Chapter Twenty-Three

Jet POV

I cannot keep my eyes off of her, she is absolutely gorgeous and the fact that she can hold her own is even a bigger turn on for me, I hate all the she-wolves that normally try, and hang off me. It still amazes me how she handled Dad; no one has ever managed to calm him down when he has been in a rage, even Alpha Chris is unable to calm him due to him being the previous beta to the king he is of a higher rank than Alpha Chris. However, she did it and did it without raising her voice once, she just gave him a stern talking to and used his real name.

How she knew his real name still puzzles me I don't understand how she knows it; we all changed our names well the adults did, they didn't change our names in the end as we kept getting confused who they were talking too and not wishing to give away that we were on the run, well not on run just in hiding they kept our first names and changed our surnames.

Sitting with my family for breakfast I watch her as she animatedly talks to the alphas and her siblings whilst feeding Scott. I wonder what they are talking about, my eyes skim her curvy slim figure again wondering what it would feel like to have her in my arms, how her hair would feel slipping through my fingers before I wrap it round my fist, shaking my head I try to get rid of the images starting to plague my mind at how I could make her squirm beneath me.

Reaching out for the pastries on the table to distract myself I take a bite a groan slipping from me as it melts in my mouth, these are delicious I haven't had anything like this since I was a pup and the Queen used to bake for me and…and Angelica when we were telling her about our many adventures.

"These cannot be-" my mum cries out quietly only for our table to hear as she stares at the pastries "this is. She never gave the recipe to anyone." She turns to face dad and frowns when she catches the sorry state of him "Jake-"

"How does she know my real name? It is bugging me."

"What love?"

"Jenni mum she knows Dad's real name is Jensen."

"What? That is not possible unless she was from-" She pauses "Did anyone have three pups?"

"No, I only knew a few who had a couple of pups I suppose the third could have been born after, how old is the youngest?"

"Do you think?" we stare at the pups again all wondering the same thing is Jennifer the daughter of the King and Queen.

"Think what?" Conner says snatching up the pastry before sitting next to mum and making a fuss of our baby sister, he's a natural with her but if he has been helping out Jenni with pups over the years it isn't much of a surprise "I really do love these. Jenni said she made us cookies to go in our lunches for school too, I cannot wait." His smile is contagious, and we cannot help but smile with him.

"Conner, honey."

"Yes mum?"

"Did Jenni make these?" waving the last bit of her pastry in the air.

"Yes, why?" he looks at her suspiciously.

"Do you know who gave her the recipe?"

"Of course, I do." He smiles but sadness shines in his eyes.

"And?" I say frustratingly at him not being the most patient person around and not wanting him to dwell on what has upset him.

"Well, the er…er the adults who took care of us before they died in a rogue attack" a lone tear escapes his eye.

"Do you know their names son?" Dad asks softly placing a hand on his shoulder and giving it a soft squeeze.

"Terry and Teresa, then there was Sofia's dad and then there were a few others, but I don't remember their names they spent most of their time training Jenni as she was the oldest and they wanted to make sure that we were safe." he rambles before I cut him off without realising, voicing my thoughts.

"Training Jenni? Why would they do that? Conner how old was she when she started training?" I finally ask the question that has been on my mind since I saw her training last night.

"I don't know. She has trained forever; I don't remember a time she didn't train."

"Conner. Does Jennifer go by any other names? Do you know her wolf's name?" Dad urges sending some of his aurora out by mistake but not enough for others to realise.

"Why are you all interested in her?" my brother whimpers searching each of us with worry across his face "I thought you all wanted me" oh shit, I see Jenni twist around with pure anger on her face, she is on her feet and marching towards Conner before he even finishes his last sentence, jumping up he runs into her arms. A low ferocious growl releases from her but it doesn't seem to affect Conner he just relaxes into her embrace; how did she know? I didn't see him mind link her.

"Come on Conner. How about you help me get the lunches for everyone? Think there may be a spare cookie left." Snatching up her hand he almost drags her to the kitchen her eyes never leave ours though as she glares daggers at us, Conner doesn't even look back at us and I feel a pang of hurt that he left without a word not caring enough about us but then dad did upset him.

"If I have lost my son again because of you and-" mum snarls

"Sweetheart I am sorry I didn't-"

"You better find a way to apologise to our son then. And in a way that he knows we love him."

Just as I thought the drama had finished Alpha Joe lets out a fierce growl his phone smashing against the wall where he throws it stopping us all in our tracks. What is going on now?

"How dare he-" The bang of the kitchen door draws his attention as Jenni storms back through her eyes flittering around the room casting her eyes on the pups.

"Pups code one" they automatically stand and make their way to her "Go find Conner in kitchen and grab your lunches and head to school. Scott, you stick by Chelsea and Poppy." They all dash off as instructed, what on earth is going on?

