Welcome Home Mate
Chapter 53

LEX

The walk to the pack house was quiet. Everyone was worried about Roxie, but I also think we had more questions than answers.

We waited for all the pack members to turn up; part of me wondered if Naomi would be there.

My father, who gave me a knowing look like he was thinking the same thing I was, shook his head and mind-linked me. "She won't dare show her face here," he snarled. "She might have Roxie, but she is clearly working for someone."

I nodded, but she wanted to know what was happening within the pack, wouldn't she? How would she find out?

I looked at Blaze. "Do you think Naomi would use someone within the pack to find information?" I asked him. Blaze c****d his head to the side and growled. "It won't surprise me; would it surprise you?"

In all honesty, it wouldn't surprise me. We all knew she had it in for Roxie all those years, but something has triggered this; but what?

My mind was racking over what.

"You ready?" asked my father as he stepped closer. I glanced toward the pack members who had formed before me. I cleared my throat to return to the present, as I needed to be the alpha.

I walked to the center with my father and Jason on either side. "Keep an eye on members," I mind-linked both of them. "Someone might be in on this with Naomi."

Neither said anything, but I knew they had my back on this.

"Everyone, can I have your attention, please?" I called out, "I have an announcement to make." The conversation died down, and everyone's eyes were on me, giving me their full attention. All pack members looked toward me, ready to hear what I had to say. "Here goes," muttered Blaze in my head. He sat back and stood close, watching on.

I scanned around, making sure I had everyone's attention. "I want to announce that I have found my mate," I said. Whispers were heard and muttering. "Who is she?" someone yelled.

I raised my arms, calling all pack members to be quiet. "I need to explain, and it will come as a shock," I said. "But I have known for a while who my mate was."

The whispers started again.

"Where is our Luna?" someone called.

"Who is she?" another shouted.

I looked around and was about to answer them when someone called out. "It's Naomi, isn't it?"

Blaze growled loudly in my head at the mention of her name; he was on a fine line between coming through and taking over. He wanted her head on a spike.

I heard that voice and looked at my father, who had pure rage on his face.

I growled. "NO," I shouted. "It's not Naomi; she was never my mate."

Gasps could be heard. But I didn't care. "My mate is Roxie," I shouted. "I have known for the last six years."

Everyone looks at me, puzzled, but I glance toward the person who mentioned Naomi. Amber was glaring at me with her phone in her hand.

"How is that possible?" shouted a woman from the back. "She was sent away; we were told she was in trouble, that's why she left."

A low rumble left my chest. "That's untrue," I said. "Whoever told you that lied to you. I discovered Roxie was my mate when I was of age, but Roxie was thirteen. As you all know, it is against the law to announce to a mate, not of age, about them being your mate." I looked around and stared at everyone. I could see their faces holding more emotion, but I needed to carry on. "I was fine with who my mate was and happy," I said. "My wolf was struggling, and he wanted to mate with her. Mark her as ours. He was losing control. I sent my mate away as I needed to make sure my wolf was calmer. Every day Roxie was here, my wolf was losing control of not being close to her; we even ran out of excuses for why I would turn up at her house."

Thinking back, Jason was my reason, but even he was getting suspicious about me turning up unannounced. We are friends, but we saw each other in the pack house more. I would only go there if I needed a break from my alpha duties. I cleared my throat and carried on.

"I sent Roxie away," I said. "I know most of you know what I was like back in the day, and I want to let you all know that those days are behind me now."

"Where is our Luna?" shouted a man. "She should be here with you to announce all this."

I looked over to where Amber was standing; something was written on her face. "Jason," I muttered through an open mind link to him. "Take Amber to the cells; something doesn't feel right," I said. Blaze was on all paws, snarling.

I ignored him.

Jason moved away and headed toward Amber. Her eyes widened as he came closer to her. He placed his arm on hers, but she struggled against his grip. I could hear a low growl slip past his lips as he pulled her along. Amber went to open her mouth, but my father stood in front of her. She stared at him but closed her mouth. My father said something to Jason. Jason nodded, glanced back at her, and ripped her phone out of her hand, placing it in his back pocket. Jason led her away while my father turned to face me and nodded for me to continue.

I looked back at everyone. People were watching what was happening, wondering what the hell was going on, and they were confused.

