Chapter One | Welcome Home

The sweet, and slightly tangy taste of the tropical Starburst bursted in my mouth. I chewed on the treat with slight irritation as I waited for the flood of people to disperse. The candy was slowly dissolving as was my patience for the man in front of me who was chatting with his colleagues in front of me.

I just assumed that they were his colleagues due to the fact that they were all dressed in business suits and had that traditional corny ass smile on their face that screamed, "I'm sucking up to you because you'll be beneficial to keep around." They all wore that same expression and it made me scowl. Both at how blatantly fake they were being and because they were preventing me from walking any further. You'd think that people wouldn't purposely act like inconsiderate assholes.

Saving my breath, I roughly shove past them and purposely ignore their anger expressions at being pushed aside. If you didn't want me to push you like you were a sack of potatoes, don't stand in the middle of the fucking walkway like you're better than anyone in here. I kept that little snide comment to myself because if I didn't, I would be here endlessly arguing with all four of them and I didn't have the time for that.

Besides, I just got back.

I can't just arrive and automatically begin to cause trouble all over again. Although, admittedly, trouble seems to find me so I can't say that its entirely my fault. I was born with a smart mouth and an intolerance for bullshit so I blame my parents, especially my father.

Thinking about my family made me wonder where the fuck Kaylee was. She was supposed to have gotten here — I slide my phone out of my pocket and check the time that read 5:30pm — almost two hours ago. I'm not even surprised that she's late, she gets so distracted by a certain someone constantly so I should've expected this.

Wheeling my medium sized black luggage with a bunch of stickers on them, curtesy of my friends from Cambridge University up in California, I finally found a bench to sit on that was near the exit gate that lead outside where there were a bunch of cars lined up and people hugging their loved ones, meanwhile others were shoving their luggage into the trunk of their car as they argued with their loved ones.

I snicker as I watch a young woman crumble up a bouquet of white and pink flowers that the man who came around to embrace her had brought for her and smash it onto the floor. What followed directly after was an argument about how he should've gotten those flowers for his mistress and a smug look crossed her face as the man's face dropped like he didn't expect her to know of his little infidelity.

Shaking my head, I lean back against the back of the bench with my fingers intertwined as I adjusted my position and brought my intertwined hands behind my head to watch the scene comfortably. Sometimes watching the world burn was just too much fun. I couldn't have been more thankful for my werewolf hearing than during times like this.

'Are you just acting like we're not about to see him or do you genuinely just have brain damage from spending 3 years in California with the superficial rich?' My wolf, Jackson, quipped.

The shit eating grin of satisfaction was wiped off my face almost instantaneously. I didn't want to think about that but of course that's the first thing on his mind.

I sat up and sighed.

It was in the back of my mind ever since I got onto the plane to leave. Actually, that's a lie.

I grimaced.

It's been on my mind since I decided that it was time to come back home which was two months ago. Three years away from home, three years away from the people I love, three years away from a cluster of werewolves, three years away from...him.

If I said that I wasn't nervous, that would be a fucking lie. I was nervous as hell, the feeling of dread was the most overwhelming emotion that I was feeling right now. The desire to hop back on that plane and not have to face the shit that I'll have to deal with is running rampant in my head and it sucks that I feel like this when my family is literally bubbling with joy at the prospect of having me back home but it is what it is. I wouldn't have left if it wasn't for him, not like I'm blaming him since it was my choice to leave, but fuck.

I run a hand down my face.

Maybe I shouldn't do this right now. I could try again next year...

Arms wrap my neck, choking me and I gag as my hands immediately reach up to grab the hands that are firmly clasped around my neck to pull them off of me. I was on attack mode but the scent of the person invades my nose and I scowl as I rip their hands off me and turn around to glare at Kaylee who is frowning down at me.

"Don't look at me like that you idiot. You said that shit in our sibling link!" Kaylee narrowed her eyes at me as she placed her hands on her hips.

I rolled my eyes as I stood up and reached for my luggage but Kaylee beat me to and began to wheel it herself as she walked past me angrily and started heading for the exit. Outside, parked nearby was a silver 2041 BMW series XY, and I knew that that beauty belonged to my furious sister who refused to say anything to me as she allowed the sliding glass doors to open and walked through without even looking back to make sure that I was actually following her; not like she had to anyway. She could smell me.

