Jayden’s Excesses

EPISODE TWENTY NINE
THEME: Jayden’s Excesses
MOON STONE FORTRESS
IN THE DUNGEON
Meagan stepped into the dungeon grounds with her heart in her mouth. She had never had to be there. The kind of eerie feeling the place gave and from how anyone feared to be thrown there had made her decide it was the wrongest place one would be at. So having her son in such a place she considered heinous only made her weak on the inside.
All of her pleas has fell on deaf ears as Carl is insistent on melting out just about enough punishment on Jayden till he learns his lesson.
With her is a packed meal, she had made some roast chicken and salad. Hoping he would take it from her, if anything Jayden is just as stubborn as his father whenever he is trying to make a point.
As soon as the guards saw her, two of them standing in front of Jayden’s cell ran towards her and bowed their heads immediately.
“Why are you here great Luna?” One of them with a brown toned skin asked her.
“To see my son.” She responded bluntly, but chided herself for being harsh when they have done nothing to her.
“So sorry Luna.” The guard bowed, leaving her path.
But the other one isn’t so comfortable with it. “You can’t be here, Luna. I know you want to see the master, please let my partner show you to a more lit up room the alpha sits in when he comes here. I will bring him to you.”
Meagan stared at him for a while, by default none of them could defy her but she wasn’t sure as of late what everyone could do.
Taking a deep breath, she muttered. “Ok.”
The first guard who had talked gulped hard. He must have thought he wasn’t in the Luna’s good book. Just as he motioned to her to come with him, Meagan said to him. “I am really sorry for snapping at you. I have just had a long day.” She apologized.
Nodding in understanding, the guard led the way back up to a white painted squared room. It had a mini fridge, a coffee maker on a high table that has a feeling of a mini kitchen with two cupboards underneath it and a comfortable round table and chairs. On the far end was about four doubled bunks. The room had much space and also neatly arranged.
She was forced to ask. “What does the Alpha do here?”
“Whenever he comes to check on us or interrogate some hardened criminals. Actually there is a room for such rigorous questioning. He only comes here in particular to ensure we are comfortable and have enough to feed on.”
Meagan looked around again, knowing that was typical of Carl. He made it a point of duty to ensure everyone underneath him enjoyed just about enough comfort to keep them going. The houses kept in place for maids at the pack house were livable and comforting. Even though she had been the one to handle all of it but it was Carl’s idea. She missed seeing her husband in action.
A year ago when the sickness was beginning to really get to him, slowly he had started deviating from his usual duties. But Julius had been a wonderful Beta and didn’t complain one bit. Carl had covered up with vacations which were unknowing to her a doctor’s appointment. The moment when she knew he didn’t have much time to spend it had broken her heart.
Her heart constricted as tears were about to fall again. Until a familiar voice boomed behind her.
“What are you doing here?” Jayden asked her with his eyes flaring up with anger.
“Is that a way to approach your mother?” Meagan raised her brow. She loves him but they both knew how much she detest being disrespected.
The guards took that as their clue to excuse the mother and son duo. Not apologizing for his attitude, Jayden rubbed at his wrist as he pulled out a chair to sit. m down. Still not paying her any mind, he pulled the food box towards himself. He opened it, dug out the contents and began munching on it.
Meagan took her seat and watched him with desperate eyes. She tried to make him fix his gaze on her, and probably see just how much she cared and how much his father cares too.
“How is it? I made it myself.” She said, letting out a small smile.
Gorging down a forkful of salad, he gave her a side glance. Jayden gulped down the content and he washed it down with the bottle of juice that had accompanied it.
“Why are you here mom? No. You shouldn’t be here since favorite son is back now, so of course I am of no relevance any longer ” Jayden sounded betrayed.
Meagan tried to reach out for his hands but he snatched it before she could reach him. Her eyes watered at the reaction.
“You know that is not true. And you are just doing all you can to make yourself believe that lie. We love you three of our children very much and equally.”
Jayden scoffed. “You must have hated me so much for being the reason he left home ten years ago.”
“No. Jayden, that’s not true. I-”
He interrupted her. “Oh please mom, don’t give me that crap. I see how you melt on our birthdays and hardly smile at whatever I do. It just shows how much you miss him. And have you noticed how lovesick you look since he returned? And here you are trying to butter me up? Please stop.” He sounded resentful.
Meagan held on to the table, trying hard to hold her breath steady. Jayden noticed her countenance and chortled.
“Just say what you have to say. I already see it coming so stop acting like a saint and-”
She didn’t let him finish before slapping out a piece of chicken he has kept in the corners of his cheek out of his mouth to the floor.
Just as he intended to protest, she shushed him with her eyes filled with rage.
“Now, look here young man! I am your mother and when I talk, you would listen!” She gave him a stare down expecting him to say something but he kept quiet.
“Thought as much.” She muttered and adjusted her seat.
Jayden wanted to feel his slapped cheek so bad, but he didn’t want to appear weak to his mother. Luna Meagan wasn’t one who lost her temper easily, but it was a known fact that she doesn’t give room for any form of disrespect.
Meagan let the impact of what she had done sink in well enough. She has had just about enough of Jayden’s nonchalant attitude. She knew she raised her children better despite her ever busy schedules. And she wasn’t going to take lightly any disrespect from the said children. She is their mother and has every right to set them on the right path.
