Chapter 25

Eamon and Jacks were sitting in their bed. Jacks was leaning on Eamon, trying to figure out how to tell him what she wanted. It was more difficult since she had to also focus on blocking him from accessing the thought.

"Jacks, what's wrong?" Eamon asked slightly frustrated that she was blocking him. "You've never blocked me before. I sort of assumed that it would only happen if you were angry with me, but that isn't the case. So, please, feel free to elaborate."

Jacks cringed at the hurt in Eamon's voice. I'm sorry.

What's going on?

I'm trying to figure out how to tell you something, but I don't think you will like it.

Eamon tensed, and his thoughts immediately went to Garrick. He was afraid she had left something out.

"No, it's nothing like that. It has nothing to do with that horrible man," she shuddered. "It has more to do with today's revelation."

He tightened the arm around her shoulder, and she snuggled closer, "What do you mean? Are you referring to your alpha status? Because if that is what you are worried about, I have a confession."

"Really?" she asked, shocked with the sudden turn the conversation had taken.

"Yes," he took a deep breath. "Usually the males are more dominant, but you and I are evenly matched."

"I thought Kael was more dominant than you? I mean he is the alpha and what not."

"Well, technically speaking, yes, he is the alpha."

"Eamon, you are not making any sense."

"I'm sorry. I never thought I would have to explain this situation to anyone. I am more dominant than Kael, but I have chosen to remain the beta to the Scottsboro pack. Although, if I really wanted to, I could challenge Kael for the position since it is technically my birthright."

"Your what?" Jacks asked in complete shock.

"My parents were the alphas of the Scottsboro pack. When they died, their beta took over as alpha since I was too young. When, he died, it was decided that Kael should step up rather than me because he had not spent half of his life in another country, with another pack. It gets confusing since many people consider this pack just an extension of the Ireland pack."

"Eamon, you are terrible at explaining things. I hope you know that."

"I know. Again, I'm sorry, but it's all very confusing to begin with."

"So far I get the alpha beta stuff, but you lost me at the extension of the Ireland pack thing."

Eamon nodded, "Okay, I can explain that more. My grandfather ruled over one of the oldest packs in the world, so the pack was very large. He decided that he wanted to establish a new pack in the States. I don't remember the actual reasoning, but his argument made sense. So, when my father, the younger of the two sons, was about twenty-five, my grandfather sent him with some loyal pack members to establish a new pack in Scottsboro, Tennessee."

"That would explain all the Irish names, Irish words, and what not," Jacks responded thoughtfully. "Obviously the experiment worked since you have a very well established pack here. It's quite impressive since it's probably only thirty years old."

Eamon's face lost some of its color, "Jacks remember the rain check?"

"The one from when you guys explained werewolves? Yes."

"I'm cashing in on mine."

Jacks brow furrowed, "Eamon, what are you talking about?"

"Well, I need to correct a misconception you have of the pack, and it made me realize that we forgot to tell you something about werewolves."

"Okay?"

"Wolves have a certain longevity that sets us apart from humans a little more. We can live for centuries. My father was 120 when he met my mother, so the pack was almost 100 years old when I was born."

Jacks jaw dropped, "Did he look like he was 120 years old?"

"No, are aging process slows incredibly after we reach eighteen. He looked about thirty-five when he died."

"Okay, what does that mean for people like Jenna and Nia? They are human and we tend to clock out around eighty years old."

"That is why the mate rights are so important. They will live as long as their mate lives, so they will probably live a few hundred years as well. Especially considering how young Treasach, Liam, Brady, and I are to be finding our mates. When I think about it, Dakota's pretty young too."

"Well, someone might want to warn Jenna and Nia of this before they tie themselves to a wolf for all of eternity. They might be shocked when they look in the mirror in twenty years and don't see any wrinkles."

Eamon laughed, but he obliged his mate. He pulled out his cell phone and texted his cousin first, knowing that relationship was sort of on a time constraint. The next message went to Kael, asking him to explain the age thing to Jenna. Both men replied with a single word. Done.

"A ghra, both of your friends have been informed."

"How did they take it?"

"I don't know. I only got a one word response from both Kael and Treasach, but don't start worrying about it. Everything will be fine. Jenna will probably make some perverted jokes to bother Kael, and Nia will complete the mate rights with Treasach."

"Okay," Jacks got really quiet. "Speaking of mate rights…"

"Where are you going with this, a ghra?"

"We should do them too."

