The Twisted Links

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

Lythburg...

The mad shrill of laughter competed with the racket blaring from the speakers. Body odors were drowned out by the cloud of perfume and cologne clogging the patrons' lungs. Jenna sat at the bar miserable. When she left home, it was understood that she would be marked by Salim at the mating ceremony which was to take place soon after their arrival.

Instead Salim's wolf immediately jumped on that girl, Carrie. Some sort of trauma ensued and the girl had a mental breakdown. Dayton fought against his own brother for hurting their mate. Jenna wasn't sure what triggered the girl. One would think that a mated couple would be all up under each other but this clearly wasn't the case.

Jenna couldn't help the spike of envy that Carrie had not one but two mates. She didn't know her past but Jenna thought it was unfair that this girl wouldn't even allow her mates to touch her while she, Jenna, was without her own mate.

From a young age, Jenna had always been close to her next door neighbor, Boyd Jenner. His last name was always an inside joke and he would laugh before saying that he should take her last name instead but "Boyd Bells" didn't quite resonant either. Everyone thought that they were such an adorable couple, that it was almost written in stone that they would be mates. Unfortunately, Boyd died a year before they knew for sure. The hurt was too overwhelming. She had lost not only her best friend but most likely her mate as well. Her wolf went quiet. She was closed up in her pain even after her first shift.

Jenna had always been her parents' "Little Ms. Perfect" and while they wished that Boyd had been of a higher rank than a Gamma. They had been happy for the pair. When Salim made the offer of "Chosen Luna" official, her parents were over the moon. Jenna less so but she reminded herself that it was time to move on.

So she gave her body and what was left of her heart to Salim. She tried to make things smoother by accepting Dayton as well but she knew right away that he would never be hers. She actually wasn't upset because if Boyd had been alive she would have given up Salim and the Luna title in a heartbeat.

Since causing Carrie, his true mate's, breakdown. Salim has focused whatever attention that wasn't taken up with Alpha duties on his mate. Jenna was an afterthought that he only remembered because she was sleeping in his room. He came to shower and that was it. He usually fell asleep outside his mate's door since she was refusing to see him.

Jenna hadn't discussed it with Salim but she wanted to call off things between them. Her parents encouraged not to do so but to wait and see what happens. After all, the boys will need a strong stable Luna and to them Carrie was completely unfit. Her mother even subtly suggested that she try to get pregnant to trap Salim.

It had always been her dream to have a lot of children and Boyd had wanted a dozen. But forcing a man wasn't something she wanted for herself or her child. So on nights when she was fertile, like tonight, she avoided sleeping with Salim.

Ordering another shot of Alpha Down, the strongest form of werewolf alcohol that was so potent it could take an Alpha down, Jenna was feeling a major buzz. Normally the drink didn't affect her so powerfully since her pack, Cedar Pine under Alpha Erik Baines, produced it. But tonight she was drinking more than she ever had and the world seemed much less terrible.

A smooth voice from beside her, called out to the bartender to bring her another drink. Jenna turned and took in the handsome man beside her. Something about him stirred her wolf. A recognition of sorts, but the haze in her brain wouldn't allow her to clearly hear her wolf.

"Hi there beautiful." he greeted in his smooth honeyed voice.

Despite the smile on his face, Jenna saw the sadness in his eyes. The eyes are what told the untold. For her, she was completely adrift and she just wanted a distraction.