Summer Camp Mates

The Arrival (Part 2)

Jaxson’s POV

“Jax’s… Jax’s…”

(SMACK)

“JAXSON!!”

I woke up instantly from the smack—Zander’s hand hitting my face.

“Dude—why?!” I snapped, grabbing my cheek.

“One word—payback,” he said casually. “And we’re almost there. We got stuck in traffic, so now we’re at a gas station.”

He looked over at me. “Do you want anything?”

“Nah, I’m good, Zan, thanks.”

I pulled out my phone and checked the time.

“What the goddess… 5:30 PM?!”

I groaned.

“I knew we should have gotten an earlier flight. Now it’s going to be almost 8 o’clock when we arrive…”

⸻

I got out of the truck and headed into the gas station, looking for Zander. I finally found him standing in front of the snacks.

“Yo, cousin—how long were we in that traffic jam?!”

“About an hour and twenty minutes,” he said, completely calm, grabbing a bag of potato chips.

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” I snapped. “We were supposed to be home before the main dinner at the mess hall—that’s happening right now! I was supposed to be there to help out!”

“Dude, chill,” he said, shrugging. “Message your sister and see if you were needed. Your dad shouldn’t be too mad about it.”

“Ughhh… fine.”

A low growl slipped out as I turned and headed back to the truck, pulling out my phone.

⸻

LITTLE SIS EL!

JAX’S: Hey, so I know I’m probably missing dinner right about now—anything happening!?

EL: Nah, I already told Beta Jason you were running behind, so he’s going to wait till tomorrow to do the rest of the stuff. How much longer you got to go? I miss you!!

JAX’S: Miss you too, El. We got 4 more miles to go—not much longer. You make any new friends??

EL: Yeah… you could say new lol… I gotta go, finishing my food before it gets cold. BYE, love you!

(El signed off)

⸻

I stared at my phone for a second.

“Oookay… that’s not weird at all.”

I frowned slightly. “Guess we’ll talk more when I get home…”

⸻

“Okay, dude, so everything good at home?” Zander asked, getting back in the vehicle.

“Yeah, I guess… other than my sister acting weird. But that could be nothing—she’s weird all the time.”

“Yeah, sure,” he said. “So nothing’s wrong since you missed the dinner thing?”

“We’re good, Zan. Let’s just get home before my mom freaks out. I told her we’d be there today.”

“Yeah, I don’t feel like getting my head bit off by your mom either,” he said, starting the truck. “She can be scary… almost as scary as your dad.”

“Yeah, you don’t have to tell me—I live with them.”

“True… alright, what’s the map say?” Zander asked, trying to get directions.

“It’s about 4 miles northwest,” I said, checking. “We should be there around 7:30.”

“Good.”

⸻

I leaned back in my seat, letting out a breath.

“It won’t be too late to take Draco for a run. We’ve been in this car for too long—he’s itching to get out.”

“Yeah, same here,” Zander said. “Tobias is going nuts.”

⸻

As we drove down the road, Draco finally spoke up.

DRACO: We’re getting close… I can feel it. I can’t wait to get this summer started.

A small grin pulled at my lips.

“I know, me too, bud. It’s going to be a blast.”

⸻

I looked out the window as the scenery began to change.

The trees grew taller. Fuller.

Familiar.

We were getting close now.

Before I knew it, we were passing the one-mile mark.

I shifted in my seat, turning slightly just to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

And then—

There it was.

The old dirt road.

The one that led to the camp grounds… and branched off to the pack house.

⸻

As we pulled onto the dirt road, excitement started building in my chest.

God… it had been so long.

The deeper we drove into the woods, the more it all came back to me. The smell, the air, the feeling of being home.

Lights appeared ahead—small lanterns lining both sides of the driveway, glowing softly in the growing dusk.

And then—

The pack house came into view.

I leaned forward slightly, taking it all in.

“Ahh… home sweet home,” I said, a proud smile forming on my face.

