Chapter 17

Mathew's POV

'Someone went after Danica once we headed home. I can't believe this…' I frowned and looked at Jenny as she lay asleep in our bed. The night was almost over, and I hadn't been able to sleep a wink. I slipped out of bed and dressed. Walking out of the room we occupied in the pack house I walked to the Alpha's floor.

With a frown I saw he was already up and pacing back and forth around the hallway. I waved and he stopped looking up in surprise. The Alpha had a powerful build, he was built for attack and speed and towered above most people at a staggering seven foot one. His hair was dark and he had bright dark blue eyes with flex of light green through them. I could see the family resemblance but I had to admit the Alpha genes he inherited gave him a little something else attracting a lot of attention from the opposite sex, even the same sex often gave him admiring glances. Even though he was my younger brother and I had found a beautiful mate I still envied his looks and skill.

However, since Jessica had left him alone after Maggy was born his complexion had grown rough as large bags hung under his now blood shot eyes and he had been neglecting his training. Losing some of his muscle definition.

"You can't sleep too?" He shook his head. Derick let out a low growl.

"How could I after hearing what Danica found out." He placed his hands to his face. "Someone leaked the information that Lisa was taking the boys out and they were nearly killed. What about Beta Josh?" I nodded.

"Yeah, something doesn't seem to add up… and we haven't heard anything back yet…" I was cut off.

"I know… I'll find who did this to her and kill them."

'Dam…' I looked to his face and sniffed I couldn't smell her hear recently.

"Look Derick, I know the boys jackets were at the scene but she said she saw them dead…" Derick shrugged.

"Panic, shocked or the fact she had to run for her life." He sighed. "She's not a warrior." I grinned with evil intent and hid it behind my hand as I coughed.

"Yes, about that, given the nature of what happened don't you think she should now attend pack training… you know to protect herself." He looked around to see my best sincere look of concern and nodded.

"Definitely," I nodded and gave a fake sigh of relief. Even if I couldn't get rid of her yet I could, however, make her life a little more uncomfortable here.

"Good, I mean if someone is targeting you it would be too dangerous for her to be around you until you can find the culprit." His look turned dark as I led him down a path I had hoped I wouldn't need to. The truth is Lisa, the Luna want-to- be, was a spoilt and lazy brat of twenty-nine. Her father had given her everything she wanted, and I had never seen her transform into a wolf. I think it was because she didn't want her manicure ruined. She also spent too much time away from the pack preferring her grandfathers fathers pack, a pack I had never met nor would she talk about them to me.

"I'll need to talk to her about this…" He sniffed again then shook his head. I narrowed my eyes.

"Why do you seem extra jittery? It's like when we were kids and we sneakily ate dads birthday cake before the party." A burst of laughter left his lips.

"Ah, those were the days…" He sighed. "Wish our mothers got on better… but can't blame them…" I nodded. We had always been close and at one point he was my little shadow. That was until my mother left and went to another pack, not being able to stomach our father with his mate, Derick's mother, anymore.

"But you're jittery." He nodded and sniffed.

"There's a strange sent on the kids. I don't know who it is but it's like ants in my brain." I smirked knowing the feeling.

"If I must guess… I think it's Danica." He frowned.

"The half breed?" I nodded.

"It's strange but when I first met her I was terrified." Derick gave me an amused look. "But after a while it was like ... a reassuring feeling… the boys took to her instantly and said she makes them feel safe which was why they never tried to run from her." I could see the skepticism in his eyes but he shook his head and grinned.

"She has some interesting friends though. Nearly hit the roof when they showed me the pictures they got with Bella Donna." I couldn't help but laugh.

"I looked into Rodger's background. I can't get much but he's one of the managers at the Phantom plaza he manages a group of fighters as well as organizes fights, tournaments, champion ships, bets and now merchandise." I sighed. "He's a very slippery character with a shady background." Derick shrugged.

"He might be shady but…" He shook his head. "Don't jump to conclusions with him. After all he did help save the boys." There was a cry and Derick spun round. "The princess has woken up again." He walked into his living area and picked up a small bundle wrapped in pink. I watched as he began to rock and pat gently but the little girl would not settle and her crying became louder.

I walked over to Derick and took my shot at calming my niece. She was three years old now but hadn't spoken a word. I frowned as she smashed her little fists against my shoulder and looked around with teary eyes.

"What's gotten into you?" I asked and she pouted that little lip at me and spun around looking for something.

"I don't fucking know what's gotten into her." Derick collapsed onto the sofa. "She's been funny all night. I had to take her out here because I didn't want her to wake Maggy." I nodded and turned as I saw Kaden and Aden standing by the door to their room. Once they realised they had been caught, they came over and the little girl stopped crying.

"Ok, how about this. I'll take little Lilly and Maggy with me to the city and you and the boys get some rest and you can gather your nerves." He looked up sharply. "Don't worry, I'm nearly as strong as you are and Jenny will be with me." I could see the worry on his face. "Or even better then. You and the boys go camping. Lisa is back with her pack to recover. I can stay here in the pack house and take care of things." He nodded at my suggestion and sighed.

"Jenny will kill you if you cancel the trip to the city." He sighed and raised his arms to take Lilly back, I handed her over and watched as he leant back in the sofa. "You go back to the city and take care of the business stuff. I'll take the boys camping once you've finished the job." I nodded.

"If that's what you want then ok. But remember I'm just a call away." He nodded and looked to the boys then to his watch.

"Dam early Sunday mornings. Who want's breakfast since your all up?" The boys nodded and he dragged himself to the kitchen. I rolled my eyes and pointed to a seat.

"You sit down and take it easy. Your nerves can't take much more of this." He shook his head and placed Lilly into her highchair as I began to pull things out of the fridge.

"I'll check on Maggy. She maybe seven-month-old but dam she can scream if she's neglected." I nodded and sighed wondering where the hell Jessica went. Derick really seemed to have a hard time with women. Especially since the Luna, Lily, died in a car crash three years ago.