Page 24

Indigo

T he day is cold and grey and it mirrors the mood within the Alpha’s mansion perfectly. Breakfast is tense, even the delicious smell of Mama’s cooking isn’t lightening the depressive mood.

I’m sitting here, a pout on my face, looking between Elijah and Dad. I wish they’d put aside their egos and stop this ridiculous issue between them. But what else can one hope for when it’s two alpha males butting heads? It’s going to be a long while before they make up, I hate it. It’s so damn annoying.

Why are men so full of themselves?

“So, do you both have everything packed?” Mama asks, looking over at Elijah and Scarlett.

“Yep, all packed,” Scarlett answers, playing with the scrambled eggs on her plate. Ok, even she’s not herself. I bet the whole Blood Moon thing is messing with her head.

“Yeah, all ready for this ball,” Elijah says in a bored, mocking tone. “I wonder if anything is going to change. Are you sure you don’t want to come, Dad? To see how I reject anyone but Scarlett?”

“Watch it. I’m giving you one chance. You might come home without a mate, but remember, you won’t be taking your Alpha position,” Dad counters coldly, his eyes flashing dangerously. Elijah simply scoffs.

“I don’t mind. My wolf doesn’t seem bothered, either. So, I guess we’re good and it might be for the best, right? I mean, Scarlett’s an alpha with a pack…” He smirks with such conviction that Dad bristles.

I raise an eyebrow. Elijah may act like he doesn’t care, but I know it must hurt. He’s always talked with pride about what he’ll do for this pack once he becomes Alpha.

“You better work on getting a new heir, or stay alpha forever, whatever the fuck works for you,” Elijah adds.

“You’re a fucking disrespectful asshole, you know that, Elijah? Your mother would be ashamed if she saw you today!” Dad snaps, slamming his cutlery down.

Low blow, Dad.

Mama closes her eyes, trying not to scream in frustration as she watches her china plate crack in half from the force the fork and knife were thrown down.

Oh shit, Dad’s done it now. Scarlett and I watch her try to control her wolf, her eyes flickering dangerously. We all know Mama’s temper when it comes to her dishes, and I don’t think Dad’s attitude is helping him at all.

He’s been jumping down Elijah’s throat any chance he gets.

“I wonder if she would be... or if it would it be you she’s disappointed in? It’s really a shame she’s not around or all this shit wouldn’t be happening to start with,” Elijah shoots back, his voice dripping with venom.

“Elijah, please, can you just stop?” Scarlett gives him a look.

Elijah frowns but he listens, the tension thick in the air. Dad snorts, mumbling something that pisses Elijah off, but I don’t catch it. But I do see Scarlett shake her head at Elijah.

I look down at my plate, suddenly feeling really upset.

“You know, I don’t know what this Mating Ball will bring, but can we at least have one meal as a family before shit goes down?” I request, trying to hide how I feel.

“Indigo, language!” Mama snaps.

“No, Mama! I’m fed up with seeing all this anger between Dad and Elijah! Why can’t we just go back to normal, back to the way things were? Dad, I don’t get it. Why can’t you accept their love? What’s so wrong with falling in love? You did it, didn’t you? I hate being here when all you two do is throw crap at each other every single chance you get! Dad, if Elijah isn’t the next Alpha, who will take charge? Because you can’t be so stubborn and make the pack suffer simply because of your ego!”

“Indigo. This is beyond your understanding,” Dad says curtly, but I simply shake my head.

“No, Dad. This time, you’re the one who is failing to understand!” I say, terrified seeing my family breaking apart. “I hope they’re mates! Because then I’d like to see how you break your marriage with Mama!” With those words I run from the room, not wanting anyone to see my tears.

Jackson

“Indy!” Elijah yells, glaring at me before he runs out of the room after the girl he considers his sister all while he’s dating the other!

Make it make sense!

Jessica looks down at her broken plate and I realise I’ve broken it. Shit.

“I’ll buy you a new a set,” I say, not wanting her to get upset, but her expression doesn’t change as she stares unblinking at the broken plate.

“This isn’t about a plate,” she says quietly.

“Jessica-”

“All you are doing, Jackson, is breaking this family apart. Where our own children want to see us separating because of your issues and stubbornness,” she says, her voice breaking slightly. “Scarlett, can you give us some privacy?” Scarlett looks between us and nods before she stands quickly and leaves the room.

But I can still sense her. She’s not gone far. As much as I hate to upset her, this has gone on for too long, and both of them are not listening.

“Jessica, stop encouraging them,” I say, my voice cold.

“If this is about your reputation, then I am ready to divorce you for their sake,” Jessica whispers, her voice breaking. Her words shock me as I stand up abruptly, knocking over the chair I was sitting on moments earlier.

