Chapter 23- Get over it

"You're leaving?" I pouted sleepily when I felt his side of the bed let cold air under the covers.

I reached for him, and he took both of my hands in his kissing the tips of my fingers. "I have to go meet with the others. I have no choice." His voice was urgent, but still soft.

"What's wrong?" I asked genuinely concerned. "Can I help?"

He threw on a fresh shirt, and buttoned it with swift fingers. "No, I've got it under control. I won't be long, so don't worry your pretty little head. I'll see you at breakfast."

"Promise there's nothing I should worry about?" I was so used to him being at ease, he was never this tense, even when he was angry with me.

He gave me a smile, much like the brave one I gave him yesterday to convince him that I didn't mind going out with Nina and the girls. "Everything is fine."

I couldn't prove that he was lying, so I surrendered. "Hurry back." I requested not liking the feeling I got whenever we weren't in close proximity of each other.

"I will my love," He assured giving me one last kiss before he was out the door. It took a few minutes, but I fell back into my slumber once I shimmied over to his side of the bed.

The sun rose before I knew it and I pushed myself out of bed before Nina could burst in, pull something from the closet, and all but shove me into the bathroom. Another day or two of that and I was going to start feeling like I was in high school all over again. Alice used to do the exact same thing.

A pang of grief hit me when I thought of her. Her tiny, bouncy, black spikes bursting into my room at all hours of the morning telling me I was going to be late. I sighed, things used to be so much simpler back then. Back when I pretended to be a humdrum teenage, at the barely tolerable Hanover High. Back when I had a best friend who I also thought was normal, and the hardest choice I had to make was whether to wear my hair up or down for homecoming.

Now here I was, a married woman with a family, standing in the closet surrounded by closed picked out for me by a werewolf who said I was meant to be his partner forever. Torn between my old life and the possibility of a new life wasn't something I wanted to think about. So I decided not to. Maybe if I refused to make a decision life would eventually make it for me. My life was not fair.

Looking around at the clothes I had to ask myself, exactly how long Zach prepped for my arrival. About thirty percent of this belonged to him; fresh shirts, slacks, shoes etc. The rest of the walk-in was dedicated to me. There were dresses, skirts and blouses everywhere. Two levels of them in fact. Forty percent of the garments still had the tags on them while others were tag less but still new. I checked the collar, the ones with no price tags bearing a brand on the inside. I rolled my eyes when I realized that 'Reenie' was etched in the collars. No wonder some of the clothes felt custom made for me, they were actually custom made.

I managed to find some shorts, folded in the very far off corner of the closet, but no t-shirts to go with them. Then his voice echoed in my head as clear as crystal "T-shirts, don't do you justice."

I scoffed shuffling though the closet. I wanted to have a relaxed day, comfortable. Not dressed in tailor made dresses and blouses. "If that's the way he wants to play it…" I mumbled to myself walking over to his side of the closet finding what I wanted. "Good."

After managing to find where they put underwear I took a shower and got dressed. The shorts fit me perfectly, but I didn't expect anything less at this point. Zach's shirt however, was several sizes too big. The length of it went past my shorts, and the sleeve had to be cuffed several times but I still felt comfortable. I slid my feet into some flats and headed downstairs, trying my best to remember the way.

Lucky for me the sound of chatter gave away the location to the massive dining room. I knew that Zach wasn't going to be there, the thought of it making me anxious, but with a long breath I pushed the door open anyway, ready to face whatever.

At first, no one stared me. The tables filled with people eating and chattering about their own lives, plans, etc. I scanned the room for a familiar face, hoping Nina would be amongst the crowd. "Reenie!" I heard her shout. She waved her arms from a table in the top corner of the room on accompanied with Penelope and Melanie.

That made everyone stare at me. Half of them went silent right away, while the other half got quiet and looked to see what the first half was looking at. I wasn't sure if it was because the last time I as in here Zach had a violent outburst, or because I was joining the others at all and I didn't want to find out. I kept my head down, hurriedly walking over to join them.

"Hey, you made it." Melanie smiled looking as sophisticated as the day before.

