Page 15

Jackson

S carlett gives me a small smile, one that I know is a defence mechanism. Her eyes holding the ever-so-familiar expression that we have seen over the years. And now I realise it’s an expression that has hidden so much from us, but it is her next words that tug brutally at my heart and I’m certain at the hearts of all the others present.

“But it’s okay; I got used to it. I accepted it. I could handle it. I have the ability to heal, after all.”

“No, no Scarlett. It’s not ok,” I growl quietly, glancing at Elijah who is pale and tight-lipped. No one deserves that, especially not a child. I don’t even care when Elijah pulls Scarlett close and buries her head in his chest. “He’s messed up and needs to be punished for his actions.”

My gaze flickers to Jessica, and I can feel her emotions bleeding through the mate bond. For years I thought I knew the extent of her suffering, but it was barely the surface. Mating and marking opened the doors to nightmares that keep me up at night. I now know the truth about the abuse she has suffered at the hands of Zidane, abuse that now plagues her mind and awakens her far more than it used to.

And now, knowing that Scarlett has suffered so much… and she didn’t see it. I know the guilt that eats at her. She remains silent, but the conflict and anguish in her eyes are making my wolf restless. Her pain is ours.

“Nothing I say can ever make up for my failure,” Jessica says.

“So, can we change the topic?” Scarlett requests, looking uncomfortable as she tugs away from Elijah, giving him a small, comforting smile. I can feel his rage filling the room, growing rapidly. “I’m fine.” Elijah doesn’t reply to her, simply kissing her forehead, making me frown.

“Since we’re on the topic of the bastard Zidane, let’s finish it. You said you wanted to help the pack members, correct?” I ask, frowning deeply.

“Yeah, there are so many in that pack who are abused. It’s my job as their Alpha to take charge,” Scarlett replies firmly. I nod. I am proud to see the strength she continues to hold.

“Let’s talk to our allied packs. We have enough to rally with Scarlett, and overthrow Zidane,” Elijah suggests.

I look at him thoughtfully. “Usually we can’t get involved in other packs and their business. However, Scarlett is their Alpha heir and wants to protect them, but for our allies to believe that, Scarlett will need to prove that she is an Alpha. We can call for a meeting,” I say.

“That sounds like a good idea. I’m sure some of Zidane’s pack members will willingly help Scarlett over him if they knew it means they’d get a chance at a better life,” Amelia says. I nod in agreement.

“I’ll start contacting our allies then,” Elijah adds, frowning.

“Yes, we can’t waste any more time.” I look between the two. There is one more issue that needs to be addressed, and we need to do it now.

“Your mark, Scarlett, you know it won’t go away unless you find your true mate,” I say quietly, making Scarlett look up at me sharply, almost as if she was expecting it.

“Is that another way for you to tell me to break up with Elijah?” Scarlett asks, a flash of hurt in her eyes. I look back at her, wishing I didn’t have to do this. She has gone through so much. I don’t want to hurt her anymore, but this is wrong. Eventually, they will realise that.

“No one can love you more than your mate,” I answer gently. Elijah snarls menacingly, glaring at me.

“Oh yeah, really? Just the way Zidane loved Jessica more than you do, right?” he spits. “Don’t ever question my feelings for her!”

“That is completely different. Neither Scarlett nor you have met your mate!” I snap. “Who is to say after meeting them you won’t want to stop whatever this is?”

“Because I fucking love her! If anyone is to be my mate, it’s her. I don’t need a Goddess-given mate! Clearly, she doesn’t know everything. She isn’t always right, Dad. Zidane and Jessica are proof of that. You, and how quick you got over your so-called true mate is also proof of that,” Elijah snarls his eyes blazing cobalt blue.

“You will not disrespect the Goddess under my roof!”

“I am not wrong! Thanks to her, Scarlett suffered more than she ever should have. So don’t expect me to abide by her every fucking wish!” Elijah shoots back as he stands up glaring at me. Our eyes meet, rage bubbling in both of us as our auras clash against one another, but neither of us will stand down.

“Then what do you want to do? Stay with Scarlett while another wolf’s mark remains on her? Only a true mate’s mark can take away the mark of another wolf. Not just anyone can do that!” I snap. It is uncommon for a wolf to be marked forcefully. Usually, it is a mate who may do this, but for another wolf to mark someone, it is rare. To top it off, her body is rejecting it. Even now, the black veins creep up the side of her neck, pulsing like a poisonous entity.

“Fuck, so you expect me to leave her over a fucking mark? She didn’t choose to be marked! And if that is what you think I’m going to do, you’re sorely mistaken. She will be my Luna, the only Luna I will ever take!” Elijah snarls, his voice holding power. It’s as cold as ice, enforced with finality as strong as steel.

I raise an eyebrow, although deep inside I’m stunned by his adamance on the topic.

“Luna? How can she be your Luna when you can’t even mark her?” I ask, feeling guilt twist inside of me as I hear Scarlett’s heart race, from the corner of my eye I can see she’s looking down.

Jessica has a hand on hers, but it is Elijah’s animalistic growl that draws my attention back. His eyes are burning into mine, his canines are out, his claws elongated. He clenches his fist, trying his best to control the rage that blazes within him, cutting into his own palms. The smell of blood is strong in the air.

