The Soldier's Begining

08 Moving Forward

Jessica POV

It’s been months since everything went down. The rejection, my coma, and Ryan getting the beating of a lifetime. The good thing is Ryan doesn’t come near me anymore, in fact once he sees me coming he turns and walks away. No one in school has the guts to even come near me anymore. Part of it is they got to see what happens when you piss off an Alpha by messing with his family. The other part is that my behavior has completely changed. I’ve become very cold and violent at the drop of a hat. Everyone including me discovered that I have less control over my emotions and reactions. The discovery was made when one of my classmates decided it would be fun to poke fun at the fact that I was rejected in front of the whole school. I got sent home early for breaking her nose and dislocating her shoulder. Now everyone scurries away when I glare at them.

I haven’t changed much at home, I’m still the same person I’ve always been. It’s just now my smiles and laughs have a bit of a sad undertone. I know everyone has noticed but they won’t say anything. My family wants me to talk about things when I’m ready to. The thing is I don’t think I ever will be. I keep everything inside until I go to bed at night, I cry till I fall asleep, then I get up and do it all over again. The weekends are really the only time I feel like myself since I don’t have to go to school and training really helps release some of my pent up emotion. Though my Dad says he’s worried that I’m overdoing things, since after morning training is finished I’ll stay at the grounds for another couple hours.

Now with only two months till graduation everyone has been pressuring me to think about what I want to do after school. The problem is I don’t know, right now I think the only option I have is to run the ranch with Dad and Jamie and be a pack warrior. The only problem with that is I don’t want to do that. I want to do more, I want to be able to help more people than just my pack. There is just something in my gut telling me I’m meant for more.

Dad and I had that conversation again this morning. He told me that as much as he would love to have his baby girl close by, he can’t help but know that I would be unhappy. He believes that I need to get away from everything for a while. I wracking my brain trying to think of something that I wanted to pursue after graduation history class finally helped me figure it out. Today’s class consisted of some retired soldiers talking about their experiences in the wars that they fought. For the first time I sat up straight in my chair and paid very close attention especially when the retired Marine was speaking.

It felt like a light bulb turned on in my head and I stayed after the bell rang so I could talk with the soldiers. I asked how to enlist and asked about a million questions. The gentlemen smiled and answered every question I had. It got to the point that the teacher had to shoo me out of the classroom. I felt so determined that during my free period I researched when the closest recruiting office was.

Not wanting anyone to try and talk me out of it I asked Nico to take Jace home for me and headed straight to the recruitment office and enlisted. I was given all the information that I needed as well as where to report for training after I finished high school. Feeling like I was on top of the world I got in my car and drove home. The second I walked in the door I was met with a very worried family.

“Jessica, where have you been? Are you alright baby?”

“I’m fine Mom. I finally figured out what I want to do after graduation.” I handed her the paperwork I was holding.

Mom took one look at it and started crying. Dad came over and took the papers from her, he looked them over then looked at me.

“You’re thinking of joining the Marines?” He seemed a bit upset, which I expected.

“Not thinking Papi, I enlisted after school.”

“YOU WHAT!?” Dad’s face got very red. He rarely ever got angry with me. “Did you even think to discuss this with us?”

“I knew you would try to talk me out of it.”

At this point my mother was inconsolable and Jamie led her into another room.

“Hija, I understand you’re going through a rough time right now but I don’t think running off and trying to get yourself killed is the answer.”

“I’m not running anywhere. Joining the military is no different than being a pack warrior. The chances of being killed by a rogue are just as high.”

“Rogues don’t use guns!” Nico who had been quietly listening in the background shouted.

“And if they did you wouldn’t be yelling!” I yelled back.

“It doesn’t matter whether rogues carry guns or not I’m not ok with you running off and throwing your life away.”

“Papi, you're the one that told me I should find something I’m interested in and get away for a while.”

“Yes, I did say that but I didn’t mean to throw yourself into danger!”

“Being a werewolf is dangerous! Going to war with another pack is no different than going to war in the human world!”

“No, I can't accept that. No daughter of mine is running away to get herself killed.”

“Of course it’s because I’m your daughter. If Jace or Jamie wanted to join the military you would have no problem at all. Well I hate to break it to you Dad, I’m 18 and can do what I want.”

I saw the look of hurt on his face when I called him Dad. He’s been my Papi ever since I could talk but I was angry. I grabbed the papers from my Dad and stormed out the door to my car. I drove off of the territory and to a spot that overlooked the city. I got out of my car and sat on my hood. I just sat there and cried. I truly thought my family would be supportive of my decision, boy was I wrong. I felt bad about the things I said, I especially felt bad about shouting at my Dad.

I just sat on the hood of my car thinking about everything and how I could convince my family that this was a good thing for me. My head was such a mess right now and as the sun started to dip I thought I should head back. As I started my car I thought about how I shouted at my Dad and the hurt look on his face. I didn’t think he would want to see my face for a while so I went to the nearest gas station and grabbed something to eat.

