Chapter 134
1713words
I walked out of Paris's pack land angrier than ever. Typical Paris. It was just his way to spin things around so that he looked like he had no wrong and I was simply acting up.
At least Jean had apologized. He had owned up to his mistake, and was actually sorry. But not Paris. Paris was too busy trying not to betray his unruly Alpha status. Annoying old git.
But when I thought about it, It was worth considering that I had not had this conversation with Paris, meanwhile, I had had it with Jean. And although Jean had not been sorry that he had partnered with Paris, but rather, he was sorry that he had done it behind my back.
So two men, with two common goals, probably with common priorities. But only one of them cared how that made me feel. I think.
I sighed when I got outside the gates, and rather than keep going, I simply sat on the sidewalks. I was so angry. So caught up with my anger, that I had not even thought to visit Grandfather.
Grandfather was the only one who never made my life a living hell. He made me happy and made me smile every chance that he got. And I barely gave him a second thought since I left. But I was just so caught.
I sighed and looked toward the house, and simply shook my head.
"Forgive me, grandfather." I sighed, but I was at odds with every other member of that house and didn't think I could look at any of them and not want to throw a fit. I really did want to see my grandfather, but things were too shaky right now. My emotions were too shaky right now.
I rose as I watched a familiar figure moving toward me, but I did not move until he stopped in front of me and I folded my hands to show my displeasure. He wore a white t-shirt that looked incredibly soft and reminded me of all the times I had hugged him and felt safe, and dark pants that accentuated just how tall he was. It had only been a couple of hours , but God knew I missed him. I hated being at odds with Jean. But I was still mad.
"what? Are you here to have another meeting to discuss all the ways to save my life?" I asked and Jean looked at me with his mouth set and his covered with his glasses,
"you make that sound like the worst possible thing there is." He said, shoving his hand in his pockets. I couldn’t see what his eyes looked like right then because of the sunglasses he wore, but I can bet anything they examined me. Same way I was examining him
"Did I ?" I wondered and shrugged, “it’s not the deed though, so much as the circumstance surrounding the deed, you know. it isn't the worst thing to happen . it’s just the way you decided to go about it.”
"Well," Jean said, taking off his glasses, " what’s done is done , But I'm not here for another meeting."
"Why are you here then?" I asked, raising a brow. My anger toward him had dissipated while my anger toward Paris grew.
"Paris called me and told me you were here, I came to catch up with you, not to have another meeting."
"you came to catch up with me, even knowing that I'm somewhat pissed off with you?"
"I didn't leave with you last night. Even though I brought you. I knew I should have left with you, but ego. and I was a little hurt by your response."
"my response was a reaction to your actions," I stated and he nodded,
"I don't refute that, but still. A man is allowed to feel what a man feels."
"Of course he is."
"so, I came now to make sure you are well and safe."
"You came. knowing that I might still be pissed?" I asked for the second time and he slowly nodded,
"Paris said a thing or two about you flaming hot. But when has your flames ever been a deterrent?"
"you've never been at the receiving end," I said, but felt myself softening,
"I can be at the receiving end now, and still choose to be here, by your side, because like I've said before, I'll say it once again, your safety is the most important thing to me right now. Or even ever," he said firmly and I pressed my lips together,
"What if I don't want you here?" I asked,
"Then I'll have to stalk you from afar, but it sure would be much nicer if you didn't put any of those restrictions, because, if you're ready to accept it, I'm really not the enemy."
"no, you aren't. just a friend, who won't take no for an answer." I replied and turned away from him to go back to sitting on the sidewalk. He joined me,
"When are you going to simply let yourself be taken care of?" he asked and it took me a while for that to sink in, a longer while to formulate the answer, when I finally had an answer, I realized his question went far too deep. Perhaps he had meant for it to go deep,
"Perhaps, when I'm able to prove to myself and every other person that I can take care of myself. How do I prove that point with you and Paris trying to make a fuss out of everything?"
"This wasn't us making a fuss, Ember. And the truth is, we didn't do this because we felt this wand's something you needed to handle alone. We don't think you can't take care of yourself. I certainly don’t think that. I just don't feel okay sitting still, waiting for the next bad thing to happen, when we had barely gotten a grip on previous ones. Doing this with Paris seemed more effective, especially with the fact it was all happening in his own land. I needed to get close, and I need you to understand that I would not have done what I did, any other way."
"And now that I know, and you know that I'm not that okay with it, will you continue?" I asked softly and he shook his head,
"Not until this is over. I'm sorry if you can't accept that," he said and kept his gaze ahead. And without a word, I simply laid my head on his shoulder.
"After I left Paris, and this place, I promised myself that I would never again be weak or be used as the rag doll. I guess you doing this made me feel as though I had gone back on my vow or something. I could not live with that, and I didn't even realize that that was my problem." I said and lifted my hand so that I was looking into his eyes,
"I still hate the fact that you went behind my back, and I'm not okay with you killing people on my behalf,"
"Ember, that man tried to kill you first." But I leveled a gaze at him,
"I will find the balance for these things when I become Aloha. I know there will be punishable acts. but I don't want to start with a murder case on my hands just now."
"Actually, it would have been on my hand-"
"Jeannn." I ground out and he chuckled,
"Okay. Okay. Point gotten. I'll do my best to be less bloody when it comes to you. And for your information, the bloke is in the prison, at my pack land."
I thought about it for a moment, before nodding, "That works fine." I said and rose, so that I stood in front of me, and I stretched out my hand toward him,
"what's that?" he asked and shrugged,
"truce. And I'm also trying to help you up."
He smiled and took my offered hand, nearly pulled me in as he rose, but steadied me when he was standing.
"Truce then." he said and pulled me in for a hug, "I missed the hell out of you last night. I thought I would never again be okay," he confessed and it hit me that I rarely caught Jean expressing his emotions this way, so that rather than act tough, I wrapped my arms around him and breathed in his scent.
“I saw you in this soft shirt? And immediately thought of how it felt hugging you when you wore these. I didn’t realize that I had taken that for granted until I saw you today. Let’s never have another argument.”
He chuckled and we came apart, “I can’t promise you there won’t be another argument, sugar. But I promise to always try to meet you halfway.”
I smiled and nodded, “that works too. I promise to always try to meet you halfway too.”
“Or on a sidewalk.” He said and I laughed.
“That too.”
We were on our way to Jean's parked car when I heard footsteps behind us.
We paused and when I turned around, I saw Kate rushing toward us,
"Well, I'll be damned," I whispered,
"what the hell does she want?" Jean said angrily and was moving in front of me, but I placed my hand on his shoulder and when he turned to look at me, I shook my head,
"I can handle this one," I said, and stepped forward,
"Kate." I said when we were mere inches apart , "What the hell do you want? Haven’t you done more than enough already?"
I asked when she stopped in front of me. She looked between Jean and me with unease, but she didn't look deterred,
"Your forgiveness, seeing as I came here to tell you how very sorry I am, for risking your life the way I did, it was very terrible of me, and I only hope you can find a place in your heart to forgive me."
What a pile of rubbish I thought and looked at him,
"The Kate I know is too full of bitterness and hatred. so spill it, did Paris send you to do this?"