"Jenni" Alpha Joe starts glancing towards the entrance.

"It is ok Alpha. Come on. Pretty sure I know why he is here." She mutters, who does she mean by he?

'Jett go find out' Shadow my wolf commands me feeling protective of her and not happy about an unknown male in her presence.

"How did you know he was here Jenni?" Alpha Joe asks frowning at her.

"Who is here Joe?" Chris asks not wanting to be left out.

"Come on might as well greet him outside. And to the he, Alpha Chris that would be Alpha Rick." Alpha Rick, I don't know that name, but it seems that dad does with the low growl that emanates from him, along with others around the room. What has this Alpha Rick done to get this reaction? No sooner than the alphas go to leave, everyone seems to have the same idea and jump up to follow them, but they both abruptly spin around to face them.

"Now we don't want to start a war. Please stay here and enjoy your breakfasts" Alpha Joe commands.

"That includes you lot" Chris points towards all of us.

"But what about her?" I blurt out as she nearly disappears out the door in front of them.

"That is none of your concern pup" Alpha Joe growls out blocking her from my view as she stops and frowns at me.

"His right dad she has no authority-"

"Cayden" he growls "this is to do with her, so she is entitled to come not that it is any of your business." Casting my eyes over to Cayden I realise the way he stares at her is similar to how I look at her, is he with her, no that cannot be right, he has a she-wolf grabbing onto his arm trying to get his attention.

Yanking his arm out of her clutches he glares daggers at her, ignoring the drama going on with him I turn to see that both alphas and Jenni have gone.

Jennifer POV

I don't know what happened between Conner and his family, but I felt his emotions through our bond and had to make sure he was ok, I don't care that they are his biological family, he is my family, and I won't let anyone mistreat my pups. Taking him away from the situation distressing him I give him a cookie, but I soon feel a familiar presence that I didn't want to feel again, Alpha Rick.

Storming into the dining hall everyone's attention turns to me, but I haven't got time to worry about them, calling code one to get the pups attention they jump into action, code one is our code for Alpha Rick alert.

Giving my orders I hear Cayden and Jet arguing with the alphas, but I need to ensure that Alpha Rick goes nowhere near the pups, I haven't got time for them. I am sure Scarlett can keep Cayden busy, not that my wolf agrees with Scarlett being all over her mate. Stepping out of the front doorway I feel Alpha Joe and Chris step up behind me just before black SUVs pull up in the driveway. One of the doors flies open and Danny springs from the vehicle sprinting to me, opening my arms he slams into me wrapping his arms around me, gripping onto me like a lifeline.

"Danny?" something isn't right with him; I feel the pain coming off him.

"Jenni, I've missed you so much." He partially sobs into my chest, squeezing him slightly I hear him gasp in pain, lifting his shirt up slightly I find the reason why, he is black and blue. Growling I tuck him to my side under my arm protectively.

Turning to the entourage forming in front of us I am met by beautiful sparkling eyes and Val yipping in my mind mate, mate, mate. That isn't possible she told me Cayden was our mate.

'Both mates, both' she yips answering my thought.

'We can't have more than one mate, can we?'

'We Alpha Female we can have what we want' what a greedy wolf, yet again I don't have time for this I need to work out what Alpha Rick is up to.

'Go to mate'

'Val, I need to concentrate. We agreed to wait. We need to protect-'

'Sorry Jen you're right. The mate pull it just got me there for a moment.'

'It is ok girl. Now let's see what he wants.'

"Alpha Rick. What do I owe this surprise visit."

"We are here to take the pups home."

"They are home."

"My pack misses them dearly"

"You took them without the formal paperwork and caught us by surprise after a rogue attack you took advantage." Our so-called mate supplies why did Caspian, Alpha Rick's eldest son have to be our mate.

"Took advantage? How dare you?" Alpha Joe snarls at them both.

"Come on Danny, I think we should leave them to talk" I tell him as I feel him start to tremor in fear. Deciding its best to deal with his injuries than stay for this conversation I start manoeuvring us towards the packhouse behind us. I trust Alpha Joe to deal with Alpha Rick at the moment and I have a strong feeling that Alpha Chris will help him out.

"Where do you think you're going with my son?" Alpha Rick snarls out stopping us in our tracks.

"Sorry Alpha Rick." I bow my head slightly not to anger him "I know it is a long journey here so I thought Danny may be hungry and was taking him to get something to eat."

"Sorry Dad I was hungry." Danny goes with my lie knowing I will keep him safe.

"Perhaps we should ask to talk to Alpha Joe in private Dad." Caspian asks, though I have never met him I have seen the pictures of him, and I can honestly say they do not do him justice.

"Let's go to my office shall we whilst Jenni takes care of Danny." Joe nods for me to go giving me the perfect opportunity to leave with Danny.