If the way his expression changed, was any sign. He got off on my fear. I could see it in his eyes. "My sweet girl, we had a small fight. It caused no reason to end our relationship. I love you. You know that. Come with me and we can talk. We can work this out between us." James calmly replied as if what I said never registered. As if, he was a new person. His calmness caused me to become even more agitated and flinch at how he was now acting compared to not a minute ago.
Wes sensing my agitation stepped in front of me, blocking me from James' view. "Emily asked you to leave. I do not want to repeat what Emily has requested. If I see you around here again I will call the cops." If this were anyone else, a statement that should get him to leave, except James is unlike anyone else. That statement never deterred him. Shown in the way he stood his ground.
He stayed there for a few moments before pushing Wes aside. He located me and said in a deadly calm voice, which sent a chill running through my spine. "I will see you around beautiful." Then turned and left.
Wes watched him, making sure he got in his car and left before closing the door. Locking the door and turning. By the time he faced me, he saw how shaken I had become. 'Why can't he leave me alone?' Lost in my thoughts, Wes placed his hands on my shoulders, so light I did not notice them at first. His grip hardened, bringing me out of my thoughts.
I blinked up at him, forgetting he was there. Wes turned me around, led me away from the front door, into their second, smaller living room off to the side. I allowed him to escort me over to the couch where when my knees hit the edge, Wes guided me to sit. Once seated, Wes sat beside me, connecting with my leg, when he asked, "Emily, why did James come here? What has he done that has you so scared of him?"
I took a while to register him talking. When I did not respond, worry crept into his voice. "Emily. Emily?" I realised what he had asked I resigned myself to telling him the whole story. The story I tried to keep from coming out. Wes is the brother I believe my brothers could have been.
I told Wes the full story of James and me. How when we dated, the first few months I was reluctant with him leaving school and being older. The first year and a half were magical but at the halfway mark of the relationship, he changed.
It was not noticeable at first but by the last six months of the relationship, I became worried he would hurt me or do something to one of my friends. He was always complaining how I was never spending time with him and either with my friends or involved sports.
As I finished I looked up and noticed everyone in the room. Listening to what I had been saying. They arrived to see why we did not return. Wes stood up when Alix, Maddy, and Rachael walked towards me to comfort me. They sat beside me and held me but it was when Frank handed me a tissue I realised I had tears running along my face.
"Thank you." I somberly responded before I continued, "sorry for crying on your birthday Alix, tonight is supposed to be a fun, just the four of us. Thinking of him showing up here did not cross my mind. Let alone James knocking on the door." "Stop worrying; we achieved a minority of fun and more. What I don't understand is how you didn't tell us this was happening." Alix responded with a worry and sincerity that made me realise, this was now my family. Ten years on and I now realise I have brothers and sisters. I never realised that my friends were becoming my family until this moment.
"I wanted to protect you guys from him. When I told him his crazy mood and restrictions had been making me crazy, he threatened your selves. I never believed he become this merciless. Hoped he moved on after a month." Looking at my knees, I replied shamefully. More tears coming to the surface.
****
Unknown to them, James left only to return. James completed a block and returned to park in front of a different house. From across the street, he was now listening to everything said with a parabolic microphone. Talking unabated was adding fuel to the fire.
****
The men moved away from the doorway and were standing, kneeling or sitting, in front of us, when Wes began.
"Hey don't do that, don't look shameful." Started Wes when Justin added. "Yeh, you are our friend too and what you needed to say," "any of you girls need to say," chipped Brandon. Before Justin talked again, he shot a dirty look Brandon's way for interrupting, causing laughs from us girls. "You only need to say you need help and we will help where possible." Justin finished as Brandon extended on what he was saying. "We may tease and treat you girls as our annoying younger sister who we want to ditch," "Gee thanks for that." Interrupted Maddy, getting another laugh from everyone and lightening the mood more. "As I was saying," Brandon responded with a cheeky grin. "We may tease and treat you girls as our annoying younger sister who we want to ditch but we still care enough to do no matter what for you, girls."
"Thanks, guys, it's just when James got stalky and the police said they cannot do something, I got scared. I thought it better to keep it to myself to protect you where I can." I spoke up after letting everything said sink in.
"You know what, we'll cancel our plans. Stay the night with you, celebrate Alix's birthday and try to get the fun to come back." Wes said to his friends, but everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
The boys secured the house, got sleeping bags, pillows, rugs and set them up with the others, in the main living room. The pizza arrived as they had finished talking. Seven boxes worth. To the girls surprise, no pizza remained by the time everyone was asleep. They watched movies talked, told stories, secrets, laughed and by the time they fell asleep Emily was feeling better than she had the past few months. Sharing is the best thing if you are anxious or worried.
****
James listened and wrote any information that involved Emily or was important enough. He still found it hard to believe that she thought that. Even knowing that James could not believe she refused to come back to him. She could come either by herself or with help. Sooner the better.
After everyone in the house fell asleep, James waited around for another half hour then drove back to the den where he did not know his Alpha is waiting. It took thirty minutes before James reached the den gates, entered his code and then drove a further fifteen minutes to get to the housing.
These past few months Alpha Lucas Lakeson of the Lakeson pack, in southern Victoria, noticed the change in James and worried for his Theta. before this, Lucas had been considering promoting him to Beta. Until he discovered what is happening with him, he needed to put that out of his mind.
Lucas has been around enough rogue changes to be aware, that if a rogue bites you, you go through the transformation different. Four hundred years living saw to that. He wondered if James' behaviour had to do with his change. He dismissed this idea straight away though because in his pack were 23 werewolves who rogues had attacked. No, James' behaviour had something to do with him, individually.
When James pulled up and saw Lucas waiting for him, he realised the need to devise something good to hold his Alpha off questioning him. He hated when people questioned him. James hated it before becoming this thing. More now. His Alpha always wanted information on his activities and was the most annoying. He never understood why. He hated being a werewolf, hated everything that came with being a werewolf.
Lucas watched James sitting in the Jeep, putting things away while calming himself. Suspicion crept into his mind, wondering what he had put away.
When James exited the vehicle, it was with a bag which he swung over his left shoulder. This had Lucas even more suspicious. James walked to Lucas, wanting to know what he needed. He only wanted to go to bed. James wished he were not a Theta so he could challenge the Alpha. He knew he would die if he challenged the Alpha as a Theta. It is his strong belief Lucas is no longer a good Alpha. Not as he had been, and not as good as his father, Alpha Ryan Lakeson. That is according to the rumours. Truthfully, James did not care who was alpha. He did not care for Alpha Lucas, he did not know why.
"Alpha," James said as he bowed his head.
Lucas examined James before responding, "Do you realise that the time is after one thirty in the morning? I am unrestricted with when you leave. Under the assumption, you do not go days without prior authorisation. Can you please tell me what you did which required five days without being heard from or seen?" Lucas asked, always careful of how he spoke but anger sneaked into his voice. It is his understanding that James has a short temper. In addition, he did not want to wake anyone.
"Sorry Alpha" James started with sarcasm that Lucas did not miss, "I didn't realise it has been five days. I was checking up on my girlfriend. We had a fight. I have been smoothing things." James hoped it be enough for his Alpha. Leaving early in the morning, James only wanted to sleep.
"Thank you, James, for your explanation. Remember that this community functions when everyone does their job and you not being here for five days is unfair to everyone else. Understand?" Lucas asked trying to get through to James that he is still Alpha and that is a position that deserves respect.