Penelope was also the epitome of perfection, she eyed my ensemble with curiosity but smiled all the same. "Sit, sit."

I sat grabbing a piece of fruit from the center of the table. Nina's brow furrowed as she buttered her toast, "You eat?"

"Some things." I admitted, and I felt like they were all waiting for me to bite the apricot to prove it. So I did, and chewed slowly.

Nina took a bite of her toast obviously impressed. "Good to know."

"They're still staring at her…" Penelope mumbled conspiratorially picking at her fruit salad.

Melanie handing me another piece of fruit. "Don't turn around." She insisted with a smirk on her face. "It's just because you're up here. Don't worry they stare at us all the time too."

"This is ridiculous," Nina muttered tossing her hair over her shoulder, putting down her toast, and standing up. "Everyone, can I have your attention please!"

"Like she doesn't already have it," Penelope muttered low making Melanie snicker.

I kept my back to them all completely horrified. I felt Nina put her hand on my shoulder. "I'd like you to meet Reenie. She's my brother's complement and partner therefore making her my new sister. So let's skip the rubber necking and get to know her, okay?"

Penelope leaned across the table, "Turn around and say hello to everyone, they won't bite."

Melanie encourage me with a nod, "Go on."

So I put on my bravest face, and stood up. "Hey, I'm Renesmee but you can call me Reenie… everyone else does." I guess my resentment of the nickname catching on reflected in my voice because a few of the others laughed. "But no seriously, I'm looking forward to getting to know you all so you don't have to shy away."

"See, no reason to observe from afar. No continue your meals everyone." Nina insisted sitting back down across from me grabbing another piece of toast.

I looked around in amazement, because the minute she sat down they did exactly what she said. A teenaged girl with freckles waved at me, but other than that everyone continued eating like the last time. When I realized no one was watching me I stared at Nina. She put jam on her toast and took a bite. "What?"

"I think you embarrassed her, Nina." Penelope snickered returning to her food as well.

"I'm not embarrassed," I rebutted, probably with red cheeks. "I'm just surprised you could do that. You know, make them listen to you."

Nina scoffed, "What that? That's nothing, you should see Zach. Besides, the other wolves hold 'the women' to a certain reverence."

"When Zach and the first four are away, we're in charge." Melanie cosigned passing me another piece of fruit.

"Do people not listen to you back home, Reenie?" Nina asked picking up on the fact that I was impressed.

I didn't know how to answer that. On one hand, I knew my family and my friends loved me and therefore cared about me enough to consider my feelings and opinions. But in most cases decisions were made without me, and I just followed trusting that they had my best interests at heart. On the other hand every now and then my rebel side would peek through where I'd find a way around and do what I'd want.

With no way to verbalize what was going through my head, and not wanting to take too long to answer I settled on a noncommittal shrug and said, "Kinda."

Nina cocked her eyebrow skeptical, "Well whether they did or not, you're certainly getting your way here. I'd hate to see whatever pouty face you had to put on to get Zach to let you wear that with no argument."

"I wanted to be comfortable." I explained looking down at it, it wasn't bad at all. The women were wearing t-shirts, jeans, sweatpants, the occasional skirt or so; honestly I fit right in.

I think Nina must have thought she offended me, "I didn't mean it that way, I meant it as a compliment really. I'm actually mad I didn't find a way around it."

"I don't even own flats," Penelope confided with a wry smile.

My eyes shot open, "You guys don't get to decide what you want to wear?"

"Of course we do," Melanie assured, "our husbands just want us to wear the best. They want us to feel sexy, confident."

"And we don't have the heart to tell them not everything they buy for us has to be a dress." Penelope conspired. "I swear Daniel still thinks its 1894 sometimes."

My mind ran back to Zach's words again; that t-shirts don't fit me. It explained why everything was mostly custom made. Part of me wanted to roll my eyes at the excessiveness, but when you had someone that only wanted the best for you and would do anything to make sure you get it, how could you brush that off? "Well I'm his complement right? Doesn't that mean he'll like me no matter what I wear?"