I let a low sigh out. "I know you all have loads of questions," I said, glancing at everyone. "Roxie and I were going to announce to everyone later this evening or tomorrow, but something has happened. Roxie was taken an hour ago from her home by two rogues. They are working with someone from this pack and some unknown person."

Growls erupted through the crowd. "Who has her?" someone shouted.

"Naomi," I growled back.

I watched as every face changed slightly. "Naomi knew about Roxie being my mate," I told them. "I told her not long after Roxie left, and she was fine with it."

Confusion was written all over the older generations' faces, but I glanced at the people I grew up with, my age. Their faces were strange, but there was a knowing look that I had seen on a few people over the years. A knowing look that they noticed something but never came forward. It was the same look the omega gave me before I left here.

A sudden thought came into my head. "I know many of you have known Naomi over the years," I yelled. "I know I have a past with her, and that's what it is, a past. If anyone knows of anything, please step forward and tell me."

All eyes stayed glued to me, but I knew I had to wrap up. I needed their help in finding Roxie. "I need everyone to help search for Naomi and Roxie," I yelled. "I need you to help me search the pack grounds. I need your help in finding our Luna, my mate." Some pack members nodded, but I could tell some needed more convincing. "Naomi not only took Roxie from her home, but she also attacked her father, who is in the pack hospital being treated," I yelled.

Some of the older generations growled. No one was to mess with anyone from this pack. They were all friends with my father and Tim back in the day.

"We will help," shouted a few people.

I nodded.

"I will make you a promise," I said. "Once your Luna is back safe and sound, we will make the announcement official, and I will explain everything, but I need your help as your alpha to help me find her. Many of you have friends outside the pack, and I would like you all to use whatever means necessary to find them."

Pack members nodded, and everyone dispersed.

I looked at a few members walking around.

I was about to walk away when someone tapped my arm. "Alpha," a woman said. I looked down and gave her a small smile. "Yes," I said.

The woman moved her hand from my arm and stood in front of me. She let out a low sigh. "I don't know where Naomi is," she said, making my heart sink. "But I wanted to tell you that Naomi had a complete change. I mean, she was a b***h, and everyone hated her." I stared at her.

Her eyes lowered. "I witnessed some things that happened to our Luna at the hands of Naomi," she said. Anger swept through me from Blaze, and I shook the feeling off.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" I blurted out, the woman's eyes were on the ground still, but I could feel guilt and shame wash over her.

The woman looked up at me as a tear slid down her cheek. "I'm sorry, alpha," she said. "Back then, Naomi was the queen bee, and no one could define her. She would hurt you if you intervened or opened your mouth. She had everyone on her side; she would either threaten them or even hurt them."

I growled. "I was your soon-to-be alpha," I snarled out. "You should have said something to my father, me, or even Beta Jason and Tim."

The woman lowered her head. "I'm sorry, alpha," she said. "Naomi made out to everyone that you were okay with how she treated Roxie. She told us she was with you, and you let her do anything she wanted as you loved her and wanted to be with her." Blaze was growling loudly in my head. He wanted out.

The woman looked up at me, frightened. "We would have told Beta's Tim and Jason, but Amber and her friends made it possible," she whispered. "No one was to say anything."

I growled. "If someone tells you to stay quiet and even places that the person in question agreed to it in the same question," I snarled. "I think it would indicate that something wasn't right on one account, don't you?" The woman bowed her head, nodding.

My body was heating up again.

"I'm sor..." she went on to say, but I let out a roar. "Get away from me, go find your Luna, and when she is back, we are all chatting about how we can make this pack a better place for people to speak freely."

The woman didn't look up at me; she turned away and headed toward a group of four more people. I glared at them.

They bowed and ran off as soon as they saw me staring at them.

"Calm down," called someone from behind me. "I can feel your alpha aura slipping through, and not to mention you nearly made a few pack members wet their pants."

I spun around, and there stood Alpha Dean.

I closed my eyes, but Blaze had more heat inside him. "Keep it for killing whoever is behind all this," I muttered to him.

I opened my eyes and looked back at Alpha Dean, who had a deepened expression. "So keep me up on what happened, and how are we going to find your Luna?" he said.

I looked behind him, ready to tell him everything, but I glanced behind and noticed he wasn't alone. A few cars were coming onto the pack.

"Rogues want to attack two packs for their Lunas," he said as he looked over his shoulder. "We must find out why and kill all involved."

I didn't say anything, but I agreed.

We need to stop all this once and for all and get Roxie back.