Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Hunter straightened up and walked over to Jin.
She was wearing a black floral sundress that accentuated her figure and showed off her toned legs.
Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail. It was the first time seeing her in such feminine clothes.
“You look splendid,” Hunter said. “In fact …” He smirked.
If his brother was going to pretend he wasn’t interested in Jin, then he was going to have some fun with it.
“I would be honored if a pretty girl like yourself would let me escort her to the pack meeting.” Jin giggled, nodding up at him.
Hunter wrapped his arm around her and gently pulled her along with him.
“Too many savage animals out there. I need to keep you close.” He turned slightly so he could see his brother’s dark glare.
He winked at him and flashed a bright smile.
Chasen’s grip on the counter tightened, his veins slightly protruding and his jaw set tight. No feelings my ass.
Hunter led Jin out onto a raised platform.
It was only a few feet high, just enough that the whole pack would be able to see him easily.
Long enough to fit ten people comfortably, it was specially made for addressing the pack during the last few years his father was Alpha.
Sam was already standing up there, and the pack had assembled, waiting to hear from their alpha.
Hunter noticed the curious glances from his pack as they looked at the girl tucked into his side.
He sighed. He knew they were thinking he was introducing them to their new luna.
“I have asked you all to come today because there are a few things I wish to talk about,” Hunter said in a clear, definitive voice.
Chasen walked up, standing slightly behind him on the side where Jin stood.
“Before anything else, I need to make an announcement of monumental significance. Brace yourselves, for it turns out that I am the Alpha King of the Werewolves!” The crowd murmured quietly among themselves.
“I don’t think this is going to affect us as a pack too much.
Our day-to-day lives will still be the same.
This will mean more for me and my pack officers as we do the best we can to lead all werewolves into prosperity.
” He listened as his pack members whistled and cheered.
“Congratulations, Alpha!”
“If anyone deserves this, it's you.”
“We have the best alpha ever!”
“Werewolves are now in good hands!”
Hunter smiled. “Thank you all. I’ll do the best I can as I navigate this new role.
Now, there is one more reason why I wanted you gathered here, and that is to introduce you to the newest member of our pack.
” He chuckled. “No, folks, she’s not my luna.
” He listened as some of the pack members let out a sigh.
It was obvious they were anxious for him to find his luna.
He knew it would be on their mind and went ahead and nipped that thought quickly.
“Like the previous luna, who was gifted with the element of fire, and my sister the element of water, this is the person who has gifted me with the element of air. Please welcome Fujin, or just Jin, as we call her.”
“Is she a deity too?”
Hunter cleared his throat and squeezed Jin a bit more into his side as he felt her tense up. “No. Jin is a wind demon.” Immediately, gasps echoed through the group, and he could feel the uneasiness from his pack.
“Alpha, aren’t we at war with the demons?”
“We are at war with a group of demons, but not all demons. Just like if we went to war with a werewolf pack, it wouldn’t be with all werewolves.” Hunter tried to alleviate their nervousness.
“Of course, we wouldn’t be at war with any werewolf pack now, since our alpha can order them around,” Sam chimed in, trying to bring some humor to the situation.
“Our alpha has said that it’s okay, so it is,” Caden yelled from the crowd, showing his support.
“Jin is to be treated like another member of our pack. She is to be respected and welcomed,” Hunter said in an authoritative tone.
“Yes, Alpha,” the group of werewolves responded in unison.
Hunter knew it would take some time for his pack to relax about having a demon living among them, but at the very least they would treat her with respect.
He would not tolerate Jin being mistreated.
Hunter squeezed Jin’s shoulder and he led her back down to the ground before he stepped away from her.
He was going to go down and greet all of his pack members, as was customary after assembling them together.
It was a way for them to all feel closer.
Jin stood there, quietly observing everyone. She watched as Hunter and Sam laughed around the other pack members.
“You look lovely. Next time, we will have to go shopping together,” Kristen said as she tugged Garrett toward Jin.
“Oh, thank you. I’ve never worn a dress before,” Jin smiled timidly.
“You look amazing. Don’t worry. We have a nice pack here,” Garrett said, standing at Kristen’s side.
“I’m Adam and Winston’s father, Garrett.
And of course, you already met the light of my life.
” Garrett smiled down at his mate, then looked back at Jin.
“I hope you like it here.” He nodded to her and then walked toward Hunter to greet his nephew as the King of the Werewolves.
Jin didn’t look directly at anyone, but she could feel their glares.
She could feel their distrust. Of course she wouldn’t be welcome here.
She was a demon. All species hated demons.
She was always lumped together with them.
Even though it was demons who mistreated her, she was still just like them.
She bit the inside of her lip. Would they ever really grow to accept her, or would they only tolerate her because of their alpha?
“Do all demons have green hair?”
