Page 52 of My Forbidden Alpha

Through the Woods

Jessica

Ismile watching Elijah and Scarlett dancing; it warms my heart to see them getting on. Scarlett has always been very moody which only made the other two always exclude her. However, seeing this makes me hope that our family will continue to grow stronger and closer.

Elijah has never fully accepted me and I respected his wish, and never tried to replace his mother, but I always hoped he’d build a relationship with the girls. He instantly hit it off with Indigo, and I remember when Jackson and I first married, he even began taking her to get sweets and would play with her.

I lean my head on Jackson’s shoulder and smile up at him. “Look at them, they’re finally getting on,” I say happily.

Jackson nods in approval. “I’m glad to see they are. I guess Elijah has matured more than I thought,” he chuckles, caressing my hair and kissing my forehead gently. Although there is no mate bond between us, we love one another dearly.

Our eyes meet and I wrap my arms around him. The mate bond is not there, nor can we mark one another since I am still marked by my fated mate, who is very much alive. That helplessness one feels when their mate is not around issomething we don’t have between us. Yes, I miss him when he’s away, but our love is strong.

When life was bleak and I just wanted my girls to be safe, I somehow found a second chance at life and love. A relationship that is so much more than what I had with my fated mate.

I watch as Elijah spins Scarlett around and I smile fondly. “He is going to make an amazing alpha,” I muse.

“Let’s just hope he finds his mate soon; an alpha needs his luna,” Jackson says seriously. I nod in agreement as Aunty Amelia chuckles.

“Well, I’m sure whoever she is, she will give him a run for his money,” she says dryly. I step away from Jackson, smiling at the woman who is seated, sipping a glass of freshly squeezed juice as she observes Elijah.

“And I’m sure you aren’t about to elaborate on what you mean by that,” Jackson says, not glancing at the elder woman.

I don’t know what his issue is with her, but as much as I love Aunt Amelia, I am not brave enough to question him. Not when his cold behaviour towards her at times scares me. I wish I knew the reason, because he does listen to her at times as well. It’s confusing.

“Well, if you’re a fool who can’t understand anything, I am not here to spoon-feed you,” Amelia replies grumpily, turning her back on us slightly.

I place my hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze.

“Jessica.” I flinch when Jackson calls me, my stomach churning as bile rises in my throat.

“Yes?” I ask, masking the fear that is seeping through me.

“Did the Jacobs say why they couldn’t make it?” he asks, a flicker of concern in his eyes and I relax. He isn’t angry at me, he was just calling me.

“No, I mean Angela and Haru are both here, but not theirparents,” I reply.

Jackson nods, “That’s the second pack event they haven’t come to, well celebration. Pay them a visit when you have a chance, just make sure everything is alright,” he replies thoughtfully.

“I will,” I promise. He smiles at me, planting a kiss on my forehead.Are you alright? You look a little pale,he adds through the mind-link.

I’m fine. Really,I answer. He’s always so attentive. He knows about our past, knows how deep my trauma runs, and he is so patient with me.

Good,he answers before he’s called away by Nick.

Well, I better start telling everyone to start eating! I’ll check with the omegas to make sure the food is all ready to go. Smiling, I make my way through the crowds, once again feeling relaxed as I listen to the music.

Scarlett

I stay quietas I follow Indigo through the forest. Not sure why, but my instincts are telling me to keep following her. Several times she stops to make sure she’s not being followed, but she hasn’t gotten her wolf, so she won’t even be able to sense me. But still I continue to be as discreet as possible, just in case. Wearing heels isn’t helping right now, but I manage alright as I step over a fallen branch trying not to crunch anything beneath my feet.

After several minutes, the sound of music has already faded, and the only thing we can hear, aside from the rustling of the wind in the trees, is the insects and small animals in the wilderness around us. Sounds that are loud in the silence.

She’s heading towards town… I can’t even make sense of where she might be headed. I would assume somewhere she shouldn’t be, like a club, but that makes no sense. It’s Elijah’s Welcoming Home Party, something she’s been going on about for months. I don’t think she’d miss that to sneak to a club or something.

And she’s alone. What’s the fun of clubbing alone? But there’s no denying she’s leaving pack territory, and she doesn’t want anyone to spot her, continuing to pause as she checks if anyone is nearby.

My stomach twists. The Monster’s men might be out there and what if something happens to her? Or they take her? She looks so much like Mama she would easily be recognised. The very thought makes me nauseous.

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