It's Dark Within

Speaking Rejection

        We got out to the field where everyone was meeting up at, and I did my best to pull us off to where no one was going to bother us. All around the other wolves watched us, whispered about us, or blatantly made faces. I knew some of the older wolves were not going to like how Jack disrupted the hierarchy by beating the Malcom and his lackeys. I honestly expected them to act like this. What I didn’t expect was to see the smiles, and the nods of approval coming from some of the older wolves. I felt a little better, but there was still something etching into the back of my mind.

        Confused, Jack looked down at me and raised an eyebrow.

        “What’s wrong, rain?” Jack’s hand lightly squeezed mine to get my attention.

        I let out a deep breath. “No one knows I can’t turn fully, Jack. I’ve done good to keep it a secret, but this year everyone seems to be solely focused on us. I’m sure someone is bound to notice.”

        He gave me a reassuring smile. “We’ll do whatever it takes, love. What do you think they are going to do if you can’t turn?”

        I shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve always been afraid they would exile me, which I guess wouldn’t be too bad if I never had to come to a Gathering again, but they would make my brothers lives hell. What do I even say if someone see’s? ‘Oh, yeah I ‘m just half wolf’?”

        “No.” Jack cupped my face in his hands. “You’re just a different representation. Your all wolf, rain. If they can’t see it, then who cares? You’ve got your brothers, me, and you are one of the strongest wolves I’ve ever seen. You can be a wolf and still stand upright. None of us are that cool.”

        I rolled my eyes at him, but a small smile was present on my lips. “Yeah, yeah. Your just sweet talking me so I kiss you again.”

        He nodded. “You know it, love.”

        I couldn’t help it, I laughed with him and nearly forgot why I was worried in the first place. We stood there together for a moment before we sensed Troy coming over with wide eyes.

        “What is, Troy?” I asked while observing his strange behavior.

        He whimpered, causing me and Jack to both recoil in confusion.

        “Troy? What the hell is wrong?” I asked more roughly this time.

        Troy ran his hands through his hair as he groaned. “I think I found my mate…and I’m not happy about it.”

        “Okay, well you want to explain, yeah?” Jack asked as his arm draped over my neck like usual.

        He sighed, but started. “Okay. So, when you two came back down we all were confronted by Fredina, right? Well, it was starting to get late, and as you know we only go running after midnight.”

        “Troy, where are you going with this?” I put a hand to my forehead in frustration.

        He held up a hand. “Wait for it. So, you two left to go…do whatever, and we stayed behind to take care of everything and while we were the time past midnight.”

        “Wait…” I looked up.

        Jack shook his head. “Bloody hell man…”

        Tory nodded. “Lexana turned eighteen and I could scent her out as my mate.”

        I almost laughed. Luck would have it that the first of the brothers to find a mate would be the ladies man. “Well, this is an interesting turn of events. Hold on, why are you here instead of with her?”

        “I need to ask you about how to reject her.”

        I swallowed hard. “Troy…I don’t think I should tell you.”

        Jack raised an eyebrow. “What am I missing?”

        “Nice job, Troy.” I said with a huff.

        Troy gave me a sympathetic smile. “Sorry, sis. Please, help me.”

        I looked over to Jack and felt like my heart was going to fell out of my chest. “Jack…there is something that I need to tell you.”

        “This doesn’t sound good.” He said as his arm slipped away from me, facing me head on. “What is it, rain?”

        I glanced over to Troy and let out a deep sigh that crushed my spirit. “When I was young, my father, he…made me reject my mate before I ever found him. He was afraid about me being the type of wolf I am, and was terrified my mate would reject me. He made me break the bond before it could break me. So, if you are my mate. I already rejected you, and there will be no mate bond when I turn eighteen. I always had hopes that because I didn’t know my mate’s name that it wouldn’t work, but I’ve always been told as a girl’s time get closer to eighteen she could feel the bond pulling at her. Jack, I feel nothing like that.”

        Troy couldn’t even summon the courage to look over at us as I felt a lump in my throat. I should have told him this before, but how was I supposed to of brought this up? What was worse, was the blank expression on Jack’s face. I wanted him to yell, scream at me, throw his hands up in the air, walk away, something. Yet, he stood there like a statue.

        “Christelle…”

        I put a hand up to silence Troy. I wanted to wait for Jack, and I was going to stand there for however long it took. His face never changed, he never shouted. He never threw his hands in the air, and he never walked away. Instead, he closed the space between us and smashed his lips into mine roughly. Nearly growling when I let out a little whimper against his mouth. Saying this guy right here lit up my world, would be a drastic understatement. Everything about him made me weak, from his sarcasm to the way he makes me feel like the safest person in the world. The way he looked at me set me on fire, and his touch chilled me out. All I wanted, was to be right here in his arms. Yet, I knew what I felt was love, love for him, but not a mate bond.

