Thanks for all the reviews guys. They keep me so motivated. Let me know what you think of chapter 28. Happy reading.
Kim didn`t see Jared for almost one week after what had happened, but she knew he was watching her, she could feel his presence lurking in the woods at the back of her house. She had asked Joanna and the others not to tell her anything more concerning him or Whitney. She knew she would be in for more heartbreak. She had learned through Joanna that Jared wouldn`t be taking the finals and he had dropped out of school. She was oblivious to the other students renewed gossip about him.
One day after school Sam accosted her on her way home. He had begged her to make up with Jared. He had told her that she was being selfish and jeopardizing their changes of success in the battle. She told Sam in no uncertain terms to fuck off and butt out. He wasn`t her alpha. If Jared was hurting than he deserved it. Maybe Whitney would make him feel better. Sam told her she was making the biggest mistake of her life. Which got to her a lot. At times she was gripped with the urge to go to him. She felt like an addict. Like he was her drug. Or like one of those abused women who constantly go back to their abusers.
Kim knew that their relationship wasn`t a normal one. It was for life. A concept before that had made her heart sing with happiness but now filled her with dread. Their was no way to escape him. Did she even want to escape him? What the hell had changed?
When she got home from school on thursday she learned from her father that the battle would be on Saturday. She took the news stoically and asked her father to bring her to the council meeting being held for the pack. She needed to see Jared before he left. Even if it hurt her more she needed to look into his eyes. What if she never got that chance again? The constant ache she had from not seeing him had her close to insanity.
She drove with her father, mother and Danny to the meeting. Her little brother would be facing a herd of those leeches. She looked over at the over grown man child sitting beside her. She put her hand over his huge one and squeezed his fingers. He looked at her in confusion for a split second then squeezed hers gently back. When they finally got to Sam`s and Emily`s, Danny held her back and let their parents walk in ahead of them.
"Listen Kim, I think it`s really brave what you are doing and all tonight. As much as I don`t like Jared, he has been in a really bad way. So seeing to tonight here will be a big moral booster for everyone." She looked up at her baby brother, he had the same eyes as their dad. Black, intelligent and sparkling with quiet amusement.
"Be careful tomorrow. Don`t act all cocky now that you can morph into a giant dog. Promise me you won`t get hurt." Danny rolled his eyes at her in mock annoyance and gave her a big smile.
"I won`t. I promise. I swear you`re more annoying than mom." They headed up to the little house and squeezed their way in. The living room seemed to be packed to its capacity. The ache in Kim`s stomach intensified as she sensed Jared`s presence. She took some deep breaths to steady her nerves and looked around for him. She spied him on the opposite side of the room next to Jacob. Whitney was beside him. Standing there as if it was her right. The ache intensified. Jared locked eyes with her. He seemed to have aged. Lines of worry were etched into his impassive grim face. As his eyes regarded her with emotions that changed from hard to guilty, soft to apologetic and back to hard. It hurt to see him but she had to give him it. She had to give it to herself. She felt her mothers ring fingered hand clasp her own and give her a reassuring squeeze. The wheelchair bound Billy Black began to speak. Kim payed him no mind. All her focus was on the man she loved more than anything at the other side of the room. The man that changed her whole world and held her heart in his hands to do what he pleased with it. Jared`s focus flickered between her, Billy and sometimes to Whitney. When Whitney placed her hand in Jared`s she felt like she was stabbed through the heart. Why didn`t he pull away? The ache turned into full blown agony. With shear strength of will she kept herself upright and suppressed the tears. Not here, not now. She felt like she was watching a T.V show. It was so surreal. Her Jared was watching her while holding hands with another woman.
"Kimi, I`m so glad you came." Joanna`s voice sounded distant. Kim tore her eyes away from Jared`s and looked into Joanna`s saddened black ones.
"I`m glad I came too." Kim said truthfully. She needed to see what she saw. No more burying her head in the sand and pretending Whitney is just a nightmare she had one night.
"How`s Danny?"
"Scared, but he hides it well." Kim took Joanna`s hand.
"How`s Embry? How are you?" Joanna gave Kim a weak smile.
"He said he`ll come back. That`s enough for me." Joanna looked over in Jared`s direction.
"You should go talk to him." Joanna suggested gently. Kim looked down at their shoes.
"We are both wearing converse."
"Just go. We can discuss shoes later."
"I`ll catch you later."
Kim felt like she was made of lead but she found her way over to Jared. He wasn`t holding hands with Whitney anymore and was talking Sam and Paul with his back turned to her. Whitney saw her before the others and placed a rather possessive hand on Jared`s shoulder. The smirk was back. Paul saw Kim and gave her a big, warm smile. He looked relieved. He gave Whitney a rather distasteful look before punching Jared on the arm, effectively dislodging Whitney`s hold.
"Jared man, your one true love has returned." Whitney snorted. Jared turned and faced her. His face was an impassive mask.
"You came." He said is a monotone voice. His eyes were more guarded now as they travelled across her face.
"Of course I came." Kim said quietly.
"Maybe you came to screw with his head some more." Whitney said suddenly. Kim regarded her through narrowed eyes.
"Fuck you!" Kim hissed at her through gritted teeth.
"This is not the time nor the place for this crap. Jared, go outside with Kim and talk." Sam commanded.
"Some imprint you are Kim, leaving him hanging when he needed you the most, flirting with other men to screw with him." Whitney added maliciously.
"That`s true you know Kim." Jared said angrily, to Kim`s shock. Paul looked disgustedly at Jared and Sam swore under his breath.
"If that`s what you want to believe Jared then I won`t waste my breath. But deep down you know that isn`t true." Kim made to leave but Jared stopped her by grabbing her arm. His eyes searched hers with renewed intensity before letting her go. He turned and left with Whitney. Not saying a word. Not saying goodbye. Paul pulled her into a comforting hug.
"I don`t know what the hell is up with that dip-shit. But he loves you. More than anything. He`ll come home to you." Paul patted her on the head. Kim ran outside after Jared and Whitney.
"Jared I wanted to tell you that I love you." Kim shouted after him. He paused momentarily on his way into the forest, but he didn`t turn around, he just kept on walking.
"I LOVE YOU!" Kim screamed after him. She wanted to run after him but someone held her back.
"Just let him go. He knows you love him. After the battle we will find a solution." Sam said kindly into the back of her head. She felt drained of everything emotion she had.
"Please put me down Sam." She whispered. He put her down gently.
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