Jaxson’s POV

Man… the pack house was big.

As we got closer and pulled into the loop out front, I took it all in. It was just as big as I remembered—a massive cabin-style mansion, two stories high. Only the main head pack members and warriors lived here.

Except for Beta Jason—he only stayed on occasion. He preferred his own cabin, and my dad was fine with that. With the rest of the pack spread out across the camp grounds and territory, I guess it made it easier to keep track of everything.

⸻

As we got out of Zander’s SUV and grabbed our bags, we headed up to the front door. The second we stepped inside—

SCREAMING.

Loud, excited, high-pitched screaming.

I winced slightly.

“Yep… that would be my mom and aunt,” I muttered.

“MY BABY’S HOME!!”

And there she was.

“Mom—!”

Elizabeth Blackwood came rushing at me full speed and wrapped me in the biggest hug I had ever received.

“I’ve missed you so much, my little pup!” she said, squeezing me tighter.

“I’ve missed you too, Mom—but can you stop hugging me, please? You’re kinda squishing me—” I choked out, barely able to breathe.

“Oh! Sorry, honey!” she said quickly, loosening her grip—but not by much.

Then her expression shifted.

“Speaking of my babies… have you seen your sister yet? I mind-linked her a little while ago. I figured she would’ve been here by now.”

“Nope, I haven’t—”

SLAM!

The front door flew open.

We all turned at the same time.

I smirked.

“Ahh… speaking of the she-devil herself.”

“Hang on a sec—!” she called, bent over slightly, trying to catch her breath. “I just ran all the way here—”

A second later, she straightened up, eyes locking on me.

“Okay—now you can come here!”

Before I could react—

She launched at me.

“Welcome home, brother!!”

El wrapped me in the same bone-crushing hug Mom had just given me.

“Good to be home, El—now let me GO!” I grunted, struggling to breathe again.

“Sorry!” she laughed, finally letting go before darting off into the kitchen like nothing just happened.

I shook my head, catching my breath.

Yeah… I’m definitely home.

⸻

After all the “welcome homes” and chaos died down a little—

“HEY!” Zander suddenly shouted. “So like… I’m starving. What’s for dinner?!”

I snorted.

“Is that all you think about, brother?” another voice cut in.

Max.

“Welcome home, brother,” he said with a grin.

Zander pointed at him dramatically. “Don’t start—”

And just like that—

They took off running through the house, chasing each other like they always did after a long trip.

I rolled my eyes.

“Idiots…”

But honestly?

I kind of missed this.

⸻

My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since earlier.

“Yeah… I could eat,” I muttered. “Missed dinner at the mess hall for nothing…”

“Alright,” my mom said, clapping her hands lightly. “I’ll make you all something—but first…”

She gave me that look.

“You need to go talk to your father. He’s in his office.”

I sighed internally.

Of course he was.

“Okay, Mom… thank you. I’ll be back,” I said, already heading toward the stairs.

And just like that—

The excitement of being home shifted slightly.

Because if Dad wanted to talk?

It wasn’t just a “welcome home” conversation.

Ok mom thank you I’ll be back.. I say while heading upstairs.

“Oh—and tell your dad dinner will be ready in five as well. He needs to get out of that office for a bit.”

“You got it, Mom. See you in a few,” I said, already heading toward my dad’s office.

⸻

I stopped outside his door, taking a breath before knocking.

(Knock… knock…)

“Come in.”

I pushed the door open.

“Ahh, son… welcome home,” my dad said, standing from his desk. “I’m glad you made it back safe. I hope everything went well at school.”

“Hey, Dad. It’s good—school was good. I’m just glad to be home,” I said. “Mom said you needed to speak with me?”

“Ahh, yes… I do. Sit down.”

Something in his tone made my stomach tighten.

I sat.

⸻

“As you know, you’re eighteen now,” he began, folding his hands together. “And before long, I’ll be stepping down as Alpha… and you will be taking over.”