        When Jack pulled away a devilish smirk was on his sweet lips. “Your telling me you don’t feel a damn thing when I do that to you? I can always kiss a little lower to see if my theory is correct, yeah?”

        I felt my face and neck turn beet red, and then I remembered. Troy was right here with us. “You’re not mad or anything?”

        “Rain, your father did what he thought what was best for you. Him and your brothers love you so much, how can I be mad at something that happened so long ago? Plus, I already told you. I’m meant to be with the girl that smells of rain, and no matter of your long-term rejection, I don’t think you could break our bond if it was there. We’re too good for that, Ell.” Jack said with a wink.

        Hearing him say these things made me melt against my better wishes to remain whole in front of Troy. “You’re so amazing.”

        “Can we get back to my little problem now that you two are reconciled? Tell me the words, I need to reject her before I look at her again.” Troy begged as he glanced around.

        I turned to say something to Troy when I felt large strong arms wrap around me. I took a second to nuzzle into Jack before giving my brother attention. “What is wrong with Lexana? Have you even spent any time with her?”

        “No, but I do know she grabbed his d**k. That’s not really sitting well with me.” Troy said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

        Jack chuckled while I rolled my eyes. “Come on, Troy. You have to have a better reason than that.”

        He sighed. “Her mother is absolutely insane for one. She wanted to sleep with my sister’s guy for two. She has slept with Malcom which is her cousin for three. Did I already mention that her mother is f*****g insane?”

        I shook my head at him. “Yes, we know she is. But to be honest Troy, most all the females my age have slept with him and as for her wanting Jack, I’m sure it was just because he wouldn’t pay her any attention. Now, tell me something about her personality you don’t like.”

        Troy groaned. “Well…I’m not sure. I’ve only talked to her like twice in my entire life.”

        “Maybe you should go talk to her then, yeah?” Jack asked as he rested his body against mine.

        I shrugged. “Jack’s right, Troy. I won’t have you falling apart because you rejected your mate unless you are one hundred percent sure you have too. Just go talk to her or something Troy.”

        He groaned. “You two suck now that your together.”

        “Suck what?” Jack asked teasingly, smirking at Troy when he shot him a disgusted look.

        “Damnit, Jack. That was an image I could have gone my entire life without seeing. I’m going to go find my mate and do like you two suggested now. Savages…” Troy said as he shook out his body, trying to get rid of his disgust.

        While he walked away I giggled a little. “I still don’t understand how out of the three, he, is the best with women. He won’t even talk to Lexana.”

        Jack shrugged. “Truth be told, I wouldn’t want to either.”

        “She’s not so bad once you get to really know her. We used to be kind of like friends when we were small. Her mother made her the way she is. Always telling her that she is better than everyone else and that no man is ever good enough for her, and it took its hold on her. Once, Lexana was a quiet sweet girl.” I said while laying kisses to the tops of his arms.

        “She’s hardly that anymore, but maybe with your influence she could be that girl again? Wont she have to come back with us to our pack now that she is Troy’s mate?” Jack asked before spinning me around to face him.

        I wrapped my arms around his neck and shrugged. “I’m assuming so. Unless one of them rejects the other…”

        He raised an eyebrow at me. “What is it, love?”

        “Her mom. Fredina is going to make Lexana reject Troy without question. We need to find them.” I said with a groan.

        Jack nodded. “What about the run?”

        I touched the side of his face gently. “You go, relieve some of that stress from the fights. I’ll go find Troy. He couldn’t have gotten far. I promise I will be fine.”

        “I don’t know, rain.” His face made that thinking expression he does when he’s in deep thought.

        I chuckled a little as I leaned up to press my lips to his for a moment. “Go. I will be fine, you don’t have to worry about me all the time, you know.”

        Jack blatantly laughed. “Yeah, because you don’t get into any kind of trouble.”

        “I’m going to disregard that last remark and go find Troy.” I said as I rolled my eyes teasingly.

        He nodded, placing a light kiss to my forehead. “Alright, if anything happens try to run.”

        “That’s sound advice.” I said with a huff. I pulled out of his arms before blowing him a kiss. “See you in a little bit.”

        He nodded, and I turned to leave when I heard it low, like a whisper from the wind.

        “I love you, Christelle Carter.”

        I spun back around to see him with his hand locked behind his head and a sly smile on his handsome face. My heart was in my throat, and those damn butterflies were making my stomach sick. “I love you too, Jack Avery.”

        He look elated before turning to walk back to the crowd about to begin running. I giggled before setting my mind right and heading off to find Troy.

        Having no idea where they could possibly be, I stuck my nose in the air and inhaled deeply as I closed my eyes. I could find my brothers through a blizzard, their scents have been ingrained into my mind since I was born. The same for them with me. It’s that way will all siblings. So, after finding all three scents, I just had to pick out Troy’s.

        “Got it.” My eyes shot open.