"He loves you regardless," Nina insisted, Zach not liking me wasn't even a possibility. "And I won't lie, it looks cute on you."

"Cute and comfortable," I confirmed pouring myself a glass of water.

Melanie giggled, putting her fork down, "She's funny, Nina. I like her so much better than Zach's other compl—"

"Mel, I swear you have no manners at times." Penelope shushed.

Melanie blushed scarlet, "Sorry Reenie, I keep forgetting I'm not supposed to talk about the others. We've never really gotten to know any of them before."

Nina didn't scold her like Penelope did, but she did read my expression to see how affect I was by her comment. When she saw that I wasn't angry or upset she just gave her a helpful warning, "You have about a week to remember. Once the moon starts affecting her mood and she snaps and takes your head off I can't help you."

"I'd never do that," I argued.

Penelope just smiled, "Well, everyone is different, but it's safe to say tempers are all in critical the week of the full moon. Do you remember how you felt a few weeks ago?"

I nodded, sure I had the random moments of uncontrolled anger, but I never hurt anyone. "We'll I'll make sure to keep to myself as much as possible."

"We all try to stick to ourselves," Melanie informed a bit more careful. "Sorry if I offended you."

Though her comment did bite just a bit, it wasn't her fault. Zach had past complements, it was fact; and she wasn't saying it to be hurtful. So I wouldn't hold it against her, "As long as you like me best."

She shot me a wink and nodded that it was indeed true.

An unexplained rush of adrenaline spiked my blood making my heart race. I looked around at the other girls. Nina sat up straight and let out a deep breath, Melanie's eyes widened—excited, Penelope crossed her legs and smoothed out her hair, but I could see a fluster in her cheeks too—apparently it wasn't just me.

"They're back," Nina whispered staring at the door to the dining room.

It swung open and Zach walked in with the others, every piece of chatter came to an abrupt halt and everyone turned expectant. They went straight to the front of the room, and every head watched as they did so.

"Brothers, sisters," Zach greeted with a nod and a wave of a hand. "For over a century of moons, you've allowed me to be your leader, you've allowed me to guide you, and you've allowed me to be your friend. Why?" He asked rhetorically focusing on the thirty odd people that in turn focused on him with rapt attention. "I'll tell you why, a promise. You see, back when werewolves walked the earth focusing only on their own survival, back when vampires and humans hunted us alike, and we were cursed to live in fear my father had a vision.

He saw power in unity, strength in birth, and a way to ensure our survival long before I was born. He built this very castle to serve as a sanctuary, to give our kind a permanent home, no longer dooming us to live as nomads.

But before my father could carry out his vision, he was killed. This sanctuary was violated, our kind left broken, and near extinction."

I know that this was all history that they knew well, but every one of them listened to Zach completely absorbed. Emotional from memories most of them weren't old enough to remember, and others not alive for at all.

"But me, these four behind me, and my lovely unborn little sister at the time, survived. Children, orphans, left with nothing but a small seed of a vision we were too young to understand at the time.

So what did we do with it? We planted that seed. Fed it loyalty, truth, and gave it freedom to grow. And I remember when my father's vision started out as a feeling, a tiny little feeling. Then my sister was born, and it grew into hope. Then as we reached maturity, and could understand how the world worked that hope was able to manifest into a word. A simple quite word, revenge. Revenge against those that destroyed everything we tried to build.

The only problem was, we didn't have the numbers. So we had to wait, watch, sacrifice, and as the years went on, our numbers grew each generation passing on that small word. Over the years that word grew louder, and louder, and now— it's a battle cry."

I was hanging on very word, just like the rest of them. Zach's hypnotic energy could command a room, and I was amazed at how effortless he made it look.

"And now, that battle cry can be heard. The time that we've been waiting for is finally here. This is the time that our countless lifetimes of living and dying before us serve a purpose. The time endless lunar cycles of hope and despair, serving as master as well as slave to the moon will pay off. For the soldiers slain before us and the children that died much too young we take our revenge."

"Yeah!" someone yelled from the back, which sparked several over people to make their cosigns vocal.