“Right… so…” I said, already feeling where this was going. “Get to the point.”

His eyes hardened slightly.

“This means you will need to find your mate this summer… or by the end of this summer.”

I stilled.

“And if you don’t…” he continued, voice growing heavier, “I have already met with the head of the Supernatural Committee.”

My chest tightened.

“They made it very clear—a strong Alpha must have a strong Luna to lead a strong pack.”

A pause.

“If you do not find your mate by the end of this summer… they will choose one for you.”

Silence.

“…Meaning a forced mate.”

⸻

“HELL NO!” I shot to my feet. “They can’t do this—I won’t go through with it!!”

“WATCH YOUR TONE, BOY!!” my dad’s voice thundered, his Alpha command slamming into me.

But I didn’t care.

I shook my head, anger burning through me, and stormed out—slamming the office door behind me.

⸻

I didn’t stop.

Down the stairs.

Out the front door.

Into the woods.

I ran.

Fast.

The anger boiled over until I couldn’t hold it anymore—

And I shifted.

Draco burst free.

⸻

I tore through the forest, running as far and as fast as I could—away from the pack house, away from the camp, away from everything.

Until—

The clearing.

The falls.

The place.

The one place I had been waiting to see since I got back.

⸻

I paced along the edge, restless, furious, not knowing what to do.

Then finally—

I dropped down near the water.

The sound of it crashing over the rocks filled the silence.

I tilted my head back, staring up at the stars.

Just like we used to…

⸻

DRACO: We need to find our mate. I won’t go through with a forced mating—I won’t do it. To hell with the Supernatural Committee!

“Trust me—I won’t let it happen,” I growled. “I’ll run away before I marry someone I don’t love. I’ll leave, search for our true mate—and when we find her… we’ll be happy. I swear it. By the Alphas before us—I will find our mate.”

DRACO: I hope so…

A pause.

I wonder if Melanie has a mate…

“STOP IT!” I snapped, shaking my head. “Who cares?! We need to stop thinking about her and figure out how to fix this.”

But even as I said it—

She was already there.

In my mind.

“If she was here…” I muttered quietly, frustration slipping into something else. “It would be easier. She always knew what to say… always knew how to fix things…”

I clenched my jaw.

“Ahh—I need to get her off my mind. I need closure… maybe that’ll help.”

I sat there for a moment, thinking.

Then—

It hit me.

“Elaine.”

She was the only one who might know something.

“The only she-wolf that can help me right now…”

⸻

I shifted back and ran for the pack house.

By the time I got there, I grabbed some clothes from behind the shed—throwing on a pair of shorts and an old T-shirt before heading inside through the back door.

The kitchen.

Food.

Right—I hadn’t eaten.

I grabbed a slice of pizza quickly, barely tasting it as I headed upstairs.

⸻

I stopped outside Elaine’s door.

Hesitated.

Was this a good idea?

Did I even want the answer?

⸻

(Knock… knock…)

“Yeah—come in!”

The door opened.

“Oh—hey, bro. What’s up?” she said, standing there drying her hair with a towel.

“I… uh… need some girl advice,” I admitted, letting out a low groan.

She raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? Well… come on in. Let’s talk.”

I stepped inside.

⸻

“Okay… what seems to be the problem, bro?”

I rubbed the back of my neck.

“Well… it’s about Mel—”

“Okay—stop right there,” she said quickly, holding up her hand.

I blinked.

“There’s… something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while now,” she said, suddenly nervous.

“Okaaay…” I said slowly, tension creeping in. “Now you’re making me anxious.”

“Don’t be mad,” she added quickly. “But… considering you were starting school, I didn’t want to bother you with it…”

“EL—GET TO THE POINT,” I snapped, frustration building.

She took a breath.

“Okay… so… I kinda… have been… talking to her… for the past year…”

I blinked.

Then laughed.

“HAHA—okay, quit messing around, El. Seriously… what’s going on?”

