Chapter 2 - Janella #2
I snorted. “You mean the pack that I left four years ago? I don’t think there is anything you can say that will get my attention or have me care.”
I watched his jaw grind together, but I didn’t let his irritation get the better of me.
The past me would have stumbled for her words, but the person I was today was not so inclined.
I hadn’t just spent four years putting my life together.
I’d spent that time finding myself and learning that I wasn’t going to just let people walk all over me anymore.
“You might have left, but I think you still care.”
I shrugged. “I truly don’t.”
He took a few steps, moving around the table, getting closer to me. “Really? You don’t care about the pack? The pack your parents live in? The pack your brother lives in?”
Now I stiffened. I thought about Mom’s phone call last night. Had something happened, and that was why she wanted me to come home? But she would have told me. Right? If someone was seriously going on, they would let me know.
“The bonds are failing, and shifters are losing control over themselves. It’s a problem, and even you can’t tell me you don’t care. Anyone could get hurt, and that means your parents.”
I threw my jacket over the chair and set my coffee down. I crossed my arms. “What do you want, Riley? I know you didn’t come all the way out here to chat about the pack. Why are you here in my workplace? Why are you here at all?”
“I need your help.”
I blinked and waited for him to start laughing like he couldn’t contain his laughter. But his face remained dead serious, and my stomach dipped. He was serious. I shook my head. “No.”
“I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true.”
“I’m not going back. You are the Alpha, right? That's what you were working so hard to be. So, you can figure it out. Wouldn’t want a human to come and fuck something up now, would you?” I snapped the words at him, and I waited to see a reaction. But there was none.
Riley knew how to hide what he was truly thinking. He’d been doing it since before high school. I wasn't going to let him come in here and fool me into agreeing to anything.
He moved a couple of steps closer to me.
“You can be as angry as you want, but do you honestly think I would come up here because I want to? I’m not lying.
I’m here because the pack needs me too. And your brother is part of it.
Your parents, too. It’s only a matter of time before your parents' bond starts having issues. Only time before your brother starts becoming the person who attacks others. I’m here because you are the last person who can help. ”
Something shifted in my stomach. I wanted to ignore his words because I had spent years putting everything behind me. But when it came to my family, I would never be able to just leave them behind.
I swallowed. “What exactly are you asking for, Riley?”
“I need you to come back with me. I need...a second set of eyes on the situation.”
I chewed on my cheek, taking him in. He looked sexy in his outfit, and I hated it.
I hated how great he looked. His brown hair was shorter than it was before, but it was still slightly curly.
He was clean-shaven, and as he crossed his arms, I could see how muscular he was.
I started at his hands, realizing how large they were.
I quickly shook my head, trying to ground myself. Why was he asking for me? Didn't he think there was anyone else in the pack that could help? No, there was more he wasn't telling me. There had to be more that I wasn’t aware of. But could I risk it? Did I really want to ignore him? Could I?
I ground my teeth together and turned storming back out. I could hear Riley following a few steps behind me. I walked towards the front desk where the receptionist sat.
She looked up at me, and I forced a smile. “Can you call Scott and let him know I need to take some family leave. My mother has fallen ill, and I need to head home.”
“Oh god.” She covered her mouth. “Of course. I’ll give him a call right now.”
I turned to find Riley standing in the doorway now. I walked past him, grabbed my jacket, and threw it on. I grabbed my coffee, glaring at him. “Lead the way, oh mighty Alpha.”
The drive was quiet. I didn’t say a single word to him, but Riley sure talked. He told me how this had been a problem for a while, and they were doing everything they could to figure it out. The council told him just a few days ago that things were getting out of hand.
I stared outside the window, watching the city disappear from me. I was hardly listening as my stomach churned, going over what I was agreeing to. I chewed on my cheek, suddenly realizing I was going back. After all these years of avoiding it, I was returning.
I felt my phone vibrate and watched a message from Scott pop up. He was wishing me good news and to keep him in the loop. I could see Riley glance over, and his teeth clenched.
“Who’s Scott?”
“It’s none of your business.”
