Chapter 5
I didn’t care that I was barefoot from having run out of my room unexpectedly when Jasper first showed me he was going to confront Devran.
From there chaos ensued and fists were flying while bodies slammed into tables and things were breaking while others hollered for them to cut it out. Only for growls to echo in response. It all became too much for me.
I hated confrontations like those. It always sparked fear and panic inside me. I had heard countless arguments in the apartments I had grown up in.
I had heard the crashing, the swearing, the fists, and words. I just started running out of the Pack House and straight into the treeline. It’s where I spent a decent amount of time with Jasper and Melanie.
I knew a few places if I took a direct path, but tonight I just ran into the treeline in search of darkness I could bury myself in.
When my feet began hurting too much I stopped and sat beside a tree to cry. I looked up into the sky and stared at the moon while my tears streamed silently in their pleas for mercy.
I have nowhere to go. I hugged myself until I was shivering from the cold air rather than the nerves.
When I heard twigs snapping and rustling just beyond where my eyes could actually register any sight in the dark a creature leapt out at me. His fur was a cinnamon color and mixed in with the flecks of gold was some of the hazel I knew and loved. His paws were large.
“Jesus, Jasper don’t jump out at me in the dark” I gasped. He huffed and lowered himself to me. I knew he wanted me to climb on. He wanted to carry me back to the village. I didn’t want to return but I also couldn’t stay out here either.
I knew in his mind he was cussing me out for having run out here in the first place. I’d get to hear those words once he shifted back into his human form. But I decided I had caused enough drama for one night and got on without argument.
Back at the packhouse I noticed it was empty. Everyone must’ve gone off to Townsquare for the dinner that’s planned for tonight. I suddenly felt guilty that Jasper was missing it because he had to come find me.
He shifted and grabbed the clothes that waited for him on the steps and once his pants were on he made me turn and look at him.
“Why would you run barefoot into the woods at night? Honestly, Mira you had me worried, I had to track your scent” he huffed, taking me by the hand and leading me upstairs.
“Jasper, I’m so sorry for everything that’s gone on tonight. You shouldn’t be fighting with your best friend or missing dinner right now. Please, just go-” I was cut off.
“Mira, stop. You don’t need to apologize for anything. You didn’t ask me to do any of this. I decided on my own. I know the fighting scared you and I’m sorry but that’s how it had to be if I wanted to get my point across. Devran wouldn’t respect me otherwise” he explained.
I noticed his lip was healing from being split by a punch but any other signs of bruising and such had already healed themselves.
He walked me into the bathroom and I was confused for a moment what he was up to until he started drawing a warm bath and pointed down to my feet.
“We need to soak those,” he chuckled. My feet were dirty and possibly cut. I nodded and sat on the edge of the tub to stick them into the half filled bath.
“Please, I know tonight means a lot to you. Go join everyone, I’ll be okay here” I half smiled at my friend. I didn’t feel very much like smiling but I was trying to reassure him.
“I’m not very much in the mood for dinner with them. Him” he corrected himself. “Jasper” my eyes were sad and probably pleading.
“It’s fine. Everything is resolved. His parents didn’t want you to leave either. We all started in on him and he said we were all idiots and to have you” he chuckled at that part.
“He said I could stay?” I needed to hear it. “In his own words, yes” he said, rolling his pants up and removing his socks.
“What the hell are you doing?” I laughed when he stuck his feet in the bath with me. “Where you go I go, kid” my best friend nudged me. Tears filled my eyes again but for a very different reason. I leaned my head onto his shoulder while we both sat on the edge of the tub with our feet inside.
“Jasper, you have no idea what you mean to me. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me thus far. Honestly” I blinked the tears back.
“I told you I got your back. Devran’s my best friend but he’s a dick when he wants to be. You’re my friend too. A very good one” he threw his arm around my shoulder and kept me tucked at his side while we let our feet soak.
He never went back out into town for dinner. I fought him on it but he ultimately won and we went down into the mancave to watch a movie and relax.
I was trying not to think about the coming Alpha and how he doesn’t want me here. I felt odd staying if I knew I wasn’t welcomed, but Jasper insisted it was handled. He’d fought for me. Literally.
Tonight I would just enjoy the company of my friend and tomorrow the rest would have to be solved. At the very least I knew I should leave the Pack House. I couldn’t be under the same roof as Devran. And I know he wants me out of his way.
I must’ve fallen asleep because when I came to again I was being carried up to bed by a sleepy Jasper. “It’s late sunshine” his tired voice whispered to me when he noticed I was awake.
That was his way of telling me to go back to sleep and I did just after being settled down into my own bed. My bed...it had felt that way for a little while but suddenly I felt like a temporary visitor again.
I heard Jasper click the lock while exiting my room because he knew I liked to sleep that way and then I stopped thinking at all and slept.
-
In the morning Devran’s parents came to find me.
“Honey, we just wanted to come and apologize to you about yesterday. Our son, he’s a good boy, he’s just strong willed. You remember how folks in town were when you'd first arrived” Luna Leslie both apologized and reminded me of my start here in the village.
