Chapter 98: The Unraveling

Bradley POV

I took a shower, and when all three of us were decent, James and I opened our mind links. We were immediately flooded with trivial matters from our men, questions about schedules, supply requests, minor disputes that seemed to have piled up in our absence. It was soon sorted, though the sheer volume reminded me how much I’d neglected in the chaos of the past few days. I tried to reach Sam, but his link was still closed. A flicker of unease settled in my chest. I instead reached Martha and asked that she visit me as soon as she could. She agreed, her tone clipped in a way that told me she had plenty to say. I turned my attention to turning on my phone. After the notifications stopped, I searched for any new information from my Beta, but there was nothing urgent. I closed it and scratched my chin, wondering what was up with him. Sam was never one to go quiet, not without reason. Maybe I should give him a month-long vacation; after all this chaos, he deserved it, but only after my pup was born.

Soon Martha appeared, and it looked like the woman had aged ten years. Deep circles shadowed her eyes, and her usually immaculate blouse was wrinkled, as though she’d slept in it or not slept at all. She stormed in and slammed the door, a very un-Martha thing to do. "I demand a raise and two extra weeks’ vacation. No, an extra month’s vacation after I’d had to clean up the mess you and your men caused. And let’s not add the strange duo who appeared out of thin air and caused so much damage to the hotel that we are kindly asked to never visit their establishment ever again."

Martha informed me of all that took place, her words tumbling out in an exasperated rush. Thankfully, the damages were more cosmetic than structural, and she had already compensated the hotel and the staff with hefty checks. The total amount could have bought a small island, but considering that I technically own five, it doesn’t matter. Still, I made a mental note to thank her properly once things settled; she’d carried a weight today that wasn’t hers to bear.

"I already informed Sam that transportation arrangements were made and we were just waiting for the Luna to wake." She turned to Trishelle, who sat, glowing, in one of the recliners in the room, her hands folded gently over her belly. "Luna, are you feeling up to travel? Do you want Dr. Lorenzo to give you a final check before we leave?"

Trishelle closed her eyes, communicating with El, a small, private smile touching her lips as though she found comfort in the exchange. "I feel fine, Martha, but if it will make my mates comfortable, I have no problem having a visit with Lorenzo."

Martha nodded, reaching for her phone to contact the pilot, when it fell out of her hand, clattering against the floor. "Mates?" she screeched, her voice higher than I had ever heard in my life. "What do you mean, mates? As in plural? More than one?" She turned to me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Please, Alpha, tell me that she is joking. She hasn’t fooled you into accepting something taboo like this, right? You know wolves only have one mate, unless they’re multiples, but you are an only child."

I placed my hands on my secretary’s shoulders, feeling the tremor running through them. "Take a deep breath, Martha. Come on, inhale." I helped her with breathing until she was calmer, her shoulders slowly loosening beneath my palms. "Yes, she meant mates, plural. No, I don’t have a problem with it. Yes, her other mate is James."

When she wanted to protest, I smiled and kissed her temple like the aunt that she always felt like, especially in times like this. "I promise that we will explain everything to you and the packs, but for right now, we would prefer if Lorenzo came and gave her the all-clear for her to travel."

Martha took in a deep breath and straightened her shoulders, composing herself with visible effort. "Of course, Alpha, please forgive me for my unprofessional response." She turned to Trishelle, her expression softening into something more contrite. "Luna, I apologise if anything I said made you feel uncomfortable."

Trishelle smiled and shook her head, warmth radiating from her despite the tension in the room. "I know you are just looking out for Bradley, just like family, and my only hope is that one day you will look out for me and our pup the same way."

The two women smiled at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between them, and, with one final look at me, Martha left.

James stood from the bed and walked over to Trishelle. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, lingering a moment longer than necessary, as though reluctant to leave her side even briefly. "I’m going to check on my wolves and then I’m coming right back."

She smiled at him, and James left. I checked my phone again as Sam’s link was still closed, the silence gnawing at the edges of my patience. I reached out to some of my men to inquire about him, but they all said that he had gone to his room and no one had heard from him since.

