Chapter 10 Celebrating Milestones
Celebrating Milestones
SHADOW
Seven Years Ago
It’s been a while since I returned to Territory One. I stayed in school, worked with Anders on revising the recruit program, and focused on finding recruits for the next group of Emerald Guards. Time just slipped by. I thought about Jessica often and wanted to talk to her, but I wasn’t sure how.
I’m still trying to navigate through the changes I’ve been experiencing since I met her the second time in Anders’s office several months ago, and after she called to me the night before the guard ball, something inside of me stirs every time I think about her.
Without being fully in control of myself, I don’t trust my reactions around her.
So, I stayed busy and away, until I just couldn’t anymore.
I enter the Alpha King’s home through the kitchen entrance.
The screen door creaks and shuts with a thunk.
I’ve spent a lot of time within this industrial-farmhouse styled kitchen, yet I never really noticed the comfortable, warm, and cozy vibe before.
I used to sit in the breakfast nook tucked away in one corner of the kitchen, while Tater fed me different dishes to figure out what I liked.
I also sat at the counter, lined with many stools for casual lunches and dinners.
No matter how strange I was, everyone in this home made me feel like I was always a part of the family.
I knew that even if Jessica wasn’t Anders’s daughter, they still would have taken her in and treated her the same.
I find Emily sitting on the emerald-green granite counter with knee-high gym socks, short shorts, and a tank top.
“Please tell me you're not leaving the house dressed like that. Your father will kill you.”
Three women—the Luna Queen, Tater, and Emily—shush me.
Lost in nostalgic feelings, I hadn’t realized the Luna Queen and Tater sat at the breakfast nook.
Raising an eyebrow at Emily, she points to her ear.
Music plays, and then Jessica’s voice emanates throughout the kitchen.
Joe and Xavier enter the kitchen and busy themselves with making coffee.
Joe places a cup in front of me. I nod my head in appreciation and sit next to Tater.
Duck and the Alpha King walk into the kitchen as well.
“Did I make it in time?” the Alpha King asks. The three women shush him.
“This is my favorite part,” Tater claims.
The Alpha King sits next to his mate, kissing her on the temple as he sits.
He whispers in her ear, and she gives him a look of irritation.
I hide my smile in my coffee cup. I’ve been around long enough to witness sweet exchanges between the Alpha King and Luna Queen.
They have the kind of relationship most people only read about in romance novels—enemies-to-lovers kind of stuff.
Apparently, the Luna Queen couldn’t stand the Alpha King, and even though he kept professing his love for her, she didn’t want anything to do with him.
She wanted her career and was damned if a true mate would ruin it for her.
I don’t blame her. Women in the LS, even the Luna Queen, still struggle for recognition they deserve, but that didn’t stop her. She fought for her career and is one of the best lawyers in her field.
The Alpha King reaches under the table before I see the Luna Queen jump and slap at him. A big goofy grin spreads across his face, and he nuzzles her hair.
I look over at Emily, who sways in time to the music.
For the first time since I learned that I would become the next Alpha to our pack and must fulfill the betrothal contract, a tightness squeezes my chest. Not only is this contract unfair to Emily because she needs to hide a part of herself, it is unfair to me.
I want genuine love for Emily, for myself.
I want the kind of love the Alpha King and Luna Queen share.
The song ends, followed by soft talking and laughter, and another begins. A beat drums out, joined by the piano and a violin. Jessica sings, yet her voice is different, nothing like it sounded just moments ago.
Anders and Chris join us in the kitchen.
“You made it in time for the last song,” Emily informs Anders. He nods and pours himself a cup of coffee. He received an explanation, and all I got was a shushing. I roll my eyes at Emily. She snubs me in return.
I stand so Chris can have my seat next to Tater, and I relocate to the counter.
Emily bounces around, waving her arms in the air.
Everyone bobs their head or some body part to the beat of the music.
Well, everyone except me. This is the most I ever listened to music of any kind.
It usually gives me a headache. I don’t enjoy music the way most others do.
The song ends. Joe approaches the wall and pushes a button. A group of men from the dairy, followed by two of Chris’s older daughters, enter the kitchen. Tater hands them some packed food, and they depart.
