Help Me, Alpha Book 2

HAYLEY

A few hours have passed since the pack’s anxiety started to rise. Everyone’s on edge, and I can’t blame them. We’re all in danger.

But Jax and I can’t show our fear. We have to be strong for our pack and shield them from any harm that might be coming.

The pack members rush into the hall, their nerves frayed. They’re looking for answers.

Answers we don’t have.

Jax has called a pack meeting to discuss our new enemy. An enemy that threatens not just us, but all supernatural beings.

Jax, Axton, and I are on the stage, waiting for the entire pack to gather. The air is filled with the sound of hundreds of voices, all talking at once.

Tensions rise and members start to jostle each other. Some get too rough, and when one member is shoved too hard, he collides with a pregnant female.

A gasp of fear escapes my lips as I grip Jax’s hand. Thankfully, someone catches the woman before she falls and potentially harms herself and her unborn pup.

Jax shares my concern. He stands and growls, a loud, fierce sound that immediately grabs everyone’s attention.

“Behave yourselves,” he commands, his voice filled with menace.

The room falls silent, except for the man apologizing to the woman he knocked into. He helps her to the front, where there are chairs. I switch into luna mode, trying to keep everything under control.

After a few minutes, everyone except Rose and the pups has gathered in the hall. The room is large enough for the entire pack to fit comfortably.

Jax turns to me and asks if I’m ready. I nod and stand next to him. Our hands intertwine, showing a united front.

“Thank you all for coming. I know you have many questions, but please hold them until the end.

“I want to give you more information about the new threat so you don’t just hear the negative side from the news.”

Once he’s sure he has everyone’s attention, Jax continues.

“I had a meeting this morning with the council and alphas from around the world. They updated us on the human hunters. It’s true that humans have captured some of our kind, more than we ever expected.

“We didn’t know how they were able to capture us, but the council found out that the humans know about wolfsbane. They know it doesn’t kill us, but it does weaken us.”

It’s painful to see the pack afraid of things I can’t control. Even if I wanted to, I can’t take down hundreds of hunters who know our weakness.

“We’re not sure where they’re getting so much wolfsbane, but the council is investigating. What we do know is that hunters are setting up camps around the country.

“This is where they keep the captured werewolves initially. Once they have a few, they transport them to a lab for experiments. If the lab decides they’re not useful, they kill them.”

Tears stream down the faces of some members, while others growl, ready for a fight. Some are eager for a war between the supernaturals and the humans.

“But despite all this, we are still safe. The humans don’t know about our pack, and I hope it stays that way.

“The council and leaders around the world are planning ways for us to stay hidden and live in peace. I’ll let you know as soon as the plan is fully arranged.”

Jax takes a deep breath; the weight of the situation is heavy on his shoulders. I squeeze his hand, encouraging him to continue.

He lifts his chin and goes on.

“Because of the hunters, we’re implementing a curfew. Everyone must be inside their houses by nine o’clock—anyone out after that will face consequences.

“Pregnant females can’t walk around the pack’s premises unless they’re with a member who can shift.”

This makes sense, as pregnant females can’t shift into their wolf form without risking their unborn pup.

“Please know that we’re doing everything we can to protect you all. The humans won’t defeat us—we will prevail.

“We need to stay strong and support each other. If we start fighting among ourselves, it will only help the humans. Thank you for listening. Now your luna has something to say.”

I smile at Jax and step forward.

“I know this is a difficult time. It can stir up a lot of emotions, some of which might be confusing or hard to handle. That’s why my office door is always open.

“If you ever feel overwhelmed, come see me and we can talk. Mental health is just as important as physical health, so please come see me if you’re ever worried,” I say, smiling gently.

I can feel the pack starting to believe that we’ll keep them safe, both physically and mentally. I turn to Jax to signal that I’m done speaking.

“Any questions?” he asks the crowd. A few hands go up and Jax answers each question professionally, trying to keep everything under control.

But the last question, from a boy no older than fourteen, makes everyone hold their breath. It’s the question everyone’s been thinking but has been too scared to ask.

Jax gestures for the boy to speak.

“Are we going to die?”

I look up at Jax, silently praying to the Moon Goddess that he can give a convincing answer. The pack needs hope, something to believe in. They need to feel protected.

It feels wrong to not be completely honest with them, but if we tell them we’re not sure what will happen, it will cause chaos.

“We will protect you, your parents will protect you, everyone in this room will protect each other. That’s what we do. We’re a pack, and packs fight for each other, in life and in death.

“So to answer your question, no, we will not die,” Jax says with absolute certainty. His confidence and assurance are so strong that even I start to believe him.