Chapter 3
Jasper had gone off with the guys inside the packhouse for what I assume is business or just an excuse to escape the crowd and hang out for a bit.
Melanie and I had wandered into the treelines just to get some air away from all the people. She was pulling apart leaves absentmindedly as she spoke about what the next few days would be like for us.
“You’re living in the house so I’m sure it’ll be more chaotic. If you want you can stay with me for a few days and escape that,” she offered suddenly.
“Yes, yes please” I automatically accepted.
“Although I must say, being under the same roof as Devran is like winning the golden ticket to the Wonka factory. A never ending supply of yummy treats,” she threw her head back and laughed at herself which made me laugh in turn.
Not at what she said but for how she could just cackle that way and still look cool.
“I would have enjoyed it had I not witnessed murder in his eyes” I sombered at the thought.
“Oh please, read the room babe. He is mad because he’s just like any Alpha, a control freak, and he hadn’t been previously notified. The fire in his eyes is solely due to you being hot and him trying not to want you” she laughed again without a care in the world and I envied her once more.
“That’s how men treat you, Mel. Not me. That’s-that’s not why he was looking at me.”
Melanie often rolled dried herbs into smokable concoctions like mugwort and lavender or damiana flowers and mint leaves to calm oneself, or Mullein the medical herb when you’re feeling sick.
She decided I needed to calm down and packed me one of her concoctions that went down smooth and was meant to curb the nerves the way teas do.
“You know, Mira, if you found your confidence I bet you’d be a firecracker” my best friend released a line of smoke as she turned toward me to hand me the roll.
“I’m just not like you. I’m content with being in the background of confident people like you” I laughed, but this time she didn’t.
“Who told you you weren’t pretty?” Mel randomly asked. “Huh?” I was confused by the random question.
“You don’t know how to accept compliments, you talk down on yourself all the time, you don’t believe me when I tell you people find you gorgeous, so someone must’ve drilled it into your mind that you aren’t. Who?′ she asked again.
I began feeling flustered. I didn’t like talking about this.
“N-no one. Some people are just self conscious. I know plenty of people” I defended myself. She put her heart shaped lenses on top of her head and eyed me well. I didn’t crack.
“I know we haven’t known each other that long but from what little you’ve let me in on in your life previous to this I can see what you’re carrying is heavy. If not me then you should talk to someone, anyone,
to unload that burden” she gave me a tight lipped smile and took the herb from between my fingers so she could smoke again. I sat quietly.
I hated when she turned so left field like this. I wasn’t comfortable discussing my past. I found no reason to bring any of that here. They knew me as a person already. Anything I’ve withheld is just stories.
Mel didn’t harass me after that. Instead she told me old stories about high school and how Devran and Diego acted back then. The best part was her interpretation of Jasper.
We both laid on our backs in the grass and watched the clouds roll by as we talked about everything we could think of. I’m not sure how much time had passed but I was sad it was over when a figure appeared and stood over me.
“Time’s up” Jasper interrupted. “Times up for what?” us girls asked in unison.
“Hiding, you’ll be expected to join us in a little bit,” he explained.
“Who will be expecting me? Really I have nothing to do with any of this. I think I’d rather stay out of the way” I offered. By Jasper’s expression I knew that was a hard no.
“Why Jasper! I know you are trying to include me and you’re sweet for that but I really would rather be in the shadows for this one.”
“And nobody expects shit from me either so she can hang back with me” Melanie chimed in. Jasper’s brows furrowed.
“This stuff is important to me and it’s something I wanted to share with you” he sounded irritated now. The guilt set in immediately. I didn’t know that that’s how he felt about it. I knew it was his special day but I didn’t realize that meant he wanted me beside him for it.
I couldn’t say anything but yes now. Once I sighed his expression turned to one of happiness because he knew I had just given in.
“Well if it’s important to you then obviously I’ll try harder to be there for you” I held a hand out for him to lift me up. He started wiping the bits of leaves that Melanie was pulling apart out of my dress and hair, leaving the dainty little flowers I had intentionally placed there this morning.
“You’re a sucker. You fell right into his trap” Mel hopped up on her own and brushed herself off. “It is important to me, jerk” he started arguing with her but my mind wandered elsewhere as we all started approaching the square again.
“So what’s next?” I finally asked aloud. That stopped their banter.
“Well nothing official until later at dinner, but everyone uses this time to mingle and the commanding families usually spend time in the pack house before the business takes over again, so that’s where we’ll be” Jasper threw an arm around me.
“Your families?! Oh come on Jasp, I do NOT belong there” I tried weaving out of his arms but he’s too quick.
“Good luck” I heard Melanie shout from a distance. The witch left me and I groaned.
Inside the pack house was far less chaotic than the streets for once. I could hear the rumble of deep voices from the other room where Jasper was leading me, arm still draped around my shoulder as he always does.
“Oh perfect, there she is. Sweetheart come here, I’ve yet to introduce you to our son” Alpha Conan waved me over while he and his wife beamed with joy.
“Don’t you dare let go of me. You’re coming with me” I gritted quietly through my teeth to Jasper who had already removed his arm. He tried shooing me off but I gave him the death glare to change his mind and he followed me over to them.
I didn’t think Devran could get any more intimidating until I was standing a mere few feet away from his enormous stature with his same scary expression.
“This is our son, Devran. Dev this is the girl Mira we mentioned” Alpha Conan started with the introductions. “Only just told me” this deep incredibly sexy voice corrected his father. Luna Leslie gave me an apologetic look.
“Honestly, honey with all that was going on we forgot to mention you to our son. I hope you don’t take offense” she gave me a small smile trying to gage my expression.
