Her Mate

Chapter thirty

I sat outside on the steps of JoAnns porch smoking a cigarette as I tried to have better luck getting my anger under control than my sister.

I could hear her inside cussing up a storm about what happened. A part of me wanted to try and calm her down. I was fairly sure it was Ashley who did this as I couldn't think of any reason why Jake would. They clearly weren't mates and it wasn't like he'd be afraid we'd harm her. whereas Ashley could of done it simply to give JoAnn some protection with the Council and make her officially off limits to Jake. He wasn't listening anymore, but that was another issue. At least they were supposed to answer her phone calls now.

It went directly to voicemail which actually did piss me off. If it was her she'd should've known I'd be in touch.

I hesitated calling Nancy before deciding against it. I'd tell her when she got back there wasn't any need to bug her in the meantime.

After about another fifteen minutes or so they came out of the house. Mr. Kenny gave me a quick nod as he hurried past and got in his car. JoAnn sat beside me looking exhausted as we watched him drive away.

"I'm sure it was Ashley. My guess she only did it to try and help."

"Are you sure?" She asked in a weak and broken voice that sounded nothing like my sisters. I put my arm around her and pulled her close. It was a miracle she could still talk at all after all the screaming she's been doing.

"Mostly. She's not answering me but she did volunteer for you to stay with her and Jake has moved on to another girl named Sasha. She's a real piece of work let me tell ya. Anyways, I don't see anything he'd gain from it. You obviously don't have one with Jake unless you've been plotting to break us up from the start."

My left shoulder stung like crazy as she struck me. "That's not even funny. I may be worn out but I'll still kick your ass for remarks like that and I mean it!"

"Okay! Geez, I'm sorry!"

"Well I don't appreciate being treated like property. If it's some sort of protection, then why not just call it that instead of claimed? It's barbaric! I don't want anything to do with any of them! And you'd be better off getting away from Nancy. She might say she's-"

"That's enough!" I warned. My sympathies now fading quickly.

"She's the only one who's been going out of their way to make sure we're safe. Yes, we're, as in the both of us. From the moment she found out you had gotten hurt she was helping me find out who it was and even visited you in the hospital. She didn't even know you. Now I agree the way we met is messed up. She can have a bit of a temper, and is rather controlling but I have never felt more protected than I do with her and considering all that's been going on, that's saying a lot. Now I don't want to hear you bad mouthing her again!

"Sometimes your more liberal than even I can deal with."

I was beginning to think her attitude was here to stay. The whole time I was making breakfast she was cursing out just about everything. Unlike with Mr. Kenny she at least wasn't yelling which I was eternally grateful for.

Just as I was dishing up our plates there was another knock at the door. It was Nancy this time and while JoAnn wasn't overly pleased by her being here she at least keeping her mouth shut.

The sorrow look on her face along with the lack of a single bite mark told me everything I needed to know.

I wrapped my arms around her even before she made it through the front door. And while she hadn't been gone very long it felt like ages with my sister, the Council, and worrying about Nancy. My nerves were in a desperate need of a vacation.