But Zach went on, "All we've done to continue the species, was to be here, now. We take revenge not only for the homage of who've we been in the past, but to obtain that tantalizing vision of who we are becoming!"

The outburst came from our table this time. Penelope, who was usually so refined stood, clapping her hands, "Yes!"

And she didn't even stand out, because others had stood long before her.

Zach's finger drove every point home. "Everyone in this room is a beacon of light, co-creating a new world. Our world. And this is the full moon where it all happens!"

Cheers.*

"This is the full moon that I fulfill my promise to you!"

*Cheers*

"This is the full moon that we seize the night!"

Ray hit a table, starting a chant. "Carpe Noctem, Carpe Noctem, Carpe Noctem!" Everyone chanted with him completely moved by Zach's oration.

"Carpe Noctem," I cheered with them, unable to control my own emotions.

I stopped clapping when I felt someone staring at me. It was easy to spot, behind Zach, and amongst the sea of excited faces there was only one person that was angry. Jinny's cold blue eyes bore into me, saying everything that she couldn't vocalize. I shouldn't be cheering with them, I didn't belong with them.

I fought the urge to storm out of the room, because she would know that she was getting to me if I did. Not to mention Zach would demand to know what was wrong, and I didn't know how he would react. Lucky for me Penelope's tall slender frame stepped in front of me, blocking my view of her.

Everyone had settled down, but the energy in the air was still strong. Breakfast was over, and people were breaking off to do whatever they normally did. Penelope picked her napkin up that fell from her lap when she stood, sitting in back on the table. "Are you alright Reenie?"

Not really trusting my voice I just nodded.

Penelope's features tightened, but she didn't argue. "Your eyes are misting, and Zach is coming. Let's not upset him unnecessarily, okay?"

I nodded gratefully wiping my eyes with haste. There was no doubt that she didn't believe I was okay, but if Zach saw me upset, I would have to explain it to him. "Thanks." I muttered before she went off to greet her husband.

"There are my two most favorite women in existence," Zach greeted finding us. He looked me up and down, but there was humor in his voice when he wrapped his arms around me. "This is different."

"You didn't buy me any t-shirts…" I accused extending our embrace longer by standing on my tiptoes to kiss him. I wasn't sure why Jinny affected me the way she did, but I wasn't ready to let him go just yet.

Zach seemed to know exactly what I wanted—like always. Keeping his arm around me, but turned his body to face his sister. "You didn't tell her which side of the closet was hers?" He grinned.

"I that's between you and her," Nina shrugged looking around the dining room. "I think she looks cute."

"You didn't buy me any t-shirts…" I repeated unabashed.

He let it go for the time being, linking our fingers. "Do you mind if we talk in private?"

For a second I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or Nina, and didn't look up until no one responded. "Me? Um, sure?"

"I'm going to steel Reenie for a little bit, Nina, but what do you say the three of us hit the ropes course when I'm finished?" Zach suggested.

Nina was still distracted, but hid it as best she could, "Sorry bro, I already have plans. But Reenie you're welcome to join me and the girls for tea in the garden after lunch if you'd like. Don't worry there's never any tea involved."

I looked up to Zach, just to make sure he didn't have plans for me already. When he shrugged I decided to take them. "Sure, I'd like that."

"Then that's settled," She beamed but distractively ran off before either one of us could say goodbye.

Zach turned and watched her run up to Ray and throw her arms around his next. "That was strange, she usually loves going on the ropes."

Zach's emotions were echoing through me— disappointed. I didn't like him feeling that way. "Maybe she just wants to give us privacy."

"Maybe," He nodded thoughtfully but led me out of the dining room.

I thought he was going to lead me back upstairs but instead we walked out the back door and towards the end of the yard. Once I was on the same path as Nina had taken me on, I decided to break the silence. "So, today seems like a big day for you."

"The biggest," He agreed continuing our walk. "I've waited for years to be able to tell them we didn't have to hide anymore. That we've grown strong enough that our enemies were no longer a threat to our survival."