That was the same car that she had been raving about on the phone days ago so it wasn't surprising that she actually got it.

I sighed as she practically ripped the trunk open and nearly snapped the shit off it's hinges like a mad woman, evoking glances from the humans near by. She threw my luggage into the small space carelessly like it was trash then smashed the hood close. The animosity and disdain for me for what I accidentally said about flaking and trying to come back home next year instead rolling off her in pungent waves that suffocated me.

Why did she have to be a replica of mom? Fucking fuck.

She slipped into the drivers seat and I begrudgingly followed suit as I entered the front passenger seat. I should've asked Xavier to pick me up but he doesn't even know that I'm back. As she started the car and began to pull out of the space, I turned to look at her.

"You know that I wasn't being serious, Kay." I said.

"Do I?" Her tone was clipped as she kept her eyes on the road. "It looks to me like you would've purchased the first ticket back to California if I hadn't shown up."

I blink. She's exactly right. If she didn't choke the shit out of me, I would've darted off to buy a ticket back and would've spent eternity not having to deal with this shit or a certain someone back home. Kaylee glances at me, and sighs as she looks back at the road.

"At least try to lie or bullshit me with a, 'no I would never do that, I love you too much,' Jay!" Kaylee hollers, exasperated as she begins to speed.

Yes, drive even fucking faster to my hell.

I was used to her crazy way of driving but unfortunately for the cars around us, they were not. I can't imagine the amount of panic attacks everyone is facing because of my psycho sister who somehow got her license but probably drugged the instructor in order to get it.

"Kay, you know that it has nothing to do with you or mom and dad. I miss you guys, seriously but I don't want to deal with him and everything. I left for a reason." I tell her, watching the cars dodge out of Kaylee's way when she merges to the right lane without even looking. I can't help but whisper,"fucking Christ."

She's not fazed. "Which is crazy, you know that right? Imagine literally fleeing to an entirely different state across the country because you found out who your mate is...that has never been done before so congratulations Jay, you're the first."

She raised her hands for a moment to give me a sarcastic clap but I reached over quickly, predicting that she'd do something like that, and firmly held her right hand to keep it placed on the wheel.

She's trying to kill me. It's official.

When she didn't make any move to clap or lift both of her hands, I released her right hand and brought my own back to me as I toyed with my phone. My heart didn't even race anymore when she did shit like that, I became immune to her recklessness.

"You of all people should get it. You didn't want Archer to be your mate." I snort.

"But did I run away? No, I didn't. She's literally my opposite and I had no idea why the hell the Moon Goddess paired us up but I learned why as we've been together and I love her so much. It was the most unexpected thing ever but she's my mate who has feelings too." Kay drove over a bridge that overlooked racing cars on the bottom as people were eager to get home and above, the sky had taken a pink and purple hue.

I didn't want to listen to her even though what she was saying was valid. I already got an earful from Jackson during the first year that I was gone. Fortunately, he slowly and progressively just stopped badgering me about it and I forced him to become immune to not being with his mate as even now that I'm back, I have no intentions of allowing myself to go to my mate. I didn't want to acknowledge how I actually felt about it because it didn't matter. What mattered is how I refuse to allow myself to have to...submit.

"Happy to hear that you got your fairytale ending, not everyone has it like that." My voice drifted off into a mutter as we got onto our exit and I knew we were even closer to being home.

The scenery became familiar all over again although something's weren't the same as it was three years ago like certain buildings were now in places that they weren't before, and buildings that I was used to seeing were no longer where they used to be. Not like it mattered since we lived in area that was on the outskirts of where most humans resided.

It was deep in a forest area with a bunch of trees, but hidden deep in what most people would assume was a desolate area was a big ass mansion that was the Blue Moon Pack and a few miles south was the neighboring pack which was the Silver Creek Pack. If you ventured out even more, there was a large high school, the same high school that I used to cause a shit load of trouble in with Xavier, Aiden, Gnashton, and Xander who are my closest friends.

I swallowed.

One of the four being my best friend who I can't even face anymore. I tried to ignore the way my heart throbbed and the dip in Jackson's mood.

