~Chapter 16~

"GET UP OUR MATE'S BRINGING US BACON!" My wolf shouts in my head.

At the word bacon I jump up and look around the room. When I don't see any bacon I sniff the air. Where is the bacon?

"Jamie wak....What the fu-"

"Don't finish that sentence." I say glaring at him.

"Why are you standing on my bed?" Jordan says looking at me odd.

"Why are you not with bacon?" I ask.

"Bacon? What are you talking about Jamie get down from my bed," he says shaking his head laughing.

"No, where is my bacon?"

"I don't know Jaime get down before you hurt yourself," he says trying to hide his smile.

"But I want bacon," I say pouting.

"We're all out of bacon."

It's like a smack to the face when I hear Nadia cackle inside my head, "You thought there was bacon. If I could push you off the bed and not hurt myself I would you know."

"Well the feelings mutual," I growl out.

"If you want I can go get you some?" Jordan says once I don't reply.

"Really?" I ask smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

"No he wasn't supposed to offer you some! Ugh stupid sweet mate, he ruins everything," Nadia whispers not really sounding mad.

"Yea somebody's on there way to pick it up now but you need to get up and ready, I'm taking you and Emmerlyn somewhere before the hunt tonight."

"Oh ok. Just give me a sec, and thanks for this I really need it."

He nods his head and smiles before leaving the room. I brush my teeth, wash my hair and shower. Once I'm out the shower I throw on a pair of camo joggers and a panthers jersey. After I'm dress I try out the mind link and ask July to meet me in my room.

"I'm coming in!" I hear July yell outside of my door.

"Hurry up I need you to blow dry, grease and comb my hair please."

"I hate doing your hair your so tender headed and all the combs break in your hair," she whines.

I glare at her and pull her towards the area I have already set up with the blow dryer, combs, brushes, and grease. I sit in the chair I have set up and stick my tongue out when she picks up the comb.

"You're tongue won't be out for long when I start combing your hair."

~<.>~

45 minutes later

"Oww July stop that hurts!"

"Ow ow stop that hurts!"

"Please get another comb!"

"Get a bigger one! Get a bigger one!"

"Stop! Stop! Stop!"

"I don't want it done anymore please stop!"

"SHUT UP! I'M NEVER DOING YOUR HAIR AGAIN YOU TENDER HEADED HEFER!" July shouts out me.

"Well if you didn't pull so hard then I wouldn't have a sore head right now." I huff out crossing my arms.

"I can't wait until you finally get your hair done," she mumbles walking out the door.

Walking into the bathroom I look at my half combed hair and let out a long whine. I hate doing my hair, the amount of hair ties I buy in a week probably cost more than me getting my hair braided. The hatred for doing my hair came at the young age of six when I would move to much and then my mom would pop me with the brush. It happened every single day my hatred only grew stronger as the years went on. Starring into the mirror now I wish I wasn't so tender headed because I didn't want to do this. I layer my head with jam and then brush it up into a ponytail. It's not perfect and it's kind of lose but I manage to get it in a puff on top of my head.

As if Jordan knows I'm already ready he walks in with Emmerlyn dressed and placed into her car seat. Is it bad that sometimes I forget that I'm a mother and not just a regular seventeen year old girl?

Emmerlyn's dressed in a pink onesie with wolf princess on the front, very subtle Jordan. She has on white fabric shorts and some purple booties that don't match a thing, this is what happens when you let daddy dress you. Going to the closet I pull out some white sandals and hand them to Jordan. Shrugging he takes off the booties and places the sandals on her feet.

"Okay now we're ready to go," I say smiling.

"Finally it took you a hour just to do your hair."

"Oh just shut up and go."

~<.>~

"Are we there yet?" I ask leaning into the area between the front seats since I wanted to sit in the back with Emmerlyn.

"No, now stop asking me for the hundredth time and sit back. Where's your seatbelt anyway?" He ask glaring at me through the mirror.

"A ja ee nu ki pe!" Emmerlyn shouts.

"Yea tell him again baby, tell him don't talk to my mama like that," I say making funny faces at her.

"Ah ha ba mo ga!" She screams smiling big.

I laugh and Jordan smiles even though she's yelling at him. The ride last another hour and thirty minutes before we pull up to a park but unlike most parks there isn't a playground only hills and open fields- my favorite kind. After we're parked and everything Jordan gets the stroller that I didn't even know was in the back and sets it up. Once Emmerlyn's all set we begin walking up a huge hill.

