pack."

"We have four other Alphas that will need to be briefed on this as well, but they are currently dealing with another criminal matter and won't be here today." Alpha Commander Beck Kason informs us. "Alpha Lange Quinn, Alpha Blake Collins, Alpha Devon Wright, and Alpha Jenson Black." He glances at me as he mentions my former mate. "They are excused. We will proceed."

I stand to begin my presentation but am interrupted by the door opening as Jenson walks in. "It's true!"

Chapter 34 – We Meet Again

Jenson

Stone Mountain City is a vast metropolis similar to New York City in the human world. The most significant difference is that we have a much smaller crime rate per capita, primarily due to the Alpha Commander. He is in charge of all the packs in this territory and has the power to control all wolves here, including Alphas.

Each Alpha is free to run his pack as he sees fit. There are higher laws mandated by the Alpha Commander that govern all. These are laws to protect everyone's freedom. Fated mate bonds fall under the higher laws because it’s rare for pups to be born outside fated mate bonds. Therefore, due to population decline, fated mate bond tampering is a severe crime. The goddess makes these pairings, and you will receive many blessings for accepting the union. However, you will also receive condemnation for unjustly rejecting your fated mate. Everyone is free to choose who they mate, and rejection is legal.

For this reason, the Alpha Commander has developed a task force, and he has placed me on it. But I am not sure how long I can keep up this ruse. My life has been on a downward spiral since my mate mark disappeared, and I can no longer feel Charlie in my soul. Nothing matters any longer; I am just going through the motions.

The last few months, I’ve spent at the bottom of a bottle trying to wash away the pain. The only thing that managed to do was keep me so out of touch with reality thatthe divorce Charlie wanted was approved before I realized it. I was devastated.

It has gotten so bad that my Beta has taken over running the pack. I know he is just trying to give me some time to recuperate, but it just seems to be getting worse instead of better.

The task force has a meeting today. It was formerly scheduled to occur in the headquarters buildingbutsuddenly changed to the annex. I received a text just this morning to that effect. We still check in through the main desk but are directed through the back and into the adjoining building.

There seems to be an inordinate amount of security on duty today.

Scanning my key card with my trembling hand, I look up to see the back of Charlie going into an elevator. “Charlie!” Ishout as the doors of the elevator close. I sprint to the elevators and am stopped by one of the enforcers.

“Excuse me, sir.” He manages to get my attention. “We need to get you signed in before you go any further.”

“But…my mate…she just got on that elevator.” I stumble. My clothes are disheveled, and I probably don’t even look like I belong here. “I’m Alpha Jenson Black.”

The enforcer nods. “Let’s get you checked in.”

After what seems like an eternity, I finally get through security. “Can you tell me where Charlie Black was going? She signed in just before me. I watched her get on the elevator.”

“Sorry, Alpha, no Charlie Black in the building.” He studies the computer screen. “There was a Charlie Marks that came in just before you. And, before that, Charles Simpkins. But no Charlie Black.”

His voice just becomes a buzz in my brain. Charlie Marks? Reggie Marks transferred packs just after Charlie left. Could she be married to him now? Were they having an affair behind my back? “Where can I find Charlie Marks?”

“Twelfth floor, conference room 1299, on the top floor.”

“Thanks.” I quip and move to the elevator bank. Once inside, I punch the button for the 12th floor and lean against the wall, gasping for air. Thoughts are rolling through my addled brain. It’s hard to keep a sane thought when my entire body has been soaking in an alcohol-infused haze for months.

Exiting the elevator, there is signage before me.

Dazed, I turn to the right and round the corridor, approaching the conference room. Thoughts swirl about Reggie and Charlie; how long have they been together? Was she cheating on me all this time? As I approach the conferenceroom, I hear voices inside. I slam the door back in time to see Charlie standing from the conference table. "It's true!"I gasp.

Charlie

Oh, my goddess, it's Jenson! "Jenson?" I whisper. I notice he doesn't look so good as he is paler and thinner than I remember.

"Charlie!" He chokes out as he reaches for me.

---