Jin snapped her gaze downward to a little boy who was pointing at her hair. There was at least one who wasn’t afraid of her. She smiled. “No, this is special to me. It’s the same color as my mother’s hair.”
“Your mother has green hair too?”
“Had. She died when I was young,” Jin said with a soft smile. She looked at the little boy who slightly frowned. He had light blue eyes and red hair. He was maybe around six years old.
“Zain.” A woman walked up and grabbed onto the boy, flashing a nervous glance at Jin. “Come on Zain, let’s not bother her.”
For a moment, Jin was going to tell her he wasn’t bothering her, but when she caught the woman’s worried glance, there was no need. She wasn’t worried about the child bothering her. She was worried about him being near her.
“The dress looks great on you.” Susan smiled as she admired Jin in her new dress and nodded in approval. “We have to get more just like this, only in different colors.”
Jin raised her hands up. “No more shopping for me, at least not for a while.”
“I love shopping, so I’ll pick clothes up for you. I know your size now, after all.” Susan winked.
“Sues!”
A couple of young men waved her over and she nodded her head toward them. “Want me to introduce you?” Susan asked, looking back at Jin.
“Oh, no thanks. I was actually about to head back inside real quick.” Jin smiled as she watched Susan walk away.
She wasn’t about to make things more awkward by greeting people who didn’t want to meet her.
In fact, she felt like an outsider out here, since the other pack members were giving her a wide berth.
Those who were not the alpha’s closest pack members didn’t greet her at all.
Maybe it would be best for me to live outside the pack.
Then I wouldn’t bother anyone but would still be close by in case Hunter needs me.
She smiled to herself as she walked back to the pack house, presumably unseen since she was of course someone not worth paying attention too.
She knew she couldn’t really leave and live outside of the pack.
She felt an unwavering duty to be by Hunter's side, safeguarding him from any harm that might come his way. Yet, an undeniable heaviness weighed on her spirit, casting a shadow over her determination. Having pictured things going so differently, she now realized she’d had unrealistic expectations of how things would be once she found Hunter.
She felt the wind swirl around her, as if it was telling her it was still there, an invisible presence she only noticed when it wanted to remind her that she wasn’t alone.
She walked into the quiet, empty pack house and headed for the washroom.
Leaning her hands on the cool porcelain, she glanced upward into the mirror and watched her reflection as a stray tear slid down her face.
Another followed it. She raised her hand and brushed the annoying feelings away.
She should be used to this by now. Why was she always expecting more than she deserved?
Her nose burned as her chest tightened. She turned on the cold water and listened to the trickling sound in the sink as she reached her fingers into the cool liquid.
She cupped some in her hands and splashed it on her face, then grabbed a towel and patted her cheeks dry.
Her eyelashes were still damp, and her eyes were slightly red.
She wouldn’t be able to go back out there.
Anyone who looked at her would be able to tell she had been crying.
She sighed and walked out of the washroom, straight into something hard. She stiffened as she realized it was a person. She looked up and saw Chasen looking down at her. His jaw was taut, his eyes studying her face.
“Did someone say or do something?” A low growl ripped from his throat.
She looked down at her feet. “No,” she whispered, chewing on her inner lip and toeing at the ground.
Chasen had noticed immediately when she began to trail away from everyone, so he followed her.
He could see the evidence of crying on her face and immediately became angry, thinking someone had said something to her.
He felt instant relief when he heard that wasn’t the case.
She was upset, though. His lips curled downwards as he looked at her.
“What is it, Jin?”
She felt the sting in her nose and eyes again. She wrapped her arms around herself and continued to look down at the ground.
“It really isn’t anything. You shouldn’t bother worrying about a demon like me.” The bitter words just flowed out naturally.
“They’ll come around, Jin. They’re just a bit shocked.”
“I’m judged first as a demon, then maybe if I’m lucky, I get judged based on merit later.
Everyone does. Everyone except for Hunter.
He was the only one who immediately accepted me.
Everyone else had to be told to accept me.
” She looked up at Chasen as a few more tears trickled down. “Do you still hate me too?”
“Jin, I never hated you. I have to be extra cautious. I can’t lose Hunter.
I have to protect him.” He unconsciously pulled her into his chest, wrapping both arms around her and hugging her into him.
“You don’t really think I hate you, do you?
I thought we’d been getting along well today.
” He felt her lean her head into his chest and heard her quiet sniff.
“Is this just so I’ll share my chocolate with you?” She smiled into his chest.
Chasen chuckled quietly. “You’ve figured me out.” He paused for a moment, then whispered, “I want us to be friends, Jin.”
“Me too.” She leaned her head onto his warm chest again and took a few relaxing breaths. Her fingers curled into his shirt, and she could feel his warmth against her fingertips. She felt herself calming down. And, secretly, she sensed herself enjoying his touch.