Bonded By Fate

Chapter One Continued

“ Nervous much? Committed a crime that you’re trying to hide?” Jason looked amused and curious. At this point I’m not sure what the best course of action would be, should I confide in a complete stranger and pray he keeps me being here a secret or run before he has a chance to take me to his Alpha.

“I’m not nervous I just don’t like ultimatums or authority.” I stated calmly.

“What is it with rogues and having a problem with rules? It’s the reason you all don’t last out in the open. There isn’t a pack to protect you.” He said whilst shaking his head.

I chose not to respond to his thoughts about rogue life as I never had experienced it before until now.

“Sometimes it’s just easier to depend on yourself rather than others.” I stated after the silence that came between us.

“You look really long, are you even 18 yet?” Jason questioned.

“I’m 19,You?” Now curious of the man in front of me.

“Just turned 25 a few months ago.” Jason said proudly.

“ So, have you decided about what we are going to do about me staying without your alpha finding out?” I asked while trying to be flirtatious, he was being overly friendly, so most likely he was mate-less.

“If a wolf from the pack can supervise you all day, then I can let your presence slip,” he said as he leaned in to me, rubbing his thumb on my on the back of my hand.

“And who would that wolf be?” He grinned as I asked, I actually considered leaving right after I was out of the diner.

Don’t get me wrong Jason is a very handsome man, I just feared his intentions, or what he thought might happen between us.

After he paid for his meal, Jason walked me to his red sleek car, which was parked in front of the diner.

“Where are we off too?” I asked him as we drove off. I wasn’t sure where we were going and I don’t want to make myself vulnerable so that anyone could take advantage of me.

“There is some free land between our pack and the neighboring pack, no wolf hangs out in the outskirts of the territories so it gives us more space.” Jason replied.

I was in awe of the beauty and serenity of the forest. I shifted into my white and gray wolf with jet black marking on my paws, it was a trait my father was proud of. Jason shifted a few feet away from me, his wolf was kind of large, especially for a beta. His wolf was brown with a white stripe on his chest and forehead.

He had came around the corner where he shifted with his clothing in his mouth, as I followed Jason he led me to this beautiful freeing space of land, it looked like a little piece of heaven.

I shouldn’t trust him so easily, after all he has my future in his hands. Against my better judgment, I followed him as we made it to our desired location.

Jason went behind a tree that was nearby to shift back and to change as I went to do the same.

“ We are almost there, just a few more trees ahead.” Jason stated.

As we got closer to our destination we approached this crystal clear lake, which was absolutely breathtaking.

We sat side by side near the water line of the lake, I took my sandals to dip feet in the water a little while I enjoyed the serenity that the scene ahead of me provided.

“You are a very beautiful girl, do you know that?” Jason told me as he moved a few hairs that caressed my cheek.

“Thank you,” I replied. “It’s very rare for rogues who are girls that travel alone.” He stated.

I should have listened to my instincts and never came with him all the way out here alone. My best chance would be running from him.

“Oh really?,” I asked.

“Damon, The Alpha, is not a very forgiving person but I’m sure with my influence as his best friend and beta, if you asked him for permission to be a part of this pack you could stay here permanently.”

As I turned to look at Jason, I saw his expression was serious.

“I assume there would be price for this. What is it?” Knowing that I probably wouldn’t care for the answer very much.

“Look, I really like you, maybe we could give this a try and see if it works.” Jason responded with a slight shrug.

“ Although, I’m flattered that you would purpose such an arrangement, I am not looking for a relationship as of right now.” I replied as friendly as possible trying not to upset him.

“Later you may consider it? Maybe stay a few more days and really take in the town for a chance.” I tried to read Jason’s expression as he was being nice and giving me an option after I rejected his offer.

“Even if I wanted to stay longer, didn’t you say I’d have to get the Alphas permission to do so?”

“ All we have to do is ask for permission to let you stay longer, I’m positive he’d say yes.” Jason told me.

“ The thing is I don’t want to meet your Alpha, so there’s that.” I responded with a slight chuckle as I placed my arms behind me shifting my weight while leaning back and enjoying the sun.

“ Maybe a few more days we can hold off before asking the Alpha, but please stay away from the forest and out of sight from the pack.” He stated looking ahead at the view of the lake.

I looked at Jason curiously, trying to imagine what my life would be like if I stayed. Yes, I was three states away from home and all of the troubles I was running from, however I still felt like at any moment they would come for me and take me back. I ran away like a coward, I’m sure no one was happy about that and I’m sure the pack wanted my death for treason so there’s that as well.

“Fine, I will stay, for now.” I said while Jason smiled and nodded.

Eventually we decided to get back into town so we can eat after Jason noticed that its been awhile since I had eaten. We went back to the diner in town and began to eat some burgers with milkshakes.

At first I didn’t want to trust Jason, but after spending sometime with him it was hard to resist his charm. During our time together I learned that Jason was the Beta of the Darkwood pack for the last few years now. He’s best friends with the Alpha, he enjoys pack life and lives on his own. Jason asked questions about me and my family or rather tried to anyways. Every time he did I placed the attention to something else, my distractions were either really good or he let it go.

After sometime, we noticed it was getting dark outside, we decided to leave the diner and take me back to the hotel. After our meal was paid we left. Once we got out the door the chilling breeze is what we were met with as we made our way to Jasons car.

As we begin pulling into the hotel driveway, Jason got out the car and held my door open for me. As we walked in Jason begin to speak. “Long time, no see, Cindy.”

“ I know, Jason. You really should make more time to come and see us more often.” Cindy replied, coming from behind the counter and embracing Jason in a hug.

“Sure will, now take care of my friend here. She’s new in town and hopefully she will decided to stay with us for a while.” Jason wrapped his arm around my shoulder and smiled down at me.

“ I see you got to meet Karina,” Cindy said to Jason. “Sure did,” Jason replied without taking his gaze off of me.

“ I’ll see you tomorrow Cindy. Thank you for everything,” I told her before walking away. “Sure thing dear! Just call me if you need anything.” I was off to my room with Jason still by my side.

“Will you be okay on your own?” Jason asked me after we reached my room. I was hesitant to allow him into my room for fear of him thinking it was an invitation for a sleepover.

“ I was alone last night, this one shouldn’t be any different.” I replied

“Do you have a pen?” I didn’t have a pen on me, so I was had to go inside my room to get one.

I handed Jason the pen and he wrote down his number in a pad that was on my nightstand. He asked for my number, but I wasn’t carrying my phone. I had left my phone at home, I only wrote down the numbers and addresses that I might need later.

“I’ll come by tomorrow and show you around, okay?” Jason told me as he stood outside my open door. I nodded my head in agreement.

His hand softly caressed my cheek and down my neck. Him being about 6’1 in height, compared to my 5’1, he had to lean down to reach me. As he did, I feared he would kiss me but I didn’t dare to move away from him. He softly brushed his lips on mine pressing longer against me, “have a good night,” he said lustfully as he walked away from me.

I took a breath of relief as I closed the door and rested my back against it. I didn’t know what to do. It would be great to be part of a pack again and not a life on the run as a rogue. Jason was nice enough and of a high enough rank to protect me if anyone from my old pack were to come and try to come for me. However, no matter how much attraction Jason had towards me right now, if he ever found his mate, he would leave me. I would be putting myself in a vulnerable position as defenseless at that.

That night, as I drifted off to sleep all I could think about the possible scenarios for the next few days.