I nodded, still feeling his distress. "We'll you're a great leader, Zach." I complimented.

"I try to be, but sometimes I wonder…"

Another wave of confusion hit me and I snapped, "Zach, are you going to tell me what's wrong? Do you know how frustrating it is to feel everything you're feeling and have no clue why you feel that way?"

He didn't take offense to my reaction, but smiled, like me snapping reassured him in some way. "You're starting to get upset when I'm upset." He explained before I could get mad again.

I crossed my arms and leaned against a nearby tree. "I don't like to see people I care about upset."

"It means you love me," He corrected.

"It means that I ca—look will you just tell me what's wrong?" I demanded, not wanting to argue about feelings I hadn't sorted out myself yet.

He gave me what I wanted, "One of the main reasons we've survived as long as we have is by staying ahead of our enemies, keeping eyes and ears everywhere." He started off taking my hand and continuing our walk deeper into the trees and off the path all together.

"I'm not sure if you've noticed, but to an outsider we're blanks. You can't smell us, sense us, and tell us apart from any other human in a crowd. We don't stand out, so observing from afar is almost easy. It's how we've been able to watch our enemies to know when the time is right."

His words made sense but I couldn't understand how they affected me, "So even when you're here, there is at least one or two wolves watching."

"For the past few days, it's been Jinny. That's why you haven't seen her around so much." He explained like I actually missed her. "And she made an interesting discovery on her reconnaissance."

"What?" I asked trying to keep my voice even and calm.

Zach's lips tightened, debating on how to put it, "She saw your family, going to join our enemies."

My mouth went dry, "My family? If she hurt them in any way I'll—"

"They aren't harmed, as I said Jinny only watched from afar. They made it to Volterra safely." Zach announced harshly.

My eyes widened in surprise, "Volterra? Then that means your enemy is—"

"I believe you called them the Volturi, yes." Zach answered impatiently. "My question is, why is your family consorting with our enemy? If I recall your memories correctly they're no friend to you either."

My mind ran through all of the possibilities why my family would go there, and the only reason I could think of was to find help to get me back. But the Volturi wouldn't fight for one vampire, they have too much at risk trying to maintain order as it was.

I was taking too long to answer, "Reenie…" Zach called as patiently as he could, and I could feel his anxiety.

"Zach—I—I don't know," I admitted softly.

"Don't lie to me Reenie, because I had to spend all morning fighting with my oldest friend over this. She thinks they're there for you. That you pose a risk to our cause. She want me to break our connection and send you—"

"No!" I snapped before I could even think about it. I couldn't explain it, but Zach breaking his connection with me sounded like the worst thing that he could possibly do. "Look, I don't know why my family is there, but the Volturi aren't going to send anyone looking for me. I don't mean anything to them. My family doesn't know about your history with the Volturi so they wouldn't have a reason to involve them.

The Volturi is different now, some of our family's friends even help lead it. Friends visit each other all the time." I defended not rally sounding convincing.

Zach doubted it, "Jinny says your loyalty will never be to me, that by keeping my connection with you, I'm risking everyone else here."

"Jinny, has had a problem with me since day one." I snarled, unable to control myself I punched a tree as hard as I could sending it cracking and falling over. Zach's eyes widened at me in amazement, it was definitely the moon, because normally I wasn't that strong. The thick trunk of the hundred year old tree broke like a twig. Once the anger channeled out all I was left with was frustration, the type that made you cry. "I know I'm not the easiest complement to have, but I didn't do anything wrong."

He didn't say anything, he just watched me wipe my eyes and look away from him. I realized that I could plead my case all day and it wouldn't mean anything if he didn't want me here. "Do you want to break your connection with me?"

"No," He answered truthfully, but he still didn't sound sure.

So I decided to continue with my perspective. "Zach, if you send me back you will be risking your kind. The first thing my family is going to do is read my mind, find this place, and come after you."

"I never thought of it that way," he admitted, still torn.

I continued, "If you break your connection with me, the only way to keep your secret safe would be to kill me."

Zach's eyes widened angrily, "I would never hurt you. Or let anyone else hurt you."

