Unrelenting Destiny [COMPLETED]

7. Get Our Stories Straight

Jasper Orion Deveraux

Jasper entered Sunset Waters Pack house, wary and not entirely sure what he was going to say or do. He was met with a bustling foyer and common room, wolves looking up at the movement and openly staring at the stranger. The noise of conversation dulled to a flurry of whispers. Jasper suddenly became very conscious of every eye that was on him.

"I'm looking for Alpha Clark and Gamma Quentin." Jasper inquired, his deep voice bellowing over the sound of the gossiping wolves. An Omega helper scurried deeper into the house, emerging soon after trailed by Sunset Waters royalty. Jasper stood straight, clearing his throat as he extended a hand to the three men and Gamma Quentin's mate.

"Beta Jasper of Astral Twilight." Alpha Clark shook his hand. Alpha Clark was large, round man. He looked to be someone who was once fit and favorable but took on a steady dad gut throughout the years. 

Jasper bowed his head slightly in greeting, "Alpha Clark, Beta Ray, Gamma Quentin, Mrs. Moore." 

Alpha Clark gestured towards his office, Jasper obliging. He noticed the Gammas eyes searing into him. Surely they smelled their daughter on him. They sat within the large office, exchanging pleasantries as an Omega made his rounds doling out drinks to them. Jasper took a particularly long time to prepare his coffee, focusing on the perfect amount of cream and sugar just to stall. He had no idea what to tell them and hoped Luciana wouldn't be long.

Alpha Clark settled in his chair, "To what do we owe the pleasure, Beta Jasper? I hope The Claiming went well last night?"

Fuck. They weren't going to beat around the bush with this one. After all, there was no other reason for him to be there. Jasper took a long sip, "Ah, yes. The Claiming was...good. Normal." He winced a bit, struggling with exactly what he should be saying. He didn't want to say anything that would contradict whatever Luciana was going to tell them. "The largest turnout I've seen so far. There was actually a substantial amount of true mates who found each other." Inhaling sharply, he fought the urge to widen his eyes as he thought, myself included.

"That's good to hear." Alpha Clark's eyes narrowed, "Any good news regarding our pack in particular?"

Jasper took another sip of his coffee, mind racing for an answer, "The wolf Jeffrey. I remember hearing he had left without claiming anyone last year. He was very quick to find a mate this year. Thankfully." His words were choppy, trying to avoid the subject of Luci.

Alpha Clark nodded, "Yes, he returned this earlier this afternoon with his mate. We were...relieved to see his results."

Jasper nodded in agreement. A long stretch of silence made him sweat.

"Why are you here, Beta Jasper?" Gamma Quentin practically growled, clearly growing impatient.

Jasper lifted the half-empty mug to his lips, setting it back down as his stomach churned. He wasn't usually so bad on his feet. Usually, he was good with small talk, with facing demanding presences without faltering. It's what made him a good Beta. But he was worried about his mate, worried about his own skin. It was far too much to process in such a small amount of time. It probably didn't help that he had spent more than half of their long drive thinking of all the ways he wanted to take Luci over and over again.

Luckily, a rap on the door drew their attention. "Come in," Clark called out.

Luciana's blonde head popped in, her skin flushed and chest heaving as if she had run there. Bianca was close behind her, "S-sorry, Alpha Clark. I don't mean to intrude."

Gamma Quentin and Aisla moved to welcome their daughter, hugging her close. They greeted her with a flurry of questions, still wary of the stranger who sat by them.

"I'm sorry, I came with Beta Jasper but I got caught up with Bianca." She explained hurriedly, Bianca nodding in agreement beside her.

"No need to apologize, Luciana." Alpha Clark raised his hand in dismissal, "But I would still like to know why you were escorted here by the hosting pack's Beta."

Before she could respond, Aisla pointed out, "Why aren't you marked?" 

The question hung in the air, every set of eyes now focused on Luci's bare neck. Despite the trails of love bites Jasper had left on her, her accelerated healing reduced them to nearly invisible blemishes. But the lack of any mark whatsoever was only accentuated by her pale skin, hidden only partially by her hair.

