Hidden Wolf

18 Grounded

Grounded. That's what it feels like now. I have a shadow everywhere I go, even within the pack house. Going elsewhere isn't even an option. At least Doc had cleared me for training again.

Garricks words still haunt me. Mack shouldn't be able to push to me, but she can. That's twice now. It's not like it kind of worked either, I'm sure my wrist was broken. And although I never saw the extent of the damage to my side, based on Judes reaction alone, it was bad.

"Head in the game princess," Derek chirps, locking his dark gaze on me.

"Why must you call me that?!" I groan.

"Because you are to me, think about it some time," he replies cryptically. Dork, I just shake my head.

"What's got you so distracted today anyways?" Mack questions.

"I don't know, my mind's just running wild today," I grumble. She just stands there clearly not accepting that answer.

"It's everything. Less then two weeks to conference and I'm still clueless. I feel like I'm grounded; I'm not accustomed to having to ask permission to go places. Garrick and his talk about pushing shouldn't apply to me," I groaned, laying it all out sounds pitiful.

"You're not that clueless, though I'm sure you're heart's still gonna fuck something up," Derek starts. "Garrick is Garrick, he's not wrong but who cares, clearly it works, consider it a blessing. And if it bothers you just talk to Chris-"

"Talk to me about what?" Chris asks walking in.

"Nothing," I reply flustered.

"You're mate feels grounded brother," Derek says with a smirk.

"Really Derek," I snap.

"It's just not safe right now," he says apologetically. "You're not grounded, we just need to be careful for now."

"I know," I say with a sigh.

Bzzz

"Hey what's up?" I answer my cell.

"Hey Jess, can you grab some ice on your way?" Curtis asks.

"Umm?" I respond as Chris frowns at me, clearly hearing Curtis.

"Don't tell me you forgot again," Curtis grumbles.

"Right, the harvest dinner, no I didn't forget," I paused, totally having forgotten. "Just that something came up. I promised to spend time with my boyfriend and his friends," I blurted out, being a shit liar. Chris just gave me a funny look trying not to laugh.

"But Jess, everyone's looking forward to seeing you! The more the merrier, no's not an option," Curtis says with determination.

"How can we turn that down?" Chris calls out. "What time and what can we bring?"

"Ice and your appetites, oh and if there's anything special you like to drink, we just have beer. People are already showing up so don't wait too long," he says before bidding bye and hanging up.

"What?" Chris says with a laugh. "You said you were feeling grounded and you already had plans to go before we got in the way. Do you want to go?"

"Yeah, I guess so, I mean it's the wrap up party, usually a good time," I say with a shrug.

"Then I guess we better get ready," he says with a wink. "Derek, Jace and Jude are coming too if thats ok?"

"Yup, this ought to be interesting, we need beer and whiskey, like three bottles," I say which just causes him to raise a brow. "You'll see."