Hidden Within

Beers

As we arrive back at the pack house, there is a group of children running around the front garden. When we approach the kids, they stop and stare at us before one points at me and says, "Who are you?" A little girl with curly red hair squeaks.

"Hi, I'm Dalia, I smile at her. "What's your name?"

"Charlotte, but I'm not supposed to talk to strangers." she tells me while putting her little hand on her hip.

"Well, Charlotte, it's nice to meet you! I respond before Jess pipes in, "and she isn't a stranger she lives here now."

My attention is on the little girl behind Charlotte. She has the most strangest eyes I have ever seen, and she was staring at me so intently it kind of creeped me out. I give her a little wave as Jess pulls me towards the door.

"Alright girls, go play. We have stuff to do. Jess tells them, paying no mind to them.

"Come on, those girls will have us braiding their hair and playing tea parties if we stay any longer." she laughs.

"Hmm," I mumble, thinking about the strange girl.

Jess goes to the kitchen to get snacks, and I follow behind her still in awe of the beautiful design of this house when the most heavenly smell hits my nose.

"Mate." Yahni coos.

I sniff the air loudly, and Jess turns around, smiling. "That's the mate bond kicking in! your man is over there." she gestures towards the island bench where Jax is sitting with his back to us, eating a bagel.

"Ladies." he greets us with his deep husky voice.

Blood rushes to my cheeks, and I can feel them turning red.

"Hi Alpha," Jess greets him with a big smile on her face.

"Did u like the grounds, Dalia?" he asks me while smirking when his eyes hit my face, probably because of my tomato cheeks, I think to myself.

"Yes, thank you, it's really nice." I say, trying to get my cheeks to stop burning.

Jess had disappeared into a big walk in pantry, so I took a seat next to Jax, noticing a few people looking at me. I don't really know what to say, so I just sit there awkwardly when a young man comes over.

"Hi gorgeoarghh," he tries to say, but before he even gets it out, Jax has his hand wrapped around the guys throat.

"Mine." he growls.

I jump back in shock, and Jess comes rushing back out, snacks flying everywhere.

"sssorry, Alpha," the guy gurgles out as Jax releases him. "I didn't know, I was only trying to say hello." he stumbles back and bows slightly to Jax.

Jaxs body heaves from the quick breaths he's taking.

"Well, now you know, so get out!" he growls, and the boy leaves so quickly I thought he would trip.

Jess laughs, but I snap my eyes back to Jax. He is going to hurt Jess for laughing. He gets up and moves towards her, but I quickly move in the way. "Please don't hurt her." I beg.

Jax stops dead in his tracks and stares at me, and I can see hurt in his eyes.

"Why would I hurt her?" he growls at me.

"Because she laughed," I squeak out.

He shakes his head incredulously. "I was only going to help pick up the snacks, Dalia. I am not a monster," he says and walks past me out the door.

I stand there in shock at what just happened, I feel like an i***t. I hurt his feelings, but he was so mad, and I like Jess. I was only trying to protect her.

"Earth to Dalia," Jess says while snapping her fingers in my face. "It's ok he will get over it, but I'm touched you would stand up for me." she tells me, trying to reasure me.

"I just, I-I-I don't know. I'm not used to being around people, and I was scared." I stutter out.

"Let's go watch that movie and forget about it." Jess tries to comfort me. "I'll grab some beer, too." she winks.

I have never tried beer or any kind of alcohol so I just shrug at her, still replaying what just happened in my head as I let Jess lead the way to Jax's room.

Once Jess finished checking out Jax's room, she hands me a beer and puts a movie on. Guardians of the Galaxy. I can't say it really interested me much, but Jess and I chatted until the sun was completely down. She told me so much stuff about our kind. I had almost gotten over the encounter in the kitchen around the time I finished my fourth beer.

"I am busting. I need to pee." I say to Jess as I jump up from the bed but quickly lose my balance and stumble on the floor. I start laughing. "I can't walk. My legs feel funny."

"You're drunk," Jess chuckles at me. "You've only had four!" she tells me.

"I've never drunk beer before," I say indignantly while hiccuping. "But it feels good." I laugh some more and start peeing myself.

Racing into the bathroom, I do my business and rip off my wet undies.

"Bring me some undies." I scream out to Jess.

She comes in with undies and another beer. "Oh my gosh, look at the spa." She gasps. "Let's get in it!" she squeals.

I peek over at it. It doesn't look that scary, and I'm feeling rather brave. I giggle. "It's just a tub. It can't hurt me." I say aloud.

"What? Jess raises her brows. "You're weird," she shrugs while turning the taps on.

It takes a while to fill up, and I'm almost finished with the beer she brought in by the time it's done. Jess starts taking her clothes off, and I laugh.

"What are you laughing at," she says while wiggling her but at me. "Get in, I'll grab another beer." she races out the room in her nakedness.

I rip the rest of my clothes off so I can get under the water before Jess sees my scars. I step into the tub and stand there, telling myself it's just a bath. There's no one here to hurt me.

"What the f**k happened to you!" Jess whispers loudly at me. I got lost in my thoughts and hadn't heard her come back. She's standing in the doorway gaping at me.

"Long story," I sigh while sinking down in the water. "Give me that beer, and I'll tell you about it."

Jess hurries over and steps into the tub, passing me the beer. I spend the next thirty minutes telling Jess about my life and how I got some of my scars. She hasn't said a word the whole time. Just staring at me with tears in her eyes.

"Stop looking at me like that. You're killing my buzz," I try to laugh it off. I was still feeling buzzed and maybe a little too buzzed. My head was spinning a bit.

Finally, Jess says, "That's the saddest s**t I ever heard. No wonder you're so jumpy all the time."

I splash water at her, "I'm not jumpy."

she splashes some back. "Uh huh, you are, but now I know why. You're so strong to go through all that." she tells me.

"Let's talk about something else." I mumble out with a burp. "Tell me what it's like to shift?"

"Oh man the first time f*****g sucks, it hurts so bad, but you might be ok, they say if your mate is with you it makes it easier. Depends on your wolf too. If she is strong, the shift is quicker." She explains.

"Are you ok? she asks.

"Um, I don't feel so good." I tell her and spew in the tub.

she starts screaming and jumps out so quickly I start laughing while wiping the vomit away.

"That's f*****g disgusting" she crys. "I think you're done." She says while turning the shower on.