Chapter 9 - Jace
The Burgess alphas gave us permission to camp on their territory, provided we met with them before entry. We met them at the border and exchanged pleasantries, during which Alpha Franco bowed to Jasmine.
“We’ve heard about your marriage to these four. I hope congratulations are in order,” he said to her.
I resisted the urge to push him away from her. It wasn’t like he was too close, even though I felt like he was. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Franco shrugged and grinned broadly. “Only that a poor omega pushed into marriage with you four assholes might consider condolences more appropriate.”
Renz laughed while the other Burgess alphas gave Franco annoyed looks.
Owen worked not to scowl while Killian’s lips twitched, like he wasn’t sure whether to be amused to or push the famous womanizer away from our wife.
Killian was the most like Franco in our group, having quite a reputation among women.
He hadn’t given any indication that being married put a crimp in his style, but neither had he shown interest in women since the wedding.
Yeah, not much time had gone by, but I suddenly wondered what he felt about all of it. He seemed to be oddly easy-going about the whole situation.
“Franco,” Alpha Mads said chidingly. “How about we don’t insult our allies?”’
Franco shrugged. “Just trying to lighten the mood.”
The conversation from there was brief, and we continued on.
We drove to the base of a trail, then from there got our gear and hauled it up to the side of a small lake.
Since we had so much gear, we went in human form.
By the time we got to our camping spot, Jasmine was visibly exhausted, though she didn’t offer a word of complaint.
From there, we set up camp quickly. One tent, in which we put Jasmine’s things.
The rest of us were used to camping more ruggedly.
We each had a bedroll, and Renz brought a hammock that he strung between two trees.
We’d brought some fishing gear, a folding table, and chairs because we thought it would be more comfortable for Jasmine.
Once things were set up, the discomfort became even more apparent. We all sort of milled around, uncertain what to do.
“You like plants and stuff, right?” Killian finally said to Jasmine.
“Yeah. I like gardening.”
“What do you think about foraging?” he suggested.
Jasmine looked around at the trees. “I don’t really know how.”
He extended a hand to her. “I’ll show you.”
They headed off together, though they didn’t stray far. As I watched them, I thought about the conversation I overheard the previous night. When Killian hadn’t brought Jasmine back right away, I followed them outside, expecting to find them fighting. Instead, I heard Jasmine make her confession.
We were all so concerned about whether or not we could trust her; I hadn’t once considered whether she could trust us.
The question of it sank in deep, making me uncomfortable. Could she trust us? We wouldn’t harm her, not physically, at least. Even Owen wasn’t so blinded by his emotions to do something like that. Emotionally, though, there was another question. We had been cruel to her. Unnecessarily cruel.
If we were going to make this work, we had to address the past. We had to figure out how to get over it.
Since nobody else seemed to be very interested in pulling off that bandage, it was up to me.
Owen wasn’t going to be happy about it, but maybe if we laid things bare, he’d stop growling and snapping at Jasmine constantly.
At least, I hoped that's how it would go.
“I would like to have a discussion,” I announced as I set up the table. “Can we all gather, please?”
Killian and Jasmine, who had found a spot of horsetails near the water, looked over and made their way back.
Owen slumped into his chair, his expression softer than it had been in quite a while.
Renz grabbed a pack of cards and tossed them onto the table.
When I gave him a look, he shrugged as though to say, “Just in case.”
Once we were all seated, I found myself at a loss for words. Admitting mistakes wasn’t easy for me. As an alpha, I felt like—
Hmm. I should have been saying this out loud.
“As an Alpha, I feel like I should always be confident in my decisions. Making mistakes doesn’t feel like an option,” I said, the words feeling strange on my tongue. “But I also believe that there are many times when admitting mistakes is necessary. And so I want to do that.”
I didn’t want to look at them, so I looked at the lake instead.
It was really more of a pond, with clear water that glistened in the cool spring afternoon.
Plants had come bursting to life all around it, seemingly further into their summer readiness than the ones in our territory.
Even the air felt lighter. The Burgess territory really was clear of the darkness that threatened Tyrell.
“I don’t know how to apologize for the past,” I said at length.
I was surprised that they let me sit in silence for so long.
