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Word Count: 2324

~Thea

It was raining when I woke up again.

The window of my bedroom gave me a decent view of the forest. The branches of those pine trees swayed gently in the wind, suggesting a storm was rolling in, much to my dismay. Lately, I have been sick of dreary weather like this.

The rain battered the window, as I changed. My clothing situation is starting to become an issue. Perhaps I need to harass Jasper into taking me shopping, since I only brought a few articles. Or maybe a washing machine would suffice.

Wandering downstairs, I find Jasper was sitting in his living room, reading. He glanced up from the novel the moment I stepped into the room, before I closed it slowly.

"Good morning," he says warmly, setting the book down on the arm of the chair.

"What are you reading?" I ask, nodding at the book. I wish I still read as much as I used to, and by the looks of the amount of books Jasper owns, maybe he will let me borrow a few. And looking at the state of this town, I may just have a lot more time to read.

Jasper holds the book up again. "A mystery novel. Those are my favourite."

Maybe he likes mystery books so much because he is one. Every time I look at him, I am caught up in his eyes. The violet in his eyes must be a side effect of being a Phantom Wolf. Still, I haven't questioned him much about the Wolves I spent most of my believing didn't exist.

We ended up talking more about the book, while Jasper tried to find me something to eat. Apparently he needed to go shopping for more food or something, which almost seemed too domestic for an Alpha to be saying.

"He's been in love with her for many years, and a string of murders in their small town brings them closer together..." Jasper explains, as we still discuss the book.

I watch him pull out a cartoon of milk, check the expiry date, before dumping it into the sink.

"That's ridiculous," I comment, resting my chin on my hands. "Things like that never happen."

Jasper smiles softly, as he closes the fridge. Obviously he hasn't found anything for us for breakfast. Not that I minded that much, since I can't say I am very hungry. My snack from midnight has filled me up enough.

"Well, it is fiction," Jasper muses.

Suddenly any chance of our conversation continuing was stolen as Tayten wandered into the room. Almost immediately, Jasper sighed at her presence. She was holding something in her hand-an envelope of some sort.

"Something came in the mail for you, Miss Thea," Tayten said, moving to take a seat beside me on the bar stool.

Tayten looked extra good today. How she manages to pull off clothing that was obviously in style centuries ago is completely lost on me. Perhaps if she wasn't into women, I could see her and Jasper together, even though he seems perpetually annoyed by her. Both are too attractive for adequate words.

"Who from?" I question, taking the envelope from her. It had an red embossed stamp on it, making it seem as if it is somewhat important.

Tayten shrugs. "You tell me. It showed up on the doorstep."

As I pealed open the soft envelope paper, Jasper rounded the kitchen island, most likely just as curious as I am about what I have received. I can't imagine what it could be...

A piece of paper was tucked inside, which I pulled out. A hand  written letter. Frowning, I read it through.

"It's from my uncle," I breathe.

The letter read that my uncle was getting in contact with me, after he saw missing persons posters pinned up in the Desire Pack, which basically told me that Luca and his farther have stretched their searching radius to more Pack's. He even admitted to being a Phantom Wolf too, listing off times in my life he had thought about saving me from the Devotion Pack.

Pretty much a bunch of words I struggled to believe.

"I mean, how would he have found out I was here? I've only been in this place for a day...Not even that," I proclaim, which Jasper nods in agreement to.

Tayten however, looks speculative.

"Well, Phantom Wolves do have magic...Perhaps he used some to send the letter directly to you, without actually knowing where you are-"

Jasper coughed, cutting Tayten off. "Are you aware that you can go home anytime you want..."

Perhaps thinking that Jasper and Tayten would possibly have been a cute couple was foolish. Just looking at them, and the way they argue, the way they shoot snarky remarks at each other suggested they seem nothing but like siblings.

"As I was saying, maybe this is legitimate. You may just have an uncle who wanted to save your life just as much as Jasper did," Tayten says, ignoring the look Jasper was shooting her.

I shrug. My father did tell me once he had a brother that wasn't in his life anymore. Back when I was young, I was always too afraid to ask about him, because just the mention made my father so mad.

"Okay Tayten, you can go now..."

Tayten slings her arm over my shoulders, which makes me tense uncomfortably. "Obviously you should think this through fully before you decide to run into the arms of a stranger, but I think it would be a good idea."

"Tayten," Jasper warned, making the girl roll her eyes as she stood.

"Okay, I know when I'm not wanted. Just take my advice over his," Tayten said, winking at me before she sauntered out. It left Jasper and I standing awkwardly in the kitchen.

Glancing up, I catch the Alpha's gaze. He doesn't look very pleased by what we just discussed. After everything he has done for me, he probably just doesn't want me to wander and ruin his entire plan to save me.

"Don't worry," I murmur, folding the letter up. "I don't think I am going to go."

Jasper almost sighed in relief. It was more than evident on his face, as he ran his hands through his hair. He really does care...

