Jack

We Aren't Kids

My alarm went off and i slammed my hand down on it, shutting it off. Groaning, I sat up. Getting ready, I put on my black hunting clothes and grabbed my leather jacket and walked down stairs. Lucas was eating some toast and nodded at me as I grabbed myself some food. We rode over to the pack territory shortly after.
Upon arriving, we were met by two guards who escorted us to the pack house and into Kyle's office. Liam was already there, talking animatedly with Kyle.
"Ah! Jackelynn and Lucas, nice to see you again." Kyle greeted us. Liam got up and hugged me, kissing my forehead quickly before moving to hug Lucas.
"I understand something came up with the case?" Lucas questioned. Liam nodded, the air in the office turning to a pure business aura. Kyle nodded and his eyes glazed over, mindlingking. The office door opened and Mason walked in. His grey orbs meeting my green ones.
Mason's POV
My father told me that there was a meeting today that he wanted me to be present for. As I waited for him to tell me more details, a tall man with greying hair walked into the pack house.
"Liam! Good to see you." My father greeted him.
"Liam... Ironic, that's our mate's father's name..." My wolf mumbled in my head.
"Kyle, I understand something has come up?" Liam asked him.
"Liam, this is my son, Mason." My father introduced me. Liam held out his hand for me to shake. I shook it and nodded my head to him. "I would like to discuss everything when the rest of your party has arrived." Liam nodded in agreement.
"They shouldn't be too long." Liam informed us. My father turned to me.
"Mason, would you please go get your sister. I would like her present as well." He asked of me. I nodded and walked out of the room. Walking to Kaitlynn's room, my wolf was restless. I knocked on her door and it opened. Kaitlynn already dressed started to walk towards the office.
"You may enter when you get to the door." My father's voice fluttered through my head. Reaching the door, I grabbed the knob and pushed. My wolf was practically jumping in my head.
My eyes scanned the room but stilled when they met a pair of green orbs. I felt like I was floating and it was only the two of us. I was shaken out of it when Kaitlynn ran into my back since I stopped abruptly in front of her. We walked in and stood to the side of the chairs, opposite of out guests.
Jackelynn and Lucas looked like they were standing at attention, their hands behind their backs, standing straight, and their eyes looking straight ahead, not focused on anything.
"Ok, Mason and Kaitylnn, this is Liam. He is the director for the most successful academy of hunters in the US." He said, gesturing to the man standing beside my mate, his eyes gleamed proudly. "Now, don't be mad with me. But when I realized that the rogues were after my family, I contacted Liam and asked for his help. In return, he gave the job to his top two hunters, of which you already met." My mind was reeling.
My mate stood in front of me but wouldn't look me in the eyes. She stared ahead. 'The top two hunters' kept replaying in my mind. My father came over to stand behind Jackelynn and Lucas and placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"They have been assigned to guard you. But I now know that an unexpected turn of events has taken place." He said looking me in the eyes. "I will leave the decision up to Liam. Do we keep them on the case or change the guards." I was about to protest but but I was cut off by an angelic voice.
"With all due respect Alpha Kyle, but I think Lucas and I deserve to know why we could possibly be dismissed for." Jackelynn said, her face expressing her confusion. She turned to look at my father.
"Jack," Liam started."Something came up that could compromise the mission or help it greatly. Kyle has given me the decision, but I think it's best for you both to decide. I trust your judgement. You're old enough to know how to handle situations." Both Lucas and Jackelynn nodded understanding.
"Well, in order to do so, we would need to know what happened to cause doubt in the first place." Lucas spoke up. Liam nodded slowly.
"Kyle, I think there is something that needs to be said between them don't you think?" Liam spoke up, clapping a hand on my father's back.
"You're letting them decide? They're just children." My father said incredulously.
"Kyle, they are not children anymore. Mason will soon be Alpha, you must have faith he will choose correctly and fall back on your teachings from the past years. I know it's hard to let them go." He said looking at Jackelynn and Lucas lovingly. "But the only thing you can do is give them information and training. You can't shield them forever. They will get hurt and make mistakes but that's the only way they will ever learn. It shapes them." He looked over to Jackelynn, "Right Jack?" Her hand went to her stomach.
"Yes sir." She replied confidently. My father was about to protest again but Liam held up his hand and led him out of the room.
"It's about damn time someone told him we aren't kids anymore." Kaitlynn giggled. My eyes stayed on Jackelynn as her eyes stared at the door.
"So, do you guys know what happened that would complicate our job to protect you?" Lucas spoke up, his eyes boring into us. Kaitlynn looked at me and smirked. "Mason?" Lucas questioned me.
Jackelynn swiveled her head to look at me. I started to walk up to her slowly. I saw Lucas stiffen as I got closer. I raised my hand and tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear, tingles spread through my hand as I made contact, my wolf purred with our closeness.
"Mate." I whispered, my breath tickling her face. She drew in a deep breath quickly and took a step back, her eyes widening. Lucas's face was filled with surprise. Jackelynn's gasp brought him back to reality, as he held her arm trying to comfort her. My wolf was hurt that she stepped away from us and angered that she sought comfort from someone else. I looked down and stepped away, walking back to my sister.
"Is this the situation Liam was talking about?" She asked strongly. I turned around and her face had recovered from her shock, her head held high. I nodded silently. "Then it would be stupid to change guards. Mates protect each other, right? That means I will protect you even more than just another job." Her voice rang throughout the room.
"That also means that he will put himself in danger to keep you safe." Lucas piped in.
"True," She replied, "But he would do that for any member of his pack. It's his Alpha duty to protect his pack." She pointed out. He nodded, agreeing with her.
"So, you're not rejecting me?" I asked tentatively. Her brows knit together.
"Why do you think I would do that?" She asked, her eyes soft.
"I'm a werewolf, you're a werewolf hunter. Doesn't your kind hate me?" I asked equally as confused.
"I hate some of your kind. I know that not every wolf is as horrible as my past has shown me. I have trained my entire life to defend the good ones and exterminate the worst. I do not hate you or your kind, I only hate those who hurt innocents, which has nothing to do with them being a wolf." She said with determination.
A smile split onto my face as I rushed towards her and hugged her deeply. My head in the crook of her neck, I breathed in her sweet, earthy smell. Her arms wrapped around me and she sighed with content. Hearing a throat clear, we let go. I went behind her and pulled her closer to my body by her hips, her back on my chest. We looked at Lucas.
"I think it goes without saying, but if you hurt her, I will kill you." He said seriously, looking me in my eyes. I nodded and smiled down at my mate in my arms.
"So, what all did you guys lie about for your cover?" I heard Kaitlynn ask eagerly. My mate giggled at her, the sound penetrating my body, causing me to shiver.
"Well, Jack really isn't my sister by blood, but over the years, we see each other like that. Liam is our only father figure so we both see him as our dad." Lucas explained. I nodded.
"What about your parents...?" I asked quietly. They looked at each other sadly.
"We don't share the same parents, but both of our families were killed. We were orphaned at a young age, but Liam saved us. Gave us a purpose. Gave us a family again." My mate spoke and her face turning up in a smile as she explained her new family. Pride swelled inside of me seeing how strong our mate truly is. The door opened and in walked my father and Liam.
"Well, I'm guessing everything is out in the open then?" Liam asked. We all nodded our heads to him. He looked at me with a serious face and opened his mouth but I held up my hand.
"Let me guess, 'I hurt her you kill me'?" I asked, guessing what he was going to say. He smiled and glanced at Lucas.
"Damn right."