'We spent three years building up our walls to end this for a reason, Jackson.'  I reminded him.

'Bitch, you spent three years doing that. I spent three year waiting for the day when I can jump our mate.' Jackson snorted.

My eyes rolled. 'Like hell that'll happen.'

Before he can respond, I block him. I didn't have the time to deal with him in addition to the emotions that I'm still burying.

"Did you hear what I was saying or are you still trying to pacify your poor wolf?" Kay shot a sarcastic smile my way as the car began to shake and shudder as the ground beneath us went from road to dirt.

We are so much closer now and my heart is the loudest it's ever been.

"Jackson agrees with me." I lied.

"I already have Eros, Easton, and Hazel feeding me lies whenever I come to them with Archer problems. So I'm spitting out that shitty lie, it tasted expired." Kay deadpanned. "Poor Jackson and Xander."

I quirked an eyebrow as I looked at her. "Poor Xander? What about me?!"

"You're already only thinking of yourself, do I have to as well? You haven't been here for three years so let me recap a little. You didn't see Xander turn 18 which, by that way, it was so fucked for you to literally leave just a few weeks before he turned 18 so he didn't even get to see his best friend during his birthday. Anyways, he was so disappointed to have gone days then weeks then months then years without ever meeting his mate—"

"Oh, right. Like he was all that disappointed at the idea of not being able to sleep around anymore," I remark sarcastically as I cut her off. "I know Xander like the back of my hand, he never spoke about mates or being excited to find his."

"You weren't there so you wouldn't know, Jay so shut the fuck up please and thank you and let me finish. Of course he didn't walk around the pack house crying and balling his eyes out and he did continue to occasionally go through girls – "

"Like I thought."

I tried to suppress the pang in my heart from hearing the remainder of what she said. Get used to it, Jaylin. You braced yourself for that and you felt it, it'll be no different just because you're around now.

"But —" She glares at me for cutting her off again. "Anyone could tell that he wanted to know who his mate was and I am one hundred percent sure that he'd want to devote himself to them you asshole!"

I run my hand through my curly locks.

"That's what you think." I adamantly disagree. "Besides, you know how I am and you know how Xander is. Two plus two does not equal fish."

Kaylee's eyebrows furrow as she drives through the large black gates. That's when my eyes finally begin to focus on the large mansion in front of us. The Blue Moon pack was right before my very eyes. The fountain remained placed where it was with water flowing out of the spout, the large building was spruced up considerably and it looked even bigger than when I had left which told me that there were renovations done and additions added to this already massive home that was more like a large hotel than it was a home. That feeling of dread was creeping up again followed by the need to take a massive shit.

"I will never stop hating whenever you'd say that but whatever. I won't tell you what to do." She said.

Yes you will, you're just too exhausted after nearly killing people on the road to argue anymore with me. She'd be back at it again in no time, maybe after taking a long nap. She circles around the parameter until she settles on parking the car outside by other luxury cars rather than parking inside. That's another thing that was different, she never parked outside but I guess three years is all it takes for parking preferences to change.

She steps out and I do the same. Like a magnet, my eyes are locked on the house because I know what could potentially be inside it. I don't smell him nor do I feel his presence currently but I can't imagine what'll happen when I do come face to face with him again. The unknown of what'll happen is what's driving me crazy.

Kay stands beside me with my luggage by her side, her head tilted upwards to look at me.

She wasn't short but she wasn't tall, although she did get much taller than she was before because I can no longer use her head as my elbow rest. Looking at her closer, she hasn't changed much. Her hair is still that tight curl pattern that gives her hell every morning, her eyes that shimmering green that resemble my own, freckles still prominent on her face, and her face still round and giving her the appearance of a baby.

I look down at her body.

"Did you gain weight?"

She punches me repeatedly and I chortle.

"I will bring Xander here right now." She threatens.

My smile and laugh dies down like it was never there to begin with.

"Fuck me." I grumble.

"That's Xanders job." She smirks.

I glare at her. "Like hell it is."

Never.

She quirks her head towards the house with her eyes still on me.

"Ready?" She asks.

I sigh. No but fuck it.

"Ready." I said after a long pause.

And we began to walk to my doom.

Note: this is taking place in the year 2041. Thank you for reading & happy Valentine's Day :)