Betrayal & Redemption

One Sided Mate

Jackson POV

I pulled up outside the school again, and sit my breakfast in my lap. I open the styrofoam box and roll my eyes- today, my pancakes are shaped like hearts and my waitress's phone number is written on the lid. 

Never should have slept with her, Arlo scolds. 

YOU were the one who said I have "needs" you asshole, I respond to him. 

Your point? He sniffs like a stuck up school girl and I roll my eyes. 

I douse my pancakes in chocolate syrup and dig in. The first bite is delicious, and I close my eyes and moan. 

You embarrass me, Arlo says and rolls his eyes. 

Can you just shut the f**k up and let me enjoy this, dammit? When did you get so annoying, I ask him. He doesn't respond. Such a child. I eat my meal and go to sip my coffee, but the lid wasn't on tight enough and I end up dumping my coffee all down my white shirt, seat of my car, and all the way down the carpet. Lovely. 

I get out, ripping the shirt off, and tossing it into my trunk. I search for another in the depth of my trunk to no avail. s**t. s**t s**t s**t. I cannot leave this post for too long, but I know I have some extra clothes stashed in the woods. I'll just go run and grab em. Perimeter check. 

Caroline POV

I stumble through the woods trying to cover my body as best as I could. All the while, I was cursing Rae who would stay silent and just give me a few eye rolls here and there. 

After I woke up, my memories from Rae's little escapade came rushing back. Running like the wind until we reached a river, wading through that river and following it until she saw a rabbit. Chasing said rabbit and then RIPPING ITS HEAD OFF and EATING IT. And because that wasn't enough, she ROLLED in the carcass. Rolled. In. The. Carcass. Sickening. 

For your information, it helps hide our scent, you ungrateful little b***h, she says to me. 

You know, I'm against animal abuse and hitting animals but for YOU I would make an exception, I tell her. 

I would like to see yo- she stops abruptly. Okay Caroline, now's your chance to use your new abilities. Do you smell that? Rae asked. I lifted my nose and inhaled deeply. I faintly smelled another wolf, but that was about it. 

You are dense, child. Follow your nose! She said. 

I lifted my nose again and then smelled...something. 

What is it, Rae? 

Just follow it. See if you can. 

I followed my nose, walking through the woods. I follow the scent for a while until it gets stronger and stronger and then...disappears? 

Rae! It's gone!  I tell her. 

Not quite gone. Look up,  she tells me. 

I look up at the tree, and there hanging up over my head I see a t shirt and sweat pants. Yes!! 

You rock! I tell Rae. I set my purse down and try to figure out a plan for climbing the tree.

This is the epitome of overthinking, Rae tells me, unhelpfully. 

Well how would you do it? I ask. 

She shows me an image of running at the tree, jumping off, and grabbing for the clothes with my free hand. I give it a whirl- and fall on my naked ass with clothes in hand. I put them on quickly and I am swimming in them. 

What types of giants populate this place? I joke. I pull the drawstring on the pants as tight as they can go and roll up the bottoms so that I don't trip. I could have worn the t-shirt as a dress, and it would actually be longer than the one I ripped yesterday. 

I guess this will have to do, I tell Rae. 

You got lucky with this. What did you expect, perfectly tailored clothing fit for you, princess? Rae say snidely. 

"You know what? I am going to ignore you when you use that tone with me. I am sick and tired of you being unhelpful and rude. If you have nothing nice to say, just kindly shut the hell up!" I yell aloud in the middle of the woods. 

Technically, I actually am always quiet because nobody can hear me but you, so, Rae just will not give it up. 

Jackson POv

I shift mid-air into my wolf and bound through the trees. I'm really running at a light jog when I hear an exasperated voice yelling in the forest. 

What the hell is that? I ask Arlo. 

No idea. Sounds like something I don't want to be involved in. Arlo says and gives his massive head a shake. 

Oh c'mon. We got time. Besides, we have to go that way- my clothes are up in a tree over there. I tell him. 

