Secret Mates

Chapter 13 Leaving at Dawn – Jasmine

Jasmine POV

I woke up on my own just ten minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off. I couldn’t rest well for fear of oversleeping, so I kept scaring myself awake every couple hours all night long. I was annoyed with myself and decided to go ahead and get up because in ten minutes I wouldn’t get rested enough to be able to know a difference. I stretched and wiggled out from under the covers my long hair still damp from the bath that I took last night. I shook it out some before heading into the bathroom where I combed it and used a hair dryer for a few moments to make it easier and I put it up in a tight bun so it would not be in my way. I brushed my teeth and washed my face quickly so I could get dressed and head downstairs to eat before we leave out this morning. I had about an hour before we all are supposed to be out back from the pack house.

Throwing on a t-shirt and some biking shorts and grabbing my duffle bag I decided it was good enough to head down to eat. The aroma of waffles and maple syrup hit my nose and caused my stomach to growl. I smiled at the thought on Onya having my plate ready for me. When I entered the kitchen, I saw she had me two waffles with butter and syrup and a glass of orange juice sitting on the bar for me. I hopped in the stool and dug in quickly. “Slow down child, take the time to taste it at least.” She teased me smiling leaned against the counter. I smiled back at her and slowed my chewing and she was right I wanted to savor the flavor for now. It would be months before I got to taste her cooking again. After swallowing that bite, I spoke, “Thank you Onya, I will miss you and your cooking.” Onya raised her eyebrows and grabbed her chest like she was having a heart attack and her face displayed one of a fake shocked look. I giggled at her reaction. “Jazmine admitted out loud she likes someone enough she will miss them? And its me?” She acted it out. Then she laughed too.

“I will miss you, Jasmine. You have your mother’s fire in you. You will make it back in one piece.” She told me, her playfulness now gone, and a tint of sadness was mixed in with her seriousness. I nodded at her.

Loud laughter cut up from the dining room from where many warriors were eating. “You know you are going to have to put up with them for a long time out there.” She looked at me and laughed. “You could go ahead and start eating with them.” She told me. I shook my head “I think I will pass on that for as long as I can.” I answered her. I continued eating as some others started bringing in their plates and Onya began cleaning them off. It wasn’t long before one of those warriors were Theo and right behind him was my brother James. Both of them looked at me and then glanced at each other. Handing their plates over to Onya to clean, James took a seat in the stool next to mine and Theo leaned on the countertop next to me. “Good morning.” Theo told me his husky voice cut through to me and his eyes telling me he hadn’t forgotten about the tension between us last night. I could feel my brother watching us and I decide he doesn’t need to think anything is going on. I nod at Theo and glance over at my brother finishing the last bite and washing it down with the last of my orange juice.

“You ready to head out this morning?” James inquired of me. I nodded my head, “Yeah, I am” I told him. “Are you sure? Because I am sure dad would let you stay if you wanted to change your mind.” James hurried the words out. I met his eyes as angry starts to cause my heart to pump harder. “You can’t be serious. I would not change m mind. I don’t need your concern. I have been training and I can take care of myself. I don’t need father or you to question my decision. I am going.” I told him and with that I got up and turned to leave the room only to find my father and Alpha standing in the doorway listening. “He is just protecting you as he should, Jasmine. You would be wise to heed his concerns. Out there is much different than anything you have ever experience before.” My father told me. I looked over my shoulder to see James and Theo appearing to agree with my father which only pissed me off even more. I glanced behind them to see Onya looking directly at me, remembering what she said moments ago about me being like my mother and that I had the same fire.

“I will not heed any concerns you or anyone else may have. My mother was a warrior before she was Luna. I remind you of her and that’s why you don’t want to me go. But I am going, and I will remind you of my mother because she was a great warrior, and I will prove to you and my brother than I can be too.” I kept my voice calm but serious and my face matched my tone. I glanced at all of them one by one; Onya lasted seeing her smile and nod at me knowing that I made her proud and that made me feel like my mother would have been proud too. My father wasn’t pleased though. “Just to be clear Jasmine. Your mother was a great warrior, but you are not her. I only allow you to join us on this fantasy of your due to Theo and James agreeing that they will not leave your side and will mind link me immediately if anything happens. Your mother knew her place and after this plays out you will learn yours also.” He spat at me and turned. I knew that was meant to hurt me, but his disagreement just confirmed for me that I was right and that is why he is upset. Either way I didn’t need a babysitter but now it looked like I got not only one but two as I turned around and looked between my brother and Theo. I knew both would do anything to protect me. I shook my head at both of them. “Alright babysitters grab your bags, its almost time to met out back and I won’t have you two making me look bad by being late.” I told them grabbed my bag and saw Onya laugh out the corner of my eye making me smile to myself as the boys hurrie­d ran to grab their bags and catch up to me. I could make this entertaining even if I was annoyed with them.

As we walked out back, I could see we were a group of about fifty leaving this morning. Everyone going to a table out in the middle checking in. My father standing at it watching everyone. We weren’t as large of a group as I thought we would be, but we would help reinforce the warriors already in battle.

We went to the table, and all told the gamma our names and he check them off the list and told us to stand to one side. We stood there for about ten minutes past the meeting time when my father cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. Great, just what we need. A war speech before we even get close to a battle.