Page 32

Jackson

“ T hey’re mates!”

Jessica’s words when she found out ring in my mind. The happiness she felt was obvious, but for some irrational reason that I can’t comprehend, she’s ok with them being mates. No, she wanted them to be mates because that’s what they wanted. That was her reason.

Yes, he can remove her mark now. That’s the only reason there’s some good in this but I had hoped she’d find someone more suited for her, a different mate who could remove it. Elijah he-

You would be disappointed with my train of thought right now. With my selfishness, wouldn’t you?

I look down. There’s no reply; there won’t ever be a reply. I stare at the grave in front of me and sigh heavily, the pain of losing her tugging at my heart. I place a hand on the smooth headstone, made from grey rock with a few flowers engraved into the stone and her name. Luna Ella Westwood. A loving mate, mother, and Luna.

Ella…

I miss you.

I know what she’d say to me if she was here. I can still picture the expression she used to give me when I was being an arrogant asshole, as she put it, an expression that said you know you’re being an asshole too. Am I?

I see those girls as mine Ella… I don’t even understand why Jessica is ok with it. Does she fear that some unknown men would be the girls’ mates and hurt them? People like Zidane are rare.

Sighing, I caress the rock. You would like Scarlett. She’s the type of girl you always said Elijah would need to keep him in control. She’s everything a luna should be and more. She’s an alpha.

And I know this pack is blessed to have her as Luna whether she is his mate or not, but putting aside my own pride is hard. I’ve always struggled with that… you know that, Ella. And I struggle to apologise.

You would tell me to stop being so stubborn, to do it for our son, but he doesn’t make things easier! He just mocks me, too. I frown once again, her answer is in my mind.

I wonder who he takes after?

I chuckle dryly.

Me, of course, because you, Ella, were an angel, and I hope you’re looking down on me – on us and giving us strength, because Goddess I’m going to need it.

I close my eyes, and the ache in my chest that always returns when I’m here grips me tightly. No matter if you find someone else, if you mark them, the love for your mate can never fully disappear. I remain there before her grave, having a one-way conversation with myself, but for everything I say, I know her answer.

There are similarities between her and Jessica, but there are a lot of differences, too. Jessica is patient with me and it is rare for her to ever oppose me. This might just be the first time. She lets me be unreasonable, but I also try not to argue with her, knowing it affects her. But she’s also firm and takes no nonsense from the girls.

While Ella was gentle and caring, she was quick to call me out on all my shit, way more often than I liked, and she didn’t need to argue with me. She’d state her opinion whether I wanted to hear it or not. And she was the same with Elijah. She showed him love, yet at the same time, she didn’t let him get away with things.

I sigh as I massage my temples. That is why Ella was my fated because she made up for my flaws. I stand tall, bidding her farewell for now. I think about Elijah… Is Scarlett the one who can bring the best out in him? Well, they are mates and now I just need to deal with it.

Elijah

We drop Liam and Angela off before going home. Well Liam is dropped down the path since driving to his house isn’t really possible with a car due to the narrow dirt path between the trees. I then drive home. We both get out and head inside, dropping our bags onto the ground beside the front door.

The entrance hall smells of fresh homemade chips and charcoal chicken, a reminder of Jessica’s incredible cooking skills.

Time to see how Dad’s going to react, I say mockingly through the mind-link. Fuck, did I miss being able to do this. I smirk as I reach over and kiss Scarlett.

Play nice, handsome.

“I always do. Let’s get to this,” I reply mockingly.

“Elijah, seriously, don’t make things worse.” Scarlett frowns quietly, just as Indigo comes running out from the kitchen.

“Guys!” She rushes at me and gives me a big hug. “Congratulations!” I lift her up, spinning her around, feeling Scarlett’s eyes on us as she stands there arms crossed.

“I got my girl, right?” I say placing her down and she nods, giving me a high five.

“You sure did.”

“What am I, a prize to be won?” Scarlett asks, narrowing her eyes. The two of us smirk at her.

“A lot more than just a prize, sweetheart,” I assure her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. Indigo wrinkles her nose as she watches us kiss.

“That’s still gross…” she mumbles. I am about to speak when Jessica and Dad step out of the kitchen. The tension that pulls the air taut is fucking obvious when my eyes meet Dad’s.

Jessica steps forward, hugging Scarlett tightly, before she cups her face and admires her mark, relief flooding her face.

“I’m so happy you two are mates,” she says softly, but still loud enough that everyone in the hallway can hear.

“Thanks, Mama,” Scarlett replies. I can hear the happiness in her voice too. Jessica steps back and looks at me, as I now turn my gaze to her. She gives me a smile, which I return, and she steps forward, hugging me. She’s always on eggshells around me when she initiates any kind of contact, but I can’t blame her for that. I’ve never really made her feel welcome.

“I know you will take good care of her,” she says quietly.

“Obviously, there’s no doubt about that,” I reply, giving her a small smirk before I now look over at Dad. “So, Alpha Jackson, she turned out to be my mate. Her mark should be clear proof of that. Want to make sure it’s real?” I add, sarcasm dripping from my voice, my eyes flickering with anger I’m suppressing.

