Chapter 30
Chapter 30
I Will Claim What’s Mine
The journey home had been quiet but not too bad, Elijah was able to make her smile a few times but he could tell she was stressed and restless. She kept touching her neck too and although he asked her if the pain was getting worse, she’d simply shake her head. He did place a few kisses on her neck though whenever he got the chance and although she did not admit it, she appreciated his efforts.
They had now pulled up outside the mansion, both looked at each other.
“Be careful… they can’t know about us…” She whispered, Elijah frowned.
“Scarlett I’m serious about you-”
“We’re not doing this right now… Please, I don’t need any more negativity around here than I already get.” She said. Elijah sighed.
“Fine.” He said, thinking for now… She adjusted her shawl, making sure her neck was fully covered.
They’d just about got out of the car when the mansion doors were thrown open and Jessica ran out. She ran straight to Scarlett flinging her arms around her daughter and almost knocking her into the car.
“Scarlett! Oh, thank God you’re ok. I was so scared, I’ve been feeling so restless, are you really ok? By the Goddess I was terrified!” She asked checking Scarlett’s hands and face, just the way she used to as a child. The simple move made Scarlett’s eyes fill with tears, if only her mother knew her father had once again hurt her…
Jessica stopped her rambling when she saw the tears in Scarlett’s eyes. Her face paling as she cupped her daughter’s face, fear filling her like an unwanted poison. Was Scarlett ok?
Scarlett glanced at her mother, her eyes caught something on her neck. Realising that a new mark had replaced her fathers. Jackson’s…
“Elijah, what happened to her?” Jessica asked, looking at Scarlett whose eyes were glazed lost in thought. Elijah came around about to say something just as Jackson and Indigo hurried over, Jackson pulled them both into his arms tightly.
“Finally! You’re both back, Jessica was so worried.” He said. “And so was I.”
“Elijah!” Indigo said, wrapping her arms around his waist the moment Jackson let go of him. He ruffled her hair giving her a tight hug back, his eyes on Scarlett – she was pale.
“We need to talk.” Elijah said, he placed a hand on Scarlett’s back making her stomach flutter but she jerked away from his touch.
“What is it?” Jackson asked now serious, concern clear on his face.
“Let’s go inside…” Elijah said. Scarlett was the first to turn away and walk off inside.
Jackson and Jessica exchanged looks before following Elijah inside.
“Indigo, you should go to Daniel’s.” Jessica said, clearly telling her she should leave the house.
“I’m not a kid…” She grumbled but a warning look from her mother had her sigh and walk off.
—–
They were now seated in Jackson’s office, Scarlett sat on the couch to the side in the room, next to her was Jessica. Elijah leaned against Jackson’s desk, whilst his father sat in his chair.
“So, what is it?” He asked curtly, looking at Elijah and then at Scarlett, who was worrying him with her silence.
“Speak honey.” Jessica said to Scarlett, she turned her gorgeous eyes towards Elijah who fought the urge to cross the room and pull her into his arms.
“First of all, you need to keep your cool. Both of you. We don’t need any extra shit right now.” Elijah said then mind linked his father – ‘You felt her pack link break’.
Jackson frowned, disturbed by the news, but simply nodded.
“We will be calm…” He said looking at Jessica, now that they had marked each other their bond was stronger than ever, albeit not as strong as one would have with their true mate. She nodded at him, her eyes dipping to his high collared shirt. He had wanted to tell Elijah they had marked each other himself when the time was right, concerned his son might not be pleased. She too wore a high-necked dress, unless you looked closely you wouldn’t see the fresh mark. She just hoped he was ok with it, after all, he never had too much of an issue with her.
“The day I returned to town, remember the apparent rogue attack?” Elijah began.
“Yes…” Jackson said all eyes now on Elijah, who kept his eyes locked on Scarlett’s, wishing he could have mind linked her to make sure she was ok.
“Well, it wasn’t rogues. Zidane of the Desert Storm Pack had sent men to find Scarlett.”
Jessica gasped covering her mouth, her face paling. Hearing that name always made her feel sick, anxious and scared. She didn’t like where this was headed.
“H-he knows we’re alive?” She whispered, she had their deaths faked and hadn’t even changed the girl’s names or anything not wanting him to learn of their existence. But the mark vanishing… and now this… there was something big she was missing.
“He knows and he was close to finding our location.” Elijah continued. Scarlett took a deep breath.
