Chapter 26
Saturday 19th September, 2020 (Continued)
Star’s POV
“So you haven’t met your mate yet, I’m assuming?” I said, looking at Harper.
He grinned.
We were sitting huddled together on a bench near the grotto. Harper had given me his jacket. There were fairy lights strung in the trees overhead. Whoever decorated Chet’s family home needed a raise. There was beauty in every nook and
cranny and a great attention to detail. Even the bench we were sitting on had hummingbirds and flowers carved in the wood. I kept tracing the designs with my fingers.
“No,” he said. “I doubt one woman could tame me,” he added with a laugh.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
“You’d be surprised,” I said, smiling.
He smirked.
“What’s the real reason you hired me?” He asked.
Whoa. Harper’s perceptiveness could work against me in this case.
“To make Jonah and Noah jealous,” I said.
“I know you’re lying but it’s ok,” he said, shrugging.
“I do want to make them jealous though,” I reiterated.
“You do,” agreed Harper. “But that’s secondary, a bonus, so to speak. That can’t be the main reason.”
Harper looked away.
“You’re not a petty person. I can tell,” he murmured. “You wouldn’t go through all of this just to get even.”
He looked into my eyes.
I sighed.
“It’s ok. You don’t have to tell me,” he said, smiling.
“Ok,” I said softly.
“Should we practise kissing now?” Harper said nonchalantly.
I giggled.
“What?” I said.
I shook my head. He tried to tickle me but I got up, pulling him with me.
“No kissing,” I said. That was a rule!
He was much taller than I was. He leant towards me. I gasped. His nose brushed against mine.
“Do you think Jonah tells Angie no kissing because he has a mate,” he breathed.
I could feel his breath on my face. He was right. Jonah didn’t put limits on Angie. I blinked back tears.
“Hey!” He said. “Hey, don’t cry,” he cooed.
He cupped my face in his hands and wiped my tears with his thumbs.
“Shhh, Movie Star,” he said. “Let’s see that smile!”
I sniffled but I smiled. That nickname was so corny! It was growing on me though.
“Ok, ready for your close-up?!” Asked Harper.
I knew he was asking me if I was ready to go back inside and face everyone again. I nodded.
“Lights, camera, action!” He said as he pulled me inside. I giggled.
The music was even louder than I remembered. Jillian ran to me.
“Star! You missed it!” She exclaimed. Chet was behind her, looking annoyed.
“Zaya came and shoved Jonah! They almost fought! Noah broke it up and the three of them and Angie went off somewhere,” she said.
Angie. I sighed.
“What did they fight about?” I asked.
“You!” Snapped Chet, glaring down at me.
“HEY!” Said Jillian. “Watch your tone with my best friend!”
Chet winced. He opened his mouth to argue but Jillian launched into a lecture.
“You never snap at Jonah when he makes Star cry over his relationship with Angie! So why are you coming at Star over her friendship with Harper?” Said Jillian, folding her arms.
“Friendship?!” Sneered Chet.
Jillian glared at him.
Chet sighed.
“Sorry, Star,” said Chet.
Harper rolled his eyes at Chet’s apology.
I smiled at Chet. I was a little upset that he was so quick to argue with me. He hadn’t had this much energy when I was crying my eyes out over Jonah and Angie but then again, he was the Quads’ best friend not mine.
“I think we should go,” I mumbled to Harper.
“No, stay!” Whined Jillian.
I shook my head. “Sorry, Jillian,” I said. I gave her a quick hug.
Harper held out his hand to me. I took Harper’s hand. I glanced back at Jillian who was glaring at Chet with her hands on her h**s. He looked apologetic.
Harper opened the car door for me outside. I kept expecting to run into one of the Quads. I hadn’t even seen Eli tonight. Had he showed up?
“Chet is a stupid name,” said Harper as we got into his car.
For some reason, that made me crack up laughing. I kept laughing as we drove off.
“What?” Laughed Harper. “It is!”
I giggled.
“Is Jonah a stupid name?” I asked, curious to hear his opinions.
“No! Jonah is a stupid guy!” Said Harper.
I chuckled.
“Angie is you know technically pretty but that’s about it,” said Harper. “You’re actually beautiful inside and out.”
“You don’t have to say stuff like that,” I said.
“I know,” he said.
I smiled.
“Your mate, whoever she is, she’s one lucky girl!” I said, smiling at Harper.
Harper winked at me.
Eli’s POV
I didn’t go to Chet’s party. I hoped he and my brothers wouldn’t be too annoyed with me. I had something way more important to take care of so I went home to see Dad.
“Eli!” he exclaimed as I walked into his study.
“Honey!” Shrieked my Mom. She had been sitting on Dad’s desk.
She launched herself at me.
“Mom!” I said, chuckling as she began fussing over me, fixing my hair and adjusting and smoothing my blazer.
“What’re you doing here, Honey?!” Said Mom.
“I came to talk to Dad about something,” I said.
“What’s wrong?” Mom asked.
“What’s wrong, Son?” Asked Dad.
“I…um…” I said.
“I’ll give you two a minute,” my Mom said kindly. She kissed my forehead. I smiled gratefully at her. She left the room. “I’ll bring back some snacks in a while,” she called.
I went to sit in the chair in front of Dad’s desk.
“How’s school?” Asked Dad.
“Good,” I said.
“And your mate?” Dad asked.
I sighed. “Dad…the Witch Luna Jamie…she’s helping us. She might really be able to break the curse! She tapped into Georgianna’s mind or whatever and figured out what Georgianna might want…for her and Alpha Alto’s bodies to be laid to rest together!”
“I know,” said my Dad, nodding. “Jonah told me. Zaya called me too. I have the pack historian trying to locate Alto’s body.”
“Yeah. Well, when Georgianna came, her spirit made Star fly across the room. I was so scared Dad. I froze. I couldn’t do anything to help Star in the moment and…that’s not good enough. What kind of Alpha will I make if I can’t protect my own mate? If I freeze when I’m supposed to react?” I said, shaking.
Dad sighed. “Eli, you’re only eighteen. You won’t be an amazing alpha on the very day you take up the post. You’ll become one as you keep training. The fact that you have awareness about you is a good sign that you have what it takes,” said Dad, smiling.
I smiled too. “Thanks, but I still want to be better now!” I said.
“What do you have in mind?” Dad asked.
“I wanna up my training. It was just a chore for us growing up and I didn’t take it seriously and always goofed off. I want to be serious about it. Starting now. I want to do extra training with the pack warriors. Sparing,” I explained.
My Dad leant back in his chair. He seemed surprised.
“The luxury of modern life and peaceful times have made werewolves soft. Alphas used to train with the pack warriors as a rule. That’s a great idea,” said Dad.
I smiled. “So you’ll allow it!”
Dad nodded. I rushed to hug him.
“Just so you know the pack warriors won’t go easy on you just because you’re their future alpha! Quite the opposite actually!” Said Dad.