One of the last men to leave shakes Duck’s hand.
I recognize him. He has the same coloring as most of the Emerald Pack members—blond hair, green eyes, and tanned skin from working on the dairy.
What is his name? He’s a guard, maybe three years or so older.
He was the top of his class. His ranking scores were even better than Ean’s.
I never understood why he didn’t become one of the commanding officers or even a trainer.
Instead, he took a job with the dairy and works as a guard only when needed.
Such a shame. He has so much potential there.
Even now, I assess his aura—interesting.
It’s different from what I remember. I make a mental note to discuss it with Anders.
Maybe now this man will be interested in a full-time position with the guard.
“Thanks for filling in for us, boss,” he says to Duck.
“Don’t mention it. I found some workers.” He tips his head toward the King. The ranch hand turns and offers a slight bow with his head.
“Thank you.”
“It was my pleasure, Marty. Thank you for helping our daughter. Oh, and don’t forget to ask her for a bonus,” the Alpha King replies.
“Nah. She did all the work. Besides, it's her birthday. It’s the least we can do.”
It's her birthday? Has it really been a year since she was found? When I checked in with Anders to come here today, he didn’t mention it was her birthday.
Jessica walks in after a few minutes. She discovers everyone sitting around, chatting.
Her hair is done up in a messy bun, and she wears an oversized t-shirt and some baggy shorts.
Her glasses are smaller than the ones I remember from before.
I didn’t think she needed them anymore. Did something happen to her?
I stop myself from standing closer to look her over.
“What's going on?” she asks Emily.
Emily shrugs, jumping off the counter. “Just hanging around.”
Jessica narrows her eyes.
“Okay. Fine. Don’t start reading their minds. We just wanted to hear you sing.”
She suspiciously glances around the kitchen. “How? I was in the music room.”
Emily grins. “After Jeremy converted the music room into a studio, he installed an intercom system so we could listen to you,” Emily explains, scrunching her nose.
“Jeremy thought about that all by himself?”
“Well, it was my idea,” Tater adds, standing by the sink. “I mentioned to the twins that I was sad the room was sealed up. I enjoy listening to you play and sing while I work in the kitchen.” Tater leans forward in Emily’s direction. “You have a big mouth.”
Emily scoffs. “Whatever. Anyway, seeing as we are all here, we also wanted to wish you a happy birthday! Don’t make that face. It's just cake, nothing fancy. In fact, not everyone is here because it’s the middle of the day.”
Jessica pulls Emily into a hug before cuffing both of Emily’s arms and shaking her. “If you had let me talk, Emily…” Everyone laughs. “I was just about to say thank you. This is perfect. You’re an awesome friend.”
Emily hugs her. “Happy birthday. I love you to the moon.”
Candles are lit, and a few encourage Jessica to blow them out.
I can’t keep my eyes off her. I watch the faces she makes when she speaks or jokes with Emily.
I catalogue every freckle, every crinkle of skin when she smiles, every wisp of hair that falls from the bun on top of her head.
I much prefer the platinum-blond from before, but this darker shade suits her.
The purple streaks give her an edgier style, showcasing her younger side, the artist in her.
What would she look like with blue streaks instead?
Maybe they would make the iciness of her eyes pop. Then, I stare at her full lower lip.
“You’re giving off creepy vibes. Rein it in,” Emily whispers, breaking my train of thought.
An anxious pit grows in my stomach until I realize no one is paying attention to me.
Emily takes the plate with a slice of untouched cake in front of me, replacing it with her empty one, and walks away.
Since my accident and the drastic change in my persona, Emily has always helped me appear more normal, included in the social norm so I don’t stand out.
The corner of my lip tugs up in a crooked smile as I replay memories of our friendship in my mind. Will I be able to form a friendship like ours with Jessica? Will she accept my strange behaviors and accommodate for them, too?
An emptiness spreads within my chest when I realize Jessica is gone.
My pulse quickens with anxiety. Did I scare her away?
Shit. This is why I stay away from her. She does something to me, and I don’t know how to act when she’s around.
I shift on the stool. For the first time since I was twelve, I wish I was normal.