“It’s okay, I actually wanted to apologize to you both for what went on yesterday. It wasn’t my intention...I don’t like making a scene” my voice finished weakly.
“Oh don’t work yourself up. That’s how wolves talk” Alpha Conan patted me firmly on the shoulder to reassure me the same that Jasper had.
When the wolves in charge didn’t agree they had to show force apparently, but I know challenging an Alpha is dangerous. I would never want to displace Jasper from his rightful position.
“Our boy’s hard headed but ultimately fair” his mother defended him. I just nodded at everything they said. I couldn’t speak on the matter.
“Ugh, good, I’m so glad we talked. This weighed on my conscience last night after you’d run off upset. Now we can focus on the festivities ahead. You’ll love it” Luna Leslie brought me into a small hug before her and her husband walked off.
I was glad the couple hadn’t noticed me packing a bag. I didn’t want to offend them by looking to move elsewhere. For now it was Melanie’s house but I couldn’t stay there long term.
We don’t have phones here so when I wanted to reach someone it had to be manually by finding where they are or asking someone else to mindlink them.
It was early in the morning since I was up helping prepare food, but I told one of the other staff members to tell Jasper I had gone to Mel’s and took my bag before anyone else in the house was awake.
I wasn’t about to go barging into Melanie’s house this early in the morning but I was at least out of the Pack House which meant out of the way. I put my bag in Mel’s backyard and walked back into town for a coffee.
“Morning sweet girl” a voice croaked from behind me. It was Mr.Baker, one of the elderly gentlemen I often buy groceries for.
“Hey Mr.B. How are you?” I asked, pulling out a chair for him in front of the shop I was at. They had some tables and chairs outside on good weather days.
“As good as these bones will let me be,” he chuckled.
“How are you getting on with the soon to be Alpha and Beta? I assume you got to meet them yesterday” the girl who was bringing Mr.Baker his coffee asked me, knowing who I was. I hesitated.
These people adored Devran and to speak badly about him would not be a good move on my part.
“They’ve been so busy with everyone” was my weak answer. I was pretending as though I hadn’t even spoken to them. I almost wish that were the case.
Mr.Baker was a greying old man with tides of wrinkled flesh and suspenders to hold up his pants. His posture was slumped some for having to accommodate his walking with a cane for several years now, but he still took his short morning walks for coffee.
Once the cafe girl dropped Mr.B’s drink off she pulled a chair beside me and leaned slightly onto the table.
“So” she said, flipping her hair the same color as the liquid in my cup over her right shoulder. She was waiting for me to answer an unasked question that I didn’t understand. Once she realized I hadn’t a clue what she wanted she huffed and leaned closer.
“How was he really?” she finally asked. She tried hiding the smirk on her face that told me she knew I was full of shit with my previous answer.
“He isn’t thrilled I’m here” I decided to answer honestly yet vaguely. I wasn’t about to spread Pack House business.
“I knew it. No offense but some of us girls in town had a mini wager going on how he’d react to you. Some of the girls said he’d be all gracious about it but I know better. He and I went to school together” she let me know.
“Oh lovely, people are placing bets” I laughed to myself, but I didn’t find it very funny.
“Dev is Dev” she tapped the table and stood up. I didn’t know what she even meant by saying that but she walked back inside before I could find out.
“I think they dated in high school” Mr.Baker chimed in randomly. My eyes snapped over to him because I hadn’t realized he’d been paying any sort of attention. This town was a nosy one. Everyone sort of seemed to know everyone else’s business.
“Lots of gals will have their eyes out for our future leader. She-wolves can get nasty when they want something. You know how it goes” he offered as some kind of help.
Even they seemed to all be telling me not to get in anyone’s way. I just nodded in response which apparently made him feel the need to continue.
“I only say so because I’ve got eyes and I’ve got ears. If the ladies are already talking about the likes of you then they’ve already planted some idea in their minds about you and him. It was obvious how he stared at you yesterday. I don’t mean to embarrass you,
I only mention it in hopes of explaining” he continued.
“He was looking at me because he’s angry I’m here” I decided to fess up.
“Don’t matter the reason, sweet girl. As long as you’ve got the Alpha’s attention these ladies will want it” he chuckled to himself before taking a sip of his hot drink.
“Even bad attention?” I asked. He nodded.
“Devran is coming up on finding his mate. Every she-wolf knows it. If he hasn’t found anyone while away at training chances...are he’s got a girl right here at home. They’ll all be hoping it’s them. Just be careful, my dear. The new moon’s coming, and with that cycles end and new ones form.
Change is coming” he offered me wisely.
It wasn’t uncommon the elder wolves would try to tie the moon into our current life issues. They used her as a guiding tool.
We could all feel that change was in the air. The Alpha ceremony would be taking place on the new moon since it was the perfect night for one Alpha’s cycle to end and another’s to begin.
What frightened me was not the she-wolves, they could have Devran, what struck fear in me was what cycle was ending for me?