Chapter 26
~Aaden POV~
"I'm literally going to rip her a new one." I growled. "Keep your head on straight." Derek said, his fingers digging into my shoulders enough to grab my attention. "I am!" I shouted, then immediately lowered my voice, even though I was livid, "I'm getting fed up with her shit, Derek. I am her Luna, she cannot overrun me like she seems to think she can." Derek's perturbed face softened slightly as he said, "I know. I'll make sure to talk with her, but you as the Luna must remain calm in the face of anger. I'm not an example at all, I know, but that's not my part. As the Alpha, it's expected of me to show my temper, but the Luna is grace, calmness, and a secret badass. When you are turned, whip her ass, but until then, keep a level head." By the end of his short speech, I was already feeling calmer, but I still felt the urge to kill, even if she was a packmate. This was the umpteenth time Jessica had openly undermined me in front of the whole pack. Although I got some support from a few members, the rest of them laughed with her, agreeing I couldn't uphold my position. Well I would show them.
I sat down and took a sip of water from the bottle Derek and I were sharing, and Jared, Isaac, Ethan, and Boyd came over to offer me comfort. I was grateful to them, and it made me love them so much more, but it also made me feel weak that I let them. I was their leader, and I was stronger than I appeared, but I was sure that it would come out clearer once I could release my full potential. "Get your FUCKING ASSES in GEAR!" Derek's anger was showing now as well. Unsurprisingly, every wolf in there hopped to. Jessica's snarky look said she wanted to fight the order, but she couldn't. The need to obey her Alpha overrode her haughtiness. That's right, bitch. You just wait until I'm turned. "Wow," Farren said, having popped up beside me, "I don't think I've ever seen them straighten up so fast." I smiled, "He's just showing off." "No, because he's accepted you, because you're mated, he's stronger, more powerful. You will be too." She said, "And because he's more powerful, his authority has risen even more. When you're turned, even Jessica will be unable to dis your command." It was then, and much to my surprise, that I caught a strong feeling. This feeling did not belong to my husband, it wasn't even in his direction, but instead, came from my side. It hit me like any physical object would. "What is it?" "Emotions. Anger….sadness." I looked around, and it took me only a second to realize that Jessica was missing from the group. Was it coming from her? Was I feeling my packmate's emotions? "Farren?" "Yes?" "Is it possible for me to feel other wolves' emotions? Can I sense others other than Derek?" "If they were strong enough, maybe. Why? Are you feeling emotions now?" "Yes, but they do not belong to Derek." "That's peculiar." She hummed quietly.
"I'll be back," I said, and walked over to Derek. "Are you okay?" He asked. "I'm fine, but I have a question." He rose an eyebrow, looking into my face. "Can I feel the packmates' feelings?" This seemed to stump him. He began to say something, then cut it off, before opening his mouth again. "It's possible. I can't, but as the Luna, the gentler Alpha, maybe you can. Where are you getting the feeling?" "It came from a side room. Where is Jessica?" "I allowed her to go to the locker room. Do you think it's her?" I didn't answer, but instead went to find her. Yes, she had just pissed me off, and yes, she hated me, but she was still first and foremost, one of my betas. Family.
Quietly, I went into the locker room. Jessica was sitting on the floor, cradling something small in her hand. Much to my surprise, I heard her sniffle, and then a crippling despair washed over me. It felt as though I had nothing left in the world, why didn't I just die? Shaking my head hard, I separated my feelings from hers. What the hell? She was usually such a bitch, what did she have to be sad over?
"Jessica?" I braved, and let myself be heard. When she turned, there were tears in her eyes, but also hatred unlike I'd ever seen. "What the hell are you doing in here? What, do you think because you're the big bad Luna you can just pry into everything?" Her voice was cold steel, and I felt the urge to shrink away, but reminding myself of who I was, I refused to do so. Instead, I walked over near her and sat on the bench. "Listen to me," I said, a hint of steel entering my own voice, "we don't have to be best friends, we don't have to like each other, but you are part of this pack and I will take care of you, even if you hate me for it. Now, I don't know what I've done to piss you off so badly, but you're going to confront me with it face to face or when I'm changed, I'll rip it out of you, understood?" I felt shocked at my words, but held to them, and much to my surprise, Jessica, although grudgingly, backed down in submission. Again, I let tenderness touch my voice, "I don't have to know your backstory, Jessica. It's not just a job to me to look out and care for you. You're my family now, don't you understand that?" Her cold, dead eyes looked to mine, and although they didn't soften, I could see I'd struck something. There was still anger streaked on her face, but understanding was also.
