24

I sighed as I sat beside Achilles, he was sleeping soundly with his arms wrapped around my waist. Melissa wanted to spend time with her mate today and explain the whole pack to him, of course she refuses to explain the patrols and fighting ideas, war plans, and so on. She told me that by the third day Achilles is usually exhausted, he'll most likely sleep for hours. I looked at him, gently running my hand through his dark hair.

He furrowed his eyebrows and grabbed onto me tighter, whimpering a little. I frowned and kissed his temple, saying soothing things to him so he'll calm down. His head was very warm, his hair was soaked with sweat, and he was panting. Melissa warned me that the third day of him being sick is always the worse, he usually doesn't feel better until the fourth day. I sighed and maneuvered myself so that I was laying beside him. Achilles wrapped his arms around my mid-section and pulled me towards him, cuddling against me. I smiled and kissed his forehead, admiring my beautiful yet sick mate.

After an hour I fell asleep against him, needing the rest from the stress of Mona and Sierra. I wanted to kick Sierra out of the pack, but I knew how much she meant to Jay. I couldn't exile her without our Gamma leaving as well, plus, Achilles needs to agree with me. Sadie assured me that her and Henry will take care of Mona, but getting through to Ryan is going to be difficult. I couldn't help but stress over this, we have enough issues with these damn rogues, those two bitches aren't going to be causing problems for much longer.

When I woke up again Melissa was quietly walked into the room, she gave me a smile when she noticed I was awake. I felt drowsy as I watched her walk over and hand me a glass.

"You're really pale, when is the last time you had water?" she asked, that stern voice only a mother could use was evident.

I nervously smiled, "A while ago...yesterday to be exact."

"Iris! Drink this now, I don't need you passing out. My goodness, you and your sister are terrible at taking care of yourself when it comes to hydration." she scolded, shoving the glass into my hand.

Over the course of the past three days Melissa has been a mother to Sadie and I, for that I'm truly thankful. I missed my mother and all these months I knew we still needed a motherly figure in our lives. Sadie likes Melissa, she's adjusting well to her and she said she finally has another mother. Even if she isn't our birth mom, she is still a mother by heart. I smiled to myself, Sadie is truly a blessing in disguise. I placed the empty glass on the nightstand and stood up, stretching out my cramped muscles.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" I asked with a yawn.

Melissa smiled, "You are going to take a shower and rest, Reese said the rogues aren't bad today. Plus, dinner will be done soon. How has he been?" she asked.

I sighed, "Worse. He's been whimpering, sweating, and his fever went up."

"Well, I have medicine for him, but I have no idea if it will work. He used to take it when he was younger..." she trailed off, a sad look crossing her features.

"Are you okay?"

She snapped her eyes to me, "Yeah...I just regret not being in his life. Even when I was partying...or just trying to get that sorrow to go away I still worried for him. When he was sound asleep I would kiss his forehead and whisper to him that I'm sorry. Over and over again, but I knew he couldn't hear me. I couldn't help it after a few months, I was addicted to that sense of freedom. Yet, those motherly instincts always caught me. Dragging me back to my only child, but I still screwed up."

"Melissa-

"Mom, you can call me mom." she cut in, giving me a small smile.

I grinned, "Mom, you need to relax. That was in the past and Achilles is starting to forgive you, he loves you. You're his mother, no matter what, he'll always love you. I know that you cared about him and you still do, so does he. Is he a little hesitant to show it? Yes, but that's Achilles for you. He's a clown, he's loving, he's everything that a mother would want her son to be."

"Even if he learned this all because of my mistakes..." she murmured.

I sighed, "Stop being so hard on yourself, he's fine now. You're here for him now, aren't you?"

She nodded quietly, "Then, calm down. Just stay with him as he gets over this sickness, he'll be more than grateful for that."

After a few more minutes I left to take a shower, knowing I needed to let Melissa be a mother. When I felt better I walked downstairs to find Sadie, I needed to make sure she was doing okay. When I walked outside I was met with the biggest shock of my life, Sadie had Mona pinned to the ground.

