The Alpha and Luna Series: A Christmas Special

Once everyone was gone, I laid my head down on Mom’s shoulders. Mom had raised us to be strong women, and I used to think I was. I was a talented fighter, the best in this pack under Benjamin. I could handle meetings, parties, pack issues, and other stuff. But I hadn’t realized until today how Martha had worn me down. She made me feel like a child. I tried to respect her because that was Benjamin’s mom, but I let her disrespect me too long and it has taken a toll on me.

“Mom, I don’t know what to do,” I murmured.

She squeezed my shoulder while laying her head on top of my head. “I’m here now. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

“What’s been going on?” Felicity asked me.

“Why didn’t you contact us sooner,” Daniella asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I thought I had it handled. Martha and Jim came back six months ago. At first, she made little remarks about not having grandkids. I let them slide because Benjamin and I agreed to wait. We wanted to enjoy our time together for a few years before having pups.

Three months ago, she amped up her remarks and mentioned to Benjamin that he should take a chosen mate to produce an heir. It took all of Benjamin’s strength to make sure Asher didn’t kill her. I didn’t know what she told him until I heard his growl and felt his hurt through our emotions. I ran to him and calmed Asher down. It was then I found out what she said. Although I was hurt, I knew Benjamin wouldn’t do that.

I continued to ignore her. I know now I shouldn’t have and should have told Benjamin that she and his father needed to be banished but I couldn’t do that to him. He hadn’t seen his parents in six years. He often talked about missing them and how he had a close bond with them like I have with Mom and Dad. I buried my instinct to have them banished and chose to ignore them.

Last week, his mom brought those four girls to the pack. Since I had been ignoring her, she set up a meeting with Benjamin and me. When she brought those girls in, I thought it was because they needed help. When they opened their mouth to tell Benjamin they could produce him an heir, I lost it.

I nearly killed his mom and them. It took Benjamin and Asher a long time to get me off them. Benjamin ordered the girls to be detained in the dungeon. Martha spent three days in the hospital recovering. It was the most peaceful three days I had in the last six months. But as soon as she got out, she made sure to spend as much time with Benjamin as she could reminding him, he needed an heir.

The worst part is that I was going to tell Benjamin I wanted to expand our family this year, but I couldn’t because of her. I didn’t want to feel like she made us have a child.

I’m sure she made the guards release those girls this morning because she knew the Elders were coming. Don’t be mad at Benjamin. He has been doing everything right.”

“Except for banishing his parents for how they treated you,” Daniella interrupted me.

I knew they would be upset with him because of what his mom did. Benjamin is not bad nor is he like his parents. I didn’t want my family to shun him. I was worried about what my dad and brother were doing to him now.

“Could you have banished Mom if she didn’t like Damion? I remember there was a time when Mom stood up to him and he made her and Dad bow.”

“That was before we found out we were mates. He was just their King then not their son-in-law. Also, Mom would have never done what Martha has done to you. That’s half a year of mistreatment toward you. She has tortured you for so long that you look different. You’re even acting different,” Daniella pointed toward me.

Mom snapped her eyes at Daniella. I knew Daniella was right. I had lost weight. Since putting Martha in the hospital, I stopped training with the pack. I was never one to cry or get in my feelings. I was always tough, but Martha had a way to tear me down. I hated how she made me second guess myself and if my decision to wait on kids was right.

“Not everyone is as good-natured as Mom,” my voice broke.

“That’s true,” Felicity whispered.

I’m sure Felicity was thinking of her own Mom who tried to kidnap her daughter. Daniella sat on the other side of me and wrapped her arm around me.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said any of that. I’m just upset to see you hurting like this. I wish you had told us sooner. I know you wanted to handle this on your own, but we are always here to help. When I first moved to the kingdom, you and Mom came to help me. Mom has helped Felicity too. We would have come to help you, Dakota.”

I know she’s right, but I thought I had it handled. I thought that if I continued to ignore her then she would get the hint and leave us alone. Benjamin had even begun to talk to her only once a week. I was sure I could handle it without involving my family. Now look where that got me. My family and the Elders are involved.

