Chapter 5 Philip Harrington vs. Troy 'Travis' Stanton: The beat to his heart...We move!

***

"Deloris, is it possible to do a location spell?" The alpha of all alphas asked the powerful warlock.

"Piece of cake." The warlock grinned as she leaned in to rub Gloria on the back. "I'll need your blood, Alpha Jeremy." She addressed the Alpha of Alphas. "And yours too, Gloria. Ryan, why don't you go get some sleep?" Deloris asked with a frown. "You look sleepy. Amazing but sleepy."

"Well, there's a reason for that," Jeremy said with a cocky grin, looking at the faces around the table. "Mum, you might want to brace yourself for this one..." He watched as Gloria pulled out of Joel's embrace and locked curious eyes on his. "Ryan is pregnant."

The collective gasp that went up said it all. Everyone in the room, except a grinning Deloris, looked shocked.

"Impossible!" The High Priestess exclaimed, her eyes wide in shock.

"How?" Paige screeched.

"Err... you mean lesbians don't know how babies are..."

"Shut up, Stan." Paige snapped as she turned shocked eyes on Ryan, who considered her his best friend. "What the fuck!" She stared at Ryan.

Philip heard Gloria crying softly and turned to find her with her arms tightly around Ryan. He wasn't surprised at all that one of the strongest...if not the strongest warriors that the Stanwood Pack had ever had, was crying. He could imagine how Gloria felt that very moment. Not only had she found out that her son, who had been presumed dead for sixteen years, was alive, but her son-in-law was pregnant...PREGNANT! Philip started to chuckle but the sound turned into a groan when he felt his eyes shifting.

"Congratulations, Jer." Philip slapped his friend on his back. "I'm damn happy for you. But right now, I need to go for a run." Even his voice didn't sound human. "But before I go, there's something I need all of you to do for me." Philip addressed the people gathered. "Let's keep the fact that I've found my mate, between us." He said grimly. "The last thing I want is to bring Travis into the middle of a war or an ambush by my exes." He glanced from one face to the other, the warning in his eyes clear.

"Of course we won't tell, boss," Stan responded quickly with an amused smirk. "But I must admit I can't wait to see your numerous women togeth..."

"Shut up, Stanislav," Jeremy muttered as he tried to stifle his own grin.

Since Philip was an alpha, his lovers and former lovers were bound to attack his mate as soon as they got any hint that he'd found his mate. That happened whenever an alpha found his mate. Werewolves he'd ever been with would have an uncontrollable urge to show exactly why they would be more suitable as the alpha's partner than his mate. Since an alpha needed a strong mate to help him rule, his lovers instinctively tried to prove that they were stronger than the mate and must be taken instead, by attacking the mate and defeating them. It was a wolf thing. Only individuals with extreme self-control could curb that urge.

"Those bitches of yours had better not touch my son." Gloria Stanton's voice was low but lethal. "If they so much as attempt, they won't live to tell their story."

"That's what I'm talking about." Paige gave a fist pump as Stan gave a piercing whistle.

"I suggest the mating ceremony between you two take place immediately after you bring Travis home." The High Priestess said. "That should take care of all those silly attacks."

"That's a great idea." Philip nodded.

"Oooh somebody wants some..." Stan drawled, earning himself a finger from Philip.

"Deloris, is Cami going to be a problem?" Philip asked quietly. He and Deloris' daughter, Camille, had hooked up once under very...uncontrollable circumstances, thanks to Jeremy and Ryan. The last thing Philip wanted was to have problems with the warlock's daughter.

"You have nothing to worry about, Alpha." Deloris chuckled. "Apart from the fact that she had to learn her lesson the hard way, what happened between the two of you was a mistake."

"Good. Now, about finding Travis..."

"I'm on it, Alpha." The warlock got to her feet. "We leave tomorrow...at ten a.m."

"Good. See you later." With that, Philip made a beeline for the balcony even as he stripped out of his jeans. Then the alpha of Stanwood Pack jumped from the eleventh floor, where the meeting was being held. By the time he got to the ground below, he was not human but a huge grey wolf.

**

Now, it was time to go and bring his mate from wherever he was. And like every other person who knew what they were about to do, Philip couldn't contain the overwhelming emotions inside. It almost felt as if they were restoring something very important. Not only was Travis his mate, but he was also like an heir to a 'throne' because like Jeremy, his father used to be the alpha of Stanwood Pack. Although Philip was still getting used to the fact that his mate was a male, he had no intention of making a fuss over it. He remembered what had happened to Jeremy when he had objected to Luna's choice of a mate for him. His friend had ended up in purgatory to serve time as punishment. Philip sure as hell didn't want any such problem. Who wanted to end up in purgatory?

Philip, Deloris, Jeremy, and Gloria disappeared from the packhouse to a shout of 'happy hunting' from Paige. The Alpha of Stanwood Pack smiled despite himself.

It was time to find and bring home their long-lost pack member, brother, son, and Alpha's mate.