"Then don't let me go," I insisted in a whisper that was almost pleading.

He calmed down, anger quickly replaced with uncertainty. "You're asking me to choose you over every other life that's in my hands."

"No—" I snapped grabbing his arm to look at me. It was in that minute that I knew avoiding a choice was the foolish notion from the mind of a child. I knew the moment we touched and that fire ignited like the very first day in the oasis; that refusing to make a decision was in a roundabout way making a choice. I knew that Zach went against everything I ever once stood for, that he was bad for me. But I couldn't bring myself to care. Zach had gotten in my blood—literally. And I never felt more alive than when I was with him, and no matter how much my gut was screaming to turn away, I was under his spell. "I'm asking you to look at me and trust that I'm not going anywhere."

His eyes were dangerous, and his kiss was just as sinful. My hands wove in his hair, as he took away my breath, my will to move, and my ability to form coherent thoughts; none of which returned until he pulled back. "Are you sure?"

"Promise me you won't let anyone hurt my family, promise me that and I'll stay with you." I nodded not removing my fingers from his belt loops.

He smiled, "That's easy, I promise." I touched my hand to his neck giving him flashes of us kissing again. He laughed and my blood ran hot when I felt his reaction, but he pulled my hand away, instead linking our fingers again. "You are talented beyond belief Reenie." He complimented continuing our walk. "But one of us has to have control if we're ever going to go run ropes."

"Ropes schmopes," I muttered letting him pull me through the trees.

He just chuckled stopping at a large pine tree. "You won't feel that way once you're running the course."

"We've been walking for miles, when are we going to get there?" I wondered, still frustrated.

Zach just rolled his eyes, tilted my chin up with his index finger and kissed me again. When he pulled away he playfully rolled his eyes again, this time lingering up making mine follow. "You've been under it this whole time. This is one of the many starting points through the forest, it ends back where the forest starts."

I didn't know if it was me or him, but suddenly I was very excited. "Let's go."

"After you," He motioned for the ladder. I stopped only to put my hair up in a ponytail. I looked up at him frowning at my attire. "Nina's right you do look adorable, but it goes against my instincts to dress you in the finest if I let you wear my clothes."

"You didn't buy me any t-shirts," I accused again, not arguing, instead making my climb up the ladder with him close on my heels, "and I like being comfortable."

"You can be just as comfortable in the finest." He argued below me.

I didn't look down but he could no doubt still feel my pout, "But I'm happy this way."

"Fine," Be breathed, and the discussion was over before an argument could even really start. I knew that if I really wanted something, he couldn't refuse me.

I grinned, proud of my new found loop hole, "Besides, if I were dressed your way you would totally be able to see up my dress by now."

"If only," he sighed feigning disappointment, "but, the view I have now isn't so bad."

I glared down to see him smirking at me, but just shook my head and pulled myself up on the branch when the ladder stopped. I could see the course a lot better now that I was higher.

The intricate course weaved through and over the trees for miles, certain spots having other ropes you could grab for support while some didn't have anything all together. I tentatively took a step onto the first rope, stepping back when the large larch tree it was connected too started to bend.

"Cool right?" Zach grinned from behind me. "The larch trees tops, are strong enough to support you, but bend under your weight giving the ropes a hint of bounce. It's quite an adrenaline rush."

What was wrong with these people? "Yes heaven forbid werewolves can't get their adrenaline rush." I muttered sliding my foot back onto the rope, using a branch above me for support until I got my balance. "Here goes…"

—

"Told you it'd be fun," Zach snickered leading me back across the yard in his arms.

He was once again right. The balancing and bouncing above the trees was exhilarating to say the least, a smile stretched the entire four and a half miles. "Okay you were right." I admitted without shame.

Zach obviously liked the sound of that. "Wait until tomorrow, we're going somewhere even better. Better than the jump at the capitols."

"Where?" I demanded, already wondering what could be better than he already showed me.

Kissing my forehead, he released me. "That's for me to know and for you to find out." I started to use my new found gift to make him tell me, but he caught me before I could, "That won't work, Reenie. Now don't forget you have tea with my sister in two minutes, and she hates it when people are late."

