My Irritation
Jayce
Leaving her there was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. She’s in so much pain, and it just doesn’t feel like my anger, hurt and fears are worth seeing her like that.
But it’s too fucking late; there is no way I will fuck her while she’s in heat. She’ll hate that, and it would do nothing but cause more harm between our already fractured relationship.
So, I turned and left.
Grandma is keeping me updated on how Sienna is, even though I didn’t ask her to. And I may not admit it out loud, but I appreciate it.
My restlessness and my attempts to control my wolf are getting harder with every passing second.
Every unmated wolf is to stay at least a mile’s radius away from the Westwood Mansion. That is an order.
Those had been the words I sent to every single pack member, and then also as a text to Uncle Damon, to let his pack members know as well in case any did come this way.
I don’t know how long it’s been since I came out here; my phone is dead. Night has fallen, though.
I should return home, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself. I hesitate, fearing what I might do.
I should be able to control myself, but what if I’m unable to? That doubt is enough to keep me away from the house.
I drop to the ground, needing a minute. I double over, breathing hard. The drakaths are back, and the attacks are intensifying, as if my own turmoil is fuelling them to become stronger.
I’m just sitting here trying to ground myself when I see a figure moving through the trees. Frowning, I turn, masking my presence completely the moment I recognise the slim figure.
Katara?
She doesn’t want to be seen; the way she’s jogging along and keeps looking over her shoulder makes all my senses rise.
Where is she headed?
Silently, I stand up and begin following her, keeping to the shadows as she heads to the edge of the pack. She slows down and casually walks out through the gates, waving at the guards as if it’s completely ok for her to be out here.
She played it smooth, too; her being casual about it doesn’t trigger any of them.
“Meeting Ares?” one of the guards says.
She nods, holding up her phone, and the man reads it and nods.
“Alright, take care,” he says. I frown as I watch her exit the gate. She’s dressed in an oversized hoodie and pants, something that is not her style, and she’s carrying a duffel bag.
Once she’s past the gates, I give it a moment for her to disappear out of sight before I quietly follow, flinching as a drakath guts me.
It’s not real, Jayce, remember that.
“What did her text say?” I ask the guard, who startles when he sees me, clearly not sensing my arrival.
“He’s meeting her just past the first marker for a movie,” he answers.
I nod, frowning.
She definitely isn’t meeting Ares, but to pick Ares was smart; he doesn’t text anyone much, so there wouldn’t be much of a chance of getting caught.
She’s definitely our sister. We’ve snuck out more times than one can count.
I catch her scent quickly as I walk through the woods. It’s a minute later when I hear the sound of a car engine, and then a door shutting and a car driving off.
I frown, not wanting to risk losing her. I quickly undress and shift, grab my clothes in my mouth and follow the car.
Twenty minutes later, she’s stopping outside a club, and I’m fucking drained.
My wolf wants to get back to Sienna, and I almost believed the drakaths were here.
Anger ripples through me when I spot what she’s wearing the moment she gets out of the taxi.
She’s no longer in sweatpants or a hoodie but a tiny, glittery dress, wearing so much makeup she’s barely recognisable.
I watch as she pays the driver before she looks around and then walks over to a car with a punctured wheel.
Shoving her duffel bag beneath it, she struts towards the club, swinging her small sparkly handbag.
It’s as if I don’t even know her. It’s hard to think this is the same girl who would want me to order her something online, and here she is heading out to clubs, knowing how fucking dangerous it is out here.
What if the Indomitable find her? She has ties to so many of us. Her carelessness could cost her and many of us dearly.
I shift back and pull on my clothes, gritting my teeth as I try not to stagger. I frown, wishing I didn’t feel so fucking weak.
She stops at the door, her phone to her ear, and I hear her giggle at something before she flashes an ID and passes the bouncer.
I haven’t got my wallet; I’ll have to find another way in. I scan the building; it’s heavily guarded. I then turn to the people coming towards the club. One of them will be my ticket in.
It’s a few minutes later when I spot a woman on her own. I walk towards her, shoving my hands into my pockets and forcing my best smile.
“Hey, I have a bit of a dilemma. I forgot my wallet at home. Mind if you pay for my entry? I promise to make up for it later?” I wink at her suggestively, an easy smile on my face.
She hesitates, but the way her eyes run over me appreciatively, I know I have her. I force myself to smirk and run my eyes over her, making sure she notices. It does the job; she blushes and nods.
“Sure, you can pay me back later.”
“Deal,” I say smoothly as I place my arm around her shoulders as we walk towards the bouncer. The bass from the club makes the ground vibrate slightly beneath our feet as we get closer to the entrance.
The bouncer barely spares us a glance before waving us through. She smiles up at me, and I can’t help but notice how cakey her makeup looks. But right now, she’s paying my way in; I don’t have much of an option.
Once we’re inside, it’s hard not to notice the air is thick with perfume, alcohol, sweat, and cigarette smoke clinging to everything. Lights strobe across the packed dance floor, cutting through the dark in sharp flashes of colour, and the music pounds hard enough to rattle through my chest.
For a second, it’s too much.
Focus.
I turn to the woman. “What’s your name?” I ask her.
“Hilary, yours?” She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, smiling flirtatiously. My wolf rears his head, making his disapproval known.
Relax, it’s not as if I’m interested in her.
“Dustin,” I answer smoothly, saying the first name that crosses my mind. “I’ll go get us a drink. What would you like?”
“I’ll have a dirty martini, Dustin,” she says my name with a smug smirk as she leans closer, and I realise I’m getting attention from others.
