Her Mortal Mate

Chapter Seventy Three: Probationary Period

Jadea

“Why would you do that? You have no reason to trust me.” He sounded defensive. Ungrateful even. However, I knew the truth. He couldn’t allow himself to hope this offer would come true, because if it fell through he would have allowed his heart to get hurt again.

Calmly, I smiled at him. Not upset by his outburst. This was a rather common response. “I’m a pretty good judge of character, Chance.”

I could see he was looking for some way to deny this truth, yet there was nothing he could refute it with.

“Do you know anything about my pack, other than we are a hunting pack?” I inquired.

He shook his head, his lips sealed as if to make sure nothing came spilling out. That there were no utterances of hope filled words. Nothing that could be crushing later, because if he didn’t say anything then he could lie to himself at the end of the day.

Taking a deep breath, I told him a little bit about each pack member and how each one had experienced some kind of trauma. Each one had viewed him or herself as being broken and not worthy of love. I explained how I had worked with them and helped them through their past traumas.

“And you are wanting to help me?” He asked for clarification.

“That is if you want to be helped? If you want to heal and find peace,” I said seriously. “If it is something you aren’t ready for yet, or that you don’t want to do, then that is your choice to make. I only extend the invitation to those who are willing to put in the work to better themselves. Who actively make choices to help themselves heal.”

“You are not like most alphas,” he stated.

“No, I am not,” I agreed. “However, I do not view that as a weakness. My pack and I are stronger than most packs who are twice our number. Only because we trust and love each other. They choose to follow rather than being forced. My entire leadership is based on respect, love, communication, forgiveness and healing. Everything relationships need in order to thrive.”

It was an odd concept for him, especially when he had only ever been in an abusive pack dynamic—which sadly, most packs were run in such horrendous ways. “Is there someone in your pack who hailed from a pack like father’s?”

“Yes. Derrick. He was given to a pack like father’s. He was abused. Starved. It was another hunting pack, but not a very successful one. He was one of the lucky ones who survived the brutality when he demanded to break his oath to the alpha, so he could become a lone wolf.”

Chance shifted nervously, his gaze locked on the ground. He wanted to ask me something, but was uncomfortable due to his past with Hans. No doubt the evil wolf had tortured Chance for ever asking for any of his needs to be met. I waited patiently for him to summon enough courage to ask the question he so desperately wanted to.

“Do you think I could meet him?” He asked tentatively. “Before I make a decision?”

“Of course,” I agreed. “If you will give me a few minutes, I’m going to talk with my pack about initiating you into our group.”

“Jadea,” Chance called out as I turned away from his cell.

“Yes?” I paused, turning back to him.

“Thank you. Even if your pack disagrees with bringing me on, I just want you to know I am very thankful to have experienced your kindness and generosity.”

“You’re most welcome.”

Standing just inside of the only way in and out of the dungeon, I cleared my mind and reached out to my pack. The only one who wouldn’t be involved in this choice would be Adam, and I was okay with that. There were going to be times when he would have to make decisions without me about the pack. It was going to be a give and take kind of thing. And, to be honest, he was a new wolf. My pack and I were responsible for teaching him and training him about the immortal laws. He was in the process of learning the ropes and wouldn’t be able to make an educated decision regarding this.

“How’s it going?” Garret asked when I opened my mind to them.

“Better than I expected.”

“So, you are thinking of offering him a place with us?” Blade asked. I had only opened the lines of communication with my team. I hadn’t opened my mind to them, therefore they didn’t know what I knew or felt about Chance.

“I would like to, however this is a decision for our pack to make.”

“Well, what have you learned about him?” Garret asked.

I sighed and allowed them to see the interaction and conversations I had so far with him. “Well, my biggest thing is that he actually worked for Hans. And he seems way too comfortable and cooperative,” Blade announced.

“But if he is trying to become better, if he is trying to do the right thing, his cooperation isn’t manipulative. Not to mention, Ickarous said he was telling the truth plus, they had a truth mage there to make absolutely sure.”

“It is impossible to lie to a truth mage,” Derrick added.

“Do you think he would fit in with us?” Blade asked.

“Yes.” He was shy, tentative, honest and when he learned to trust my pack and I, I had a feeling he would be one of those who would roast everyone.

“Do you think it would be wise to take him on when we will also be training and incorporating Adam into wolf life? And, not to be unkind, you are working on your own mental health right now too.”

That was a great question and an even better point.

“He’s her brother, Garret,” Briar stated. “And he has nowhere else to go.”

“Plus, he might be able to provide some great insight and intel into how Hans’s leadership has changed. How his pack is run. Common tactics he uses. Plus, a look into the layout of his lands. All great information to have when we are planning to go to war with him,” Derrick added.

“Garret, I know what I’m suggesting isn’t going to be easy,” I said. “And while he may be my brother, I need all of you to be comfortable with this because it is going to take a group effort to help Chance and teach Adam. What information Chance might have isn’t worth it if any of us believes this isn’t going to benefit us in the long run. Meaning after Hans is dealt with and after this mess is cleaned up and taken care of. Why don’t you guys take a few minutes to yourselves and talk it over?”

As they withdrew from my mind, I leaned back against the caverns cool wall and thought about what my pack had said so far. Was it selfish to want to take on Chance and Adam at the same time, especially when I was having my own issues going on? If we did take him on, it wouldn’t be easy. However, I would have a multitude of resources at my disposal. I would have Dr. Andrews to help with Chance and I. My father’s pack would be more than willing to help acclimate and teach Adam about werewolf life, especially since they have gotten attached to his children. That was the thing about my father and his pack. While they were rather closed off and distant from the world, its problems, and strangers—sometimes even being very cold hearted towards those they did not know—they were very extreme in the other sense that, when they did open up they had a tendency not to hold back. I knew they would accept Adam with open arms because of his children. They were already in love with Aidan and Anika.

It was Chance who would be the outcast with them. Which meant it would be imperative my pack was open and welcoming towards him.

“Jadea,” Garret reached out to me. “We’ve reached a decision.”

I reconnected all of our minds again. “We are willing to give him a chance,” Briar started.

“But we are going to request there be a probationary period with him. Six months. Perhaps a year. And then we can reevaluate. He will not pledge an oath until we have reevaluated him. He will, however, have to be blood bonded to both you and I,” Garret explained. “We can revoke him at any time, and he also has the right to take his leave as well. With the understanding that if he does leave he will be placed directly back into Constance’s custody. I don’t want to give him any chance to go back to Hans or have Hans rope him back in and unintentionally give him an insight into us.”

I was very impressed and proud of my pack for their in depth thought about this. These terms and conditions seemed fair enough. “I will let him know our terms. If he does accept them, there will be one last request of his. Derrick,” I focused on him. “He asked to speak directly with you. Would you be comfortable speaking with him alone?”

Derrick probed around in my mind to understand why Chance had asked specifically for him. “Yes. I would be willing to speak with him. I think he is wanting a look into our pack dynamic, especially since I came from a similar pack history. He will probably be the most comfortable with me because I can relate to him.” Not that he wouldn’t be able to relate to me, seeing as we came from the very same abusive pack. However, I knew Chance wasn’t comfortable with me because of what Hans had told him. Until he experienced for himself that I wasn’t anything like how Hans had painted me, he would be hesitant with me. “If he does accept our terms, I would like to take him on directly,” Derrick stated.

“That actually might be the most logical, especially if he can relate to you,” Garret added. “Perhaps Derrick should make the bond with him instead of me.”

“We are getting a little ahead of ourselves,” I stated. “Let me talk with Chance first and we can hammer out the finer details if he does agree.”