“Do you think the Elders will force Benjamin to reject me?”

“No. They just have to do their job. She called them here and made a complaint. It’s their job to oversee it,” Mom assured me.

Benjamin

‘I told you to kill her. That vile woman hurt our mate,’ Asher was upset.

‘I know Asher, but she’s our mom. I can’t kill her.’

‘Dakota and Kona are our mates. Mate is in our room hurting right now but we can’t go to her. She feels safe with her family right now, not us. You should think about that.’ Asher put up his block. He was done talking to me.

I settled on the chair behind my desk while Darren and Jaxon sat in front of me. I’ve always had a good relationship with them. Jaxon had even started to treat me like a brother since he found his mate. Darren always treated me like a son. Now I worry how this would affect our relationship.

“Why didn’t you get rid of your parents when they first brought up this heir business,” Jaxon asked. “Now my sister is hurt, and the Elders are involved.”

“I didn’t think it would get this far,” the lame excuse came out of my mouth.

Their looks told me it was just an excuse. I knew it and so did they.

“When my mom brought those women to the pack, Dakota and Kona nearly killed them. It wasn’t until my mom was in the hospital that she confessed she was sick. She had been on me about having an heir because she didn’t know how long she had. She and Dad were traveling because they were trying to find some way to make her better or get treatment. When they realized nothing was working, they came back to the pack.

They were hopeful that Mom could live out her remaining days enjoying her time with her grandpups. They didn’t know until they came back that we never had any. What started as mom mentioning it turned into her becoming obsessive over it because she claims she doesn’t have long to live.”

“Does Dakota know,” Darren asked.

“No. I just found out last week. You know how Dakota is. She would have asked Daniella to heal my mom, even after all the things my mom did to her. My mom doesn’t deserve Dakota’s sympathy. Then Dakota would have said we should start trying for babies. I didn’t want that. I want to start trying when Dakota is ready not because my mom forced us.”

They relaxed at my words. If Dakota had known about my mom’s illness she would have succumbed to my mom’s pressure. We both want kids. But we both agreed we would have them when we were ready, not because we were forced to.

“I should have banned them from the packhouse though. Maybe that would have shown Dakota that I don’t care about what my mom is saying and that she is my everything.”

“She already knows. She has been mind linking me to ensure Dad and I won’t hurt you,” Jaxon laughs.

Dakota and the women walk into my office. She comes and sits on my lap. I see a small suitcase behind Daniella. My eyes shoot to Dakota’s hazel eyes. Their red and puffy no doubt from her tears. She gives me a small smile.

“What’s going on?” A shudder passes through me.

“I’m going to stay with Mom for a few days,” Dakota says.

“What? No.” Asher and I weren’t happy to hear that.

“We are putting the finishing touches on the ball. It’s a group effort. All of us girls are going to be together. You can come when you finish up with what you have going on here,” she tried to explain.

“I don’t need to do anything here. I can put the Beta in charge and leave with you.” I was reluctant to let her go.

“No. You need to make sure your parents don’t jeopardize the pack to make it seem like it’s not flourishing. I’ll be fine and safe.”

‘Tell your family to leave. I need to be alone with you before you go,’ I mind linked her.

I held her close, my face to her chest as she ran her hand through my hair. Inhaling her scent, I tried to calm my fast-beating heart. We hadn’t spent the night apart since we found out we were mates.

“Are you leaving us?”

I would die if she decided to leave me. My need for my relationship with my parents may have cost me my love.

“No. I’m going to stay with Mom for a few days. This was the plan anyway. We were going to plan the ball and then spend time together as a family before the ball. Mom discussed it with us a few days ago,” she answered.

“Oh.”

My lips found hers and I kissed her hard. Her body relaxed into mine as our kiss intensified. She pulled away when she needed to catch her breath. We kissed again, needing to feel each other before she left.

“I love you, Dakota.”

“I love you too, Benjamin.”

When I watched her and her family drive off, I went back into the packhouse ready to let my parents go. When this investigation was over, I would go to her and make sure she never left my side again.