"Again! Again! Spin me again!" I hear someone shout while giggling their voice sounding familiar.

Once we're at the top of the hill we stop as if Jordan wants me to spot something first and that's when I saw them.

"Tee tee?" I shout taking off down the hill.

"Jamie!" She shouts turning around to face me.

I jump into her arms surprised she's strong enough to hold me.

"I've missed you so much you don't know how many times I wished I could go to your house then realized your four hours away living in a place I can't even visit," I whisper hugging her tighter.

"I've missed you to. I'm so sorry that I didn't come when you had Emmerlyn I wish I could've but Alpha Jack forbid us from stepping foot onto Sheer Shadow pack land," she spoke softly as if hearing Alpha Jack's name would hurt me, but anyone who's name could change the way I felt had power over me and he would never have power over me again.

Letting go I smile then move towards my uncle, who's still spinning around Quinten. When he sees me walk over he puts Quinten down and opens his arms and I run over as fast as I can. We don't say anything because nothing needs to be said and when we break apart I turn towards Quinten.

"Boo bits!"

"Jie!"

He runs towards me and I pick him up spinning him around and around and around. His giggles fill the air causing me to smile so hard my face hurts, I've missed this little nugget so much.

"Stop Jie I'm dizzy!" He shouts still laughing but I stop anyways putting him down and when his feet touch the ground he falls to the floor.

Even though I know they're not here I look around, foolishly allowing the hope to sneak up. Already knowing they weren't here didn't help the small ache in my chest or stop my smile from faltering a little but when I see Jordan and Emmerlyn it comes back full force.

"Aunt Jenny, uncle Nigel, boo bits this is my baby Emmerlyn and that thing standing next to her is Jordan," I introduce them sticking my tongue out at Jordan when he pouts.

Aunt Jenny rushes towards them pushing Jordan out the way and picks Emmerlyn up. I laugh walking over towards them to help Jordan up.

"What am I chopped liver?" He huffs out dusting his clothes off.

I take his hand and ask,"Better?"

"Much," is his short reply.

I laugh pulling him over towards the blanket aunt Jenny had laid out on the floor. Once we're seated I open the basket and smile when I see watermelon cut up in squares in a container with my name on it. I open it and plop one in my mouth before remembering something.

"Aunt Jenny did you bring the salt?" I shout.

"It's in the bottom of the basket!"

"Thank you!" I say grabbing the salt and pouring onto my watermelon.

"That's disgusting," Jordan says gagging.

"No it's magically delicious," I say licking a piece before eating it.

"I already hate watermelon and now you've added salt to it."

The hand that was going to my mouth freezes. I slowly turn my head towards him.

"Crazy boy said what?"

"I don't like watermelon." Jordan repeats nervously.

"Sorry hun but this, us isn't going to work." I say pointing between me and Jordan hoping my stupid mood eyes don't give me away.

"You're dumping me over food," he says in a high girly voice.

"I'm sorry Jorina it's not me its you," I say in a ridiculously low voice and making his name sound girly.

"This isn't over!" Jordan says in his high voice.

I fall over laughing clutching my stomach. I just know aunt Jenny and uncle Nigel are smiling at us.

"Jie come roll down hill with me and mommy!" Quinten asks standing over me.

"Sure boo bits" I say standing up.

"Can she play too?" He asks pointing at Emmerlyn.

I shake my head no quickly, "She's still to young bud."

He shrugs and grabs my hand pulling me towards the hill.

(3RD PERSON POV)

Jordan and Nigel stay back watching the three of them roll down the hill laughing. Emmerlyn lays fast asleep in her car seat.

"You know this is the most I've seen her smile since all that bullshit that went on with that Alpha," Nigel says his fist clenching.

Jordan thinks about it too, this is the most he's ever seen her laugh, or smile, and other than the time she first seen Emmerlyn her eyes haven't lit up like they are now.

"Just thinking about what he did makes me so angry," Nigel says his knuckles nearly white.

"What did he do?" Jordan asks.

"You don't know?" Nigel says looking at Jordan.

Jordan realizes he didn't even think to ask how Jamie got pregnant, or what the Alpha did to her. He didn't think to ask what went on once she went back that one time. His gaze drops to the ground in shame. Doesn't he deserve worst mate of the year.

"No." Jordan whispers.

"It looks like you and Jamie need to have a talk then, don't y'all?"

Jordan nods his head agreeing.

~<.>~

Being back at the pack meant play time was over and they had to get ready for the pack run but Jordan's plans weren't changing he would talk to Jamie tonight.

