My mate

Chapter 32

Trigger Warning // The following content talks and includes examples of manipulation. If you find this subject disturbing, I advise you to not read this chapter.

The whole day at school I didn't really pay attention, I kept thinking about the psychology class we would have with Namjoon and Jin after school. So finally, the time had come.

"It's the moment you've been waiting for.." Jin says in a show host tone of voice.

"Okay great, can we start?" Charlotte says eagerly.

We follow Jin into the left side of the pack house where not many people were gathered, so we wouldn't get any distractions.

"I told everyone to not bother us for the next hour or so" Namjoon says coming in and closing the door behind him.

"Okay sounds great, everyone sit down" Jin says taking a seat at a meeting-like table, we take a seat in front of him before hearing Namjoon coughs.

"Shouldn't they stand? Just because it would make it easier to demonstrate some things." Namjoon points out.

"Demonstrate..?" Kacey says sending a lowkey concerned look to both Charlotte and I.

"Ah that's true, right never mind, everyone stand up and go stand in that large clear area over there." Jin points to the empty area in front of the door.

The girls and I line up cautiously wondering what they were about to teach us.

"Okay, lets get started. As you know by now, Erebus is very phenomenal at manipulating others into doubting themselves and to do what he wants. So first, we need you guys to know that a manipulators routine is to look for your weaknesses and use them against you." Namjoon says informatively.

"For example, as you are a werewolf, Harper. He will most likely use your mate as an obvious and known weakness stereotypically for werewolves. Let me demonstrate.." Jin says stepping towards me.

"I've heard your mate is one of the strongest, as well as the alpha of your pack. I wonder how long he would last after I'm finished with you. Hell, maybe he'd even try to save you and get himself killed in the process. What? It's not like I'm going to let him live, I don't wan him to keep the burden of his weak mate trying to be someone in a place she doesn't belong. In a way, I'm doing both him and you a huge favour." Jin says in a disturbing and low voice, not breaking eye contact with me. I take a couple of steps back but he strives towards me.

"Scared of me already? Hmm that's not very Luna-like is it? Maybe you truly are useless" Jin smirks.

"Here, he's using the fact that you are new to this whole concept against you, as he is reading your reaction, like when you took a few steps back letting him know that even his presence makes you cower. He's making you feel like you are not right for the role. Makes you question yourself, doubt yourself and even lose yourself." Namjoon analyses Jins actions.

"I wish I kept your precious mother alive just so she could see all the trouble she went through, all the fighting that cost her the lives of hundreds including herself and her mate; to keep someone like you alive." Jin whispered in my ear. My heart starts pounding and I look down.

"I'm sorry, I didn't actually mean to make you sad, I was just demonstrating.." Jin says concerned, lifting my chin up to make sure I'm okay.

"Yeah, I know. I'm fine, the tougher you are on me the more prepared I'll get." I give him a weak smile. He nods and stands next to Namjoon.

"We're gonna ignore how concerningly carried away Jin got and move on." Namjoon says, side eyeing Jin.

"Always, and I mean always, trust your gut and senses. Don't let him know he's getting to you. Remember the double R's." Namjoon says.

"The double R's?" Kacey questions while she rubs my arm to make sure I'm okay.

"Reacting vs Responding." Jin says.

"Reacting is your instant judgement on the matter. While responding is how you handle it, which involves a higher-level of reasoning. You need to keep your reactions to a bare minimum until your reasoning kicks in, which isn't always easy if the person hits a nerve and your emotions get the best out of you." Jin continues, switching eye contact with all of us to make sure we're paying attention.

"Okay, let me demonstrate something with this next one. Charlotte come here for a second." Namjoon says and Charlotte goes to him. Within a few seconds, he grabs her and flips her around, pulling both her arms and holding them in a painful looking position; making Charlotte give out a low whimper out of surprise.

"Sorry if I actually hurt you. Okay, let's pretend Kacey and Jin are fighting, but Jin is winning." Namjoon looks at Jin signaling to him to do something.

Jin nods and walks over to Kacey. Kacey lies on the ground and acts as if she's about to pass out but kept her hands in the air as if she's still trying to fight Jin off. Jin towers over her and freezes with his fist in the air, about to land the last punch. Namjoon starts speaking menacingly into Charlotte's ear.

"Look at that, one of your closest friends is about to take her last breath, all because you couldn't protect her. Haha, how does that make you feel? When she's done so much for you, and you couldn't do the simplest thing such as protecting her. It's all your fault this happened to her, that this is going to be how she goes. I didn't want to hurt her, but because you brought her into this mess; you can see her get out of it." Namjoon growls in a hypnotising tone of voice. Charlotte's eyes were fixed onto Kacey, although nothing was happening to her; you could tell Charlotte was imagining the situation.

Namjoon softly lets go of Charlotte and held her hand for a moment to bring her out of her trance.

"Wow, I really felt that." She says astonished.

"It was so hard to keep in my laugh." Kacey giggles standing up.

"That leads us to the last point for today." Namjoon smiles.

"Don't hand over your power, don't let them change your mindset. Yes he might be powerful, but one of the reasons for that is how easily he can get into your brain and spread like a tumour. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent", don't let him get to you, otherwise he really might win." Namjoon finishes up, before opening the door.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent, Namjoons words kept echoing in my head.

"That's all for now, I'm exhausted." Jin stretches.

"All that acting really wears you out." Jin continued, walking out the room.

"I still think I did a better job." Kacey shrugs, following him out.

"In your dreams." Jin snaps back.