Page 98 of Confusing Hearts

“Jenna, are you hurt, baby?” The woman on the other end was clearly upset and crying.

“Why would you think I was hurt, Mother?”

“We heard the wolves had you, baby. Your daddy says they have you hostage and won’t let you come home. I spoke to Tessa earlier, and she admitted you weren’t with the other girls in Cabo. Your daddy’s going out of his mind trying to get you back safely.”

“Mother, listen to me. I am not hurt. I am not being held against my will. I’m free to come home or go wherever I want, anytime I want. You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Are they telling you to say that?”

“Of course not. Tell me what you think happened,” Jenna said, sounding far more patient than I ever could in this situation.

“They said you met a boy at school, a wolf. He became infatuated with you and took you off to his territory over spring break and plans to keep you. We’re so worried, baby.”

“Mother, listen closely.” Jenna’s voice became harsher now. “I did meet a boy at school. His name is Chase, and he’s my one true mate. Daddy knows this, because he’s threatening to kill Chase, take me home against my will, and has threatened war against all the wolves. I don’t expect you to understand, but this is my choice. My decision. No one else’s. I choose Chase, my true mate, Mother, and I love him.”

I heard the gasp and the sobs. I held Jenna close as she shook. The vibes flowing off her through our bond were angry ones. I could understand that. I hadn’t expected it, but I knew that if my family threatened her in any way I’d have the same reaction.

“You’re too young to understand what’s happening, Jenna. Maybe we shouldn’t have sheltered you so much, but a wolf cannot be your mate. It’s not possible.”

“It is actually, and if you and Daddy weren’t so racist, you’d understand that. We’ve already sealed our bond, Mother. To hurt Chase is the same as hurting me.”

“For a while, maybe, but it will get better in time. You’ll see. Your daddy knows what he’s doing to protect you, Jenna. Please don’t fight this.”

“Don’t fight it? Just come home. Let him kill my mate and all will be just fine? Do you even hear yourself?”

“The seer said this would happen,” she muttered under her breath.

“What? The seer said what would happen?” Jenna demanded.

“The seer said upon your birth that you and the pride would be the undoing of the panthers. You’re going to destroy us all. So, you see, this young man cannot be your mate, Jenna, because your true mate is a lion. We’ve always known this.”

Jenna became very calm. I expected her to be shocked, to cry, to freak out, but the eerie calm that washed through her scared me far more.

“You don’t know shit, Mother. Goodbye. I’ll see you on the battlefront.”

The woman was yelling for someone and crying hysterically as Jenna calmly hung up the phone.

She had a far off look in her eye when she spoke again. “Did you hear what she said—the part about me bringing destruction to the panthers?”

I nodded, but wasn’t sure she was actually seeing me. “Yes,” I said.

“It all makes so much sense now. They always treated me carefully, different from Tessa—like they were afraid to upset me, even though I never gave them any cause to worry. Never. It all comes back to some stupid prophecy a seer told them. I’m sorry it’s coming down to this, but if it’s a war he wants, it’s a war he’ll get. I’ll kill him, Chase. I’ll kill my father before I let him hurt you.”

The lethal tone in her voice would have scared the shit out of a full-blown Alpha, but it just made pride well up within me. My princess was ready to fight for us at all costs. I hated that there would likely be casualties. I hated that others had to go war for us, but when Kelsey had been threatened, the pack rallied behind her, and I had zero doubt they would for us, too. I had proudly fought for my brother and his mate, and I could not take that choice away from anyone else. If they chose to stand with Jenna and me, I would accept the help with gratitude.

Before we had a chance to discuss, my phone started ringing. I picked it up, more out of habit than anything, and saw Matt Williams’ face smiling back at me.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey man, so I just got a call from my dad and you know what he said?”

“Matt, I got some shit I’m dealing with here, can you either spit it out or I’ll call you back later.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much what he said, too. All big cats are being requested to stand with King Lockhardt in North Dakota this Saturday. You know why?”

I sat down, feeling a little deflated. “I know, or at least I had heard. He issued war against the wolves. We had a meeting about it a little while ago.”

“Aren’t the wolves already divided in war?” Matt asked. Jenna’s eyes were huge with questions, but I smiled trying to reassure her.

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