The Alpha's Secret Mate Chapter 16: Beneath the Surface

Mabel's pov

The eldest elder spoke again, his voice grave and serious. "I'm afraid we cannot allow you to be our luna, as you do not have a wolf. Our pack laws are very clear on this matter, and we must abide by them. I apologize for any disappointment this may cause you." I felt my heart sink, and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I knew this was a possibility, but it still hurt to hear it out loud. I tried to keep my composure, but it was a struggle.

I watched as the elders settled into their seats, and then one of them turned to me and said, "You may leave now, we will discuss matters with Alpha Adam." I felt my heart sink, but before I could move, I heard a firm voice say, "No, she stays." I turned to see that it was Adam, his eyes blazing with anger. He looked at the elders and said, "My mate has as much right to be here as I do. You will not dismiss her from this room." The elders were taken aback by his words, but they did not argue.

The eldest of the elders turned to Adam, his expression serious. "You must understand, Alpha Adam, that it is for the best if your mate leaves the room. We need to discuss matters of importance, and she is not privy to these matters." But Adam shook his head, his jaw set. "I will not allow you to speak of her as if she is unimportant. She is my mate, and she will be part of this pack. She has a right to know what we discuss." I looked at him in awe, amazed by his conviction.

As Adam took my hand, I felt a rush of gratitude. He was standing up for me, and he was not backing down. I followed him out of the room, and we walked through the pack hallways in silence. I could feel the stares of the pack members, and I knew that they were surprised by what had just happened. But Adam walked with his head held high, his grip on my hand firm. He led me out of the pack house, and we stood outside, breathing in the fresh air.

As we stood there, I turned to Adam and asked, "Why did you do that? Why did you stand up for me like that?" He turned to look at me, his eyes filled with emotion. "Because you are important to me, and I won't let anyone treat you as if you are not. You are my mate, and you will be treated with the respect that you deserve." I felt my heart swell, and I reached up to touch his face. He leaned into my touch, and I felt a connection between us that was unlike anything I had ever felt before.

Adam led me to a secluded area behind the building. I followed him curiously, and I was surprised when he stopped in front of a door that was set into the ground. He punched in a code, and the door opened to reveal a staircase leading down into the darkness. He gestured for me to follow him, and I took a deep breath before stepping into the unknown. I followed him down the stairs, and I was amazed by what I saw.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw that we were in an underground garage. But it wasn't like any garage I had ever seen before. There were rows and rows of luxury cars, each one more impressive than the last. I saw sports cars, sedans, and even a few SUVs. But the car that caught my eye was a sleek black sports car that was parked in the center of the garage. It was unlike any car I had ever seen, and I could tell that it was worth more than I could ever imagine. "Wow," I said, unable to take my eyes off the car.

"This is my personal collection," Adam said, his voice tinged with pride. "And that car over there," he said, pointing to the sleek black sports car, "is my pride and joy." He walked over to the car and ran his hand over the hood. "She's a Ferrari LaFerrari, and she's one of the rarest cars in the world. There are only 500 of them, and I'm lucky enough to own one." I was in awe of the car, but even more so of the man standing in front of me.

"I'm impressed," I said, not sure what else to say. "You must have worked hard to get where you are." He smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I have worked hard, but I haven't always been a successful businessman. Being and Alpha and keeping the position isn't also very easy, But I never gave up, and I never stopped working towards my goal." He paused, lost in thought. "I had a lot of help along the way, and I'm grateful to everyone who has helped me get to where I am today."

"But there was one person who believed in me when no one else did," he said, his voice growing quiet. "My mother. She passed away a few years ago, but her memory is still with me every day. She was the one who always told me to follow my dreams, no matter what anyone else said." He looked down at the floor, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I owe everything to her, and I will always be grateful for the love and support she gave me." I felt a lump in my throat, and I reached out to put my hand on his shoulder.

He looked up at me, a grateful smile on his face. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Your kindness means a lot to me." I smiled back at him, understanding his pain. "You're welcome," I said. "I'm glad to be here for you, in whatever way I can be." He looked at me for a moment, and then he said, "Would you like to take a drive?" I hesitated for a moment, and then I said, "Yes. I'd love to." He took my hand and led me to the Ferrari, opening the door for me.