“That’s totally fine. Um, hi, um...” was all I managed to get out because I was both nervous and confused on whether I was meant to call him by a title yet or just his name. He crossed his arms over his chest still looking down on me.
“Um what?” he challenged.
“D-do I, um, call you by some kind of title? Alpha Conan?” I turned my attention to the man I was accustomed to being in charge around here.
“You can just call him by his name, sweetheart. You’ll give him a big head if you acknowledge his title too much” he slapped his son on the back to tease him and laughed.
“The title is mine. Why shouldn’t she call me Alpha? I just heard her address you as such” he challenged his father now. Luna Leslie clasped his arm and gave him a soft expression that he seemed to understand.
“Anyways” was the last thing Devran said before clasping Jasper on the back and nodding for him to follow away from us. I was left standing there by myself and I felt awkward as ever.
I exited the room quietly and made my way into the back kitchen that is hidden from plain sight. That’s where the staff does the serious cooking and where I started helping. I was greeted but no one asked why I might be there in hiding which I was grateful for.
When I heard my name being called a while later I seriously considered just ignoring it but then Jasper’s face popped into my mind when he told me this meant something to him and I couldn’t let him down that way.
“Oh there you are” he approached me as he undid one of the buttons on his shirt. “Diego wants to meet you” he led me down to the man cave where a group of wolves our age were hanging out and hanging off their new Alphas every word.
Diego has harsher features than his two best friends and a wider build. His eyes are so brown they are almost black. He at least greeted me with a smile.
“Hey human girl,” he grinned. I rolled my eyes which made him huff a laugh. “We were certainly surprised to hear about you” Diego chuckled and waved for me to have a seat at one of the stools that lined the counter area where the snacks are.
“Yeah, I’m aware this is...unusual for you guys, but over time your pack came to like me. I hope you give me the same chance” my voice was that of a mouse but I got out the words that I had wanted to say to Devran and couldn’t.
“Oh I like you already” he chuckled. My eyes snapped up to gage if he was serious or not.
“Yeah, my parents mentioned some of the things you do around town for people. You seem cool in my book, but I’m curious about the circumstances that led you here. The details have been very vague thus far..” he trailed off hoping I’d hop in to fill in all the gaps.
“I’ll give you the cliffnotes version. She was attacked by rival wolves and was saved by some of our guys” Jasper tried to save me from having to speak much. I took a step closer to him as though he could be my shield.
“Vague” Diego repeated. “Why were you in these mountains to begin with?” he re-started his inquiry.
“I wasn’t, I was passing through one of those mountain towns down at the bottom when I ran into the wrong set of guys. I was brought here against my will and then suddenly I was surrounded by wolves and extremely confused.
I was injured before another set of wolves appeared and seemed to be fighting off the ones who had harmed me.”
I held onto Jasper’s arm like a child would to their mother when they’re embarrassed to talk to the stranger.
"Then I was called to come assess the situation and I made the call to bring her back with us” Jasper stood tall and showed firmness in his decision. He didn’t want to be challenged for it. Diego nodded in understanding.
“So tell me this...you saw men turn into wolves, and wolves turn into men, and yet you weren’t afraid to be taken back to the monster’s village?” Diego asked, brow arched.
“I’ve seen scarier monsters. It was obvious that they had both saved me and were trying to help me. I didn’t fear that” I shook my head and peeked up at Jasper who was the one that day that made the decision that I come back to the pack for Alpha to see for himself and make the ultimate decision.
Jasper had my back since the minute he laid eyes on my bleeding and dirty form and that’s why I feel safest with him. I could tell that Diego was noticing just that by the way he started watching the two of us.
“Well Mira, it sounds like you had a hell of a situation. Is there nobody to miss you back down there?” This Beta was thorough. “No” was all I said to that. I wasn’t about to give any more detail to this stranger.
I hadn’t realized that behind me Devran had been standing there listening to this entire exchange, so I jumped when he suddenly leaned on the counter beside me. Using his elbows to keep himself propped up he tipped his head in my direction.
“Scarier monsters than us, huh,” his translucent eyes darted around in his head while he took in my expression trying to read me, “I think Jas might’ve been teaching you the wrong things about our kind if that’s what you think.”
His low rumble of a voice vibrated between myself and the granite of the countertop. Being surrounded on all sides by the new Alpha, Beta, and Delta suddenly felt too overwhelming.
I stepped away from them until I was only beside Jasper now. Devran took note of this.
“Don’t try to scare her, pricks” Jasper rubbed my arms for comfort and I nodded to him letting him know I was okay. Devran looked at Diego and after an exchange of silent glances Diego spoke up.
“What’s with the two of you? She’s been glued to your side” Diego looked me up and down which made me uncomfortable.
“We’re friends, and you freak her out, so yeah she’ll be here for now” with that he threw a protective arm around my shoulder and walked us away. I heard a rumbling sound that could’ve been a growl as we turned the corner out of earshot.
“See, they’re just doing their duty and getting the background story. Any good Alpha would. They haven’t once threatened you being exiled so try and have some fun tonight, will ya?” The earthy smell of Jasper surrounded me as he did. I gave him a big hug.
“What’s this for?” he chuckled.
“I just wanted to thank you. You’re my comfort, my safety, i-” I didn’t want to get all blubbery with tears if I were to express what Jasper meant to me so I trailed off. He hugged me tighter.
“I know, I know. And I always will be, Mira. I promise. And I keep my promises, Mira, I won’t be another person disappointing you like you’ve experienced in the past. I mean it” with that he pecked the top of my head and let me go.
It took a while for me to convince Jasper to head back inside and hang out with his friends because I know they’ve been apart for a long time, but once I did convince him I wandered off to find Melanie.
“Hey, girl” a gruff voice called out.