He huffs but says nothing. What a brute. We keep running, and a new scent envelops my senses. Arlo immediately perks up. MATE!! He yells and takes off towards the smell. Not 10 seconds later, we plow down a young woman. I shift mid fall, catching her in my arms trying to cushion her fall with my body. 

Caroline POV

I have been assaulted! I tell Rae. She rolls her eyes and says nothing. I look down and my red hair is splayed across a tanned chest smothered in tattoos. 

"Ahhh!" I yell and try to jump to my feet. His hand is tangled in my hair and I end up falling headfirst back on top of him. "Let me go you psycho!" I yell at him. 

"Jesus, relax, my hand is stuck. If you brushed your damned hair every once in a while, this wouldn't happen!" He tells me. What an ass... 

He untangles his hand and pushes me off him. I look up at him and then quickly cover my red face with my hands. 

"You're naked!!" I tell him. 

I can hear the laugh in his voice when he tells me, "Well I could remedy that predicament but it seems you're not just someone without a brush, but also a little thief." 

I drop my hands and scowl up at him. Jesus he is huge."How dare you?! I am not a thief! And a brush? If you knew what I had been through in the last 24 hours you wouldn't be smirking at me like the ass that you are!" I tell him, stamping my foot and pointing a finger in his direction with every word. 

I like him, Rae tells me. I rub my temples and open my eyes, and staring back at me is an erect p***s. 

"Are you f*****g kidding me right now?! Can you put that damned thing away, you pervert!?" This has to be the worst day of my life- and I watched someone get burned alive yesterday. Now it's his turn to blush and he looks anywhere except directly at me. 

"Uhm.. I will have to shift. Do you... I can give you a ride to the town, if that's where you're headed," he tells me. 

"A ride?" I ask, "You have a car?" 

"Well...I do... But to get there, I would give you a ride on my wolf," he says, rubbing the back of his head. 

"Oh. Uhm... Does it bite?" I ask stupidly. He rolls his eyes, ignoring my comment and shifts silently. A big, silver wolf taking his place. He's beautiful, I say to Rae. She nods in agreement. I reach out to stroke his gorgeous fur and he turns and snaps at me. I gasp and pull my hand away. The wolf's eyes crinkly and he lets out a throaty laugh. 

"You asshole!" I say, swatting him. He just laughs again and gets down on his belly, allowing me to climb up on his back. I swing my leg over his back, unsure, and he stands. I wrap my arms around his neck, clutching my little purse tightly, and feel a tingly feeling envelop my upper body- any skin touching his fur lights up with sparks. 

"Let's get this over with," I tell him. He turns his head and shows me his teeth then takes off running. I've only run as a wolf once but I can't tell you which one is more amazing- being the wolf or being along for the ride. We stop, too soon, and I climb down off his back and walk up to look him in the eye, dragging my fingers over his fur and feeling the sparks radiate up my arm. I look him in the eye and he does the unthinkable- he gives me a sloppy, wet kiss right across my neck. Rae purrs in contentment at the contact and I wrinkle my nose. 

"EWWWW you big mutt! C'mon, get dressed," I tell him and shove his wolf back into the thicket. He comes back a few moments later after a couple cracks of bones, tying the drawstring on yet another pair of sweats. His bare torso was a little too much for me and I averted my eyes, blushing. His eyes caught mine and this time, I didn't look away. There were so many emotions swimming in his eyes and I couldn't name a single one. He reached out a hand to cup my face and tilt it up towards the light. 

"What is your name?" he asked me. s**t. I just rode on the back of some random dude without even bothering with pleasantries or introductions. I slapped myself in the forehead before I could stop myself and my face flushed a deep red. 

"C-Ca-" I stutter but Rae stops me. 

Give him a fake name. We don't know what pack he belongs to, Rae says. 

"Cassidy," I tell him. 

He smiles and strokes my cheek. "Nice to meet you, Cassidy. I am Jackson," he tells me in a husky voice, his eyes never leaving mine. Before I can even comprehend what is happening, he leans in towards my lips as if he's going to kiss me. I lean far to the side and duck so he misses. 

"What the hell do you think you're doing??!" I yell at him.