Henry was holding Ryan back as Sadie was yelling at Mona, calling her a low-life and a whore. I smiled, leave it to my little sister to put someone in their place. I taught her well. I walked over and gently took Sadie off of Mona, but before the she-wolf could move I pinned her down once again. Her eyes turned black as she bared her canines, Ryan's growls stopped.

"Mona, don't be stupid..." he whispered.

Mona scowled at him, "Shut up, idiot."

I growled and slapped her, the sound echoing as her wide eyes met mine. "Listen, bitch, you are an Omega. Got it? You're not some fucking Alpha or even my female Gamma, you're just a little slut trailing after a man who is in love with you. You have no right to treat me like this, even when all I've showed you was respect. If you ever show those stupid canines again...I swear to the goddess I will personally torture you. Trust me, sweetheart, you'll know the true meaning of pain." I spat before digging my claws into her shoulder, causing the pathetic wolf to whimper.

"Yes, Alpha." she said, her voice shaky.

I smirked, "Good, Ryan, get your tramp out of here."

Ryan gave me a wide and fearful look, hesitating to walk over to the sorry excuse of a werewolf. He scurried over after I gave him an irritated glare and grabbed her. Mona clung onto him, watching me with alert and terrified eyes. I sighed, running my hand through my hair. I glared at her, I will never have respect for her again. She's like the female version of Jason, she's such a dull-witted bitch.

I shifted and ran into the forest, needing to let some of my anger and stress out. I was soon joined by Sadie and Henry, both of them explaining to me that I shouldn't be left alone with all these rogues. We ran for hours on end until Melissa mind-linked me, telling me that Achilles was searching for me. I quickly returned to the packhouse, grabbing a water bottle as I went upstairs.

I walked into his room to him jumping out of the bed and pulling me into a hug. I furrowed my eyebrows, "Did I do something?" I questioned.

Achilles let go and looked at me, "Yes, you got pissed off and ran into the woods alone! I had to tell your sister and Henry to follow you, if rogues ambushed you-

"I'm fine, Achilles. Relax, I needed to get my anger out." I sighed, walking over to the bed.

He turned around, frowning at me. "Yes, but you could have been badly injured or killed."

Melissa gave me a scowl, "He's right, I'm not going to have a murdered daughter-in-law."

"Sorry." I whispered.

"Mom, can I be alone with her?" Achilles suddenly asked.

Melissa quickly nodded and fled the room, searching for my sister. I laughed when she said she's taking her shopping. This would be the third time in just a day. Achilles sighed and sat beside me, he then pulled me into a hug and kissed me.

"I know Mona is stressful, but I'll see to it that she learns her place. Ryan is beyond angry at her, he won't even talk to her." he murmured.

I laid my head on his chest, "I'm just so stressed out, I don't....I don't know what to do."

I sounded pathetic, but I no longer cared. This is Achilles, my mate, I know I can cry in front of him. He gently laid me down and got on top of me, he then kissed me. It was rough or lustful, it was soft and comforting. A kiss to shut me up and help me relax. We kissed for a long while, just enjoying each other's company. I sighed as we parted, my eyes meeting his.

"I love you." I whispered.

He grinned and kissed me again, "I love you too." he mumbled as we kissed.

Times like these, I'm thankful for him. I then frowned, wasn't he just sick a few hours ago?

"Wait, how come you aren't sick like you were?" I asked, gently pushing him away.

He chuckled, "Darling, I'm an Alpha, I can heal quickly."

"Even from being sick?"

He shrugged, "It's just how I am, so, can we kiss now? I haven't made out with you since we...um..."

I chuckled, "Why don't you really help me relax?"

"How?"

"Prove to me that you're an Alpha." I whispered seductively.

His eyes turned black, "Is that challenge?"

"Yes."

A grin spread across your face, "Baby, you know how much an Alpha loves a challenge." he stated.

I kissed and sucked on his neck, then his mark. He let out a soft moan like growl, "Then prove it."

With that, the lights went out and our clothes came off.