Alpha (Wolves Creek Book 1)(28)

"You're mine now, forever," Jackson whispered and I smiled with contentment.

"I've never felt so wonderful about anything," was all I could reply, as  with all of my strength depleted and in the safety of my mate's arms, I  closed my eyes and was asleep within minutes.



Epilogue



It was a week after what can only be described as the best night of my  life and the party celebrating mine and Jackson's mating was in full  swing. It made me emotional to see how much effort everyone had put in  to making the night special for me, having gone to great lengths to  ensure the party was as much like a normal wedding as possible. There  was the first dance, the table full of presents, the humongous cake that  I couldn't wait to get fat from and the sit down dinner for everyone to  enjoy an amazing meal. The town centre had been transformed, with long  tables set up for people to sit and eat, and a space in the middle for  people to dance. I was having the best night and spirits were high after  recent events. Annabelle had wanted to dance every single dance with me  and whilst I had granted her wish for the first couple of hours,  Jasmine had taken pity on me and distracted her so I could dance with  Jackson. Annabelle seemed to be no worse off for her ‘adventure' as she  called it, but Jasmine and Noah were still affected, keeping her close  by every day. As far as we knew, the wolves had done no harm to her, and  she didn't seem to be too traumatised by the experience. Thankfully,  her seatbelt had protected her from most of the damage when the car had  rolled over and apart from a bruise on her head, she was absolutely  fine. Thank God for that. We knew we weren't completely out of the woods  when it came to the Grove Pack, but we agreed that for this one night  we would try and put all the worries behind us, to show a united front.                       
       
           



       

Jackson and I had managed two dances, before Blake, Ethan and Isaac had  all shown up demanding I dance with them. I laughed at Jackson's  disconcerted face, before agreeing to one dance with them each. It soon  became apparent that they weren't the only ones who wanted to dance with  me. I struggled to remember the names of Jackson's men as they each  requested a dance with me, but it warmed my heart as they congratulated  me and wished Jackson and I all the happiness in the world.

After three hours of continuous merriment, walking around to talk to  everyone, my feet had started to ache. I decided to sit down for a few  minutes when a movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.  There was a girl whom I did not recognise, limping from around the  corner, and I gasped when she walked under the lights and I could see  the bruises covering her face. I jumped up and ran over to her, catching  her just as she fell on to the floor in a heap.

"Oh my god!" I shouted, as everyone looked over at me with equal shock. I  noted the suspicion in each of their eyes, and knew they hadn't gotten  over their aversion to strangers yet. After recent events though, I  couldn't blame them.

"Are you okay?" I asked the girl and she shook in my arms, looking up at me with fear in her eyes.

"Please … I need help." She asked, before being violently pulled out of my  arms and up off the floor. I looked up to see Isaac holding her up,  with an angry look on his face.

"Who are you?" He shouted in her face and she cringed back in fear. I  understood Isaac being protective, untrusting the girl, but I wasn't  going to stand by and watch him terrify the poor thing.

"Isaac! Stop it, you're scaring her."

"She could be here to hurt you, Laura."

"Oh please, the poor girl has been beaten, she's not in any positon to hurt anyone!"

"You trust too easily," he said, and I felt Jackson come to stand beside me, watching the girl with equal distrust.

"Please!" The girl cried out and Isaac let her go so she could stand. "I  need help. I'm from the Grove Pack and I'm requesting refuge."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Isaac growled at her and I left  Jackson's side to go to the girl, worried as to how badly she had been  injured. I smiled at her to show her I meant her no harm and she gave me  a tentative nod back. I noticed that all around me the guests were  watching us with curiosity and a hint of trepidation on their faces. I  noticed Jackson take a step closer to me, as if ready to snatch me away  if the young girl tried anything. I was stronger now since the mating,  and I knew I was capable of kicking ass if I had too. Not that this poor  girl would be able to fight a feather right now, with the way she was  swaying all over the place.

"What's your name?" I asked her.

"Lori. Please, I don't agree with what they are doing. I swear to you … "

"How do we know you aren't just a traitor? Sent to us with a few bruises  so we feel sorry for you, and then you can get all the intel on our  plans."

"How do I prove to you that I am no spy?" She cried. I spun around when I heard Annabelle shouting out whilst in Jasmine's arms.

"She helped me, Daddy!" Annabelle shouted, pointing at her father who was stood next to Jackson.

I looked at Lori, who was watching Annabelle with a smile on her face.

"I'm so glad she's okay. The men left her in my care and I made sure she  was fed and stayed safe. I wouldn't have let any of the men touch her, I  promise you. When I heard your pack arrive and start fighting, I left  her on the bed and went to hide, knowing you would kill me on sight."

"We don't harm women or children, even from rival packs." Jackson said,  his eyes narrowed on Lori, still not trusting her. Lori's eyes widened  as if shocked at his words and I worried about how badly the women were  being treated in that pack.

"Please, you have to believe me. The pack was angry at losing the fight,  and they took it out on me because they know I disagree with their  views. I've been vocal on more than one occasion about how I feel, and  they've shown me just how much my opinion will not be tolerated."

Lori had long blonde hair and a tiny frame, but the bruises covering her  hid her beauty, making me sad to think how badly she had been treated  by those who should have been her family.

"I understand why you don't want to trust me, but I swear to you all I  am doing is begging for your help. They have no idea I'm here and I made  sure no-one followed me. Even if I could have just a meal and a bed  while I rest, and I can be gone in the morning."                       
       
           



       

The whole group remained silent, Isaac still evil-eyeing Lori as if  hoping she would just disappear. Or catch on fire. Whilst a part of me  agreed that his could possibly be all part of an elaborate plan to get  insider knowledge and break us from the inside, the rest of me just saw a  young, injured girl begging for help. There was no denying that those  brutes had hurt her, so would she willingly be on their side if they  treated her in that way? I know I wouldn't.

"Please. I've left everything I know to come here. I've been running for  an entire day with no food or water to try and find this place, it's so  well hidden. I thought I would end up dying in the forest, but even  that was preferential to facing whatever the guys had waiting for me. If  they find me once they know I have run away, my life will no longer be  worth living. I would rather die than go back to that hell hole.  Annabelle spoke a lot about your pack and it seems you treat people  fairly and justly. I would beg on my knees if my ribs didn't hurt so  much. Please will you help me?"

I looked at Jackson and pleaded with my eyes for him to help her. He  looked torn, but I knew that he was a good man and he would do what was  right. As always, he was thinking with the brain of an alpha and the  potential consequences from bringing a stranger in to the pack. But even  he couldn't deny the sight that was in front of us, and that the girl -  whether a member of the Groves or not - was terribly injured.

"Isaac, take Lori to yours and get her cleaned up."

"Me?" He said, his eyes widening in response. He started to object, when  Jackson cut him off with a look and a swift shake of the head.

"I trust that you won't let her out of your sight." He looked at Lori,  who had slumped in relief. My heart almost broke when I saw how the  fight seemed to just leave her body, as if she knew she was safe now.  This girl was probably the least dangerous thing I had ever seen.

"Lori, I'm willing to offer you refuge in our pack, but know that until  you prove otherwise I don't trust you. However, I'm angry at your pack  for how they have treated you and I can see that you are suffering.  Isaac will help you and provide you with everything that you need."