He frowns deeply, his brows knitting together, his jaw ticking as he looks between us.

“I don’t need anything to be proved. It is clear that you two are mates,” he admits begrudgingly.

I nod slowly, “Yeah, so, when are the two of you divorcing?” I ask with my eyebrow raised, not missing Scarlett stiffen by my side.

“Elijah!”

“What are you going to do, not hand me the Alpha title?” I taunt.

“No one is divorcing and no one is taking away anyone’s position. Dad, please, you said you would try before you even knew we were mates,” Scarlett says softly. Dad’s gaze softens before he sighs heavily.

“I did…” he says curtly. I frown. He isn’t getting off that easily.

“So shouldn’t you at least admit you were wrong or apologise?” I push coldly. Dad’s eyes flash.

“I’m still your father, boy.”

“I know. It’s the only reason I’m holding my anger back. You threatened to strip me of a position I have earned because of your own ego, so now I want to know, since we’re mates, what are you going to do?”

“Elijah, we-” Jessica begins, but I raise a finger, stopping her, my eyes not leaving my father.

“Now that you are mates, you think we should divorce? So now do you understand why, before knowing you were mated, I didn’t want you two together?” Dad barks.

I let out a humourless laugh. “I wouldn’t have had a problem with the two of you being married, whether we were mates or not. It’s you who has the issue, Dad. Maybe you should take out the stick that’s shoved up your ass and accept you were in the fucking wrong.”

Dad frowns, clenching his jaw.

This man can never apologise.

“Fine. I may have been, but I will not apologise.”

There we go.

“Let bygones be bygones. We will hold the Alpha ceremony a month from now. You will get the title. Once we have dealt with Zidane and his pack, it is yours.”

He says nothing more, turning and heading upstairs. I simply frown coldly. I know I’m not going to get an apology from the man, even though he fucking owes us one, but I won’t make this worse for the three females who are watching. Different emotions shine in all their eyes. Jessica looks guilty and sad, Indigo seems worried, and Scarlett is frowning deeply. Yeah, she’s pissed at me… I’ll deal with that later.

I look at Jessica. Despite everything, she has been supportive. It is high time I speak to her one-on-one.

“Can I have a word?” I ask her seriously. Jessica nods, looking at her daughters.

“You two can go to the kitchen, get the drinks on the table in the meantime.” The girls nod before they walk into the kitchen, and I lead the way to the lounge. Jessica follows me and I can hear her heart race. She’s nervous. Once we’re inside, she shuts the door and I turn to her, combing my fingers through my hair.

“I won’t drag this out.”

She nods, twisting her hands in front of her. She’s on edge waiting, as if scared about what I’m going to say.

“I’ve never seen you as a mother. Although you were there for me growing up, and you did more than a lot of stepmoms would, no one can replace my mom,” I begin.

She nods slowly, looking down at her hands. There is a flicker of sadness but also understanding in her eyes. She’s tried, don’t get me wrong, I know that, and I know my tone isn’t the softest. But this is hard for me, too. I guess I’m more like Dad than I’ll ever admit.

“But it doesn’t mean that I don’t think of you as family. I appreciate what you did for Dad, for me – heck, I got a little sister too. But, growing up, Scarlett was someone I never could treat the same way as Indigo and I think it was the reason I became angrier with everything. When she called Dad ‘Dad’, it irritated the hell out of me. Maybe it was the pull of the bond or my feelings for her that I never realised. I don’t know. I just want to say that I don’t regret the fact Dad married you, and brought you here into our home. I know I come off like I don’t care at times, but I just wanted to let you know that I do consider you family, and I appreciate you for what you have done for me and for Dad,” I finish, shoving my hands into my pockets as I look at my shoes. That wasn’t easy to say.

I glance up at Jessica just in time to see her brushing away a few stray tears, and I wonder what she’s been through. I’ve only seen one memory of Scarlett’s and it still makes me sick. She steps forward, smiling gently as she reaches up and cups my face.

“Hearing that means more than I can ever express. Thank you,” she says softly, pulling me down and placing a kiss on my forehead. I wrap my arms around her, glad that I did say what I did. She is part of this family and that is not a lie. Some relationships don’t need a title, and this is one of them. She will never replace my mother, but she is the closest thing I have to a mother figure, and I do love her even if I can never say it.

She’s been there for me, cleaning up after me, washing up after me, reminding me about my homework, picking up the books I’ve thrown around my room. She’s taken care of me when I was sick, made note of the foods I like and those I didn’t.

She hadn’t just been Dad’s woman, which was all she needed to be, but she was also there for me. And I noticed it, even when it hurt, and I hated it, unable to explain how it made me feel. She did those things I thought Mom would be doing for me, and that was what hurt. But it was not Jessica’s fault, it never was.

“Well, we better get to the kitchen before my chicken gets burnt!” she explains, lightening the mood. I smirk.

“Or it’s all eaten, especially with the way those two can eat,” I smirk, making her chuckle as we both head back to the kitchen just as Dad is coming down the stairs with Scarlett. The four of us exchange looks, Dad and I simply look away from each other coolly but the tension doesn’t seem to be so intense anymore.

Maybe things are going back to normal, even if it is baby steps at a time.