"Tea schme" I groaned wanting to follow him wherever he was going, but was pretty sure he was going someone I couldn't follow. "How do I get there?"

"Follow the cobblestone to the east side of the house, they should be on the portico waiting."

It took everything I could to hold in my giggle, "Porch, patio, terrace, you know those are the words normal people use right?"

"What about me is normal?" He asked with that sexy side smirk he always gave me.

He had a point. I followed his instructions, but stopped before I rounded the corner. The girls were all arguing, it was lot, but it was still an argument.

"I don't know what you're talking about," A Scottish accent snapped in denial.

Penelope's controlled voice countered her, "I could practically feel you radiating at her at breakfast."

"It's not nice." Melanie seconded. Of course they were talking about me. "She's a sweet person if you'd allow yourself to get to know her, and Zach's happy."

Jinny's voice laced with anger, "It's you guys that don't know her. You think Zachariah's found some big answer in her, no, that girl is going to ruin him."

"I disagree." Nina's voice argued back.

Jinny snapped back just as quickly, "You didn't see what I saw."

"We know what you saw," Penelope assured, still calm. Jinny must have been surprised, because she explained further, "Our husbands tell us everything, and we honestly don't see a big deal."

My blood boiled as I listened, Jinny was out for blood. "Her family went to the Volturi—"

"Her family also fought the Volturi, and destroyed their structure." Nina argued, more informed than I thought she was. "If anything, she's given us the chance to finally make moves of our own."

"How do you know that? Zach only told the four—"

Nina lost her patience. "Jinny, you will do well to understand that Zach is my brother. He tells me everything, most of the time before you or the rest of the four. I respect your position and if you know what's good for you you'll respect mine."

Once she was sure she had Jinny's attention she went on, "Now, as far as Zach goes—he's happy. This is the first time I have seen him happy in a decade, and if Reenie is even a hint of the reason then I'm for it. She is his complement but she's also his chosen partner, so you will treat her with the same respect that you give us.

I've been lax lately, and that's because if anyone gets why you're upset it's us. We get it, we understand we do, but your behavior isn't acceptable. If I hear about anymore nastiness towards Reenie from her or anyone else I'm telling Zach, and I don't miss anything."

She walked off and for a minute I was paralyzed with fury; debating on whether to chase after her, pretend I didn't hear the conversation at all, or demand to know what her problem was. I decided on the latter.

I bounded the corner without so much of a hello, making poor Penelope jump when I demanded to know, "What is her deal?"

"Oh Reenie, you weren't supposed to hear that," Melanie apologized.

I didn't respond to her right away, still furious, "Why does she hate me?" I insisted.

Nina let out a sigh and motioned for a chair across from her, "She doesn't hate you exactly."

"Sure as hell feels like it," I snapped taking a seat. The three of them looked at each other having a silent conversation until I got frustrated, "Explain."

Nina decided to take it. "Okay, do you remember how I told you it was a hard life, being one of the women?"

I nodded, getting a sick feeling in my stomach, not liking where it was going.

Melanie went on, "Well, Jinny, is kind of the reason that we know female werewolves can't reproduce."

My eyes widened, "Jinny and Zach—"

"Jinny was Zach's first complement." Penelope put it as delicately as possible. "They were a thing for a few years, but she couldn't carry on the line."

Nina let out another breath, reminding me to breathe, "So, Zach had no choice but to break the connection with her, and in time find another complement."

"Most connections are broken once the complement dies, so that the male can heal and move on and continue the race." Melanie explained, "But if at any time he chooses to break their bond, the female remembers it."

She still loved him, that's why she hated me. It's one thing to have to look at dozens of complements come and go, but she looked at me and saw everything that she and Zach should be—permanent. "Zach lied to me, he said he didn't know what was wrong with her."

"Zach, doesn't get it." Nina explained, "I mean, sure he remembers their time together, but it's like trying to remember your first boyfriend. A big deal at the time, but now a distant memory. He still loves her, and cares for her, but now like an old friend."

