Page 96 of Confusing Hearts

I nodded. “If you want to, or I can just send these in an email when I’m done.”

“No, princess, that’s great. I’d love to spend a few more days home, but I knew initially you weren’t comfortable coming, so I would never have asked.”

“I know. It’s just not what I expected. I don’t really know what I thought it’d be like, but I didn’t expect it to feel more like home than, well, home.” The thought saddened me, but it was the truth. “Anyway, if you’re sure, I’m fine with staying a few more days, the rest of the week, whatever you want.”

I could feel his joy through our bond. It was so intense, but it made me happy, too.

“Do you think I could plug my laptop into the TV in the living room and show Kelsey and Maddie some of the pics I took? I got some great ones of Oscar, too, and of both the boys together.”

“Yeah, grab your stuff and come on.”

Chase hooked my laptop up to the big screen television and called Kelsey and Maddie in while I set up. Instead of just the two moms, I got the entire family. I didn’t mind. I was confident in my work and felt empowered by their support.

Once everyone was settled, I started scrolling through the pictures. There were lots of “oohs” and “aahs.” Every now and then someone would ask me to stop and make note of a picture. I reminded them I still needed to do some touch-ups, but they seemed to love the raw photos I had taken.

As suspected, Mary requested copies of the ones I had taken of both the boys. And when I got to the rocking chair pictures with Kelsey, they were so precious that she and Maddie were both in tears.

“They’re really beautiful, Jenna. Chase is right, you have remarkable talent,” Jason told me.

I blushed furiously. I think the fact it came from him, Chase’s dad of all people, is what pushed me over the edge. I excused myself and rushed from the room as the tears started to fall. How many times had I wished my own father could see me like that?

“She’s okay,” I heard Chase tell them. “I’ve told her a thousand times how amazing her pictures are. Our professor raves over them every week, always using her stuff in class, but until this semester, I don’t think anyone has ever appreciated her talent, especially not her dad. She’s just a little overwhelmed right now by the praise, but I know she appreciates it.”

I loved my mate. Truly loved him with all my heart, but I especially loved how he got me even on the things I never meant to share. I let myself have a good cry even if I felt stupid for it. It was like mourning something you never had to begin with.

I fell asleep before Chase came to bed, but it was a restless sleep until he lay in bed next to me, his arms around me, and I could hear his heart beating beneath my ear. Then, and only then, did I allow myself to truly rest peacefully.

Chase

Chapter 27

My parents were thrilled that Jenna and I had changed our minds and decided to stay longer. Life seemed to be moving in the right direction. I felt on top of the world and could clearly see our future planned out before us. It was wonderful . . . and then it wasn’t.

On Thursday morning, Kyle called me down to his office. I had never seen him look so stressed before. The Betas and the entire Pack Council were there, but also present were two members of the Grand Council.

The Grand Council oversaw, and sort of governed, all packs. They weren’t supposed to be affiliated with any one specific pack, but we all knew they each had their favorites. It wasn’t a perfect system. We were all human, after all; okay, well, half human at least.

Being the youngest of the family I had never been invited to even a Pack Council meeting, let alone one that included Grand Council members. I couldn’t fathom what they’d want from me.

“Chase, have a seat,” Kyle said when I walked in to the room. To say I was nervous was an understatement. These men intimidated the crap out of me and made me feel like a small child again.

“Something’s come up,” Patrick told me.

I bit back my need to sarcastically reply, “Because, duh, why else would they have asked me to sit in on this meeting?”

“There’s really no easy way of saying this,” Kyle started. “King Lockhardt has gotten word of your mating to Jenna. He has declared war against the wolves and is rallying the big cats to battle. We’ve been given warning. They are coming for us and, I quote, ‘Humbly request a neutral battle ground.’ The battle is to take place in the badlands this Saturday. It gives us very little time to get our own resources together. I think he’s underestimated the size of Westin Pack and the wolf alliance.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. I knew Kyle had been concerned about this very thing. Neither Jenna nor I thought for a second her father would go through with it, though. I knew it was going to hurt my mate when I told her. As this reality sunk in, my wolf stirred in fury and I growled.

“Keep it cool, brother,” Kyle warned. I could feel his Alpha power pressing down on me, trying to control me, and it only pissed me off more. I stubbornly wanted to fight against him, even knowing I shouldn’t. I forced myself to calm down.

“What’s our plan?” I asked when I felt safe to speak again.

Cedric, one of the Grand Council members, spoke up. “He notified the Grand Council directly, Chase. I’m not going to even bother trying to lecture you on the dangers or mating outside our kind. I can’t even comprehend how you managed to convince Jenna Lockhardt, Princess of the panthers, to bond with you, but what’s done is done and we have to deal with the threat at hand.”

I shrugged. “It was simple. She’s my one true mate.”

Whispers of disbelief went around the room, but I ignored them.

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