Betrayal & Redemption

Ocean Meets Forest

Caroline POV

She stares at him in horror, wondering what the actual hell his problem is. 

"Why on earth would you think that's okay??" I ask him, my arms folded over my chest. 

Can you f*****g believe the nerve of this asshole? I ask Rae. 

I will bite his hand off if he tries that again. We are saving ourselves for our Mate, she practically growls. 

Well, I mean, that wasn't really my intention... I tell her, then I realize that the guy is staring at me expectantly. 

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask him, all snippy. 

He ran his hand through his hair and I noticed how...big he is. His flexed bicep is the size of my damned head and he is covered in tattoos. I take a minute to look over him. He has a kind face with striking green eyes, tanned, tattooed skin, and long-ish hair that's pulled half up so his face shows. He has a straight nose, and thick eyebrows that match his sun streaked, light brown hair, and you can tell he's one of those "outdoorsy" people. My eyes trace over his wrist and forearm, up his bicep and shoulder, and then over his chest. He clears his throat and I realize I am ogling his body. My face heats and I cover my eyes with my hands. 

"Oh Goddess, I'm sorry! Can't you like put on a shirt or something??" I ask him. 

"Uhh. Well that's kinda the problem. I was actually on my way to get that shirt when I, um, bumped into you..." He tells me in his southern drawl and runs his hands through his hair again. 

What is his deal? I ask Rae. I feel her shrug in my mind. 

"Oh.. I can give it back, I just need to go and buy some different clothes. Is there a place near here that I can go to?" I look up and down the street. I glimpse houses peeking through the trees, modest houses in various shade of brown, tan, yellow, and white, not much bigger than mine and Mama's cottage. 

"Well there's a place in town I can take you to, but I'm on duty until 2:45," he tells me. "You're more than welcome to hang out in my car with me. You look a little beat up and shaken. I have some granola bars and water in Katya's trunk that I keep for emergencies.." He trails off and gives me a questioning look, and I realize i must be staring at him like he grew horns in front of my face. 

"What the hell is a Katya?" I ask him. 

"It's my GTO. I named my car..." he trails off again and chuckles as if he doesn't realize how absolutely insane he sounds. 

We need to get the hell away from this weirdo, Rae tells me and I can't help but nod in agreement. I have to get into town, get some clothes, and find...then it dawns on me. 

"Wait a sec... What did you say your name was again?" I ask him, my eyes wide. 

Jackson POV

"Wait a sec... What did you say your name was again?" She asks me, her big blue eyes wide. 

I look her over- she's so beautiful. Her cute heart shaped face, long red hair that looks like it fought half the forest itself while she fought the other half, creamy smooth skin that looks slightly flushed around her cheeks, bright, intelligent eyes the color of a Tahitian reef that you just want to dive into. Her shapely body was somewhat swallowed up by my clothes, and the side of my mouth pulls up- if I had to choose a mate, it would definitely be someone like her. But apparently she didn't feel the same way. 

"Ja-Jackson," I cleared my throat, "My name is Jackson. Why? You lookin for me?" I ask her. 

"Well actually, yes," she tells me with a confident grin as if she was very proud of herself. "My pack warrior told me that I needed to find you, that you would protect me." 

"Who the f**k told ya somethin like that, angel?" I tilt my head to the side and cross my arms over my bare chest, flexing my muscles. If Arlo was capable of face palming, he would have. 

"Jasper. Jasper Owens, he is a warrior with my pa- with the pack that I left," she said, and she looked at the ground with her jaw clenched as if she was holding back tears. Owens. I fuckin owe him a favor but I never expected THIS. I wonder if she's even my mate- her scent is probably bewitched so the next unsuspecting wolf claims her as his mate. 

The things these bitches go through these days to steal a man, am I right? I ask Arlo. He huffs and turns up his nose. Apparently he is attached to his mate already. Whatever. I put up the wall that I had taken down upon her scent reaching my nose. I don't need a mate, either way. Just more bullshit that will hold me back. 

"Owens is mistaken. I can't, and won't, protect you. Nothin personal sweetheart- but I'm on the clock right now. Tell ya what, though, you can hang out with me for a bit til I'm off, and we can get ya into town for some new clothes. I'll even let you in my place so you can clean up a bit. No offense, darlin, but you look like hell," I tell her and flash a dimple. 

"Thanks," she tells me, "but no thanks. YOU need to protect me. I'll take you up on your offer for now and let you think it over for a bit. That your car? It looks old so I assume so." 