Jamie was more than a little uncomfortable when she had to slip on the red flowing gown signifying that she was no longer a virgin. She wouldn't have a problem with this if her mate wasn't showing up in white signifying his purity. Her hands shake as she takes her hair out the hair tie. The day was perfect. It wasn't until she got home things started to head down hill for her. Jordan seemed more distant than normal and the quiet car ride left room for the doubts to wiggle there way back in.

As Jamie took off her jewelry Jordan buttoned up his white shirt. Jamie put on her red heels and Jordan slipped his feet into his black dress shoes. They both get up and look into the mirror then pull on a fake smile hoping it hides the thoughts swimming through their minds. Then they turn opening their doors and silently they walk down stairs together neither of them realizing they're both trying to hide something from one another.

Hundreds of people either dressed in red or white wait standing for their Alpha to come to stage. Amongst the crowd July and Jordan wait on opposite sides to be called up front. The stares one another get from pack mates range from pity to disgust but it's not like either of them notice, they just stand there with a smile on their face.

"Welcome everyone! Tonight we are here to celebrate, to run as one, and to welcome two strong warriors one being my sons mate your future Luna!" The Alpha's voice rings through the ears of everyone.

"Jamie Pipe and July Herbert have shared blood with me in front of the eyes of you. They fought some of our strongest to prove their worth to us and it was proven! May tonight be remembered, may it go down in history as the night two strong women joined and one with the heart and the strength to change this pack for the better!" The crowd erupted in cheers filling the night scaring off animals miles and miles from the spot they all stood in.

Jamie, July, and Jordan all walk up to the stage and stand next to the Alpha and Luna. The moon is bright and full sitting directly in the middle of the sky when the cracking of bones fill the hollow night. Dresses are ripped, shoes are thrown to the side, and shirts are shredded as hundreds of humans set free the beast inside them. Skin turns into fur of all shades and colors; blonde, brown, red, white, gray, sliver, black, gold, and so many more. Nails turn to claws and arms to legs and when the last bone is cracked howls fill the night. Howls so loud and proud they send chills down the back of people in Japan. The atmosphere seems to change as thousands of paws pound against the ground and Sheer Shadow wolves run as one. It might seem like something that belonged in a horror film to any random human, but to others it might seem magical watching these humungous animals run through the night taking down whatever stood in their way.

They ran until the sun caused the once midnight blue sky to turn orange. They ran until their paws where battered and bruised but no amount of pain could override the feeling of peace and joy coursing through their veins. They where free completely free, it didn't matter that it was only a few hours or that they probably wouldn't feel like this again in awhile. And as the wolves arrived back at the pack house and shifted into human form they all walked to their rooms with smiles on their faces.

Jamie was nearly asleep when her door opens and Jordan walks in. He paces the front of the bed and Jamie watches quietly as he walks back and fourth. His hands go to his hair and he lets out a frustrated huff.

"I won't be able to sleep until you tell me what exactly happened with you and your Alpha," Jordan blurts out looking Jamie right in the eyes.

Jamie gaze drops to her covers. She could do this, he's her mate and he won't care about it anyway.

"He used Alpha command on me when he did it you know? Stay here and do not move until told to," Jamie says her voice coming out shaky, "he didn't even have the balls to let me control my on body he just...he just made me freeze. And you know what I did? I gave up, I allowed myself to become weak and let it happen hoping someone else would come and help me. My daddy always told me not to depend on others, sometimes you got to be your own hero he'd say. Do you know how much I wished those words would've popped up in my head that day? A lot," Jamie answers her voice shaky and her eyes trying to hold back the tears.

The tears didn't fall. They didn't fall when Jordan crawled into the bed, they didn't fall when he took her shaking form into his arms, and they didn't fall when he whispered how sorry he was in her ear.

"I should have been there," Jordan whispers kissing Jamie's temple.

"I could've help, I could've protected you," Jordan's says his grip on Jamie tightening only a little.

"But you weren't there and it wasn't your job to protect me then it was mine and I failed but there isn't a thing in the world we could do to change it and if there was I wouldn't because I wouldn't have Emmerlyn or you and that's all I'll ever need," Jamie whispers placing her head on his chest and closing her eyes flowing into a dreamless sleep.

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18k reads! 1k stars! 108 comments! How is that even possible? You guys are amazing, do you know that? I never thought my book would get this popular, I didn't think it would get past 300 reads. I love you guys so much!

~Tae💖