Just as I was thinking of asking someone to check on him, there was a knock on the door, and Lorenzo poked his head in, his expression already shifting into professional focus. He greeted his Alpha, and when his eyes landed on Trishelle, the observant scientist in him knew that something had changed. He stepped closer, his mate and assistant Nicole by his side, her notepad already in hand.

"Luna, Martha said that you wanted a quick check-up to ensure it was safe for you to fly."

She nodded and got up, lying on the bed as Lorenzo indicated. He took out his tools from his bag and gave Trishelle a thorough check, his brow furrowing in concentration as he worked. He marveled at the health of the pup as it felt like he or she had grown in a short matter of time. When he was finished, he looked at both Trishelle and me, something like wonder flickering across his face.

"Everything is fine, in fact, better than fine. I was a bit worried about the slow growth of the pup, but I thought that it was because you were an Omega, but right now, this pup looks like it will definitely be an Alpha." He smiled at the thought of helping bring his future Alpha into the world, pride mingling with curiosity in his eyes. "However, it seemed that something had changed."

Trishelle and I looked at each other and smiled, a silent conversation passing between us that needed no words. "It sure has, and we will tell you and the pack all about it when we get back, but for right now, we have worn out our welcome, and I’m sure that if it wasn’t for the fact that we had a pregnant woman AND the healthy checks Martha gave the hotel, we would have been escorted out of the hotel, so is it okay for her to fly?"

Lorenzo nodded as he packed his bag, still glancing curiously at Trishelle as though trying to solve a puzzle. I smiled and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Great, you guys should get ready to head to the airport. All the arrangements have been made."

As Lorenzo opened the door, I stopped him, a knot of worry tightening in my stomach. "Have you seen or heard from Sam?"

The doctor just shook his head, his brow creasing with concern of his own, and I let him go. Now I was starting to get worried; it was not like my Beta to just disappear, yet my wolf assured me that he was not far, a strange, insistent calm threading through the unease.

Trishelle watched as I paced the floor, concern in my eyes. She reached out for El, who gave her some instructions, her expression growing distant for a moment as she listened to something only she could hear. She awkwardly stood, her belly feeling heavier than it had a while ago, but El assured her it was due to her power’s effect on the baby, and it was fine.

Trishelle walked to me, cupping my face, her touch grounding me instantly. "Let us help you. I need you to focus on Sam, some of your best memories, and keep him in focus."

As she spoke, her eyes glowed before she closed them, and using El’s power, she scanned the building for Sam, her breathing slow and measured with concentration.

Soon she found him, and what she felt made her smile, a genuine, delighted smile that eased some of my worry before she even spoke. She opened her eyes and kissed me on my cheek. "He’s fine, better than fine, and soon he will let you know all about it."

James walked in at that moment, and after confirming that she was fine, they all got busy packing their stuff, getting ready to return home. Trishelle wasn’t sure how the two packs would take the news of her being mated to the two Alphas, considering how they were literally at each other’s throats not long ago, but El calmed her, murmuring something reassuring in the back of her mind. She just shrugged and glanced at her men; she knew that no matter what, she had them and the love they shared, and that would have to be enough to weather whatever storm awaited them.

James POV

We headed downstairs, our bags already sent to the airport ahead of us. A few men were milling around, and these would act as our security detail, their postures alert despite the early hour. Martha joined us a few minutes later, a checklist in hand, her earlier composure fully restored. Everybody was accounted for, except for Sam.

Bradley pushed at the link again and felt a stir, the faintest response after hours of silence. Before he could push again, I nudged him, and when he looked at me, I nodded at the stairs. Bradley turned, and his mouth opened then tightened.

There was Sam coming down the stairs, holding the strange woman in his arms like some damn knight in shining armor. The way he held her was so possessive that Bradley was surprised, considering that Sam had never taken any interest in females before and even if he did, it was always wolves. The big man who appeared with her walked behind him, holding his bags, his expression carefully neutral despite the obvious tension radiating from Sam.

Bradley stepped forward, ready to scold his Beta for being out of communication, but as he approached, Sam snarled at Bradley, causing him to stop mid-stride. He noticed how Sam’s hold got tighter yet remained gentle on the sleeping woman, a contradiction that spoke volumes. He looked at Sam and the woman and then at the guy who Martha mind-linked him was her brother, and then it clicked: this was his mate.

