As the rogues close in, their overwhelming numbers making them seem unconquerable, I instinctively retreat, seeking support from Jason. But just as they near us, a powerful presence descends upon the scene, nearly blinding me with its intensity. I turn away, only to realize that it’s Alex, my mate, who has intervened to protect us.
“Thank you, Alex.” I express my gratitude, but he vanishes without a word. Jason, visibly surprised, questions me about the mysterious figure.
“I won’t tell you.” I reply with a hint of secrecy, eager to keep Alex’s identity to myself. Feeling emboldened by Alex’s intervention, I suggest we continue on our way, buoyed by the sense of strength and triumph over our formidable foes.
However, Jason presses further, mentioning Alex’s previous attempt on his life at the back of the pack house and his invisible presence during our conversations.
I pause, grappling with how much to reveal, before finally conceding, “Yes, that was Alex. But let’s focus on getting to safety first.”
“If it’s him, what would you do?” I inquire, my hands resting confidently on my hips.
“I wouldn’t resort to violence or exile.” Jason replies calmly, “but I might feel upset about being kept in the dark for so long.”
I chuckle mischievously. “We haven’t known each other for very long. Do you expect me to spill all my secrets?”
“Just the important ones, Clarissa.” He responds gently.
“Even the important ones are meant to be kept secret.” I retort. “If you can’t handle being with someone who keeps secrets, then perhaps it’s best to step back before it becomes too difficult to detach yourself from that person.”
Jason bursts into laughter, and I raise an eyebrow. “What’s so funny about what I said?” I question, genuinely curious.
“Let’s continue our journey.” Jason suggests, nudging me forward while stifling his laughter. Despite his attempts, I can’t help but find his actions rather foolish, and I refuse to entertain such behavior.
“If you don’t stop acting foolishly, I’ll end things between us.” I threaten, my voice flat and resolute.
“Then do it.” He retorts, matching my tone.
“If I do, I won’t be able to reach your pack house?” I question, turning to face him as we walk.
“Look ahead, young lady. Don’t be misled.” A passing man interjects, his voice stern. “And be cautious of who you associate with. Not everyone is your friend.” With those ominous words, he collapses to the ground, ceasing to breathe. I turn to look back, but Jason covers my eyes, shielding me from the scene.
“How did he die?” I press Jason, my voice tinged with concern. “Did you kill him? He seemed innocent.”
“If you don’t want your secrets revealed, then don’t share them with those who aren’t your allies.” He advises cryptically. “Cooperate with me, and you’ll remain unharmed throughout our journey.”
“I hope you didn’t harm him.” I express, my worry evident. “My mate wouldn’t condone such actions.” We continue our journey, nearing the safer side of the forest. Despite the proximity to safety, I’m puzzled to realize that we’ve traversed the distance without shifting at all. I hold back the observation, waiting for Jason to notice.
“Did you notice we didn’t shift to get here?” He remarks, the breeze ruffling my hair.
“We did and yet we didn’t.” I reply, confusion coloring my words. “It’s both bewildering and amusing.” I give him a side hug, but as I do, the surroundings begin to blur and swirl around me. “Why is everything so blurry?”
As Jason lifts me into his arms and dashes deeper into the forest, my mind whirls with uncertainty. In less than ten minutes, we arrive at the main pack house, an imposing structure. He once again covers my eyes, and as he removes his palms, the world returns to its normal state.
I swallow hard, the name of the pack house lingering in my mind. Before we proceed, I pause to ask Jason about his role within the pack.
“Who are you in this pack house?” I inquire.
“The question is irrelevant now.” He replies curtly.
“It’s never too late for an answer.” I insist.
“No.” He interrupts sharply. “Let’s enter, or I’ll end you right here.”
“Stop with the empty threats.” I snap back, noticing his hands transforming into fiery claws. My breath catches in my throat, but as he observes my fear, his hands revert to their half-human, half-wolf form. He knocks on the door gently, and a figure rushes to open it, ushering us inside.
As the gatekeeper wolf addresses Jason, I begin to feel apprehensive about my situation. I realize I hardly know Jason at all, having followed him solely because my mate supported it.
“I didn’t come for that. It’s Jason. Can’t you recognize me anymore?” Jason retorts, alleviating some of my concerns. At least someone here recognizes him, confirming he’s not a complete stranger.
“Oh, Mister Jason!” The gatekeeper exclaims, opening the door to welcome him in while blocking my path. “Welcome back to the pack house. It must have been a stressful journey.”
“Yeah.” Jason responds in his deep voice, as the gatekeeper locks the gate behind him, leaving me outside. Panic begins to set in. Shouldn’t Jason realize he needs to either invite me in or inform the gatekeeper of my presence? But with his limited awareness, I find myself screaming at him from outside, hoping to catch his attention.
“You son of a bitch! Open this damn door!” I yell, and Jason quickly turns back, startled to see me still outside. He rushes back to the gate, followed by the security guard.
“Why did you leave me outside?!” I demand, my anger boiling over. Jason offers his apologies, while the security guard maintains his stoic demeanor.
“And this stupid wolf-doesn’t he know who I am?” I gesture towards the guard, then turn my attention back to Jason.
“He doesn’t know, I guess.” Jason replies, a smirk playing on his lips. I walk alongside him as he leads me deeper into the pack house, pulling me closer to him.
