The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 144

BLAKE

It had been a full day and night away from Izzy and Allie, and sleep was hard to come.

After the meeting, all the pack members stayed around and helped tidy up the pack house. Most were quiet and didn’t utter a word, but the man who took leadership was more than helpful in helping us and telling us what some went through.

We all stayed in a room in the pack house once we were done, which I have to admit. I never realized how hard omegas had it when trying to get blood out of stuff. It makes you appreciate how you were brought up.

The next day was the same; we tidied up the rest of the backgrounds and even made a feast for all pack members.

Drake has been working harder than most of us and even helped a young boy build a treehouse for the other children in the pack. We were all set and ready to finish up when rogues came and attacked the pack.

We all fought, and even the pack members were stunned by how we helped them.

After the attack, there were no casualties. Pack members were more or less grateful for the help, but some were still unconvinced that we were nothing like the Elder.

When everyone returned to their homes, we planned to build the fences around the pack. Making sure they were in place and no one could get through.

“You need to go back to your pack,” says Alpha Dawson to me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I stared at him, knowing I had to go back today as it was Allie’s birthday party. I wanted to be there to celebrate it with her. But as an alpha, my loyalties lay with the Red Moon pack. I needed to make sure they were safe.

“I know,” I said. “I want to make sure the pack is safe. The rogues were surprised to see that we were all banded together to help them. They may come back again.”

Alpha Dawson looks at me and smiles. “You are definitely going to give your father a run for his position,” he says. “You are more alpha than he has ever been.”

I stare at him with raised eyebrows.

Alpha Dawson says, “The pack will be fine. You need to be with Izzy and Allie,” he says. “Once the party ends, why don’t you bring Izzy and Allie here? They can meet the pack, and the pack members would love to meet them.”

I smiled.

I thought back to when the pack members asked why my mate wasn’t with me; I realized Izzy needed to be more hands-on with the pack and other businesses.

Someone clears their throat, and we glance up to see Anita smiling at us.

“You need to go back; you need to spend some time with Allie and Izzy,” she says as she walks over to us. “Everything will be fine here when you come back, and we all know what to do; Alpha Dawson and I know what we are doing.”

I smirked. “I know; I promised to help. I don’t want to make them think I’m abandoning them when they need us,” I say.

Anita smiles, places her hand on my cheek, and gently smoothes it. “Dear boy, you are one rare alpha. Few would help another pack out as you have,” she says, pulling her hand away. “Go now; Drake has your car ready for you,” she says. “And Blake, give Izzy and Allie a kiss from us.”

I smiled and nodded.

I left the room after saying goodbyes to them.

I walked outside to replace my car and found Drake leaning on it. The man was with him; they both looked up and smiled at me. “Alpha Blake, I know you have to leave,” the man says. “Will you be back?”

I nodded, “yeah, I will be back,” I said to him. “I need to be there for a family event, but I will return after it ends.”

The man smiles, “I have to admit, alpha, I was surprised that you would help us,” he says.

I furrow my eyebrows at him. “I wouldn’t let family or a pack down, whether it is my pack or someone else’s. I know what it is like to look after a large group, and in all fairness, I’m truly honored to be here.”

The man looks at me, surprised. “Was not expecting you to say something like that,” he says.

I smiled, but I said nothing.

“You best be going,” Drake says with a smile.

I nodded.

I climbed into the car and drove away.

As I drove, Axel stirred in my head. He appears through my eyes and soon realizes we are on the road. “We’re going to see mate and Allie,” he asks with hope in his eyes.

I nod at him, “we sure are, buddy,” I say.

Axel sat back on his hind legs, his tail wagging more than usual. I look at the road. I only have been away for two days, but it felt longer. I wouldn’t want to see Izzy.

The drive back to the pack didn’t take long, and as we pulled into the pack grounds, something blue and big was sticking out of the side.

As we got closer, it was a giant bouncy castle, and every single child was in it. I pulled up but didn’t move as I stared out. But my eyes landed on one small little beauty.

There in the bouncy castle was Allie, in a gorgeous dress, and she was smiling widely. I couldn’t help but watch her. She was laughing and playing with Archer.