“Say that one more time… and I fucking swear I will forget you’re my father,” he hisses, a threat that he means.

Jessica looks at me as she stands up. “I understand you can’t accept their relationship because you raised Scarlett and Indigo like your own, and I will be forever grateful for it, but at the same time we can’t ignore their love,” she says quietly, her eyes pleading as she looks at me.

Does she think siding with them is enough to satiate her own guilt? This is wrong!

“They are siblings, Jess! How do you expect me to begin to accept that? What will everyone think? We’ve marked each other already! We are mated, they are not! There’s nothing more to say on the matter. This is the end of this discussion!” I thunder, making her flinch.

“If it’s about them being siblings, I know England does not allow someone to be adopted past the age of eighteen or I would happily adopt Scarlett! However, I was already planning to give Scarlett all my inheritance. If you are so worried about others, remember you are the Alpha, not them. Silence them,” says Amelia.

“And what about in the future?! Will we silence everyone?” I snarl.

Amelia scoffs. “Oh stop being ridiculous, in a few years everyone will forget and get used to it. And Scarlett isn’t a Westwood anyway,” she says dismissively. “Once they have children, people will forget.”

Scarlett and Elijah stare at each other before Scarlett looks away, her heart skipping a beat. She looks at Amelia, giving her a small appreciative smile, as does Jessica.

“Children, what children if he can’t even mark her?!” I snarl, knowing it’s a low blow. “This is not right.”

“Frankly, Jackson, I’m beginning to like your son a little more and you a lot less! You can’t use petty excuses, Jackson. Who are we to say it’s not right? We don’t choose who we fall in love with,” Amelia scolds, making me frown.

“So, we should behave like cats and dogs? Mate with anyone and have no sense of morals?” I snap. Amelia snorts.

“Oh please, we’re close enough to dogs anyway, who cares?” she retorts, making everyone stare at her at the blatant insult, apart from Scarlett, who stifles a snicker.

“I still think it’s just a fling. We all know what Elijah is like.” I glare at my son, who simply looks back at me with equal contempt.

Scarlett

I feel a knot of guilt twist in my stomach. I already feel like an unwanted item right now, this mark a clear problem. Tainted, that’s what I am, and I don’t like how Dad is blaming Elijah.

“We are both in this together… stop blaming him,” I say, speaking directly to Dad for the first time in a few days. The hurt in my eyes clear.

“He’s set in his ways. Who the fuck cares what he thinks, anyway? My decision won’t change. Scarlett isn’t like the other girls, she’s so much more,” Elijah says quietly, making my heart fill with warmth.

“I have a suggestion,” Grandma Amelia says before Dad can even speak.

“What is it now?” Dad asks coldly.

“Send Scarlett and Elijah to London for the Mating Ball. If they find their mates under the Blood Moon and want to accept their own love or their respective mates, that will be decided then. And if they wish to reject their mates and honour this union, then so be it,” Grandma Amelia says. “It is nearing anyway.”

I observe Dad, wondering if he’ll agree. It makes me nervous thinking about it, I wonder how Elijah is feeling.

“That’s an excellent idea,” Mama says quickly.

“Yes, and in the meantime, focus on preparing to face Zidane’s pack, so they have time. I don’t think you can force them to accept their mates if they don’t want to, Jackson. And who knows, they may even turn out to be mates.” I look at Elijah, the fear of him refusing me for his mate terrifies me. That fear will always remain.

He shakes his head as if knowing what’s going on in my mind.

“I won’t ever let you go,” he promises me quietly, his eyes that burn into mine speak volumes. He means it and he wants me to believe in him. I nod, giving him a small smile.

I look down, trying to calm my unease, pondering Grandma Amelia’s suggestion. It is true, though; this is what we need. If we go and are to face our mates, it is better to do it sooner rather than later. Having the fear that one day he’ll leave me for someone else isn’t going to vanish. Let’s face it and get it over with, and it’ll be the perfect test for our love.

“Fine, let’s do it,” I say, looking at Elijah. “At least when we face our mates, we will know if our love is strong enough,” I say softly. Elijah turns to Dad.

“And if, by any Goddess-given chance, we are mates, then what will you do? Are you ready to end your relationship with Jessica?” Elijah challenges him. Dad frowns.

“Don’t you dare-”

“No, I’m stating facts. You’re so against us, but what about yourself? If we are mates, then you’re the one in the wrong relationship,” Elijah says mockingly, his voice bitingly cold.

“You two are not mates,” Dad says with complete confidence.

“Even if we’re not, she will be the only woman in my life. You can do whatever the fuck you want with that,” Elijah hisses, turning his back on Dad, who growls at the disrespect.

“Do you want to be Alpha, Elijah? Take this path and you will never see that title,” Dad thunders angrily. He glares at the older two women, and I’m certain he’s offended by them supporting us.

“Jackson…” Mama whispers, appalled at Dad’s obvious blackmail. But the person least affected by his claim is Elijah, who simply gives me his killer smirk, his cerulean eyes filled with love and confidence. He looks over his shoulder at his dad, his eyes hardening.

“If I have to choose between being an Alpha and Scarlett, I’ll choose her. Every single fucking time.”