Try Me

Chapter 10

Jade's POV

The wolves really knew how to have fun. I had to admit, Winter Solstice was more fun than I thought it would be. I really loved the hat and scarf she had made me as well. It was a nice cream color and went with a lot of what I owned. I woke up the next morning and saw most of my family is awake including Willow's, yet Willow and Jacey weren't present. "I was beginning to think those two didn't know how to sleep in," I said as I poured myself some coffee. "I often see Willow up before sun rise when I'm out on patrol," Dancer commented. Her mother nodded, "She has trouble sleeping since her father passed." "We know something happened, but the only one she's told is Jacey," Dancer told her. Her mother sighed softly, "A year ago, her father was murdered by my brother. You've probably figured out by now that their father is Vir, given that she is Vir yet her brothers and I are Bestias. My brother had moved from our pack when my pack accepted my mate. My brother was disgusted by Virs and is very deep into this damned feud. Well, he was happy when he learned the pups were Bestias. Until Willow shifted for the first time and became a Vir. The pack hid it from him if he ever contacted his old friends. Until he made a surprise visit a year ago because he wanted to meet his niece and nephews. When he learned Willow had changed to Vir after shifting, he snapped and blamed my mate. When the fight between him and my mate broke out, I focused on trying to get the boys somewhere safe while mindlinking Willow. When I felt the bond between my mate and I break I rushed downstairs and that's when he turned on me, wanting to kill my sons so they wouldn't know what it's like to become a Vir. Willow had heard him as she rushed into the house, and she attacked him without hesitation. She had grabbed him by the head, flames burning his face. She was ready to kill him. Until others arrived and pulled them apart and arrested him after putting out the flames. We turned the situation over to the council and let them do the trial. After that Willow lost herself which is why our Alpha told her to go out and travel. His hope was that she would possibly find someone who would snap some sense into her since she wasn't listening to any of us back home." 

"In my opinion, I think it's fucked up that your Alpha sent her away," I confessed. "She feels guilt and pain for not being there when her family needed her. Then her Alpha sends her away and refuses to let her come home to be with her family. If you wanted her to get better, then you should've let her stay. She's been isolated and alone for a year." "I agree," her mother said. "That's why I believe there is another reason entirely he sent her away. After all, she's the only Vir in the pack. It was our previous Alpha who accepted my husband as part of the pack and accepted Willow as our Chief of Warriors. When he passed away, his son took over. He wanted to give Willow's title over to another wolf, but the pack refused to accept it. Once he sent her away, he tried again to give her title to someone else, using the excuse that she was too grief stricken to be what they needed. The pack still refused to accept it. He continued to push it, until a few weeks ago when his cousin challenged him for his title. When his cousin won and became Alpha, he wanted to tell Willow she could come home, but that was when we learned Willow met Jacey." 

"Speaking of Jacey, any idea how they're courtship is even going," Ebony asked curiously. "I see them kiss every now and then, but nothing really outside of that." "That's because our brother is defective," Percilla said with a roll of her eyes. "They went on a date the other day," Dancer added in. "But that's because we needed Willow out of the house to surprise her," Ebony pointed out. "They keep their relationship private," Shade said as he came in, hair a mess from sleep. "Which shouldn't surprise you since Jacey has never been big on being open with his life. He grew up locking us out of his room." "He has a point," I said with a nod. "It's going rather well," our mother said with our father nodding in agreement. "There's been a change in the two of them. It's subtle, but it's there," dad said. "Their relationship will be truly tested soon when our tribe starts to challenge her. That shit with Alois was just the beginning," Maria said and we all agreed with her. 

Jacey's POV

I woke from the best sleep I have ever had. From the soft snores below me, I could tell Willow was still sleeping. I moved my head to look down at her. She looked rather peaceful. I shifted, doing my best to not disturb her, and quickly threw on my sweat pants before stepping into my bathroom.  When I stepped out I saw one of her eyes was cracked open. I went over to her, "Good morning." She yawned, "Good morning handsome." I laid down with her. She rested her head on my chest, "How did you enjoy your first Winter Solstice?" "It was more fun than I thought it would be," I confessed to her. "That's good," she said before yawning again. I kissed the top of her head and we enjoyed the peace for a little while, neither of us wanting to get up. 

Eventually hunger made us leave the comfort of the bed. "We thought you two were going to sleep the entire day away," Jade commented from where she sat on the couch with her laptop. "It was a nice idea," Willow said. "Unfortunately food is needed to survive." "Well you guys may want to make it fast then hide in your room," Jade said. "Brooke is actually coming this year, and should be here soon." Willow looked at me questioningly as I growled. "Who's Brooke," Willow asked me. "She's been a pain in my side since we were young. She has convinced herself that she and I will one day marry, and despite my numerous denials she doesn't take the hint." "She's also our Tribe Leader's only daughter so he dotes on her and usually gives her anything she wants, except when it comes to certain things. Thankfully he denied her request for an arranged marriage. She found out about you, and she's most likely coming to challenge you. Since she can't fight, since we women don't know how too, she's probably going to challenge you some other way." 

"How would she challenge me," Willow asked. "Most likely in a race," I told her. "You're at a disadvantage since you can't fly." "She won't be able to fly either," Jade said. "The weather is supposed to drop incredibly low shortly after the tribe gets here, with the threat of a snow storm. Our family is out trying to make sure we're prepared to take care of everyone in case a storm does hit extending their stay." "Wonderful," I muttered. Willow bumped me with her hip, "It's gonna be okay." I sure hope she was right.