💚••💚

Jasper and I didn't talk any further about it. He decided to go to the supermarket, which left me with literally nothing in my mind to do.

I explored for awhile, but eventually that got boring, and I was left in his living room thinking of ways to entertain myself. If I sat here for too long, then surely I will sink into the part of my mind I have tried so hard to seal away. The part the reminds of the life I left behind, and the people who betrayed me.

I look at Jasper's bookshelf, wondering if maybe he wouldn't mind if I read something to pass time. I don't see why not...

Browsing his book selection, I feel a little jealous. Some of them were books on magic, obviously as old, if not older than Jasper. Many had incredible spines, that made me just have to pull the book out to inspect the cover.

After finding some potentially decent reads, I stoop down to check the bottom shelf of one of his bookcases that was pushed into the corner of the room.

Apparently the best books are always hidden at the bottom.

One in particular took my attention. The cover was a soft purple, but that wasn't what made me instantly interested in it. It was the fact that my name was printed on the spine, in italic font. There was no author name, or any illustrations, as I curiously pull the book from its slot.

I stare at the book for a few moments, wondering if I should actually open it.

There is no way this would be about me.

When I turned the first page, I was wrong. Right there, was an intricate drawing of me-just my face. Under the picture, there was a question mark, as if whoever had drawn this, didn't know it was me.

The next few pages were drawings again, with my face sporting different emotions. From smiling, to frowning to even crying. There was no denying that this is me.

As realisation hit me, I quickly closed the book, not worrying about how brittle the pages may be. This is about me. It has to be. But why would Jasper have a book of me, with plenty of drawings that would have had to have come with extensive observation. The drawings even made notice of the freckle on my chin.

Suddenly, I hear Jasper opening the front door. Quickly, I shove the book back into it's place, before standing swiftly, ready to face the Alpha who was walking through the door.

"Hey, I'm back," he says, lugging in two shopping bags in each hand.

I force a smile onto my face. "So I can see."

I end up helping Jasper put the groceries away as I think. Why on earth would he have that book about me? Unless of course there is someone out there that looks strikingly similar to me with the same name. I highly doubt that, but after the kindness Jasper has shown, I could hardly believe he would have a stalking manual like that.

"Something on your mind?" he asks, as I put the last bottle of milk into the fridge.

Instantly I shake my head, and then shrug. "I am thinking about taking up my uncles offer, with going to stay with him."

Initially, I wasn't going to go. It was the idea of not being able to trust him, and I heard the Desire Pack isn't an easy place to live in. Girls who solicit themselves on the streets to quell the emotion almost all of them feel on a daily basis.

But I would have to deal with it.

Because there is no way I can trust Jasper anymore. That book of his was too much to handle, and now I am too nervous to bring it up, in case he turns into a mass murderer.

"What changed your mind?" he asks.

His expression is grim, as he regards me intently. He had seemed opposed to the idea of me leaving the moment it had come up, and seemed almost relieved when I mentioned that maybe I wasn't going to go. Now, an emotion I can't pinpoint dances in his eyes.

"I don't think that is a very good idea," he murmurs, his voice low and calculated.

We stare at each other, both on either side of the kitchen island. The silence between us speaks volumes, as we come to an immediate disagreement.

"You told me I didn't have to stay..." I say carefully, narrowing my eyes at the brooding Alpha.

He tilts his head slightly, as if he is accepting a non existent challenge that has flared between us. "You can't trust him...Whoever he may be."

It took me a moment to hold back from yelling at him. From telling him I trust him a whole lot less than I trust my own Uncle. Instead, I close my mouth and continue to glare pointedly at Jasper. Eventually he sighed, seeing my stubbornness from a mile away.

"You don't get to make decisions for me. I'm going there, whether you want to take me there, or I have to walk..."

Jasper ran a hand down his face in defeat, before he braced his arms against the bench. My fingers tapped against the bench as I impatiently waited for him to answer what I had just proposed.

"Fine..." Jasper mutters. "But I take you, and we make sure that he is actually your uncle."

I didn't want to agree with him. All I wanted to do was run straight out the front door to escape from him, and his book. But I stayed still, knowing that if I am actually going to get out of here, then I need to be smart about it. And that starts with actually have a ride out of here, and Jasper is my only option.

"But first, you need to know something that will truly help you decide whether you should stay or go," Jasper says softly, rounding the bench.

I watched him warily, unsure of what he was doing.

And before I could do anything, he stands in front of me, and reaches out to touch me.

💙••💙

Want more and don't want to wait!? More of Jasper is available now on Radish!

Also on Radish, is Malik's story! Go check it out! (:

❄️••❄️

I'm super excited for the next few chapters! One of my other main baes is showing his face very soon, and he happens to have the next book after Malik!

So, everyone's going back to school again (for most of the world) and it sucks. For me, I'm having my summer holidays, so I have a lot more time to write, but more people have less time to read...

First world author problems :p

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Thank you all for the support, the votes and the comments (:

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~Midika 💜🐼