Chapter 71
Chapter 71
We had to get up immediately and we headed straight down to the conference room in the packhouse and Jackson pulled out a map and laid it out on the table.
Ethan and Wyatt were there and Jackson started pointing out all of the known rogue camps in the area.We needed to start hitting those places first.
There's a chance that he will be there.
And if that's where he wanted to stay then that was fine.
We weren't going to force him back here, if he wanted to stay there with his mate then we weren't going to stop him.
But he's too far away for Jackson to mind link him and that's what was the most frustrating.
Just not knowing where he is.
The least he could do is call and let people know that he's not dead.
Unless he was still looking for his mate, but the same rules apply.He could at least let his mother know where he is.
She's worried sick about him right now.We know that he's not dead, because we would be able to feel that.
But we don't know if he's in trouble or not.
And that's what was really getting to his family.
"How big are these Rogue camps?" I asked, looking at the map.
"Some of them are pretty big.We're going to have to go in there with a strategy." Jackson says.
"Amnesty.We won't hurt them if they agree to talk to us." I say.
"We can't trust Rogues.They always lie." Gladys says.
"Well, if they have any brains at all then they will know that we're not there alone.We will have people in the woods.So if they don't agree to those terms then we'll threaten to wipe out the whole camp." I suggest.
And I saw Gladys eyeing me up and down.
"Alright.Now I get why you two are mates." She says.
"Have you told anyone about Joseph being gone?" Jackson asked.
"I had to let your father know." Gladys says.
And I looked straight at Jackson, knowing that they didn't have a really good relationship because his father tried to take the Alpha title away from Jackson and give it to one of his brothers.I was a little afraid of what was going to happen if his father showed up here.I didn't want there to be a civil war while we were probably going to be getting into a war with the rogues.
"Alright.So, we hit the closest camps first and work our way out.How's that?" I asked, looking back at the map, and trying to change the subject.
"Yeah.Sounds like a good idea to me." Jackson says.
"Alpha.Word is getting around that Joseph is missing.Warriors are starting to volunteer to come with us."
Wyatt announced.
"Awesome.We don't have to go and order them to come with us.That's just what I love to hear." I say.
"Yeah.After everything that's been going on lately, I wasn't looking forward to it either.The warriors need to rest." Gladys says.
"This is what warriors are for.And we've got plenty here to spare."
Jackson insisted.And I raised my eyebrows at him.
"That's how he gets his warriors to work so hard.Because he thinks that's the way warriors should be." Gladys says.
"Can you not talk about me like that while I am standing right here, please?"
Jackson ordered his mother.
And she stopped talking immediately.I knew that it was none of my business and I was really trying to stay out of their family business and everything, but I didn't like him talking to his mother like that.I would never talk to my mother like that.
Except when she lied to me about who my father was and I just wouldn't talk to her at all.
But I don't use my position in the pack to tell my mother what to do.
I turned to look at Jackson and he was already looking at me like he was daring me to say something.
Like he knew that I didn't like what he just did and he knew that I was going to challenge it.
But instead he grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the room and he closed the doors to the conference room and dragged me to the living room.
"Don't challenge me in front of other people." Jackson warned me.
"Don't you fucking dare tell me what to do.And stop treating your mother like she's your subordinate." I say.
"She is."He says.
"She's your fucking mother.She gave birth to you, you son of a bitch." I yelled.
"I don't care.I'm in charge around here.I'm the Alpha." He yelled.
"And I'm Luna.And I will not stand by and let you talk to your mother like that.I wouldn't even talk to my own mother like that, and she's done shit that really deserves it." I yell back at him.
And he growls.And I could see his face changing slightly before going back to normal.
"Oh.Have I offended the beast? Is he going to rear his ugly head again? Bring it on.At least this time I'm fucking prepared for it." I yelled.
"Wow."
Someone said from the other side of the room.
And Jackson and I both turned to look towards the foyer and there were alot of people standing there who I had never met before.