I gasp and put a hand over my mouth. "Don't you dare talk about Katya like that in front of her!" I say, running over to the car and rubbing the top. "It's okay, baby girl, the rude lady didn't mean it," I tell me sweet. The nerve of this f*****g woman, I tell you. 

She rolls her eyes. "I'm starving. You said you have food?" She asks me. 

"Sure. As soon as you apologize to Katya. She's sensitive," I tell her and go around the front to lean against the hood. 

"You can't be serious. I am not apologizing to a CAR!" she yells at me. 

"Well, guess you can't be too hungry then," I respond without even looking at her. This is more fun and human interaction than I've had in years. 

She mumbles something and crosses her arms. I can feel her eyes boring into the back of my head. 

"Can't hear ya, sweetcheeks. Did'ya say somethin?" I turn my head and look at her. 

"I said 'I'M SORRY YOU STUPID CAR'," she yells, her face red. God she's adorable. 

"Oooh. Nope, probably not  gonna go over well. You just insulted her again- looks like you have two apologies to make," I go around to the driver door and slide in, picking up the pancakes I didn't finish earlier. My plan was to ignore her but it isn't until I hear her sob that I look over at her- but she isn't there. I get out of the car quickly and rush around to the side. She is sitting on the ground with her arms wrapped around her legs, face buried in her knees. 

"Nice try, kid. I'm not giving in because you're crying. Don't you know crying is blackmail?" I crouch down beside her. 

"Are those...chocolate stra-straw-strawberry p-p-pancakes?" She asks between sobs. I roll my eyes. Such a drama queen. 

"Why yes they are, but if you think I'm sharing you are sor-" she launches herself at me and wraps her little arms around me, her body wracking with sobs. I hold her awkwardly and brush her matted hair. She cries and cries. 

This seems like more than just a ploy to get food, Arlo tells me. 

Seems like it.. I'm afraid to ask, I respond. 

"Shhh. Shh. It's okay. It's okay," I hug her tightly, ignoring her scent and the way she fits perfectly in my arms. I tried to think back to the last time I hugged someone... Must've been Haley, the Beta's daughter of the pack I hung around with for a few months. I adored that little girl and she almost gave me hope for a mate and pups of my own. I hold Cassie for what seems like forever, and she eventually calms down and pulls away from me. 

"I'm so-sorry," she says, hiccuping. 

"It's okay. If you...want to talk... I'm not very good at it, but I'm here," I tell her carefully, trying not to set her off again. 

To my surprise, she shakes her head. "I don't even know where to begin," she says quietly. She looks exhausted, defeated, and a bit scared. She wraps her arms around herself and stares blankly at the sidewalk. I try not to laugh at her hair- it looks like a rat tried to build a nest in it. 

She catches my smirk, but doesn't even acknowledge it. 

What happened to this girl? Arlo muses. 

I've not the slightest idea, but it's best we don't pry. The less I know, the better. Let's get her cleaned up and on to the next guy- the last thing we need is baggage with baggage dragging us down, yeah?  I ask him

Agreed, Arlo says. Odd, I expected him to defend his "mate". 

Not sure if she is mate- her smell is a little off now. It's a bit repulsive actually, he tells me. 

I get up and grab the pancakes for her. 

"Here," I say, handing them to her carefully. Please don't cry, please don't cry I think to myself. She looks up at me and her eyes are even more breathtaking than before- crystal clear pools that meet my own eyes. Ocean staring into forest. She takes the pancakes and picks one up with her hand, nibbling. She looks up at me. 

"Uh, these taste different than normal," she tells me. 

"I get them from the diner in town, so I don't really know what they put in them aside from strawberries and chocolate and stuff," I tell her. A breeze ruffles her hair and my back stiffens. She shrugs and keeps eating.

Wolfsbane, Arlo growls. 

I wrinkle my nose and stand, breathing in the clean air. She reeks of wolfsbane. 

That's the repulsive smell, Arlo tells me. 

Hmm. I wonder what could make it smell that strongly on her. Maybe she was injected, I tell him. 

"These are much better than what ma- uhm...what I've eaten...before..." she tells me and tears escape the corner of her eyes. I've never seen anyone get so emotional over breakfast food before. 

"They're my favorite actually, ever since I had that dream of yo- of...uhm... I mean.. I had a dream about them and I've had them everyday since," I trip over my words. Probably not a good idea to tell the literal woman of my dreams that she stars in them every night. 

Maybe that's what you dreamed about- why her face was so frightened, she must have gone through hell and back to get here, Arlo huffs.