“Jess…”

“I love you, Jackson, and I don’t ever want to let you go, but I love them, too. I don’t want to watch them go through any more pain. Scarlett has been through so much already; I don’t want her future compromised because of me. And Elijah? I took his mother’s place. Do you know how I feel that I’m also taking away his Alpha position? That I am the reason he can’t happily be with the woman he loves? If we never fell in love, got married... then this wouldn’t be happening right now. I swear, Jackson, if you blackmail Elijah with the Alpha position and stand by it, get ready to see those divorce papers!”

Her words strike me like a slap, and I won’t deny it hurts; the rejection and the fact she is willing to leave me so easily.

I can see the pain in her eyes. She has tried to be there for Elijah, but he never accepted her. And even now, despite her fear of speaking up, she does. For them.

“Jessica-”

She shakes her head, running from the kitchen. I close my eyes, feeling… empty.

How is she able to accept it? It hurts.

I lift the chair and slowly drop onto it, placing my head in my hands. How do I accept it? How do I try to see that my son loves my daughter? How is everyone able to just accept it?

I hear footsteps and know it’s Scarlett.

“Dad…”

She hasn’t called me that in a while. After all, we haven’t been talking properly and I won’t say it, but I miss our talks and moments. She hasn’t really tried to talk to me either.

I look up as she approaches slowly. I can see the pain in her eyes. She walks around the table and stops next to me. Slowly, she drops to her knees, gently reaching out for my face.

“Scarlett,” I say, looking away as I try to hide my feelings.

“Dad… can you look at me?” she asks quietly, cupping my face. I sigh; I can’t refuse my little girl.

That’s the entire problem; I consider her my own and it is too much for me to just accept that she isn’t biologically mine. I look into her sage green eyes, seeing sadness and guilt in them. She and Elijah together would always be a reminder of that.

“What is it, Scarlett?” I ask.

“I know this isn’t the most ideal situation anyone would want to be a part of, but it’s happening. You were and still are the father I never had. I still consider you my dad, no matter how messed up this is. Mama still loves you, but she wants us all happy. All we need is for you to accept this. Please? Can’t you do that?”

I remain silent as she continues when she realises that I’m not going to say anything.

“If you ever considered me your daughter, will you not grant me this one wish? I never asked for anything growing up, but today I want to ask for something. I want to ask for you to accept us. Do you hate me so much that you can’t stand to see me as Luna of this pack?” she asks quietly, trying to control her emotions, to hide the pain from her eyes.

I look up sharply. How did she even get to such an assumption?

I’ve never seen her express herself before, it’s nice to see, yet…

“By loving Elijah, it will always be a reminder that you didn’t consider us your own,” I say as I stroke her hair gently.

When did she grow up?

She shakes her head, her eyes flashing defiantly.

“That is not true. I consider you my father. I’m not lying and you know it. Elijah… I won’t lie, I never saw him as my brother. I never had that bond he and Indigo have. Even you know that,” she sighs. “Please, Dad, this won’t change anything. Who cares what the world says? The only thing that matters to Elijah and me is what our family thinks. Please?”

She always has a way to get to me. Maybe I have a soft spot for her. I close my eyes, sighing deeply before I take her wrists, removing her hands from my face and hold her hands in front of me.

“You know Elijah doesn’t care about what I think. Indigo is angry at me. Your mother threatened to divorce me… and now you’re asking me to accept it so calmly.”

“Won’t even one of those approaches work?” Scarlett asks. I smile wryly.

“I once said to you, any boy you chose to love would be lucky. Well, that asshole is more than lucky. What’s to like about him, anyway?” I ask, frowning. Scarlett smiles, reaching up from where she’s kneeling on her knees. She hugs me tightly.

“They say a girl looks for someone who’s a lot like her father when it comes to love… I guess I did the same,” she says softly, a hint of cheekiness in her tone. Her heart begins to race as she hugs me tighter. “I don’t want to lose my father. Please don’t take that from me. I need you. I will always need you, Dad,” she whispers, her voice quivering.

I struggle to control my own emotions, as I feel my anger dissipate. How can I refuse her request? I am hurting my family, which I keep saying is the reason I’m against this.

Closing my eyes, I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tighter as I let go of the anger within me.

“You’ll always be my little girl, Scarlett. For you, I’ll try, but you need to talk to him. Tell him to stop being a rude asshole, too,” I complain. “You know he doesn’t listen to me.” Scarlett laughs in relief and amusement as she moves back.

“I guess I can try. We both know Elijah has an ego bigger than the size of England.”

“Now that I agree with,” I chuckle and she nods.

“You should go to Mama,” Scarlett suggests. I nod. Standing up, I stroke her head before I head to the door, pausing just before I’m about to leave the room.

“Don’t tell Elijah about our conversation,” I say. “Let him come back from the ball at least.”

“Got it.” Scarlett stands up, giving me a smile. She slaps her thighs, heaving a sigh of relief as she turns to gaze at the sky outside. I smile at her before I leave the kitchen.

“Blood Moon, here I come,” I hear her say, and I smile.

And with it, we will see what it holds in store for both my stubborn pups. I better talk to Indigo too since I’ve upset her as well.

It will take me time, but I’ll get used to it. I hope.