Luci's eyes met Jasper's, a twinge of fear and hesitance in them. Jasper cleared his throat, ready to come clean with their reasoning, "The reason why Luciana is not marked is because-"

"Because Jasper wanted to wait." Luci blurted out, dislodging from her parents' hold and moving to him. He sat in stunned silence as she sat on the arm of his chair, casually placing her hand on top of his, "Beta Jasper is my true mate, Alpha Clark. We felt the mate pull at The Claiming but I had arrived after he had already started his welcomes. We did not want to delay the ceremony any longer with our meeting."

Jasper looked at her in shock but remained silent. He felt his voice caught in his throat, an itch of guilt poisoning his heart the more the room stared at their joined hands.

Luci pursed her lips before continuing, "He had been busy all night and all this morning tending to The Claiming's stragglers. We just...haven't had the chance to mark each other."

Before silence could again stretch into the room, Bianca clapped excitedly, "That's why they came in that big pickup - to bring Luci's stuff back. Isn't that good news? Luci's going to be the mate of Astral Twilight's Beta!" The room erupted in congratulations, Luci's parents moving to their daughter and her mate. Jasper sat with an uncomfortable but unwavering smile on his face, not sure of what the hell Luci was planning. 

"Well that is good news. Congratulations." Alpha Clark nodded, "Beta Jasper, thank you for facilitating the ceremony. And more importantly, thank you for taking care of our Luci. I'm sure you're tired. Why not stay here for the night before heading back tomorrow?" 

***

The rest of the evening was a flurry but Jasper almost felt normal. He was glad that he was able to hold Luci's hand in front of her family, to stand close to her and whisper into her ear without any accusatory glances. Jasper felt more comfortable the longer he spent with her and for brief moments he forgot about every other f****d up part of the entire situation. It wasn't until they were in her old room, finally alone.

Jasper stood by the window, gazing out into the mountainous scenery as Luci washed up for bed. As she emerged from her bathroom, he looked back to her with a bit of a grave expression, "What were you thinking, Luci? This wasn't the plan."

Luci frowned, her brow wrinkling, "Our mating was always part of the plan, Jasper... even if we didn't know it this morning."

He sighed, "You know what I mean." 

"I know," she moved closer to him, eyes drifting towards the window as well. He moved behind her, circling her shoulders and holding her close. He inhaled her sweet scent, relishing in it. He honestly had no idea how much longer they'd have to be like this.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." Luci murmured into his arms, "It all just came out. Bianca convinced me that this is destiny, that there was no use in hiding our connection. She...says it will all work out."

"What does she know?" Jasper asked rather harshly, "You don't realize the position you've put me in, Luciana." He released her, watching the hurt spread in her eyes as she turned to look up at him. He felt a bit of a crack in his heart at that expression.

"I know, Jasper!" she protested, pushing away from his slightly, "You don't think it's been eating away at me since you stopped the car this morning? All I can think about is how nice Orianna was to me, how devastated she will be when she finds out." When she finds out. Not if. Jasper realized she was serious about following destiny, about telling the truth no matter what he said. Every fiber of his being wanted to as well. But he was the Beta of his pack, with a mate that was respected and well-known.

"I'm sorry, my dear." he brought her back closer, placing a kiss on her forehead, "It's just... Astral Twilight will not take this as well as Sunset Waters has." That was an understatement. He had no idea what would happen when they returned to his pack territory. He had no idea how to face Orianna. After all, he was the one who forced himself onto her in their Claiming ceremony. She had fought him for months before they had finally found happiness together. But that fabricated happiness felt nothing like the past 12 hours he had with his true mate. Jasper felt as though his entire life had been leading up to those few steps towards her waiting at the truck that morning; it felt like nothing else in his past mattered as much as his future with her.

Jasper sighed again, pulling her close and hugging her, "We'll figure it out."

"I...I don't want to lose you, Jasper. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't have this with you for the rest of my life." Luci voiced the very words he felt in his heart. 

"I promise you won't lose me, Luciana." he looked down as she raised her arms to lock behind his head. They stood together, bathed in moonlight, as he gently placed his lips on hers. Their soft lip lock eased his mind, clearing his head. Yes, he would do anything to keep this feeling, to keep her with him. 

"We just have to get our stories straight."