“Why did you dismiss him and bring me closer to you?” I inquire, feeling the need to address the situation. Jason gazes at me with an unsettling intensity, but I refuse to back down.
“Are we heading to your room?” I probe further, but he remains silent, driving me further into the pack house without uttering a word.
“Do you intend to harm me or use me for some ulterior motive?” I press Jason, frustration evident in my voice as I strike his chest forcefully. He coughs up green liquid but quickly recovers, brushing off my blow as if it were nothing.
“I’m sorry for not responding earlier-I was in a meeting.” He explains, his tone somewhat apologetic. Despite his words, a sense of unease begins to creep over me.
“Fair enough. How did it go? What was discussed?” I inquire, attempting to divert the conversation.
“Let’s head to my room first.” Jason deflects.
“Why your room? Why not somewhere else? Are you planning to take advantage of me now that we’re here?” I challenge, my suspicions mounting. His smile in response only fuels my skepticism.
“I promised to provide you with your squad, to train you and be trained in return. Not to take advantage of you. Besides, I don’t possess that ability.” He assures me, but I can’t shake the feeling that he’s lying. Instead of responding, I simply sigh in resignation.
As we stand before his room, I grip Jason tightly, feeling a sense of apprehension as I notice some familiar faces within the pack house. Their stares are anything but welcoming, and I can’t shake the feeling of unease. Urging Jason to open the door quickly to avoid any unwanted attention, I prepare myself for potential questioning.
“If someone asks who you brought in, what will you say?” I inquire, my tone insistent. However, Jason’s smile only deepens, hinting at a hidden agenda.
“They won’t ask. No one will. I assure you.” He reassures me, but I remain skeptical, pressing for an answer.
“But what if someone does, even just in jest or curiosity?” I persist.
“Well, then I’ll inform them that I’ve brought my mate home. And soon, I’ll mark her.” He responds, his voice carrying a dangerous undertone that sends shivers down my spine. It’s this conversation that I dread the most.
I stare at him in silence for what feels like an eternity, the weight of his words sinking in. But suddenly, the tension breaks, and laughter bubbles up from within me, the absurdity of the situation overwhelming me.
“I already have my destined mate, Jason. It’s not something that can be changed.” I assert firmly as he draws closer to me, taking a seat beside me on the bed and gently caressing my hands.
“Clarissa, not everyone ends up with their destined mate. We both know the return of your Alpha mate will bring chaos. Can you really wait for that?” He pleads, attempting to sway my decision.
“Yes, I can wait. If I couldn’t, I would have sought out a mate long ago.” I respond resolutely.
“What if you don’t have a destined mate? Would you consider being mated to me?” He asks, posing a rather ludicrous question.
“No, I wouldn’t. By the time you get to know me, I’ll have found my ideal mate.” I reply honestly.
“What if I happen to be one of the wolves who approach you first, or vice versa?” He persists, seeking a straightforward answer.
“If you’re the only one I see, I’ll remain unmated.” I declare, observing the furrow forming on Jason’s forehead, a precursor to his rising anger. Quickly, I stop him from reaching for an object to strike me and hastily apologize for my remark, realizing I may have triggered his temper.
“Let’s drop the subject. If there’s nothing else to discuss, let’s just turn off the lights and get some rest.” I suggest, attempting to diffuse the tension. Jason complies, switching off the lights, leaving us in darkness.
In the shadows, I contemplate the consequences of my words. How do I undo what I’ve just said? What if Jason decides to act on his temper and forcefully advances towards me? How do I resist?
“Turn on the lights now!” I demand, my voice laced with fear and urgency. Jason complies immediately, the room flooding with light once more.
“Why did you yell at me like that? It’s rude. Not even to a stranger who helped you.” He reproaches, his tone tinged with disappointment.
“Oh, I’m sorry. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you, Jason. Come over, but let’s leave the lights on.” I request, noticing his discomfort with the light. Despite his reluctance, he acquiesces and joins me. As he approaches, I mull over his personality, reminding myself of his demonic nature, which likely explains his aversion to light.
“I’ve visited this pack house before.” I disclose, and he nods in acknowledgment. “Why the hesitation?”
“I mean, yeah, I know. It’s documented in the security records.” He replies casually, but I conceal my surprise.
“Why didn’t you reprimand your security for not opening the gate for me promptly? He deliberately left me outside.” I question, expecting an explanation.
“I believe he mistook you for a lone wolf or a rogue attempting to enter while I did. I didn’t look back because I assumed you were following me already. Once I entered, you could have attempted to follow suit. If he didn’t allow you, you would have raised your voice slightly, alerting me.” He explains calmly.
“Noted, and apology accepted.” I reply, rolling my eyes playfully at Jason’s smirk.
“There’s still a question nagging at me. I asked earlier, but you seemed adamant about not answering it.” I continue.
“Go ahead and ask. After all, I don’t respond to silly questions.” He retorts, smirking again.
“What’s your position in this pack house?” I inquire, and to my surprise, he echoes my words exactly. It’s not a coincidence; he anticipated my question. I need to ensure my safety, especially for the sake of my mate, so I press on.
“What position, please? Just answer me and substantiate your claim.” I press, observing as Jason rises to his feet and turns his back to me, removing his shirt. And there it is-a large mark indicating his status as the Alpha of this pack house.