Jade’s pov:
The alphas and their convoy stayed for a couple of days, during which Alex barely had time to breathe. Naturally, Luc had a lot on his plate as well. And since Trevor wasn’t around, Eli and Tyler had been given the task to look after me.
I truly felt like a precious doll made of the finest porcelain. And though I liked being cherished by Alex, I didn’t feel comfortable having so many people look after me… But it was what it was, especially considering I was a late bloomer when it came to getting a wolf at least.
“How stubborn can you be, J?” Eli clicked his tongue in disapproval as he caught sight of me in the training grounds, alone, when it was barely past sunset.
Tyler’s comment was more understanding, “Even if you need time alone to think, you could have us around, not too far away?”
“I didn’t want to trouble you,” I said on a sigh before hitting the dummy one last time.
“Jade,” Eli began in earnest, and I looked in his direction at once, “I know that you might feel like you’re suffocating, and heavens know that the pressure is real, and many other wolves men or women would have snapped already… But you can open up to us. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Tyler nodded at once, “Yes, maybe opening up would help you more.”
“I don’t feel comfortable having the witch around,” I said after a heavy sigh.
“Is this your jealousy or your instincts speaking?” Tyler asked in a soft tone of voice, despite the narrowing of his eyes.
“Both,” I nodded at him. “But moreso, my instincts. I just can’t bring myself to trust her, not when it comes to Alex, and not when it comes to the pack.”
Eli nodded before saying, “I can’t say I like her either. She’s a bit haughty.”
“Yes, she’s standoffish, and only ready to speak around the alpha,” Tyler’s input validated my feelings in more ways than one. “But maybe she has a history with werewolves… I don’t know what’s her deal but I am trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.”
“My intuition is telling me that she isn’t here out of the kindness of her heart,” I said, rubbing my temples, in an attempt to prevent the incoming headache. “And while I do know she’s basically been hired for a job, and thus might only be here for the compensation she’s been promised, I believe she’s up to no good.”
“I see,” Tyler nodded at me.
“I don’t trust her but I trust the alpha’s judgment, don’t you Jade?” Eli let out in a tone that was meant to be coaxing.
“I do trust Alex, but she’s just…” I tried to explain but found no suitable words for how I felt when it came to Camelia.
The woman got under my skin in the worst way possible, and made me insecure and different kinds of scared for the future of the pack.
“Is that all there is to it?” Tyler probed, raising an eyebrow at me. “Talk to us, Jade. Let’s forget you are our luna for a moment, and just talk among each other like friends do.”
“After the whole Jessica ordeal, which ended with Sasha betraying the pack as well, I am having difficulty trusting the pack members,” I admitted in a hushed tone of voice, almost as if saying out loud would make it too real. “When I walk around the pack house, I feel watched, scrutinized even… and I sometimes can’t help but wonder if it is with ulterior motives, not merely because I am the luna.”
“Do you trust me enough for a comforting hug?” Tyler asked with a small indulgent smile.
I nodded and was soon walking into his embrace. His arms only gave me a vague idea of how strong he could be, how ruthless he could be against the enemies too. Tyler was a warrior after all, but he was a softie.
Eli, on the other hand, just ruffled my hair affectionately.
“We got you, J,” he said in a voice so soft, I was brought to tears.
I was soon bawling my eyes out, ruining Tyler’s shirt with my running makeup.
And while I should have been opening up about my insecurities to Alex, he was the alpha of the pack, and had been so for years… He couldn’t understand me and would only probably tell me to trust him and the pack.
Soon, I felt Alex reaching out to me via mind-link.
“Are you okay, love? What’s wrong? I can feel your distress. Where are you?” He fired question after question at me.
“I am okay. Eli and Tyler are with me,” I retorted simply.
“But if feels like…” he began to protest.
Only I was quick to cut in, “I will be okay. Don’t worry.”
Silence met my answer for a moment and then he conceded by saying, “Be safe. I love you.”
“See you later,” I felt compelled to say, instead of telling him I love you back.
Once I focused back on my surroundings, Tyler was stroking my back in a soothing manner while Eli was singing a lullaby to me hush little baby, don’t you cry.
I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped me at once.
“I’m not a baby,” I objected as I put distance between Tyler and me.
“Tyler made me sing it,” Eli let out, even as he rolled his eyes at me.
“I couldn’t remember the lyrics,” Tyler shrugged at that.
These were truly precious friends, and precious memories I was meant to cherish.
By the time we reached the pack house, we were all smiles and jokes. Eli and Tyler retreated while I entered Alex’s office.
However, my mate’s welcoming was less than pleasant, as he jumped to his feet at once, “Why do you smell like Tyler?”
“Because I hugged him,” I said flatly, to which his eyebrows shot up at once. “I needed the hug,” I carried on, unaware or maybe uncaring of the effect my words might have.
“And you didn’t think to seek me out?” He let out, in an exasperated tone that made me question so many things.
“You’ve been busy,” I said on a sigh, preferring not to let him know what was bothering me, seeing as he wouldn’t understand anyway.
For the first time since I met the renowned Alexander Bad, his green eyes shot daggers at me, “Yes, I have been busy. Busy trying to find allies and make sure our pack doesn’t get wiped out. I have been busy worrying about your wellbeing and the safety of the pack…”
“Alpha Xander,” Luc let out in a soft reprimand, even as my eyes filled with tears at my mate’s tone.
“Jade, I…”
I didn’t let Alex continue and just said in a clipped tone, “I get it. I am a nuisance, and a threat too. I will be out of your hair, alpha.”
I then walked out of his office, too angry and too hurt to listen to him.