Silently, she grabbed my hand and put in it a single, tiny shoe. It was weathered, torn in places, the laces missing. This was a baby's shoe, and she looked at it longingly as it lay nestled in my palm. "I don't hate you," she said, surprising me, "I envy you." In a submissive gesture, she took back the shoe and lowered her head. Without another word, she stood and quietly walked out. I felt as if I'd been punched in the chest with a sledgehammer. There was a long, utterly sad story behind that tiny artifact she held so dear. I didn't know if knowing or not knowing would make me feel any different than I did just then. Before, I'd just looked forward to turning just to be able to take her on, but now, I just wanted to be able to help her. I still didn't have to know, but I knew now that she wasn't trying to just keep everyone away, she was hiding her pain.
I felt numb as I walked out, and suddenly, I was exhausted. I hadn't noticed it before, but after my talk with Jessica, I felt like I'd run a race. Carefully, I lowered myself to the ground and lay back against the wall.
~Derek POV~
I watched as Aaden settled down by the wall. She wasn't angry or discontent, but she looked as though she felt a million years old. Quite the weird sight considering she was only almost twenty-one. I had the feeling that Jessica had exposed a little of herself to Aaden, and that pleased me. Jessica's backstory was absolutely tragic, so much so that I could relate easily to her, although not exactly. I would save that for Aaden later, and tried to turn back to the training of my wolves. It was apparent though, that my head wasn't where it needed to be. Jared and Isaac approached me, submissive and respectful attitudes evident on their young faces. "What?" I asked as they drew nearer. "Is everything okay?" Isaac blurted. "Everything is fine," I said, feeling my frown grow, "why wouldn't it be?" "You don't seem into this, not like usual." Jared replied. "I'm fine, just go finish your bars." They shared a look before complying. Ah, young wolves. It made me remember the hell I'd put my own parents through. It also made me wonder why in the hell my father hadn't just killed me. I'd been pretty rebellious growing up, when the testosterone and Alpha ganged up together against me. If my wolves did half of the shit I'd done as a teenager, I'd rip off their heads and throw them at their dying bodies. I had to admit, I had a very talented and obedient group, save the few stragglers still trying to hop aboard my status of authority.
A half hour later, I dismissed the wolves and went to help Aaden up. As a husband of just a little over a month, I couldn't help wanting to be around her constantly and worrying over every little thing. It occurred to me that she hadn't risen from her spot in about forty-five minutes. It wasn't like her to be sluggish. "Aaden?" I said when I got closer. "Yeah?" she asked, lost in thought. "Are you okay?" I asked, reaching down to help her up. "Yes, just thinking." She replied. "About?" "Jessica. She's very upset." "Yeah, she is." I agreed, wrapping her up in a hug. She said nothing else, but frowned deeper. Then she sighed, "I'm very tired." "It's been a productive day. Between reading a bunch, and training, I'm sure it has worn you out." Three weeks, she'd been constant: Reading lore, studying, and training. Her mind and body needed a rest.
I lifted her chin and pressed my lips to hers. Her temperature was off, and her scent, although there, was overridden but a slightly metallic and sour smell. Sickness. She must be coming down with something, but how could she not? It was coming onto spring, and it shifted between warm and freezing. Add in the fact that she'd been sleeping very little. Allergies were common though. I led her to the kitchen. "You seem to be feeling ill. Here," I said, handing her some medicine and water, "take this. We'll take a long hot shower and then you're sleeping. You'll feel better in no time." "I get allergies every year," she explained, "I completely forgot about the season." I said nothing, but took her hand and led her upstairs. When we hopped in the shower together, her skin began to warm, and that made me feel better. I didn't like the thought of her being down. Softly, I held her against me. I looked forward to when she'd be a wolf. That way, she'd never be sick again, she'd live a long time, and when the war was over, we could settle, if we weren't dead anyway.
"Derek!" She said, breaking into my thoughts. Her hands frantically pushed at me. She was pushing me away, and I was confused. "Baby, what-" I started. Her answer was to break away and lean her head into the toilet, making some of the worst noises I'd ever heard in my life. I wasn't grossed out at all, but it did scare the hell out of me. Perhaps this was a little more than an allergy. All I could figure was food poisoning. We'd had Chinese the night before, and she had said something about it tasting off. "Sorry about that," she said, flushing, but not moving from her spot on the floor. "Don't apologize," I said, wrapping a towel around my waist, "must be food poisoning." "Oh," she groaned, pressing a hand to her stomach, "that fucking Chinese food. I had almost forgotten. I knew that shit tasted weird." I suppressed a laugh and wrapped a towel firmly around her. Quickly, she brushed her teeth, then settled into the bed beside me. "Sleep Aaden, you'll be better before you know it." She smiled weakly and kissed my jaw. "I love you," she murmured, already beginning to drift off. "And I love you." I said, brushing my lips against her temple before drifting off myself.
**Uh oh, Aaden's fallen ill. That's never fun, but at least she's seemed to scratch the surface of Jessica's hard outer shell. I hope you all enjoyed reading! Please feel free to review! Have a good one!**