I turned away to face my brother, he held my face with both
hands and kissed my forehead lengthily, closed my eyes, enjoying
his affection.
—I love you—whispered softly.
Aiden squeezed me harder.
—Love you, Hayley, always—whispered back, soothing my heart
restless.
I’ve always murmured.
—So I get jealous—joked my sister—in—law and I laughed, the
hugging.
They would go in two days, and spend about a week traveling.
After I said goodbye to my family, Jack drove me to his
outside the house, before Madison hugged him hard. I saw Dianna
facing us at the top of the stairs, she said nothing but felt her
look stuck in my back.
Jack started the car but didn’t say anything, we didn’t change any
word about what happened in the forest, that subject was delicate and I
I was too confused to talk to him about my feelings.
Having Jackson so close but so far was agonizing. I faced him some
times at a glance, his shoulders were stiff and look centered on
road before us. And we were silent for almost an hour.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, the unknown name shone on the screen.
I slid my finger across the screen and brought the device to my ear.
Hello? I asked hoarse.
—Then you survived—my blood froze to hear that voice.
—Who is it?—My voice trembled.
Jackson sent me a confused look, my breath got caught in
throat.
—Don’t you remember me, Bella? It was so small when we
we know.
Panic overwhelmed me, my vision blurred.
—You! —I whispered with my throat closing.
—Do you think the bloody Supreme will be able to protect you for long
time? It’s a matter of time until you find it and finish what you don’t
I got it the day I killed your bitch mother.
It was him, my parents' killer. He knew I was alive.
—You wretch, how dare you? —My voice trembled with hatred and fury.
I will hunt you to the ends of the earth, Arabella, and I will kill you.
The phone was abruptly ripped from my hands by Jack and I
I realized I was shaking. He screamed on the phone, but I couldn’t
understand not a word, my chest tightened for lack of
ar. —Hayley? What did he want? —Jackson’s voice was far, far away. —
Hayley! —practically shouted my name, I was not able to answer it,
I couldn’t even breathe.
I heard him cursing down and felt the car stop on a shoulder, if
turned towards me and held my face fondly.
—Look at me, werewolf—asked softly, I continued with my eyes
wide, feeling some warm tears running down mine
face. Jack turned my face in his direction, but could not
see, my vision was blurry.
—No, no, please, I didn’t—beg with my voice choked, I still felt
your touch on my face, trying innumerable dry my tears
stubborn. I clenched my eyes tightly, trying to push away the
memories of my mind.
—Open your eyes, Hayley—asked sweetly. —Look at me—forced my
heavy eyelids rising, I found his frightened look. —
It’s over, little wolf, you’re safe.
I tried to open my mouth to speak, but could not. A hiccup broke from
inside me that shook my body.
—Take a deep breath, dear—begged to caress my face once more,
a hand held my neck and stroked my skin.
—Jack—I whispered your name, squeezing my lips.
That was one of my panic attacks, when I was swallowed by my own mind and the memories came back up with force,
taking the ground off my feet and leaving me vulnerable.
—I’m here, Hayley, I’m here—said softly, sliding your
thumb through my cheek.
I felt suffocated, sinking into the abyss of memories that tried
forget, overcome. I pressed his arm, sticking my nails in his
shoulder.
Come back to me, Hayley.
So Jack sealed our lips. And my mind emptied
completely with her soft and delicate kiss, her fingers pressed
my neck slightly.
I let out a deep breath when I walked away from him, he brought
my head to your chest, heard the quiet beats of your heart
in my ear and my own heart was calming down, nervousness
was decreasing.
—Why did you do that? —I asked in a whisper, lifting my face to
stare at him.
—You were having another panic attack—said softly. —Madison me
He said holding your breath could calm a panic attack.
When I kissed you, you held your breath.
A slight flushing spread across my cheeks. I raised my hand and
I caressed her dark hair.
—Thank you, Jack—thanked you. —For standing by me.
His nose grazed mine, his warm breath hit my face.
—I promised I’d always be by your side, werewolf—kissed my lips
quickly. We had already arrived in the city of Denver, Colorado, we were close
of Mark’s pack territory.
—The city is beautiful—comment observing the forest that we enter there
few minutes. I bit my lower lip as I felt my stomach if
tossing, we would reach the pack soon. I dried my hands
sweaty in her jeans.
—Hey? —Jack got my attention. —I’m here with you, werewolf—winked
to me, smiled sideways and nodded.
I frown to see only a closed forest in front of us,
a tangle of trees and bushes. Jack noticed my face
confused, and giggled.
—It’s a magic portal—he revealed, I stared. —Mark asked for my
permission for a witch to make a portal for only beings
supernatural could cross.
