Fighting Fate (Moonlight Trials Series #2)

Chapter 6 – Bye Tracker.

Chapter 6 – Bye Tracker.

Jaspers POV



The last few months had dragged. But with a new school year starting, Tracker was heading to the “upper” school. At least I’m sure that’s what Ivy had called it. She explained that normally we would be starting High school at 11 but due to how far away the high school was they would only let teens ride the bus, so we had to stay at this school until we were 13. Tracker was starting at 14 because of missing school so much. We’d managed to lie about my schooling as I actually did go to school every day, learning from Ivy. I chuckled. Ivy and I wouldn’t be going up there for another 2 years though.

Tracker didn’t really have friends at school besides “new” Jasper. Yes, I was still being called that by Ivy, because even though she was so mad at human me to not notice I wasn’t turning up at lunches, it was all ‘his’ fault that I wasn’t turning up at lunches. Although to be fair, I wasn’t exactly nice to her. Every time she was mean to me or called me out for something I would be spiteful back to her. It made me so mad that she didn’t recognise me. She cared so much for wolf me that I didn’t understand how she couldn’t recognise me. Tracker had been invited to the local café by Ivy and Jesse for farewell drinks. I had been invited but only in wolf form.

Ivy had called Jesse over for them to get dressed together and I was sleeping dozily on my usual beanbag in Ivys room. The girls came stomping in with their makeup bags. Wait, since when had Ivy started wearing makeup?

“You can’t like “New” Jasper!” Ivy was saying to Jesse, which as usual caused me to growl. Stop calling me that! I glared at Ivy. “Oh, don’t you start Jasper!” She looked at me angrily.

“Why can’t I?” Jesse argued. “I’m 12 now, were nearly teenagers. Another year and I’ll be heading up to high school!”

“Yeah, but me and “new” Jasper won’t be! We’re a year younger than you, remember?!” She moaned at Jesse, and I growled again. “Hes younger than you, hes awful and horrible. He calls us both names and hes never polite.” Again, not entirely true but, well, if she’d just realise it’s me id stop calling her stupid and shallow, I thought. I saw Jesse roll her eyes and I growled again. She was not my type; sure, she was nice enough and Ivy’s friend, but she wasn’t exactly the brightest flower in the bunch.

“Look, just because you don’t like him doesn’t mean I can’t.” Jesse argued and Ivy rolled her eyes. They argued a bit more before they were eventually ready.

“FINE!” Ivy yelled. “But don’t come crying to me when he horrible and breaks your heart.” I still don’t get why she hates human me so much. Its not like I even pay her attention at school. I tend to just hang around with Tracker and only fight back with her. “JASPER!” I hear Ivy screaming from the front door and groaning, I go to join the girls to meet Tracker.

The cafe we attend is a lovely little one on the outskirts of the village. The owner has always loved Ivy and always slips us extra pastries when we go there. Tracker is already sat at one of the tables inside. The tables are all different with mismatched chairs at them, or even some armchairs. There are little lace doyleys on every table and little candles and flowerpots with fresh wildflowers in each one. The pastry counter is filled with freshly baked goods, and I can smell coffee as we enter.

Tracker looks up to see us and frowns when he sees I’m a wolf.

I thought you were coming as yourself! He asks me through mind link. Since turning back to a human Ive been able to mind link him, which is usually weird for two wolves our age, especially ones from different packs with no familial links or anything. But we can do it and we are not questioning the goddess.

I was, but then Ivy told me I had to attend and let’s be honest she hates human me.

Yes, which is why human you were supposed to be coming today, to prove youre nice. You have got to deal with this girl for another 2 years without me. And you need to start being nice to her. He grimaces.

“Hi Tracker!” Ivy says as she sits at the table with Jesse. “How’s…”

“Where’s Jasper?” Jesse interrupts.

“Right here!” Ivy says through gritted teeth. I lay down on the floor, wishing it would suck me up.

“You know what I mean!” Jesse answers back through gritted teeth too.

