The Secret One

11

Chapter 11

I found myself falling in love with everything about Jake. The way he carries himself, his honey eyes. Most importantly, I loved how he talked to his pack members. When my smile returned, I knew I would be okay. A year ago, I would have never pictured my life as it is now. Isn't it weird how a person who was a stranger can suddenly, without warning mean the entire world to you? Some Days are still problematic. How people move and act still frightens me. Jason, Anya, and Sloan are different. My mind has made me think they are family. Family that can still hurt me. Waylen was nice to me for months till he showed his true self. I am going on six months of being with the Blood Moon pack. This is weird, considering the only person I have seen since I ran away has been Steven. Nothing has happened. That doesn't mean it's not brewing.

"Hi, little one," Jake says, breaking me out of thought. I hum to show I heard him; I just now realized I have been washing the same bowl repeatedly, making me laugh at myself. "Are you okay?" Jake questions as he sees me laugh. "I have just been washing the same bowl for a while because I have been lost in thought," I cleared up for him. He tilts his head up in amusement. "More and more people keep calling me Luna. I don't hold that tile yet. How do I even become Luna?" Bringing the topic of leadership up.

"We have to accept each other as mates fully, Ruth," Jake pipes up, coming closer and trying to hug me. I pull back and shrug my shoulders at him. His lips thin, and a sigh comes from his lips, "Meaning you will have to trust me," Trust another male. I haven't been with him long enough to honestly know his intentions with me. "Ruth, we are not there yet; please relax. I will not pressure you into anything you don't want to," he states to me since he saw my eyes go wide and my breathing turn jagged. "Nothing can hurt you anymore," I feel my head get pressed against his chest, and my body relaxes in his arms.

"Becoming Luna is a lot. I know you are not ready for that yet, and that is okay. I'm not saying you have to take the title right now," He hums to me. I back away from him and honestly face him, "How do I become Luna?" Jake smiles and hops up on the counter, "For you to become Luna- we must be fully mated with my mark on you. That is a process in itself. When the marking is done, you have to do a pack run. Finally, you must feel the pain of the past Luna and welcome them into your body. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it takes a toll on the body," He tells me.

I let out a sigh. I haven't even begun the process of the Luna, and I'm already being called Luna. "If I haven't even started the process, why is the pack calling me the title?" I question him. "The pack respects me. They know I found my half," He smiles at me. I cracked a smile and got closer to him. I lean on the counter. "I can't do it," I mumble. He jumps off the counter and lightly places his hand over mine, "Ruth, I will never push you into anything. You are still learning me- the pack," He assures me. I squeeze my hand around him, "Let's finish the dishes," he says, pulling me behind him. I wash while he dries the dishes. We make small talk as we do the chores.

Pack members race in from outside, making a loud noise erupting through the house, causing me to drop a glass and spin on my heels to face them. Jake grabs me as my breathing becomes uneven and looks at the pack members, "What have I told the pack about roughhousing in the main house!" Jake speaks with clenched teeth. "Not to do it," one of the men said out of the group. Jake nods, dismisses the group, and turns toward me. He grabs my chin so my eyes meet his. "Are you okay?" I shake my head and kneel to pick up the broken glass around our feet. Quite a few tears come from my eyes as Jake leans down to help me. We don't speak, but we go back to put up the dishes, and I walk towards the room Jake has in the pack house. Jake turns away to go to the office to do some work. As I shut my door, I remove my wet shirt from the water of the dishes- I catch myself in the mirror. My bruises are now fully healed. My scars are a very light pink color. I run my hands over the scars. I lift my head to the sky and let out a sigh of relief. Finally, I was able to breathe.

Not only do I have a place I belong. I am slowly finding myself again. The trust it takes. "Do you ever think we will be ready to become Luna?" Tegan asks me. I didn't respond. A single tear falls from my face. Shaking my head, I pull over one of Jake's shirts and walk out of the room and towards the office. I slowly knock on the door. I didn't wait for an answer before I walked in.

As I do, I see Jason and another male standing up while Jake is sitting down. They stop talking and look at me. A smile forms on Jake's face, "Are you okay?" Jake asks me while motioning me to come to him. I nod and swiftly walk between Jason and the man, "Did I come at a bad time?" I speak quietly. "Nothing like that little one; Jason was just introducing me to his mate," Jake states to me, making me look immediately at Jason and the man, making them both chuckle and laugh, "Luna, this is Storm, my mate," Jason tells me while looking at Strom and taking his hand. I reach out to introduce myself, "I'm Ruth," As he grabs my hand, pain comes through. We both lock eyes and smile. I tighten my grip, as does he.

Storm and I have something. He felt it as well. I look back at Jake, and without thinking, I sit on his lap. He rests his hands on my hips. I wiggle into him to get comfortable, but he tightens his hand on my hips to make me stay put. I look back at him, but he shakes his head no. I try to stand up, but he only tightens more to me, "Will you be staying in my pack, Storm?" Jake asks, breaking the tension between us. "I want to if you would allow it, alpha," Storm replies to Jake's question. Jason and I both smile. "What pack are you from?" I ask before I realize I spoke. "I am from out of state. My pack is called Winter Lace, Luna," Storm tells me. "Oh, I am not Luna," I tell him.

"You may think that, but the alpha behind you thinks otherwise," Storm chuckles. I giggle because I know he is right. "You are more than welcome to stay. Have Jason show you around. I will meet back up with you soon. Jason, don't forget our meeting tomorrow." Jake states to both men. They bow as they make their way out of the office.

"I am sorry; I didn't mean to upset you by sitting on your lap," I confess to my mate while turning around to look at him. "Little one, you did nothing wrong," He says while placing both hands on my face. I look at him, confused, making him laugh at me. "You can't wiggle on my lap and expect me not to like it, Ruth," He dangerously tells me. I swallow as I dart down to his lips. "I uh," I managed to get out. I didn't think of that.

"You surely can not do that in front of our pack members," He adds. I slowly nod, understanding everything. I lean forward and place my lips on his. He lets go of my face and grabs my hips to lift me, breaking the kiss. I am now straddling him in his office chair. He doesn't miss a beat, though. One of his hands grabs the back of my neck and the other on the small of my back, drawing me closer. My hands rest on his chest. We close the gap between us, breaking into a long, passionate kiss. Deeping, I got more comfortable. I let out a small moan. Jake pulled me closer even though our bodies were already smushed against each other.

Jake pulls away from me and looks up at the ceiling, "We have to stop," I grab his face with my hands and force him to look at me. I relock our lips. Jake is following the moves. We both heard a knock on the door, but neither wanted to stop. "Alpha, there is a rogue on the land," The pack member spoke out, making Jake pull away from me. I huff, making Jake smile and chuckle at me, "Come in," I try to get up, embarrassed at our position. Jake gives me a look that says try me. So I bowed my head and tucked it into his neck.

"Sorry, Alpha and Luna, to interrupt, but we need to know where to keep the rogue?" The pack member restates. "You are fine, Teddie. Is the rogue hostile?" Jake questions the pack member. "Um, not exactly Alpha. He kinda looks the way Ruth did when she first got here," Teddie says while bowing her head. That sentence piqued my interest. I sat up and looked at her, "Looks like me?" I question.

"Not in a family matter, abused Luna," Teddie clears up for me. I turn to Jake, and he nods his head. I get off him, and we follow Teddie out of the house.