Bradley could have slapped himself. How did he not recognize that his Beta found his mate? He raised his hands to let Sam know that he was not a threat, but unleashed some of his Alpha aura, a firm yet gentle reminder of hierarchy.

Sam soon relaxed a bit and shook his head as though coming out of a trance, blinking rapidly. "Sorry, Alpha, I forgot my place for a moment."

Bradley just shook his head, remembering how he felt when he first held Trishelle in his arms. To him at that moment, every male over the age of eight felt like a threat, an irrational, consuming instinct that had taken weeks to fully temper. "It’s fine, Beta, but I expect a full report when we get back." He stepped back to allow him to join the others. "So... she’s your mate?" he asked, nodding at the sleeping woman curled in his arms.

Sam’s smile was all he needed to know, a slow, unguarded thing that transformed his usually stoic face. "I’m happy for you, my friend. It is a blessing when our mate comes into our lives. Trust me, life will never be the same," Bradley said, looking at Trishelle as she laughed at something I’d said to her, the sound bright and unburdened. I couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through my chest at the sight of her happy, even with everything we were about to face.

I didn’t know how it would work out for us all, but I knew we were all going to do our very best.

Soon Martha waved, letting Bradley know that their ride was ready. With a nod at the manager of the hotel, who came to see them off with a pinched face, we left the hotel. Bradley had to remind Martha that when they got back to look for a new place, yet, he didn’t think he would be leaving the pack any time soon, a small joke that earned him a tired but genuine laugh from his secretary.

We made it to the airport, and with a final check, we were soon on our way back to Bloodmoon and Goldmoon territories. Trishelle sat between both Bradley and me, and one held her hand as the other stroked her belly. The calming movements soon put her to sleep, her breathing evening out into something peaceful.

I looked out the window, marveling at how much my life had changed in such a short span of time. I didn’t know if my pack would accept the fact that Trishelle was mated to us both, but if they did, I had already made up my mind that I would renounce my Alpha position and join Goldmoon. Even if I didn’t have a position, once I had my mate and my pup, I knew I would be content. The thought no longer frightened me the way it once might have; it felt, instead, like clarity.

Bradley had similar thoughts, knowing that even without the Title, he could still take care of both her and the pup. He was a successful businessman in his own right, and there were several homes in his name as private assets, not part of the pack. He’d built a life beyond the Alpha title long ago, though he’d never imagined needing it as a fallback until now.

The two of us looked at each other, feeling as if there was a bond growing between us as well, like that of brothers forged not by blood but by shared devotion. We both looked at our sleeping mate, smiles on our faces, and then faced each other. With a nod, we both silently agreed that no matter what came, Trishelle and the pup were our priority and we would give up everything to protect them and be with them.

With this vow made, both men looked at the woman between them and smiled.

Things were definitely going to be different from now on.

**Trishelle POV**

I woke up to the gentle hum of the helicopter, my head resting on Bradley’s shoulder while James’s hand was protectively placed on my stomach. The memories of the past few days flooded my mind, but for the first time, there was no confusion, no guilt - just clarity, settling over me like a warm blanket.

"Morning, sleepyhead," James whispered, noticing I was awake, a teasing lilt in his voice. "Or should I say afternoon? We’ll be landing soon."

I stretched as much as I could with my growing belly, a small groan escaping me. "How long was I out?"

"A few hours," Bradley answered, his voice warm, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of my hand. "You needed the rest."

I looked between them, seeing the silent understanding that had developed between the two Alphas who had been enemies not long ago, and my chest tightened with something like hope. "Have you two talked about what happens next?"

James and Bradley exchanged a look, one of those wordless conversations they seemed to have perfected in recent days. "We have," Bradley said. "Your safety and happiness come first. Whatever it takes."

My heart swelled with emotion, but El’s voice in my mind reminded me of the challenges ahead. *The packs won’t accept this easily,* she warned, her tone gentle but firm. *Tradition runs deep.*

*Then we’ll show them a new tradition,* I thought back, steadying myself with the conviction behind the words.

As the helicopter began its descent, I could see two dist