Taking her time to compose herself, she folded her arms against her chest. The exhaustion of all that she had been enduring for the past years wearing down on her.
“Now, I would ask you some questions and I want you to give me a straight answer young man.”
Jayden knew the implication of that tone she was using and it only meant for him to not defy her. His punishment might be worser than being locked in a dungeon. Luna Meagan knew just how to make one’s life miserable when she is angry.
“Has there ever been a day when you have been treated like an outcast?” She asked with a glare.
Jayden kept mute. She slammed her hands on the table. “Answer me young man!” She was losing her cool.
“No ma’am.”
“Despite knowing you caused most of the trouble you and Jaylen indulged in, did we ever spite you with it?” She demanded.
“No ma’am. But-”
“Hold it!” She raised her hand up to shut him up. “I am not done yet.”
Jayden nodded his head slowly.
“Why should we treat Jaylen any different from you? He is my son just as you are too!”
Jayden had no response to that so he looked to the other side.
Meagan shook her head. “I can’t believe you hate your own twin for no just cause at all.”
“It’s not like he is a saint either!” Jayden argued.
“No one is. But you were more aggressive. Why turn your brother into your enemy?!” Meagan demanded.
It confused Meagan and she couldn’t seem to understand the basis behind his cruel attitude towards Jaylen. Jayden mumbled something, it was more like saying the word threat and she heard it clearly.
“You saw him as a threat?” Meagan asked with her eyes almost popping out of their sockets in shock.
She was shocked. To think that Jayden had been getting a feel of his brother being in a competition with him at such early stage when in the real sense it is not the actual truth.
“Help me Moon Goddess.” Meagan muttered as she placed her head on the table. She could understand his intentions even without him being clear enough.
A pang of guilt raced through Jayden’s spine. As much as he might seem rebellious, he knew when he is becoming an actual pain in the ass. Seeing how tired out his mother was, he knew he shouldn’t be adding to her list of problems. His father being sick and his brother’s arrival was enough stress for her and it was really obvious.
“I am sorry mom.” He muttered.
Meagan raised her head, trying really hard to fight back the tears. She reached out for his hands again and he didn’t resist this time.
“Please baby, you know just how much I love you. I don’t want you having this silly thought of your father and I not loving you. We love you very much. I know you and your brother aren’t really on good terms but for the sake of your dying father, can you please try your best to maintain some peace? I am begging, Jayden, please.”
He looked away from her, trying not to get too swirled by her emotional state. But thinking about it, Jaylen was no longer the threat he had thought he was. Now, it was of public knowledge that he was going to be the next alpha king. He thought.
Since Moon Stone became a Fortress they have had control of other minor packs. He was going to be extremely powerful after his father’s death. Thinking to himself, Jayden decided to play this nice just for a while. But any funny movement from Jaylen would be the end of him being considerate.
Glancing at his mother, he couldn’t help to look at her sunken eyes. He had always admired how beautiful his mother was. It had been one of the reasons he got attracted to Lorelei. She had some of his mother’s features. Seeing her now, she has aged ten times more all due to the stress her mind was going through. He had no intention of causing more chaos especially when it was getting to his mother this much.
“All I am asking for Jayden, is to let your brother in on a neutral ground. He is family, your family. Please, I am really tired of going back and forth with you all.” Meagan cut into his train of thought.
“It’s fine mom. I am not promising anything, but I do know I won’t be making a mess of anything. And I would try to avoid any trouble with him.” He said.
Meagan released as sigh of relief. It felt like a heavy burden had been let off her shoulder. She was tired from having her family in disarray. She stared at how beautiful he is when Jayden smiled a bit at her and she lapped on it for a while. It had been so long she saw him smile genuinely at her. Jayden had become so much of a trouble maker without making a fuss. And he was always away either screwing some unknown girls or busy with pack duties.
And Meagan realized they hadn’t had a family get together in a long while. An idea struck as she thought of it. She held onto Jayden’s hand in excitement.
“We should all have dinner together as a family. It has been a long time.”
She could see Jayden struggling with his eyelids to resist from rolling his eyes. He pulled his hands away lightly from her hold.
“Do we really have to do this mom?” He was about to whine and give many excuses to as to why it wouldn’t be possible. “Moreover I can’t be there because I am locked up in here.” He added quickly.
Meagan raised a brow at him. “You and I know your father can’t stay that angry with you. Moreover, we don’t know how long your father would last. Isn’t it the best thing to do by honoring him with our family being together?”
“Did you come here hoping with roast chicken and salad I would listen?”
Meagan chuckled. “Come on, Jayden, you know that isn’t true.”
“Alright if you say so.” Jayden smiled too, he missed his mother’s sense of humor. She has always found a way to connect with her children with ease.
“So dinner it is. And don’t invite any of your sluts to the table.” Meagan warned as she stood up.
“Mom!” He laughed heartily. “I can’t bring any of them over to dinner. They are just there to warm the bed. But only the one I really want as my woman will be at our family dinner.” His mind pictured Lorelei at the table with the rest of his family when he becomes the Alpha.
Meagan laughed back as she walked over to him. She held his cheeks with both of her hands. “I just want you to know baby that I would always love you.”
Jayden smiled in return and he hugged her. “Love you too mom. Good night!”
Leaving the dungeon, Meagan hoped Jayden would remember her exact words when the time comes for him to.