Cinderella and Her Mate

Chapter Three:

(Aspen’s p.o.v.)

After I had lunch, I walked around town trying to find all the supplies that was needed for the part/ceremony. It was rather nice being out in town getting sun and fresh air. I walked into the last store that was on my list.

“Good afternoon! I am assuming you are here to pick up the rest of the Alpha ceremony stuff that Alpha Jay had set aside.” The shop owner said as I closed the door.

“I am, thank you so much!” I spoke. I walked up to the counter while the owner went to the back of the store to get the order that was ordered from Alpha Jay. While I was waiting, I heard the door open and close, which means someone else has entered the store.

“The owner is in the back of the store; she will be back out soon.” I said to the person who walked in. I didn’t turn around right away, so I had no idea who had walked into the store. I heard a cough. I rolled my eyes and turned around, that was when I realized that it was Jack.

“I take it you are taking a break from Alpha Jay and Chris from the planning of the ceremony?” I asked him. All he did was nod his head, “It is starting to drive me absolutely insane. Between them wanting to get ceremony done and over with then dinner so Chris can just party is starting to drive me absolutely insane.” I cracked a smile at him.

“You are more than welcome to help me get everything to the pack house. I know that after dinner I will be decorating tonight so that way, they can just do the ceremony and do what they want.” I spoke.

“I know that your birthday is tomorrow. Can I take you out for ice cream before we go back to the pack house? Just to celebrate your birthday since you won’t be able to. I will buy.” Jack asked me. I was hesitant on saying yes because I know that I needed to get back to the pack house. I was thinking it over and the lady came back out with the rest of what I needed. I handed her the pack card. “Please?” Jack asked me and that was when I realized that I had not answered him yet. “After Ice cream I have to get everything back to the pack house. I know there is going to be a lot of decoration to do when I get back.” I finally answered him. Jack’s face light up and a smile appeared. After I got the card back and said my good-byes to the owner, I walked out of the store and was going to start walking to the place where we were going to have ice cream.

“Where are you going? My car is right here.” Jack said to me. I looked in front of me and saw a Bugatti Chiron. (I had to google a car that I thought Jack would own and this car coast 3,900,000) My jaw dropped, and he opened the trunk for me to put the supplies in. After I put the supplies in the trunk and he closed it, he walked over to the passenger side and opened the door for me. I smiled at him and got into the car. I buckled myself in and waited for him to get into the car. Jack got in and we were off to the cold stone to get ice cream.

When we arrived, he got out. I was about to open the door myself, but he opened it and he offered me his hand to help me out of the car. I gladly took his hand and got out of the car. We walked into cold stone and waited in line for us to be called to the counter.

“What can I get for you guys?” the nice teenage boy asked behind the counter. Jack ordered what he wanted and waited for me to choose, but I was having a hard time.

“Jack why don’t you order for me? I’m having a hard time picking what I want.” I said with a small smile on my face.

“Go ahead and pick somewhere to sit. I will bring the ice cream to you.” Jack said.

I nodded my head and walked over to a booth by the window. It was nice to watch the people walking around and enjoying their day. I wish that I could do that on a daily, like they can. That is what I get for being Cinderella to a pack that is very ungrateful in having someone that can cook and clean up after them. I know that once I leave, they are going to have a very hard time adjusting. No one knows how to cook, clean or do laundry like I can. I have a very funny feeling that this pack is going to starve when I leave after Chris’s Alpha ceremony tomorrow. I heard Jack sit down across from me. I looked back at him and saw that there was chocolate Oreo ice cream for him. There was also a vanilla with cake and sprinkles. I knew that he got me birthday cake as a joke. I started to chuckle.

“What is so funny?” Jack asked me.

“Did you choose or did the boy behind the counter choose?” I asked him.

“I made the choice. I figured since we are celebrating your birthday, it might as well be a birthday cake flavor.” Jack answered.

I smiled and felt my cheeks start to get hot. I took the spoon that Jack had offered me and started to dig in. When I took my first bite, there was a surprise. I felt and tasted a hint of strawberry.

“Strawberry birthday cake. It is like you know me.” I said as I dug into the ice cream some more. Jack chuckled, “Your taste of flavors has not changed once. I used to take you to cold stone when our parents had business to do together.” Jack said.

I looked at Jack confused, “I’m sorry Jack. I don’t remember anything before I was six. I only remember when I was six until now. I guess the memories of having my parents killed must have blocked out my memories of before I was six.” I said while looking down. I was suddenly not into my ice cream anymore.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to open up old wounds. I am sorry, I should have kept my mouth closed. If you want to go back to the pack house, we can.” Jack said. I could hear pain in his voice. I looked at him and nodded my head, “I am sorry to waste the ice cream. Memories have been hard since you mentioned it this morning.”

“Hey, it is no big deal. I found you again, and that is what matters. After Chris’s Alpha ceremony tomorrow, I am going to bring you home with me.” Jack said to me.

I looked at him with shock. I knew that I wanted to leave the pack I am apart of, but I never actually thought about joining another pack. I didn’t answer him, and he took that as a sign that I was thinking. We walked out of cold stone, and he did the same thing as he did before. Having a gentle man do the stuff that he was doing. After he got into the car, we drove off to the pack house.

~skipping the ride~

When we got back, I put everything in the kitchen and walked to Alpha Jay’s office. I knocked on the door when I arrived.

“Enter.” I heard Jay say. I opened the door and closed the door behind me after. “What is it Aspen?” He asked me.

I handed him the pack’s credit card and was about to walk out.

“Aspen, did you get everything that was needed?” he asked me.

“Yes sir, the owner at the shop said hello. She had everything set aside for you in the back of the store.” I answered him. I was going to keep seeing Alpha Jack to myself unless I was asked about it.

“Good. You have preparation for food to do.” Jay said to me. I nodded my head and walked to my room to change my clothes into something more comfortable. Once that I was done, I walked into the kitchen. I put my headphones in and started to prepare the food for tomorrow. 

~Skip the preparation~

After I had finished doing the preparation, I saw that it was midnight and I had missed dinner once again. I let out a sigh and went to go walk out of the kitchen.

You know skipping meals isn’t healthy for your body. I am surprised that we are still alive with us eating only one meal a day.

Happy birthday to me. What is your name?

I go by Ruby.

Ruby that is a pretty name. I know that I should not skip meals, but I do what I can to survive. After tomorrow we will be leaving. I can’t deal with this pack anymore.

I know who can take you with him. I remember him, and I can try to help you remember him as well.

That would be nice, I would like to remember a happier time before they were killed.

Everything went quiet. I sigh and turn around. I started to walk out when I ran into something hard. I thought I ran into the wall at first from being tired, but then found out that it was not a wall that I ran into but happened to be someone’s chest.

“Well, I know that I can zone out, but I didn’t think I would meet someone who was worse than I was.” I heard Jack say. When I looked up at him it seemed like my whole world just froze.

MATE!

I could clearly hear Ruby scream in my head. “I- I” I could not form a sentence.

Jack looked at me and smiled.

“Happy birthday Aspen.” He spoke. He bent down and kissed my check and walked away. I blushed hard and walked to my room. I did my night routine and laid down in bed. I could feel the need to be closer to Jack. I wanted to feel his arms wrapped around me. I finally dozed off dreaming of Jack.