"It's been over a hundred and twenty years," Melanie huffed impatiently grabbing her lemonade and taking a sip. "She should have gotten over it by now. She doesn't have to go through what we do."

Penelope sighed, "You can be so crass at times Mel. It isn't her fault Reenie. We were never complements, so we don't know what it's like to have that and watch it ripped from you."

I didn't want to think about this. I didn't want to think about Zach with anyone before me, let alone Jinny. Someone that close to him, and still having feelings was almost too much to bear. "I can't think about this—"

Nina grabbed my wrist and leaned forward. "Breathe….one…two…good." She encouraged trying to take my mind off of it. "Now tell me how you liked the ropes?"

"It was amazing," I admitted, breathing coming easier the conversation I overheard almost out of mind completely.

Penelope grinned, "I see Zach let you keep the clothes."

"I told him it made me happy, and there was no fight over it at all." I shrugged.

Three three of them seemed impressed, or shocked. "Lucky, Ray loves me in dresses and skirts too much."

"Peter loves the easy access too much," Melanie scoffed.

Penelope sprayed her drink in shock making the three of us laugh. "Melanie."

And like that, Jinny was out of mind, almost like magic. We talked about making one more lunch date before the week of the full moon, but it wasn't long before Zach came to steal me away again.

"Where is my Reenie?" He broadcasted coming out, and it all came rushing back. I stiffened, wondering if he had a nickname for Jinny too. He sensed it right away, "Reenie what's wrong?"

"Nothing—" I lied quickly.

He looked to Nina for confirmation, she didn't rat me out but she didn't exactly lie for me either, "Take your girl upstairs brother, I'm sure you have a lot to talk about."

Zach eyed the group cautiously, no doubt wondering what could have gotten me upset in two hours out of his sight. He grabbed my hand and my body voluntarily went with him, no matter what I was thinking at the time. "Come on Reenie."

Once we were back in the bedroom I told him what I overheard, I told him what the girls told me, and he was livid to say the least. He didn't want me to know about Jinny and him, and I started to get angry that he thought it was something worth overlooking.

He said that I was overreacting, and that I was his world, and I reminded him that at some point she was his world too. Zach didn't take that very well, and I was almost too mad to care. I didn't understand how he couldn't get it.

"It worries me Zach," I admitted falling on the bed after tiring myself out. We argued for hours, the day now night and still getting nowhere.

He was just as exhausted as I was, "Don't get what, Reenie? I'm telling you that what we had was over well over a century ago."

"You almost broke your connection with me today, I could have been her." I spelled it out.

He sat on the bed next to me, running over my girl logic in his head. "But I didn't. I couldn't. Don't you see Reenie? Even if you didn't fight to convince me not to break the connection, I could have never brought myself to do it. That's the difference. You have to get that. I will spend every day showing you how much of my world you are if that's what it takes."

That was the problem. "I'm scared Zach."

"Scared of what?"

How do you explain, that you're afraid of getting used to something in fear of having to live without it someday? "Because anyone with the power to make you feel like you're the world to them, also has the power to make you feel like you're nothing." Jinny was living proof of that.

"Oh Reenie," Zach sighed at a loss for words, holding me. "I'm not going anywhere."

And I believed him, like magic, our argument was over. Feeling the weight of it all he pulled back the blanket letting me crawl in, and him doing the same. Zach was the best, and worse thing that ever happened to me. Even though I knew how bad this could be, it still felt too good to let him go. I was stuck.

Hello All, okay so there was alot of drama this chapter, and I know it all seems is lost for Ness (or reenie DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ROOT FOR) but it's not over unitl I type the end. Now you know what's Jinny's problem, but then again I'm sure it was obvious. But now you know how deep it goes.

Let me know what you think. The mini climax happens during the next ness chapter which will be 24 or 25 depending on what you guys say you want. I can leave ness the way she is for another chapter and let Asima talk about what's happening in Jennah or I can let ness and Zach reach their hit or miss moment where they either do it or dont do it. Let me know. :)