Eamon tried to keep himself calm, but he would not put Jacks in that kind of unnecessary danger. There was a war starting, and he would have to be a leader. He would be on the front lines because of his alpha powers, his beta status, the offenses against his mate, and his position as his cousin's best friend. There was no promising he would come out alive, and he would not let that kill her too.

"Eamon, that is not how this works, and you know it," Jacks said after reading his thoughts.

"You are right about one thing." He inhaled deeply. "This eavesdropping thing is kind of annoying."

"Eamon Connors!" She shouted. "You do not get to make all the decisions for both of us. You just told me that we are equals in dominance. Don't you think that at least proves that we should be equal partners in this relationship?"

"Jacks, it isn't that I don't want to complete the mate rights, because I do, but I won't do it until after we finish this war that is brewing."

"Why? Why would you rob yourself of the extra strength that I gather comes from completing the mate rights?"

"I would rob myself of this power to protect you. It is written in the sacred vows of mates that I am your protector. I believe it has been mentioned multiple times that my name mean protector. It goes against my every nature to put your life in danger, and in this case, that includes tying your life to mine when I don't know if I am going to be coming back from the battle."

Tears started streaming down her face, "Don't talk like that."

"Jacks," he brushed a tear away with the hand that had been sitting in his lap. "I can't promise you that I will come back to you because my alpha nature makes me a protector to the extreme of those my wolf rules as weak. That would include just about anyone in our pack. But, I will promise you that I will be fighting tooth and nail to get back to you."

"Who says I won't be fighting right alongside you?"

"That is out of the question. Adara will stay with you, Nia, and Jenna when the time comes. You would be defenseless against a wolf, Jacks."

"I think if my wolf is a super alpha like my stubborn mate's, I doubt she would not come out to play when the time was right. And in case you forgot, I am also an alpha in my own right. My name means to protect, and unlike everyone else, I don't see myself as the one who needs to be protected. I see myself as the one protecting. 'To protect' is my duty, Eamon."

"Jacks, how about we revisit this? We aren't going to agree on anything right now. Like you said, we are both very stubborn people. Besides it won't change my mind on completing the mate rights."

"Seriously? Do you really not see why this is ridiculous?" Jacks cried, her tears moving from sad to angry.

"What is so ridiculous about wanting to protect my mate? Wanting to keep her alive and well?"

"Just take a second to look at it from my point of view. If I died before we completed the mate rights, how would that make you feel?"

Eamon was speechless for a few moments before shaking his head. "It's not the same, Jacks. You know it's not."

"Please, enlighten me because I don't see how it's different. I love you and cannot imagine waking up one day and knowing I will never see you again. It doesn't make any sense to me because I have not been aware of this type of connection my entire life, but just thinking of life without you makes it hurt to breath. My heart is literally aching at the thought of losing you. I think Treasach was the one who promised Nia they would not be separated, ever, not even by death. Are you really going to rob me of that reassurance?"

Eamon sat there looking at his mate, who now stood in front of him. He had been so caught up in their argument that he hadn't even seen her get up out of the bed, but now he was seeing his mate. Really seeing her, pleading with him to tie their lives together for all of eternity. No matter how much he wanted her to agree with him, he knew it was not natural to deny her the one thing every wolf wishes for. He knew that what happened with his parents was what was preventing him from doing what needed to be done. Treasach had been so happy to know that Nia would always be by his side, but he had not watched his family be torn apart by the death of one parent and then the other.

Would your father have wanted to live without your mother? Jacks interrupted his mental rant.

He thought about how his father looked as his mother slipped away, and knew instantly. No, he would not want to go on without her, and I would not want to go on without you. But, I think it is different for the males of our species. Our mates keep us human. I have seen what happens to males who go far too long without finding their mates, and it is a horrible thing, but I have never seen an older female struggle like that with her wolf.

"Please. Please, don't make me find out," she implored him with her eyes.

"I wish you would wait, but you are right. I love you and wouldn't want to be separated from you, even by death, I wish you would be happy to live life for the both of us. We will complete the mate rights in the next few days."

"Thank you," she said with tears in her eyes and relief on her face before throwing herself at Eamon.

He had the good sense to pull her into his chest before reclining on their bed. Jacks snuggled up next to him, and they decided they would be perfectly happy to do that all night.

Sorry about the long gap between chapter 23 and 24. School has been time consuming to say the least. With the newest Quinn Loftis book coming out soon (with Irish characters!) I thought I should try to add more to the story.

Please let me know what you think :)