The Secret One

12

Chapter 12

We march our way to the training field, Jason comes next to us. I hear talking and see pack members around a person sitting on the ground. As we get closer, the blood smell gets more robust. I stop, causing Jake to stop. His hand finds the small of my back. He gave me a small smile, and we began to walk again. The pack around the person broke so Jake and I could get through. When my eyes land on the person sitting on the ground, a sob rakes. Every eye darts to me, including the man on the ground. He blinks at me, "Jameson," I mutter out.

Jake tilts his head to the side, "You know him?" He asks, not in a jealous tone. More worried than anything. "We were in Waylen's house," Jameson says. Jameson stands to his feet and walks to me. He crams me into a hug, and I wrap around him. I feel everyone's eyes on us, waiting for the story. "Everyone is dismissed. I will relay the message once I know more," Jake booms out to everyone. "Jason, follow us back to the office, please,"

We four are back in the office. Jake grabbed some tissues and water for us to clean ourselves up with and drink. "I am sorry, Alpha. I didn't mean to trespass on your land," Jameson began. "No need for that, Jameson. I would like your story," Jake tells him, getting right to the point.

"Right, I am Jameson. I don't have a last name. I was left at birth due to being a hybrid. I am stronger than most," Jameson starts. I watch Jakes's feature to see if he will release some emotion. But nothing. He catches me staring. My cheeks flare up, making him smirk. He has gotten more flirty. "I don't mind you being a hybrid. I have it in my pack already," Jake clarifies to him. Jameson smiles at that comment. "I have always been in the trading grounds for supernaturals. It isn't enjoyable, but I get to sleep and get fed sometimes. I can't die easily, so it was fun for all the people who owned me. I was fast, but I needed to be faster. I finally got away," Jameson rambles, about to get up and leave.

"You are safe here. I want to send you to Izzie, the pack doctor, for a check-up. How do you two know each other?" Jake nags on.

Jameson looks at me, and I nod for him to begin, "I met Mouse here about three years ago. At that time, she didn't talk, so I gave her the name Mouse. We were both in Waylen's pack. I protect Mouse from the headmaster. He would tease her about her hair. I always gave her my food. It grew into a brother and sister bond. I got resold, and I haven't seen her since," Jameson retells our past. "My name is Ruth," I finally said, telling him my name. We all kind of chuckle at my comment. "Jason, here is my beta. He will show you around the pack. If you choose to stay, you are welcome here with open arms," Alpha says, giving Jameson his hand to grab. They both shook hands. Jason and Jameson leave the room. "He helped me through that pack. He saved me from a lot of beating. Jameson always told me he could handle it. I feel like I am not the first girl he did that for," I mumble out. Jake watches as the door closes "I don't think so either, little one,"

"My life was not easy. I was ten. My life changed. One moment, I was running through the woods. Next, I was in a silk dress on a stage to be sold off. I didn't even have my wolf yet," I began to tell Jake. He doesn't stop me. He leads me to the small couch he has north of the office. "Most nights were cold and miserable. Wishing I would die. As I got older, it became easier. That is when I started to fight back. I was twelve when I first got raped. I was surprised that Waylen waited that long. Waylen let people use me- every man and woman was different. How they talked, moved, and the rules. If I messed up once, they wouldn't give me food or whip me. Cold wash was Waylen's favorite punishment. In a cold wash, your feet go into a bucket of ice water. You are forced to stand in the bucket till they tell you to move. Punishments vary depending on what I did. Most of the time, it was rape. In front of everyone else so they could see," I mumble about my past. I didn't even notice I was crying. Jake doesn't say anything other than I am sorry. " Thirteen years went by, Waylen never sold me off. He kept me to himself or for other people in the pack. I was with him. Heartless people," I look at Jake. "He will be stopped, Ruth," I smile at his change, "Good luck," I tell him.

He gets up from the couch and walks to the filing cabinets. He pulls out a rolled piece of paper. Returning, he unfolds it before me, "This is a map of the packs close to us. We are surrounded by 5. The farthest one is the Dark Shadow pack." He points in the direction of the hateful land. "To get to Blood Moon, you have to pass at least 25 miles of the Linder Pole pack, but they are more of a freelander pack, so they don't care about borders, yet they respect them. Besides the five packs around us, we are surrounded by no mainland. Where anyone can claim it," He marks on the paper.

"Can you show me Waylen's pack house?" I nod my head yes and scoot closer to the paper. I trace my fingers on the rough paper, "There, well, in this location," He hums and circles it for the future. "I will get with Jason on this for now. Let's go find Jameson and Storm."

Leaving the room, there is chatter throughout the house. It makes me smile, "and then I found him by the waterfall," We all hear Jason say about finding his mate. Everyone around us was in awe together. We round the corner and see at least twelve people sitting around the living room. Jameson is sitting on the floor eating a head of lettuce. He looks at me, and I laugh, "Head of lettuce, Jameson?" I question, taking a seat next to him, "I was hungry but didn't want anything heavy, fuck off," He remarks back, making everyone laugh. Jameson stills a few seconds after. "Are you okay?" I battle him. He slowly turns his head to the archway. Anya is standing there looking at Jameson. Mates? "Are you eating a head of lettuce?" Anya questions. "I, um, you want some?" Jameson questions her while picking up the lettuce and offering it to her. Anya takes the lettuce, takes off a few leafs, and hands Jameson the lettuce back. Everyone in the room tries to hold back their laughter, "Anya, you don't even like lettuce!" Jake announces to the room. Everyone starts to laugh at this point; Jameson stands and walks over to Anya, "I am Jameson," Anyna replies with her name.

Jason and Anya have found mates today. Small chatter fills the room. Anya and Jameson have left. "Luna, did you hear me?" A young girl questioned me. "Um, no, sorry. Also I am not a luna." I fix her statement. "You will be though," Jake bites in. He rubs his lips together, making me blush. "What color is your wolf?" The young girl questions again. This time, I am hearing it. "Oh, she is silver," I tell her. She smiles, and the chatting goes on. I stand up and go to the kitchen to get something to drink. Jake's arm encases me as I turn to place my cup on the countertop. He blocks me in on either side. I turn so I am facing him. He steps closer, towering over me. I raise my eyebrow, questioning him.

He grabs my hips and places me on the countertops. I let my feet dangle. My hands find Jake's belt. I pull him closer, catching him off guard. He peers down at me and then at my hands on his belt. He clears his throat, and my eyebrow raises, "You're playin' my mate," He growls out. My time to smirk. "Can't handle it alpha?" I question while using his title.

Being around Jake makes my confidence grow. My wolf knows he won't hurt me. I can see his knuckles turning white as he grips the countertop. He places his head between my ear and shoulder. He takes a deep breath in and lets it out slowly. His cold breath fans over my exposed skin. Still wearing his shirt, I smell like him. "Careful now, little one," Knowing it was no longer Jake and using my nickname, I decided to take it further. I put my hands at his waist and trail them up his back. One hand goes in his shirt at the top through the neck opening while the other travels up to his hair. I pull him closer and let a small breath close to his ear. I kiss just below his ear. He grabs under my knees and pulls me to him so we are now touching, and most of my weight is in his hands. "Daring are we?" Axle challenges me. I was forgetting about my past. Jake is my now. I grab his face and lightly kiss him—merely a peck. I giggle as I watch his eyes fade from black to honey brown. "You will be the death of me,"