Page 8 of Twisted Destiny

“I’m confused. I thought most people were happy when they met their mate.” Jackson eyed her up as if she’d just lost her damn mind.

“Well, lucky for me, I’m not most people, and I’m most definitely not in the market for a mate. You should probably be on your way.” Hayley turned to head back into the house. Whatever Jackson had wanted or hoped for when he met her, he would be sorely disappointed in what he found. Hayley didn’t want to be part of the pack, let alone mated to one of its members.

6

“Wait!” Jackson stammered, wondering how the hell he was going to work his way into Hayley’s good graces. This was definitely not the way he had planned to spend his day. After the tip about a potential job from Cam, he drove out to Henry’s cabin to see what kind of work it needed. He never once expected to find a sexier-than-hell Hayley. He most assuredly did not expect to find that Hayley was his mate.

Mind fucking blown.

The second her scent drifted into his nostrils and filtered into his brain, his world turned upside down. What had started as a typical shitty day turned into a dream come true. It didn’t matter how much attitude she gave him. She was his destiny.

“What?” She turned and asked with a hand on her hip.

“Tell me about the place. What kind of work needs to be done?” He spouted off the first words that had popped into his brain, wanting to keep her engaged.

“I really don’t know what all needs to be done, to be honest. It’s dated but in decent shape. I want to update a few things as quickly as possible.”

“So, you can get it on the market?”

“Exactly,” Hayley replied before opening the door and inviting him inside. “Have a look around. Everything seems solid, just horribly outdated. Calder mentioned something about the roof and the windows, along with the outlets,” she explained.

“Wow! I don’t know what I expected, but this wasn’t it. I’ve never been in here before. I wouldn’t have thought old Henry was such a tidy guy.” Jackson was impressed with the cleanliness of the place and with the fact that it was filled floor to rafter with old crap like some of the other places he’d seen around the territory. This cabin, if you wanted to call it that, was well-maintained and in great condition. Henry had clearly taken care of it and seen to many of its updates, including the large addition to the back of the house.

“I see Calder’s concern about the windows. They will definitely need to be replaced. I’ll have to get up on the roof to check it out,” Jackson said as he continued to look around the cabin. “Anything else you can tell me about this place?”

“Not really. I’ve never been in here before now. Or if I have, I certainly don’t remember it. I’ve been gone from the pack for a long time.”

“What made you leave? If you don’t mind me asking.

“Seriously? You have to remember what Griffin put this pack through. He killed my family. I barely escaped with my life. The only reason I’m even here right now is because a very good friend of mine promised the new Alpha was nothing like Griffin.” Anger and hurt dripped from Hayley’s voice.

“I remember. It wasn’t a good time for the pack.”

“Wasn’t a good time? You make it sound like we’re talking about rolling in the hay or going to dinner. He killed my family. Yeah, I’d say it wasn’t a good time.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Of course, I know Griffin was a piece of shit. He was to everyone—even those in his inner circle. I didn’t mean to sound like a jackass. I’m sorry if I came off that way. It’s just…the pack has really changed since Griffin was taken down. It’s nothing like it used to be. I wouldn’t still be here if it was. Whoever the friend is that told you Calder is nothing like Griffin is absolutely correct.” Jackson scrambled to explain his thoughts. Jesus Christ! What the hell was wrong with him? Being able to articulate his thoughts was a skill he normally excelled at. Clearly, in Hayley’s presence, it wasn’t the case. He mumbled like a fucking idiot instead.

Jackson stared at the floor, unable to look Hayley in the eye. He knew he had handled things poorly, and the last thing he wanted to do was make matters worse. Taking a deep breath, he finally met her gaze.

“I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean to minimize what happened or your experience. I know how horrific it must have been witnessing Griffin's brutality firsthand. All I can say is that Calder is not like him—not at all—and that's why our pack has been able to heal and move on without fear of violence or retribution from our Alpha." He spoke sincerely, hoping she'd believe him and trust his words.

The tension between them eased as Hayley softened slightly. She offered a slight nod before speaking again. "Thanks for understanding," she said quietly, her voice carrying a hint of gratitude. "I know it must be strange—me coming back after all this time."

Jackson shook his head adamantly. "No, not at all," he replied reassuringly. "You are part of this pack, and you're always welcome here, no matter how much time has passed." His own words shocked him. He hadn't expected them to come out so easily or sound so genuine.

Hayley smiled at him, and some of the ice between them melted further still. She seemed relieved by his answer and less guarded than before, although she still kept her distance physically—a sign that she wasn't ready to let her guard down just yet, despite Jackson's effort to reassure her.

He respected that. It would take time for trust between them to be fully restored if it ever could be after everything, they'd both been through hell during Griffin's reign over the pack. However, one thing was certain: as long as Jackson was an active member of this pack, Hayley would never have to worry about being mistreated again due to her identity or past experiences with the former Alpha.

Hayley's smile was gentle, but her eyes still held a glimmer of fear as if she were worried that the happiness she felt would be fleeting. He stared into her gaze, attempting to read into her expression—an unreadable mask concealing the emotions she kept hidden inside. It would take time for her to open up to him and even longer for her to feel safe in her environment.

Jackson knew that in order for Hayley to truly feel comfortable within the pack, she had to build relationships with the other members and become a part of the social circle. He thought that attending a barbeque at Daisy and Calder's would be the perfect opportunity for her to start reconnecting with everyone.

He cleared his throat before speaking. "Hey, why don't we head over to Daisy and Calder's? They're having a barbeque, and everyone will be there," he suggested, hoping Hayley would agree.

"Umm. Do you really think that's a good idea? I won't know anyone there, and I really don't want to cause any problems within the pack," she said, twisting one of her long curls around her finger.

"I promise you, there will be no problems. Besides, you should probably see how much the pack has changed under Calder before you put this place on the market.

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