I got out of the car. I didn’t get her anything, but I thought I could take her somewhere, and she could pick what she wanted.

I walked toward the bouncy castle but glanced around to see where Izzy was.

There was no sign of her, but someone shouted at me. “Blake.” I look over to see Dale running over to me.

I smile at him.

“Hey, you didn’t tell me when you were coming,” he said, looking over the place.

Axel stares at him, confused. “What the hell is he doing?” he asks. I ignore him.

“What’s up?” I asked him.

Dale looks back at me and sighs. “I’m happy you’re here, but you need to replace Izzy. She needs to talk to you first,” he says.

I stare at him, confused. “Is everything alright? Someone didn’t cause problems for her, did they?” I ask him.

Dale shook his head. “Nothing like that,” he said as he glanced around. “Izzy needs to talk to you, that’s all.”

I stare at him. I was about to say something when I heard my angel call me. “DADDY,” she yells.

I turn to face the bouncy castle and see Allie running toward me. I bend down, and she runs straight into my arms. Her scent hits my nose, instantly wrapping me in a warm hug. I stand with her in my arms as she nuzzles her head into my neck.

After a few moments, Allie pulls back and stares at me. She has chocolate all over her mouth.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Chocolate monster,” I say to her. And she giggles.

Axel stares back at Allie and laughs. “She is definitely a lover of chocolate,” he says. I couldn’t agree more.

“You came,” she says, pressing her nose to mine.

“I did, angel,” I say to her. “Happy Birthday.” She places a kiss on my nose and smiles. I looked over at Dale, who was smiling.

“Hey, Chocolate monster, where’s mummy?” Dale asks her.

Allie looks over her shoulder and back at us. She shrugs, “she was helping with the food, but some women came over to talk to her,” she says.

“Allie,” calls Archer.

I looked at him, and he was running over to us. As he gets closer, he stops and smiles. “Blake,” he says. “Can Allie play with me?”

I smiled and nodded, “yeah, she can,” I said to him. I bend down, and Allie removes herself from my arms. She quickly runs over to Archer, and they both return to the bouncy castle.

I get back up and watch her. “How has Izzy been doing as Luna?” I ask Dale. I glanced back at him, and he was watching Allie and Archer. “She has been amazing, and all the pack members love her,” he says as he turns to me. He stares at me and sighs. “I need to make sure everything is alright with the other side and that Allie’s surprise is ready.”

I looked at him, confused. Dale laughs, “she is meeting Olaf in a little while,” he says.

My face must have said something, which made him laugh harder. “Oh, you don’t know who Olaf is yet, do you?” he asked, and I shook my head.

“Oh, Allie will love hearing that; she already had Paul and me watch it,” he says. He looks over, and I notice Paul call him over to the pack house.

“I best get going,” he says. He turns to run but yells back, “Find Izzy,” he says before running to the pack house.

I nod.

I couldn’t help but look around the pack grounds. All the pack members were out in force, which was a fantastic sight. They all seemed to have taken to Izzy well.

I looked around, but there was still no sign of her. But my eyes landed on a group of people in the corner who were sitting with their backs to me. But I knew who they were.

Kacey and Charley sat in a circle around a little table with Kat, Lena, and Alice.

I walked over, but I stopped as I could hear what they were saying.

My stomach twisted as I listened to what was being said. No one could see me coming, as they all had their backs to me. “She needs to tell Blake,” says Lena. “He has a right to know.”

“I know, but Izzy is her mother,” says Kat. “It is her decision on what is right for Allie.”

“She shouldn’t have taken her memories away,” Alice says.

I could feel my insides turn; Izzy took away Allie’s memories. And didn’t even tell me.

Axel was quiet, but his eyes never left them.

I step closer, but before I can say anything or confront them, my mate’s scent hits my nose like a tidal wave. I look up to see her standing there looking at me.

“Is it true?” I say to her.

Her eyes are glued to me, but she says nothing.

“Is it true, Izzy?” I say to her. “Did you take away Allie’s memories?”

Her eyes widen, and she opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.

I stared at her, but I could feel eyes on me. I knew everyone in front of me was staring back. But I keep my eyes focused on Izzy. I need to know what has been happening around here, especially when it concerns Allie.