“Let’s just cut to it. I didn’t want to bother you, knowing with the mate bond still there he would have a hold on you… So I decided to pay him a visit. Elijah was adamant to come along and then… Well we all know what he’s like. He’s still the deranged bastard he’s always been.” She said not daring to look at Jackson, she could sense his anger and the fear from her mother. “Mama… chill out. He can’t do anything to you… You’re no longer tied to him…”
“What happened? Why did the mark disappear from Jessica’s neck?” Jackson said, his eyes flashing dangerously knowing they hadn’t told them the main part.
“Because… He somehow knew of my abilities… Those we’ve been trying to hide…” Scarlett said, she didn’t need to mention her healing, the rest Jackson and Jessica both knew off. “And he thought I’d make a fine weapon, so he marked me.”
Jackson paled and Jessica gasped as Scarlett removed her shawl, turning her head so they could see the horrifying mark. The tattoo-like wolf with a scar in the centre surrounded by a web of black veins that looked as if they were moving.
“No!” Jessica shouted jumping to her feet, her eyes turning a dark shade of violet as her wolf began surfacing. “How dare he! That sick bastard, how could he mark his own daughter!”
“Mom… calm down.” Scarlett said her voice emotionless, Jackson walked over wrapping his arms around Scarlett knowing despite her cold demeanour she was going through a lot.
“This was reckless of you Elijah; I haven’t handed you the position of Alpha for you to go making these decisions. You should have taken care of her.” He said coldly to his son, stroking Scarlett’s hair. She felt guilty, she wanted Jackson as a father and she wanted Elijah too. Was it so unfair to have both?
He and Jessica were marked now, which meant they could actually have kids together. She felt sick at the thought of sharing a sibling with Elijah. She closed her eyes pushing the thoughts out of her head,
pulling away from Jackson.
“I don’t need to answer to you… I know I fucking failed…” Elijah said looking away, feeling guilt and pain at the fact he hadn’t been able to protect her from Zidane. It was one move he had never thought he’d do – Mark her.
“You shouldn’t say anything to him, he did enough… I wouldn’t be here if he didn’t get me out of there.” Scarlett said, she didn’t like Jackson blaming him. Taking a deep breath, she stood up walking over to the window, Elijah tried not to look at her ass as she sashayed passed, her dress barely covered much of her sexy thighs.
He looked away, now was not the time to be checking her out. She turned towards them, the sun hitting her head and making the strawberry blond look even lighter whilst the flaming red tips looked more vivid than ever.
“You all know of my odd ability to slow down a werewolf’s healing, and the size of my wolf. I don’t know how but I am an Alpha wolf and it’s my job to protect my pack from Zidane… So I’m just letting you know, cursed mark or not, I’m not going to sit around and cry – I’m going to find a way to end his reign and take over The Desert Storm Pack.”
“A female cannot be an Alpha.” Jessica said terrified at the thought of losing her daughter to the monster. “Scarlett, you don’t know how crazy he is.”
She approached her daughter cupping her face, wishing the mark was back on her neck and not on her precious daughters. Scarlett looked at her, giving her a bitter smile.
“I know mama, I know he is.” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
“No, you don’t! Don’t you get it, he can hurt you! Have you seen these scars?!” Jessica said hysterically, pulling up the sleeve of her dress. Scarlett looked at her.
“I know how deranged he is, trust me.” She said quietly looking at her mothers scarred arms.
“You don’t! Scarlett I am your mother, from this day on you need to hide away from him. He cannot find you, you don’t understand-!”
“Mom! I know! I know how sick he is! I am not going to hide though, I’m not changing my mind!” Scarlett snapped, her eyes flashing silver. Her Alpha aura rolled off her in waves making Jessica flinch. But still, she looked at her daughter with sadness and determination. She knew her daughter had powers that only an Alpha would and more, but she only wanted her to find her mate and be happy and safe.
“Scarlett you were lucky enough to not have suffered like-”
Scarlett closed her eyes, she didn’t want to tell her mother the truth but it did hurt when she assumed she had had it easy.
“My words are final!” She growled, making even Jackson feel the strong Alpha command in her voice. Elijah looked at her, wishing he could comfort her but right now he knew she needed to handle this herself. She stormed to the door having had enough when her mother spoke again.
“But that mark, what if he tries to control you?” Jessica whispered, now clinging to Jackson. Scarlett turned a cold smirk on her face.
“I’d like to see him try, I may not have a dick but I’m a fucking king.” She said, her eyes flashing a brilliant silver and leaving the three in the office speechless…