EPISODE HUNDRED
THEME: Relationship growth.
MOON STONE FORTRESS
Lorelei took a calculated step behind Jaylen. All day long before the news of his father collapsing had reached them, she had been thinking about him. Lorelei felt sorry for herself and mostly she felt guilty for acting so unreasonable and inconsiderate.
When she and her mother had raced into the pack house, Jaylen didn’t pay her any attention or even glaze at her for a moment and Lorelei couldn’t blame him because he was having a terrible day. Lorelei stared at him, she could sense how hurt he was. Jaylen’s wails was audible which made her heart clench at the sight of his despair. Her thoughts clashed as she brooded on going back inside or sitting next to him.
Lorelei decided to head back in, but almost like a force swooped her legs she found herself walking towards him. Jaylen had his head stuck in the wet ground still crying uncontrollably. Lorelei’s heart shattered at the sight of him. She felt confused on what to do exactly and all of her thoughts flew out of place.
Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand on his back and began rubbing it up and down his body. Jaylen stiffened underneath the touch as his wolf snapped on a high alert, but it was only for a split second before he relaxed into the touch knowing who it was. All morning he had missed her but his emotions was too flooded and the fact that she had hurt him with her words made him quite angry.
However, Jaylen needed all the consolation he could get from anyone willing to offer it. His father had said some things that didn’t seem clear to him and a bit confusing. All the same his tears were more of pity for himself than his father moving on to rest.
Jaylen knew how much pain Carl was in and how uneasy it had always been for him to move around while alive. Probably he had been selfish to not have stopped his father when he shifted despite the condition of his health. But he couldn’t deprive him of the sheer joy he felt, Carl’s wolf had howled, huffed and puffed through the woods with so much delight. Jaylen smiled amidst his tears as he could feel it inside of him that his father enjoyed his last moments and Jaylen himself would forever be grateful for the memories.
“Baby.” Lorelei whispered. Jaylen didn’t move or say a word. “I am really for the loss baby. I don’t know how you are feeling right now but I want you to know that you can lean on me please.”
And that was what he did exactly, Jaylen curled into Lorelei with his head resting on her laps as he curled up on the grass without saying a word. Lorelei caressed his hair, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes as she could feel him falling apart.
“You know I have always loved my dad and seek for his attention more than I did for my mum.” Jaylen said. “I wanted to be his beloved son so bad. He was the perfect role model, fit, handsome, intelligent and strong-willed. I wanted to be just like him. When I left the pack, the drive to show him that I was just a miniature of him had driven me hard all through the past ten years. I wasn’t actually angry at Jayden. I was angry at my father for not coming through for me even when he could. But only later did I realize he isn’t so perfect and had his own moment of weakness.” He sniffed.
Taking a deep breath, Jaylen sat up to wrap his hands around his legs tightly holding them to his chest. He continued. “However, I got here and was even more shocked at the revelation of things that had stayed hidden for years. I realized that my father loves me just as much as the others. It took me a moment to notice how hard it is for them to have me far away from them and almost out of reach. It made me appreciate my grandma more for keeping my parents love alive inside of me. I am going to miss him.” He sniffed again as the tears flowed uncontrollably.
“You know he would keep watching and protecting you right?” Lorelei said.
Jaylen fell quiet as something caught his eye, he could almost see and sense the presence of his father. Carl looked happy and contented. He jerked roughly when Lorelei tapped him.
“Are you okay?” She asked him.
Jaylen let out a small smile as he turned to Lorelei. “I am much okay and I know he would keep watching and protecting me.”
Lorelei nervously tucked the hair behind her ear. She didn’t know he would stare at her directly like that.
Jaylen grinned at her. “Do you have something else to say to me?” He asked.
Lorelei stayed quiet for a while. “Yeah… a bit.” She bit on the insides of her cheeks. “I want to say sorry, I would never think badly of you. I was just not thinking straight when I said those words to you. I am sorry baby.”
Jaylen heaved a sigh as he pulled Lorelei closer to his side. “A day in conflict with you felt like forever. I don’t want to argue with you baby.” Jaylen said as he kissed her forehead.
Lorelei smiled, hiding it by dipping her head further into his chest. Jaylen chuckled lightly as he raised her head up, tilted her jaw so she could look directly into his eyes and he kissed her softly on the lips.
Lorelei pulled away from him immediately. “No, we shouldn’t do this. Your dad just died.”
Jaylen dropped his hands away from her body as if she had burned him. “Oh that’s true, thanks for reminding me.”
They both laughed out, leaning into each other as they watched the night.
“I should return to the house now, judging by the time my parents would be leaving soon.” Lorelei said.
Jaylen held her hand. “Do you have to return home tonight? Please stay with me.” He pouted.
Lorelei bit hard on her lips. “Jayden?”
Jaylen scoffed as he rolled his eyes at the same time. He didn’t care anymore about whatever Jayden was going to think concerning his relationship with Lorelei but he would love to believe that he was in a mourning state just like everyone of them. Jaylen was tired of having to be considerate of Jayden every time.
Jaylen grinned widely as he held on to her hands. “As long as you don’t mind staying with me, every other thing or person is by the way.”
Trying to hold back her laughter, Lorelei stared down shyly. “Alright. I’ll stay tonight.”
“Good girl.” He kissed her forehead quickly.
Lorelei’s heart was fluttered with joy as they both walked back inside the pack house.