She didn’t laugh.

Didn’t smile.

Instead, she slowly reached for her phone… and held it out to me.

The call log.

My laughter died instantly.

The room fell silent.

⸻

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” I snapped, anger hitting fast. “Why now to tell me? What else are you hiding?!!”

“CHILL, okay?!” she shot back. “This is one of the reasons I didn’t tell you—I knew you were going to get hot-headed over it! And the other reason? You went off to school—you needed to focus on that, for Dad’s sake and the pack!”

I clenched my jaw, fists tightening.

“And the only other thing I haven’t told you is…” she trailed off.

She hesitated.

“You might want to sit down first.”

Before I could argue, she pushed me lightly onto the edge of her bed.

“Okay, Elaine—I’m sitting. SPILL!” I said, my anxiety spiking.

“Alright!… here goes nothing.”

She took a breath.

“So, I’ve been talking to her for the past year… and she’s doing good. I mean—probably really good right about now…!”

My chest tightened.

My mind immediately went to the worst possible place—

But she cut me off quickly.

“Okay, before you go thinking the worst—let me finish. It’s not like that. She’s very much single… for now,” she added with a small giggle and a wink.

“Okay—quit being weird and get on with it,” I muttered, already on edge.

She swallowed.

“Okay… straight to the point…”

A pause.

“She’s… uh… kinda…”

Another pause.

“HERE AT CAMP.”

She rushed the last part out, covering her ears like she was bracing for me to explode.

⸻

But I didn’t.

I just… sat there.

Frozen.

The words didn’t hit all at once—they sank in slowly, heavy, like a weight settling deep in my chest.

She’s here.

Melanie…

Is here.

⸻

I stood up without saying anything and walked toward the door.

I stopped, hand on the handle, not opening it yet.

“Okay… El,” I said quietly, staring at the door. “One last question.”

My voice came out lower than I expected.

“In that year you’ve been talking to her… has she ever mentioned me? Or asked how I was?”

There was a small pause behind me.

“Yeah… a couple times,” she admitted softly. “I always told her you were doing good… and that you were out of town.”

I nodded slightly.

“Oh… okay.”

I opened the door a little more, about to leave—

“We need to be at the mess hall before 10:00 AM,” she added quickly. “We can’t be late. Tomorrow’s the official first day of camp, and I’m pretty sure Beta Jason needs to talk to you too.”

I gave a small nod.

“Oh—and… Melanie doesn’t know you’re here either.”

⸻

Of course she doesn’t.

“Yeah… that’s just great,” I muttered under my breath, stepping out into the hallway.

So much for closure.

⸻

I walked down the hall slowly, my mind racing, until I finally made it to my room.

I stepped inside and looked around.

Same as always.

Familiar.

Safe.

But it didn’t feel that way tonight.

My eyes landed on my bed—glorious, tempting—but instead of crashing right away, I headed into the bathroom.

I needed a shower.

Needed to clear my head.

⸻

After I got out, I threw on a pair of old basketball shorts and climbed into bed, grabbing my phone to plug it into the charger.

I set my alarm.

8:30 AM.

That should be enough time for a morning workout… and still get to the mess hall early to help set up.

I set my phone down, turned off the lights, and sank back into the mattress.

⸻

But no matter how hard I tried—

My mind wouldn’t stop.

She’s here.

After all this time…

She’s here.

⸻

And somewhere between the thoughts, the memories, and the questions I wasn’t ready to answer—

Sleep finally pulled me under.

And just like that…

I was dreaming about her.

******** Ok so I know this chapter was a little shorter then the other ones but there is a reason for it, since this chapter took place at a later time there was only a short time frame I could fit everything to happen so It could go on time with the next chapter,, oh before I forget this is my first store so no negative comments please and I’m no English major so my punctuation and stuff like that ain’t the greatest but like I said I’m not perfect and I will right my story how I want :) thanks for understanding and This Story will be CONTINUED!!! *******