Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
“It’s all good, Axel,” Jackson said, then looking at Corrine, he added. “After all, we will be spending the rest of our lives together. What’s a month in the scheme of things?”
Axel thought he noticed a strange atmosphere between his mother and Jackson but assumed he had imagined it.
Jackson picked up his backpack, double-checking that everything was strapped correctly and that his water bottle was filled.
“Are you really going to hike down?” Axel asked.
“Yes, when Dad and I talked last night, he expressed some concern about the outposts between the territories. So we decided it would make sense for me to check them along the way.”
“How long is that going to take?”.
“About a week. I will walk the border fences as I go, just to make sure all is well,” Jackson smiled.
“That’s really great of you, Jackson,” Axel smiled.
“It’s nothing. I mean, shouldn’t the future Beta take an interest in the pack’s security?” Jackson grinned.
“You’re right….” Axel said, thinking, “maybe I should go with you.”
“What?” Corrine and Jackson asked simultaneously.
Axel looked at them with confusion.
“I just mean, you’re right. You should take an interest, and I, as a future Alpha, should too.”
“That is true, but–“ Corrine began.
“Plus, it’ll give us some good brotherly bonding time,” Axel laughed, patting Jackson’s shoulder.
Jackson laughed awkwardly.
“Of course, but really you don’t need to do that,” Jackson stated. “You must have tons of work to do, and then there are your lessons….”
Corrine nodded in agreement, not wanting Axel to get closer to Jackson. But then she turned to look at Jackson with a question on her mind.
‘I know why I don’t want him to go, but why don’t you?’
“It’s only a week,” Axel laughed. “Besides, Father has wanted me to show initiative. I’m sure he will see the benefit in this plan.”
Jackson could only smile in answer.
“It’s settled. I will join you on the border tour,” Axel gave a broad, joyful smile. “I’m excited! Just give me fifteen minutes to get my stuff together, and we can head out.”
“Sounds great,” Jackson answered. “I will wait at the tree line.”
Jackson gave a final smile and a wave before turning to walk away.
‘Damnit!’ he cursed in his mind. ‘This complicates things.’
***
“Bell?” Selene called out as she entered Renee’s home.
She gasped when she saw the state of it.
“It’s shocking, right?” Bell said, coming out from the kitchen. “Worse in there.”
“What happened here?” Selene asked, stepping over a broken mirror.
“Don’t know for sure, but it seems like it was all done by Renee.”
“What?” Selene asked, looking around at the destruction. “Why would she do this?”
“Maybe she was lashing out? Maybe she was in pain? Maybe there was a really annoying and persistent fly that she just had to kill… I don’t know.”
“When did this all happen?” Selene asked, righting a table that had fallen over.
“Well, the last person to see her in a normal frame of mind was your mom the night before the full moon.”
“She did?”
“Yea, she was visiting you and ran into Corrine on her way out, proceeded to tattle on me though,” Bell said, her voice lilted into humor.
Selene recognized the coping mechanism. Bell was hoping to make the heaviness of the situation fade into the background of their conversation.
“Oh? And what juicy gossip did she have to share this time?” Selene asked.
“Well, she told Corrine that there was a man in my house,” Bell said with a dramatic southern drawl.
Selene laughed. “Was she right? Did you take Galen home with you? Oooh… naughty girl.”
She knew better than to suspect Bell had really done anything she was playfully implying. Bell was a flirt, but generally speaking, she was too closed off to allow for that level of intimacy.
“Actually, it was Alpha Alexander.”
Selene had been reaching down to pick up one of the pictures on the floor but found herself frozen in place.
“Yep, he came to visit, just him and me behind closed doors,” Bell said, watching Selene’s reaction. “It was a while too. The night just got away from us.”
Selene cleared her throat. Grabbing the discarded picture and placing it on the table.
“How did Galen feel about that?” Selene asked, trying, but failing, to hide the bitterness in her voice.
“I saw no reason to tell him. We’re all adults. We all make our choices,” Bell responded casually. “I chose to invite Alexander in that night.”
Selene clenched her jaw as she picked up a small ceramic figurine.
Bell could see the effect her words were having. She smiled to herself and decided to try one last poke.
“He’s such a strong, masculine type. On the other hand, I was surprised by how gentle he was.”
That was too much.
Selene growled deep and low as she gripped the figurine firmly, crushing it in her hand.
“Oh shit!” Bell shouted, running over to check Selene’s hand when she saw the drops of blood falling.
Selene pulled her hand away with a growl.
“Oh, knock it off!” Bell growled back. “You know damn well I was just pushing your buttons! Now give me your hand!”
Selene took a deep breath and submitted to Bell’s care. Sitting down on the floor to give her better access.
Once Bell had cleaned the wound, she found it wasn’t as bad as it looked. For now, the first aid kit she carried would be enough to take care of it. But she would still insist that Selene get it checked at the hospital when they finished up.
“Why’d you do that?” Selene asked quietly.
“Why’d you choose Jackson?” Bell countered.
Selene looked away. “He’s my mate.”
“That’s the line you keep spitting out. It’s losing its meaning.”
“Did you really have Alexander in your house?” Selene asked.
“Yes,” Bell replied. “He came to talk about me giving you blood after the wolfsbane.”
“Why?”
“Because he is a really good guy,” Bell replied firmly, quickly adding. “There’s also something hinky going on with the information being shared between the packs, but that’s not the point right now.”
“Wait, what?” Selene asked, sitting up.
“I said, that’s not the point right now!” Bell growled. “Why did you choose that lying, manipulative weasel over the guy who is so connected to you that his heart literally stopped when yours did?”
Selene’s eyes widened as the words crashed against her understanding.
“What… did you say?”
“You heard me,” Bell replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
“His heart stopped?” Selene asked with concern. “Was he ok? What happened?”
“If you care so much, why did you choose Jackson?” Bell asked.
Selene looked away. “I can care about another person without any meaning to it.”
“Not this person,” Bell sighed.
Bell sat down beside Selene, neither looking at the other.
“You can lie to almost anyone, and they won’t see it,” Bell said, turning to Selene with a smile. “Except me.”
“I’ve lied to you before….” Selene replied, looking down at her hand.
“And I saw it.”
Selene took a deep breath and pushed it out.
“Can’t you just tell me what happened to him without making a big deal out of it?” she asked with a sigh.
“His heart stopped. Just like yours, at the same time,” Bell stated flatly. “Galen was with him, did CPR, and forced a shift to help him heal.”
Selene took in a shuddering breath as Bell noticed a tear fall.
“He got sick before, too,” Bell added. “During the first attack, when you were hit with wolfsbane.”
Selene brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them. Then, placing her forehead against her thighs, she cried.
Bell reached a hand to Selene and rubbed her back gently.
“If it were the right choice, it wouldn’t hurt this much.”
Selene sobbed.
“I know,” she cried out.