But Jackson growled even louder this time and took off through the kitchen and out the back door.But I just stood there watching him.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
And the older man at the front stepped forward.
"My name is Elias.I am Jackson's father." He says.
"Oh shit.I am so sorry that you had to see that." I say walking towards them.
I now felt a little ashamed, but that didn't last long.
"I'm not.It's about time someone put him in his place like that.He was talking to his mother like crap again, that's what we heard." Elias says.
"Yeah.Just because he's Alpha, doesn't mean he gets to treat his mother like that." I say.
"You must be Taylor.It is so nice to finally meet you.Gladys told me that you would be good for Jackson.But I never expected anything like that." He says.
"Well, I guess I'm not really one to stand for bullies and put up with other people's crap." I say.
"Well, let me introduce you to the rest of the family.This is Maverick, Emmett, Declan, Millie, Olive, Zara and Joseph is the youngest.Olive and Zara are twins." Elias introduced them.
"It's really nice to meet you all.Gladys is here in the conference room."
I started to walk through the packhouse and I could hear them following behind me.I went into the conference room and Gladys was so happy to see the rest of her family.
She hugged and kissed them all and I could tell that she really missed her mate.
And as I stood back I noticed some really big scars up the back of Elias' neck.I wondered how he got them.I assumed in battle, and it would have been a pretty brutal battle.I know that Jackson has scars all over him from battles, but Elias‘ were deep and still looked painful but completely healed over.
"Jackson did that."
Maverick whispered, leaning over towards me.He must have seen me looking at the scars.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"when dad tried to take the Alpha title off of Jackson.They fought and Jackson did that to dad." Maverick says.
And I looked at him, not actually knowing what to say for a moment.I think this was the first time I was actually speechless.I didn't know what the hell to think about that.
How could he do something like that to his own father.
I mean, it looked like he held his father down and purposefully made those huge marks.
To his own father.
Jackson finally came back and I noticed the tension in the air.
Him and his father wouldn't even look at each other and Jackson mapped out the plan that we were going to take to try and find Joseph. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
And while I was standing at the table I started feeling a little unwell.
Like I was going to throw up or something.
It was weird.
It came on really suddenly.
But then disappeared as quickly as it came on.I went upstairs and I started gathering supplies that we would need.I had to pack a couple of bags that we could carry in our mouths after we shifted and Wyatt
came into the supply room to make sure that I was getting enough for the amount of people that were searching with us.
He stopped me half way through and looked at me in the face and then I saw him smelling the air.
"Alpha.You better get in here." Wyatt yelled out.
And Jackson came straight to the supply room and Wyatt just nodded at me.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?" I asked.
"Oh crap” Jackson says feeling my forehead.
"What?" I asked, pushing him away.
"You're burning up.Are you feeling sick?" Jackson asked.
"Yeah.A little.It'll pass." I say getting back to doing what I was doing.
"No.It won't.You need to go to our room and get in a cold shower, right now.I'll sort out the warriors and search parties and I'll be right there." Jackson says pulling me out of the supply cupboard.
"Are you going to tell me what the fuck is going on?" I asked, getting frustrated with no answers.
"Baby.You're going into heat.You can't go searching for Joseph.You can't leave the packhouse until it passes."' He says.
"Heat. That can take days." I say.
"I know.Just go to our room and I'll make sure that all unmated males stay away from the packhouse.They will be able to smell you and won't be able to resist.It'll cause all sorts of havoc.You
need to go to our room and have a cold shower.It's obviously just started so you're not really feeling the effects of it yet." Jackson says.
I was a little concerned about this.I wasn't really worried, I knew that it was bound to happen once I was marked.
But this had come at a really bad time.I couldn't go in heat now when my pack needed me.I knew that they would understand.
This shit happens when it happens.We have no control over it.
But it still pissed me off a little.But I knew that Jackson was right.I wouldn't be safe outside if I was in heat.
And I know that it can get really painful if I'm not with my mate.So I needed to do what he said here.There was no room for argument.