I don’t have time for this shit; I need to find Katara. “Alright, you go dance; I’ll catch up to you in a bit.”
“Alright,” she says with a forced pout before she walks off. I slip through the crowds, trying to filter out Katara’s scent from amongst the hundreds of other smells around me.
It doesn’t take me long to pinpoint her. She has her arms around some dude, dancing way too close, a glass of alcohol held loosely in her hand. My eyes flash, rage flaring through me as I push through the crowd, and I grab her arm, ripping her off the guy.
Her glass shatters to the ground, and the man startles, stepping back, his eyes widening. He isn’t much older than her, maybe eighteen at the most.
“Jayce, what are you doing here?” Katara asks as she almost loses her balance. The smell of alcohol and the distinct smell of chemicals make my eyes narrow. Did she take drugs?
Some people look our way but soon ignore it, returning to their dancing.
“What have you had?” I ask quietly before turning to the boy. “She shouldn’t have gotten so tipsy so fast.”
Fear flashes through his eyes, and I realise he isn’t a werewolf. “I… We smoked a bit… Look, we’re just friends.”
“He’s my boyfriend,” Katara corrects. I look at the boy, anger rippling through me. I don’t like the look of him; he looks like a fucking junkie.
“Not anymore,” I snarl. “Stay the fuck away from my sister.”
“YOU DON’T GET TO DECIDE WHO I DATE!” Katara screams as she shoves me. She hasn’t got much force in her, but in my weakened state, she manages to get me to take a step back.
“We aren’t discussing this here. She’s fifteen, so she shouldn’t be here and definitely not with you,” I snarl at the boy. He shrugs, and it fucking irritates me that he seems to clearly know that.
“She’s old enough to make her own decisions, bro!” He moves forward as if ready to pull her away from me, but I grab him by the scuff of his jacket and lift him off the ground.
“Stay the fuck away from my sister,” I threaten before I drop him. “Consider this my first and last warning.”
“Jayce, you don’t get to decide that!” Katara shrieks. We’re drawing even more attention, and the drakaths’ screams are making my head pound. It’s getting worse. We need to get out of here.
“Dustin?” the woman who had helped me enter the club steps forward, confused. “Who is she?”
“Sorry, but I only came in here to get my sister.” I take Katara’s bag from her and, finding her purse, open it to find that she has some cash. I pull out the entrance fee and hold it out to the woman. “Sorry for using you.”
She looks upset, taking the money before she shakes her head and walks off. I look back at Katara, who is livid. She’s staring at the boy, who shakes his head, helpless.
“Jayce, I swear you better let me go!” she screams, her eyes blurring with tears as I drag her out of the club.
I’m about to fucking lose my shit when her next words make me stop. “I don’t want to go home! I don’t want to go back to the memories!”
I stare down at her, my heart thudding as she breaks into tears.
Sighing, I pull her into my arms, holding her tightly, and see that the boy has followed us. I glare at him. “Get the fuck out of here,” I say coldly, trying to control my rage.
He backs away, pale, before he turns and jogs off. I look down at Katara, kissing the top of her head as I rub her back while she cries her heart out.
She needs help, someone to talk to; she’s not coping well. Sienna was right.
I’ll talk to Grandma and Dad, see what they advise as soon as I can.
“Let’s go home,” I say quietly as I lead her away from the club.
“I’m sorry… I just… I don’t want to be home anymore,” she whispers when we walk into the trees. I’m not strong enough to carry her home.
“Maybe going to Aunty Kiara’s for a bit might help, or to Azura’s?” I suggest quietly.
She shrugs. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You are not a burden, Katara; you never were,” I say firmly. “Give me your phone. I’ll book us a taxi.”
“I’ll do it,” she mumbles, clutching her phone tightly.
I frown, but say nothing. We’ll talk about her clothes and her so-called boyfriend when she’s sobered up, and I feel better enough to think straight.
She’s fallen asleep by the time we reach home, and the taxi driver drops us a good mile away from home.
I mind-link someone to bring some money for the ride before I carry her the rest of the way.
Upon reaching the gates, I pass her over to one of the mated guards, ordering him to assist her home as I walk beside them.
Dad, are you home? I ask through the mind-link as we near the mansion.
Not yet. What’s wrong? he asks, concern clear in his voice. He’s probably still at the packhouse dealing with his duties; with all the extra stuff he has to do, work piles up fast.
We’ll talk when you’re home or tomorrow. It’s not that important, I say quietly.
Are you sure? Mom told me Sienna’s in heat. How are you holding up?
How do I tell him it’s fucking hard?
It’s always hard to see the person you love going through something that causes them pain. I know it’s hard on one’s self-control, but it’s not about you, but her. Be by her side, even if it’s just to hold her hand.
Thanks, I say simply.
He understands, and he’s right; I should be there. We reach the front door, and my wolf is already on edge, but we’re both severely weakened.
“Katara. What is going on?” Grandma asks the moment she opens the door and steps forward to take her from the guard.
“She was at a club; we need to get her help,” I say quietly. “How is Sienna?”
“She’s not doing so well. I checked in on her 20 minutes ago, but I’m going to go again…” Her voice fades away as a sudden wave of foreboding washes through me.
I stiffen as I brush past her, racing up the steps and down the hall to the bathroom.
I shove open the door, my heart almost stopping when I see her submerged beneath the water, eyes shut and barely breathing.
Time stands still as fear and panic flood through me. I’m by the bath in an instant, lifting her from the tub. My heart hammers at the sight of her blue lips.
Lightning flashes outside.
“Sienna!” I shout, my voice drowned out by the roaring thunder that splits the sky.