Garrison was young, several years younger than Jason, so they had minimal contact during school and training. He was certainly not lacking in physique nor looks with sandy colored hair and hazel eyes. In fact Jason would have been jealous considering his own brown hair and eyes were rather ordinary.
There was only one reason Katrina would have rejected such a mate and that was based solely on rank. But even that did not answer all of Jason’s lingering questions. After all, Katrina was the daughter of an alpha and Thomas’s only heir. He would have accepted any mate of hers as his successor. She would still have been Luna to one of the most powerful packs in the world. Which meant her true obsession was not rank but Jason himself. The thought made him uncomfortable.
“Alpha?” Garrison approached the desk with a note of anxiousness tempered by confusion and curiosity pulling
Jason from his wandering thoughts.
“Have a seat,” Jason leaned back in his chair. “It has come to my attention…that you were Katrina’s fated mate.”
Garrison paused midway through the motion of sitting. He glanced nervously at Luke and Ben both comfortably seated on the couch before plopping into the chair and answered, “Yes Alpha.”
There was no need to ask how Jason found out. It was no secret Alpha Thomas and Katrina had unexpectedly visited and left just as suddenly. Jason had waited a day to consider what he should do with his recently gained knowledge.
“I won’t ask you about the rejection,” Jason said. “If you wanted to tell us about that you would have by now. What I do want to ask…did your rejection have anything to do with the dangerous assignments you volunteered for?”
Garrison hesitated. Jason wasn’t using his alpha tone so answering was wholly voluntary but he knew better than to lie. With a sigh he said, “I guess.. figured if my mate didn’t want me there wasn’t any reason for me to stay around.”
“And now?”
“The Goddess granted me a second chance,” Garrison said.
“She means everything to me, her and our pup.”
Jason’s mouth twitched with a smile. If not for the fact Phoebe was in his life he would have been jealous. Finally he said, “I wish you would have spoken up sooner. We could have helped, supported you at least. Rejection is no simple thing for a wolf to recover from.”
Garrison nodded. He had been far too embarrassed.
Besides Katrina made it no secret she wanted Jason for her mate. Thankfully Jason hadn’t been interested but it still hurt to compare himself to his own Alpha and find himself lacking.
“What exactly would you have done if I did take Katrina for my mate?”
Luke snorted a laugh and Ben sputtered out his drink exclaiming, “You got to warn someone when you’re going to make a joke like that!”
“Ignore them,” Jason shook his head as Garrison gave him a curious look. “Well?”
“…l kind of assumed I wouldn’t be around by then?”
Jason sighed. He guessed he wasn’t surprised by that answer but he hated to think he could have lost one of his pack members like that. Finally he said, “There is one more thing I need to discuss with you.”
“Alpha?”
“I want to make a special protection detail for Phoebe.
Members of it will be exempt from regular patrol work but they’re training load will be doubled. Their sole concern will be Phoebe’s security both here on pack grounds and when she travels: shopping trips, excursions into the woods, pack meetings, everything.”
Garrison’s interest piqued as soon as Jason mentioned his Luna. He didn’t mind going on patrols but ensuring the Luna’s safety was a major concern. Blue Moon was one of the oldest packs and therefore had a long list of enemies and rivals. As a warrior Garrison didn’t know much about the political landscape of the wolf packs but he knew enough to stay out of it.
“Considering your achievements as well as your training you would make a good choice for the lead position of this detail…”
“Yes Alpha!” Garrison said. His eagerness made Jason raise a brow at his sudden fervor. “I mean, I would gladly accept such an honor.”
I was going to say you are a good choice for squad leader provided your mental state is stable. I don’t want a loose cannon with a death wish guarding my Luna.”
“Of course, Alpha. I promise I would never do anything to endanger the Luna’s life. Would I…could I select my own team?”
Jason considered the request. Originally he planned to choose the warriors himself but it occurred to him Garrison may have better insight. It was the nature of warriors to form bonds of camaraderie with each other and share information with each other that never reached their commanders’ ears. As such Garrison would have a good idea who in the ranks had the most dedication to their Luna as well as who would work best together.
“Yes,” Jason said after a moment. “The detail will consist of six to start. They will also be expected to ensure the safety of our pups…both adopted and…conceived.”
Garrison nodded. He met Blake and Emma when he dropped his own pup at the pack daycare. Despite being orphaned at such a young age both seemed well-adjusted and happy no doubt due to the Luna’s care and attention. It was clear the pups had already firmly won the former luna’s heart as well. Like everyone else, Garrison hadn’t expected Jason to go as far as to officially adopt the orphans but it was nice to see a gentler side to their Alpha.
“Alpha…if I may ask…” Garrison hesitated knowing it was dangerous to question his alpha, “our Luna…you, you won’t reject her, right?”
“What!” Jason snapped growling low. His eyes swirled amber as Lobo pressed forward.
“I don’t mean..it’s just…” Garrison stuttered under the weight of Jason’s aura baring his neck in submission. “I’ve survived a rejection myself so I know..! know what it’s like to have half your soul ripped out from you. No wolf could survive it twice and Luna already has experienced it once…”
Jason struggled to reign in his wolf and forced a breath to calm himself. After a moment he said, “I will never allow Phoebe to feel an ounce of hurt again. Besides, it’s already too late for that.”
Garrison raised a brow. Though Lobo bulked at showing his neck to any wolf Jason pulled back the collar of his shirt to reveal the still fresh mark where his neck and shoulder met. The redness was beginning to fade though it still remained tender to the touch.
“I belong to her now,” Jason said with no trace of irony in his voice.
Garrison briefly met his gaze before bowing. It was the answer he hoped for. After meeting his Luna and speaking with her he recognized a fellow wolf in suffering. He was immediately taken by her caring and gentle soul and could not understand how she was able to survive a rejection. It took strength Garrison didn’t even know existed.
“I want the names of your choices by the end of the week,” Jason said
“Yes sir,” Garrison stood and gave a stiff bow before departing
After the door closed Luke said, “That took balls to question you.”
“It did,” Jason smirked. “His desire to protect his Luna was greater than his fear of me. He just may be the perfect choice.”
Luke and Ben nodded. It seemed a bit much to assign Phoebe her own guard detail but they understood why Jason was so insistent. He wasn’t worried about threats from inside the pack. It was external threats that worried him. Blue Moon had no shortage of rivals eager to take advantage of any misfortune they might suffer. With their marks still fresh his over-protectiveness was in high-drive.
No one would begrudge him this much.
Luke and Ben had been surprised to see the mark on his neck and insisted on another celebration. Now that Jason had settled on Phoebe’s security he felt more inclined to join them.
***
“Here we are,” Phoebe said as she carefully removed the trays from the oven.
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