“You know I can hear you both right…” Trackers says moodily. “He will be here later” causing a little growl from me. He knows I can’t be both…

“You said it, Jasper!” Ivy says and pats my head. “We don’t need that i***t here!”

“Why do you hate him so much?” Tracker asks and for the first tie in a long time I hear Ivy unable to answer Tracker.

“Erm…well…” Tracker and Jesse both look at her, waiting for an answer. “Because hes an i***t! And mean to me…” She answers turning a little red. “Oh and Jesse too… I need to go to the bathroom!” She storms away from the table, and I know this is my opportunity. I nip outside to the treeline where Tracker told me he would leave my clothes and transform back and get changed quickly.

“EEEE! Jasper!” Jesse shouts as I enter the café and I can’t help but roll my eyes. I head over to their table and make it a point to sit the furthest away from Jesse and smile at Tracker.

“Sorry I’m late dude, but someone made things difficult for me…” I say to him with a smile on my face. He chuckles and shakes his head as Ivy returns to the table. She’s still red and looks at me but refuses to make eye contact. “Hi Ivy!” I say quietly but she ignores me.

“So, Jasper, what have you been up to?” Jesse asks. I shrug.

“Nothing much” I reply before turning to Tracker. “So, dude, were going to miss you!”

“We actually are.” Ivy says, which surprises me. She never really talks about Tracker and never speaks around me unless its to shout at me. I smile at her, and she once again turns away from looking at me.

“Well in my absence I would love it if you could look after Jasper for me!” Causing both me and Ivy to turn to Tracker with our mouths wide open.

“I don’t need looking after!”

“He definitely doesn’t need looking after!” we both say at the same time, causing Jesse and Tracker to laugh.

“No, he doesn’t, but since I’m his only friend I’m sure he won’t have many once I leave…” Ivy goes red again and looks at Tracker with almost pleading in her eyes. “And youre one of the few people I trust to look after my cousin Ivy!” Tracker says. She doesn’t answer and just keeps looking at him with big pleading eyes, asking him to shut up.

“Seriously dude, she hates me and she’s an i***t who doesn’t even care. I’ll be ok, there’s plenty of friendly people in the school!”

“Wait, are you saying I’m not friendly?” She shouts, glaring at me again.

“NO! that’s not what I meant.” I answer.

“So, what did you mean by “friendly people”” she asks, her face going red again.

“I didn’t mean you weren’t friendly; I just know you hate me so I can make other friends as everyone’s friendly”.

“Except me?” I could feel Tracker rolling his eyes.

“Ok, don’t look after him then but hes really a lovely person, when he watches what he says.” He sighs and changes the subject. I growl internally. How can my wolf and me be such different people in her eyes? I act the same. “Let’s have a drink and I can say goodbye for two years!”

“I’m sure we’ll see you around Tracker!” Ivy says and he looks at her.

“Jasper will on evenings, but I think most of the time Ill probably be too tired to hang out and I hear high school is rough for studying!” He answers and smiles, mind linking me.

She loves studying doesn’t she, but she knows she’s the smartest in the school so she might get off our backs in high school when she’s got to compete with more people.

“Oh yeah, that’s true.” Ivy says, looking down at the table. She seems almost sad, and I wonder why she’s going to miss him so much. “well…” she stands up and grabs her glass of lemonade that the owner had brought whilst we were bickering. “To Tracker! We will all miss you! Don’t forget about us!” Jesse and I stand too!

“BYE TRACKER!” We all shout. After around 30 minutes of general chit chat, I excuse myself and slip out, sending a mind link to Tracker before sliding my way back under the table as my wolf self. Ivy notices human me is gone when I hear her let out a big breath like she’s been holding it. Jesse is really upset that Jasper left and stays quiet a lot of the time as they all begin reliving old stories. Most of which I was there for as both wolf and human. After the café closes everyone cuddles Tracker and he pats me on the head telling me to behave. I snort at him, and Ivy walks home, quiet in thought.