Love or War?

Chapter 4

Joanna's POV
I was not a fan of this fake dating thing. It wasn't right, but neither is Harry being my mate; my one? Seriously? I never would have figured that! We're so wrong for each other and we're not even from the same pack.
I lay back on my bed with some piano music coming from my phone. It relaxes me when I'm freaking out inside; like right now.
There was a knock on my door. I paused the music.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
I sighed, "Come in, Ash."
I sat up as he pushed the door open.
"Hey, babe."
I smiled slightly. "Hey. How'd you get up here? Luke never lets you up here."
Ashton shrugged, "He figured you needed someone to talk to."
"I do. I just don't know if you're the right person to throw all of my problems onto."
He sat down next to me, "I'd like to help you, Jo. I know this isn't easy for you but Luke is Alpha, we don't really have a choice here."
"I never have a choice." I mumbled.
"Talk to me? Please?"
I shrugged, "I miss my dad. I miss the freedom from not being a Beta. Luke controls my every freaking move and I can never control my thoughts so every time I think really hard about something, Luke hears it. It's bad enough with Leila hearing most of everything, but Luke? No. I hate it, so much!"
Ashton took my hand in his. "Jo. Can I take you somewhere?"
I looked up at him. "You're not going to tell me how crazy I sound?"
He shook his head, "No, because you're not. I get it and you're right, it does suck that your childhood was ripped away from you so soon. But it's not going to change. So I want to take you somewhere that I go when I need to be alone and think."
I smiled and nodded, thankful that he's so understanding. "Okay. Yeah, let's go."

We walked hand-in-hand into the woods behind the massive house I grew up in. We walked slowly, Ashton was humming something I didn't recognize.
I laughed to myself remembering when Leila and I would watch Luke and his friends when they hung out. I always had a crush on Ashton, from the first time I saw him I think. I know Leila felt the same about Mikey. She'd draw hearts with his name in them all over her notebooks and we had to make sure Luke never found them.
"You alright?" Ashton asked.
"Yeah. I was just thinking."
"Okay, well we're almost there."
I looked around us and knew exactly where we were.
"Wait a second." I pulled my hand out of Ashton's and ran up ahead of him into the clearing.
I turned back and shot Ashton a look, "This is where you come to be alone?"
He nodded.
"You're the one who would organize the rocks into a circle?"
He nodded, "Yeah? How do you know about that?"
"Because I'm the one who would put them back into piles by their size. This is my place."
"Really? Since when?"
"Since my brother and sister and I dropped my dad's ashes off the edge of the cliff."
Ashton's face softened. He walked up to me and wrapped his arms around me and I returned the gesture.
"Jo, you don't have to go through this alone. I'll be here for you."
"I just can't escape the hatred I have for them. I was okay until they showed back up two weeks ago."
"They can't hurt you, Jo."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"One, you're underage."
"Only until October!" I exclaimed.
He chuckled lightly, "And two, I won't let them."
I met his gaze, "You won't?"
"Nope."
"Will you let me hurt them?"
He shook his head, "Not until October apparently."
I huffed, "Why do you think they're back anyway? And sending their Betas to high school here?"
He shrugged, "I don't know, Jo. But I do know that Luke wants you home. So we'd better go."
I rolled my eyes as Ashton pulled me back towards the house. "I hate mindspeak."
His chuckles filled the air around me, "I agree too, babe."

"JO!" Luke ran up to me when we walked into the house. "Where were you?"
"I was with Ashton." I pointed behind me.
Leila was seated at the table looking less than enthusiastic. Michael stood behind her.
"Well sit down. We need to talk."
I sat beside my twin. "What's up his ass?"
She shrugged, "Who knows?"
"We have to make you guys more convincing."
Leila scoffed. "I thought we made it pretty clear yesterday, Luke."
He scowled, "Well apparently Hart doesn't think so."
I slammed my hands down on the table and stood up. "Is anyone going to tell us what they want?"
The guys looked at each other.
I sighed and sat down again, "Apparently not."
Leila took my hand as Luke spoke.
"Jo, they're just here to cause trouble."
"That's what you said happened last time too and we all saw how that turned out."
Luke's canines showed, "When are you going to quit sassing back to me?"
"When you start telling me the damn truth! You're my brother! You're Alpha and I'm one of your Betas! I can't be what you want me to be if I don't know what I'm protecting everyone from!"
Leila pulled away from me and scoffed, "So this is why you're pissed? Because of dad?!"
"Well aren't you?"
"Not anymore! It's been like over three years, Jo! I'm over it!"
"Doesn't it make you wonder why Hart Pack is back if they got rid of dad?!"
"Joanna!" Luke barked. "Calm down!"
I groaned. "I hate this!" I stood and backed away from my siblings. "I absolutely hate this!"
"Hate what?" Leila asked.
"Everything! No one trusts us enough to tell us what's going on. Niall and Harry think they can do whatever they want and Luke is sending Ashton, Calum and Mikey to look after us! I just want to be a part of something, Lei! Don't you?"
"Of course I do! But I know that to get that I have to obey my Alpha; who yes, unfortunately is our older brother. But Jo, I can't do this without you. It's not the same when we're fighting and you're never around. I miss dad just as much as you do, but there's nothing we can do to bring him back. We just have to pretend like nothing is bothering us. And seriously, quit thinking about strangling me! It hurts my head!" She winced.
I rolled my eyes and stopped thinking. I looked to Luke, "How come everyone can hear what I'm thinking?"
He shrugged, "I don't know, but you need to work on that. It's becoming a problem around here. Look girls, I know you didn't want me sending the guys back to school, but I think the fake dating will be the only thing that keeps Harry and Niall away from you two for awhile."
"What could happen if they don't?" I asked.
Everyone looked around the room at each other before Ashton sat down beside me. "If you accept them, you become a part of their pack and you leave ours."
"What?" Leila and I said at the same time.
I shook my head, "No. I-I can't leave you." I said to my brother.
"I know, Jo. So, please? Try?"
I nodded and so did Lei.
"Okay. Figure something out between the four of you. Calum and I will do perimeter tonight."
Once they left, Mikey spoke up. "What about a double date? Tonight?"
I glanced at my twin. I felt like we didn't really have a choice. To keep Niall and Harry away, we have to be with Mikey and Ashton.
"Okay." Leila answered for the both of us. "We'll be ready at 7."
We got up and ran upstairs. I followed her into her room.
"Lei?"
"What, Jo? We have to get ready."
"I know. I'm just, sorry."
She sighed and met my eyes. "I know, Joanna. I am too."
She stepped in front of me and put her arms out.
"Hug it out with me?"
I nodded and we embraced.
"Love you, Lei."
"Love you too, Jo."