—But I’m a werewolf—I said still confused. —Why only see
a closed forest?
—Be patient, Hayley, be patient.
I rolled my eyes crossing my arms.
—We’ve been traveling for hours, Jack, I’m exhausted—grouchy.
—The portal is in front of us—reported.
I felt the magic in the air when we crossed the portal, my skin
goosebumps.
—By the Moon! —Surprised to see the forest turn into a lovely little town. A river cut the village in half, a bridge
joined the two parts. The small cottages spread throughout the
territory, mixed with trees and nature.
—Mark preferred to keep this place hidden from humans, so the two
sides would be safer—Jack said.
I continued to admire the village, the territory was so clean and preserved.
Even the smell was different, something like simplicity and happiness. Smiles
involuntarily seeing a Corsa running beside us.
—Why is the city empty? I asked when I realized that fact.
—Are waiting for us in the center of the pack—replied and I swallowed in
Jack looked at me from the corner of his eyes, but he didn’t say anything.
The call of that male hours ago still made me tremble with fear,
he was able to kill my mother, a female Labonair experienced and
strong, I did not doubt that he could find me. But every time
despair took me, Jack stood by me and calmed me down, loved
lean my head against your chest and listen to your heartbeat.
My body reacted to his touch, he brought me peace and security.
Jack swore he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me,
who would protect me with his own life if needed. Of course
we had a small discussion soon after, with me stating
that he shouldn’t take risks because of me and Jack grunted that he didn’t
would fail me again, that I should stay safe.
Then I shouted to him that his duty was to stay alive for me and the
Packs, the matter has finally come to an end.
As we approached the center of the territory, I could hear the murmurings of the people, but they were silent to see us approaching.
Jack parked the car and stared at me.
—Are you ready? —I asked hesitantly, denied with my head quickly and
Jack smiled faintly. He opened the car door and came down, took a deep breath,
creating courage.
"We are the last Pure left of our lineage, but we have
fear of facing mere wolves. That’s pathetic."
I was surprised when Jack went around in the car and opened the door to
me. Your smile made my heart race, raised an eyebrow,
surprise and he raised his hand towards me, did not hesitate to accept—
And I got out of the car, feeling all the looks turn to me.
Jackson squeezed my hand hard, trying to reassure me, swallowed
dry. He turned us towards the wolves and everyone knelt
before Jack, or rather before us.
—Get up.
My body shook when Jack brandished order in high tone,
loved his Alpha male posture, better yet know he didn’t
could keep her close to me. The wolves stood up, it was
when I saw some kids running around and hugging Jack hard,
while his parents ran trying to contain them. Jackson bent down and
embraced the little creatures, opened a broad smile with that
show of affection.
—Supreme, forgive us, they are agitated with your arrival and your
companion—said one of the females, arched upon hearing her refer to me
as a companion to the Supreme Court.
—I can see—said Jack when he got up, a slight smile was open in
his lips. He had a special affection for those children.
Jack would be a better father than Leon was, that I had no doubt.
"Would he like to be a father?"
I almost choked on my wolf’s question.
He told me he needed children, supremacy required heirs, but
You never told me you wanted that.
"Our young would make the world tremble."
Children, another fear of mine. I didn’t have many memories of my mother,
how could I be a good mother to my children?
I shook my head negatively, it was not the time to think about it.
—Is this your partner? —A male’s voice took me from mine
confused thoughts, I realized that I had gone a few steps of
Jack, he tied our fingers and pulled me to his side, repressed a
smirk.
—That’s Hayley introduced me to his wolves. —His future Alpha.
I widened my eyes in surprise.
Future Alpha?
I wasn’t the only surprise with that revelation from Jack, but the
macho took a step towards me and bowed his head in a
reverence. That was Mark, the Alpha of the pack and the female beside him
seemed to be his fiancée.
—It’s a pleasure to meet you, lady—I nodded.
—Your city is beautiful—praised.
—We strive to protect it and preserve its essence—commented
Mark, your hair was dark, just like your eyes.
—I have known many places, and your city is one of the most beautiful that ever
I had the privilege of seeing.
A gleam of pride pierced the male’s eyes, he waved in
thanks.
—This is Ayla, my companion—introduced the fair—haired female
and green eyes.
Ayla threw herself in my direction and hugged me hard, I stopped in the
place, surprised by her unexpected attitude. When she walked away, I saw
her eyes full of tears, I frown.
Are you all right?
—Thank you—she whispered moved, a tear trickled down her
face. —Thank you so much for what you did for us, ma'am.
My own eyes burned as I understood the gratitude on his face,
a glimmer of hope shone in their green irises. Squeezed my
lips and smiles at her.