“At the time, it felt like the natural thing to do. Omegas were the enemy. And you were more of an enemy than anyone else. It was wrong. I regret our behavior, mine in particular. I wish things had happened differently.”
Finally, I turned my gaze to Jasmine. Her liquid black eyes were wide, mouth slightly open. Her cheeks were slightly colored.
I stared at her, waiting for her to speak.
“So…you’re sorry for how you treated me?” she asked, voice hushed.
“I…yes. I’m sorry,” I said, the word like a strange marble on my tongue.
Jasmine leaned back in her chair. “I’m not sure how to respond. I’m not sure I really believe you. I want to. I want to believe all those of you who have apologized.”
I nodded once. She wasn’t accusing us of lying, which was a start. “I want to take this time for us to get to know each other, so that you’ll understand that we are genuine.”
Though she did say, ‘those of you who have apologized.’ I had a feeling I knew who hadn’t.
“You’ll be surprised to know that I was the most rebellious of us growing up,” Renz said, chuckling.
“I used to get into all sorts of trouble, but Killian was usually there to pull me out of it. Owen and Jace were always straitlaced and never let us have any fun, but sometimes I could convince Killian to help me with my adventures.”
Jasmine turned toward him. “What sort of adventures? I never heard anything about you getting into trouble.”
Renz launched into a story of when he had decided to become a hermit in the woods.
He’d stolen a carton of eggs from the grocery store, then found a place in the woods to bury them, intending that they would end up as his food store.
After he ‘ran away’ a week later, Killian found him just in time to stop him from eating said eggs.
“Then he told Owen, and Owen made me confess to the store and pay them back,” he concluded, shaking his head with an exaggerated sigh. “And that was the end of my hermit dreams.”
“Lucky you have such good friends, then,” Jasmine said.
I took the opportunity and leaned forward. “And you? What friends do you have?”
If we could find out more about her, maybe Owen would trust her more. But even as I asked, the guardedness came back to her face. She dropped her gaze to the table and lifted one shoulder. Killiam cleared his throat, but before he could speak, Owen did.
“What about the Omega in the trailer park with the twins? The one you gave flowers and tea?” he asked gruffly.
Jasmine’s head shot up. “How did you know about that?”
Owen coughed. “Followed you. So, who is she? She seemed like a friend, but also like she didn’t want to be seen talking to you.”
Jasmine stared at him for a long moment.
“She’s the one whose job you asked me to look into, right?” Killian probed gently.
“Yes. Her name is Olivia. She’s one of the outcasts, too.
But not as much as me. She was able to get hired and keep a job.
Most of the omegas in the trailer park were friendly toward me, but they couldn’t really be friends, not the way you four are.
It’s always been a thing that if I get too close to someone, my bad luck rubs off on them,” she said, her voice low.
I winced. “You mean since we bullied you, your friends ended up as targets as well?”
Jasmine gave me a stiff smile. “Since you want to put things bluntly. Yes.”
“So, you haven’t had anyone?” Renz asked.
“It’s not like I was completely alone. Like Olivia, I’d say we’re friends. She’s helped me in some difficult situations. The others have, too. I haven’t been completely shunned by the entire pack. It has been more difficult since my grandmother passed away,” she admitted.
Owen shifted in his seat, his jaw tightening. I thought it was a good thing for him to hear her story. It was good for all of us to know how our behavior had affected her. To know the true cost of the harm we had caused.
Killian took her hand and squeezed lightly. “You were raised by your grandmother, weren’t you?”
“I was.” Jasmine’s face lit up with a smile.
“She was the best. We didn’t have a lot, but she always made sure to make me feel like I was special.
We used to work in the gardens together, and even when she was tired, she insisted that we work in the community garden every day.
She said since we didn’t have much to share, we should share our time and knowledge.
I learned everything about plant care and herbs from her, and she—”
“Was a thief,” Owen burst out.
We all jumped. Owen glared at Jasmine, his hands bunched into fists as he leaned forward. “Your grandmother was a liar and a thief. She stole valuable property from my father and framed him for crimes he didn’t commit. She was your typical omega, and you’re just like her.”
A stunned silence fell. I stared at him, not knowing what he was talking about, nor how to respond. What did he mean by that? What exactly had her grandmother done?
Renz got to his feet slowly, glaring at Owen. “You’re such an asshole.”