His dark eyes narrowed on me. “Are you in a relationship?” His voice came out tense, and I didn't understand why.
I snorted. “It's none of your concern.”
I watched his fingers tighten on the steering wheel. “I’m serious, Janella. Are you in a relationship?”
I typed a quick thank-you to Scott and set my phone back down. “First off, that’s my boss. Not that it’s any of your business. And second, you don't need to know my relationship status.”
I stiffened when I realized we were pulling into town. My eyes took everything in, and my past came creeping back in. I remembered walking the street and keeping my head down. Parking at the school and wishing I were at home. Endless hours spent trying hard just to survive.
I squirmed in my chair as he headed down a street. It was exactly as I remembered. A large white building with a couple of flags in the front. It had a beautiful garden with flowers and shrubs in the front.
I frowned, confused as he parked in front of City Hall. “Why are we here?”
“To create our bond.”
I whipped my head at him. “Create what?”
“You agreed to come and help the pack. That is what the pack needs.”
I looked back at the building and felt my anger burning higher. “I agreed to come and help my parents and my brother. I did not agree to having a bond with you! What the hell is this, Riley?”
He sighed. “You're my mate.”
My jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”
“And I was told we needed to bond, so here we are.”
“No!” I yelled. “Absolutely not!” I shook my head. “I didn’t agree to this.”
He scuffed now. “You act like you didn’t make your decision already. You agreed. So, let’s go.”
I curled my hands into fists. “I'm not going inside. You'll have to drag me out.”
He pushed open his door and started to round the car. I realized he was going to do exactly that. I tried to lock the car, but he'd already yanked the door open. He reached in as I threw a punch at him. He yanked me out, and I kicked my legs as he threw me over his shoulders.
“This is not legal!” I screamed, shoving my elbow into his neck. “Put me down, you oversized jackass!”
“Stop it, Janella. You're only embarrassing yourself.”
“I hate you!” I hurled, shoving my knee into his stomach.
He headed inside unfazed, where he set me down. I shoved at his chest, knocking him a step back. “You are the most disgusting person on this planet! How dare you! Come to me and ask me to help!”
“I don't have a choice!” he snarled at me, and I stiffened.
I could see his eyes growing unsettled as he ran a hand through his hair.
The calmness he had presented to me a moment ago was gone as he turned back towards me.
“Hate me all you want, but I was not joking! I told you that I had no choice.”
I watched the way his skin seemed to stiffen, and I felt my stomach dip. He wasn't lying when he said he'd been uneasy. And if he'd been telling the truth about that...then….
I swallowed, shoving my anger down. “Fine.”
I went inside with Riley and found that he'd planned this out perfectly. There was a person ready to marry us, and it was just us. I kept telling myself I had to do this. I had to protect my family.
While we were married, I told myself I would see my parents right after. Even while we said our fake vows. I stuffed everything down, feeling like a rag doll that was pulled into everything.
“The bond is official.”
I yanked my hands from Riley’s and frowned. “Where is Troy? I want to talk with him.”
The woman who was marrying us looked at me, confused. “Troy? You mean Alpha Troy? He’s not here.”
Alpha? My brother was an Alpha? How had I not known that? When had that happened?
I turned my eyes back to Riley. “You lied to me!?”
He simply shrugged, and my jaw dropped. The bastard lied.
I pulled my hand up and slapped him right across the face. The sound echoed around the room, and the woman jumped back, shocked. Riley looked a little surprised as I shoved my hands against his chest.
“You are still the same arrogant asshole you were in high school!”
“That’s enough,” he snarled at me, grabbing my wrist. His hold was tight. “I did what I had to do to protect the pack.”
I ripped my arm free, glaring back at him. “You are heartless.”
“I was not lying when I said your brother was in danger as well. His pack is suffering the same problems. It’s only a matter of time before he starts to have anger issues. I told you what you needed to know to get you here.”
I stepped away from him. I didn’t think it was possible to hate someone more than I already did, but I was. I wished terrible things to happen to him. I wished death on him.
“When this is all said and done, I hope you rot in hell.”