There was a 24 hour rest stop not far from town so I pulled in there and ate the greasy gross food I had bought. Once I finished I locked my doors and crawled into my back seat and laid down. I didn’t have anything to make myself comfortable with, I didn’t even keep a blanket in my car. Summer hadn’t fully settled in yet so nights this time of year got cold. I pulled my arms close to me and rolled so I was facing the seat, using it for warmth. I began to cry when I felt the all too familiar tingle of someone trying to link me. I let down my block just to see what whoever it was wanted.

Jess, thank God! Where have you been? Jamie sounded upset.

Nowhere really.

Where are you now?

Why?

What do you mean why? Everyone has been worried sick. Nico sent out I don’t know how many patrols, looking for you.

Well I’m alive and I’m fine, so he doesn’t have to search anymore.

I heard him sigh. Jess, will you please come home?

I sat there and silently cried. I couldn’t go home. I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Dad was pretty angry when I left and I said some things I shouldn’t have. It might be best for me to stay away for a little while.

Jess Dad’s not angry anymore. He’s really worried about you and if you’re so worried about the things you said come home and apologize.

I don’t think I can show my face right now. It’s best I stay away right now.

Jess, tell me where you are.

Have a good night Jamie. I cut our link and cried into my seat.

I snuggled further into my seat and shivered until I finally was tired enough to sleep. It was a very restless sleep. My body stayed on high alert the entire time since I was so exposed. I did finally fall into a dream state, I don’t remember much about the dream but there was this incessant pounding. A rather loud sound startled me awake, it was my car window breaking. I quickly sat up trying to figure out how to fight in this small space when I saw an arm reach into my car and unlock the door. It wasn’t long before the back door opened and I saw Harrison’s face. He drew his lips into a thin line and shook his head at me. My eyes were wide and I was shivering. Harrison stood and then the door at my back opened, a blanket was wrapped around my shoulders and I was pulled from the car. I looked up to see Oliver holding me, he looked down and gave me a quick smile then looked back up.

“We’ve got her. She’s cold but appears to be fine.” I looked to my left and saw Nico getting out of one of the packs' big SUVs.

“I’ll take her from here.” Nico proceeded to take me from Oliver. “Get her car to an auto body shop and get that window fixed.”

“Yes Alpha.” The men said in unison.

Nico placed me into the SUV then climbed in on the other side. I saw Wes was in the driver's seat. Before I could process anything Nico pulled me into his lap and pulled the blanket tighter around me.

“Take us home.” Wes didn’t say anything, he just put the car in drive. I felt so bad that everyone went through so much trouble for me that I tried to get off Nico’s lap and onto the seat. He growled and I stilled. “Jess you’re freezing let me warm you up.”

Nico held me close to his chest and wrapped his arms around me. It didn’t take long for my shivers to die down and for me to relax.

“You know you scared the hell out of us.” I simply looked down. I felt so guilty about so many things. “I truly thought something bad happened to you. It wasn’t until Jamie got ahold of you that I knew you were at least alive. I almost got the human police involved just to find your car.” I felt a few tears fall from my eyes and Nico held me closer. “You don’t have to run from us. We’re your family, we will never abandon you and we will always work things out. You know your Dad has been pacing your living room floor. He’s been having a one sided conversation apologizing for everything.”

I grabbed Nico’s shirt and turned my face further into his shoulder and cried. He held me closer and just let me cry. It wasn’t long before I felt the car stop and I looked up to see we were at the packhouse. I looked at Nico confused.

“I think both you and your Dad need to sleep on things. Now that you're safe I think he can finally rest and you need some decent sleep.”

Nico very skillfully got out of the car still holding me. He set me on my feet and made sure the blanket was still securely wrapped around me before he led me inside. He took me up to the Alpha’s floor which earned him another confused look. Visitors in the packhouse were supposed to use one of the rooms on the second floor. Nico just laughed.

“Hey you may not believe this but you’re an Alpha.”

“While he's right the truth is he’s just really worried about you and wants you in a room close to him.” I looked over to see Natalia standing in her and Nico’s doorway wearing his t-shirt and some short shorts. Her hair was a mess so I guess she had been sleeping before we got up here. I looked down feeling guilty for waking her. “Hey don’t feel bad I was more tossing and turning than sleeping. Now that you're home I can get some actual sleep.”

She went back into the room and Nico opened the door we were standing in front of. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Jace will stop by in the morning with some of your clothes, now get some sleep.” I made my way to the bed and it didn't take me long to fall asleep.

Jace POV

I didn't sleep. How could I? My sister wasn't home, she left the house after fighting with our Dad. She never fought with Dad, JJ was his little princess and while they didn't always see eye to eye they never explosively fought. JJ fought with our Mom a few times. She'd storm off, go for a run and then come back after an hour or two and talk things out.

When the sun started to set and she still wasn’t home all of us started to worry. This wasn’t like her and it terrified each of us to our core. We all took turns trying to link her but were unsuccessful. Nico refused to sit around and do nothing, hee gathered all of our trackers and sent them out searching for her. After hours of no luck we were all terrified the worst had happened and Dad was a wreck. Jamie decided to try and link her one last time, and he finally got through. From what he told us she was feeling guilty and felt she shouldn’t come home. That’s when Dad started pacing, he was chanting apologies and wishing he could take it all back.

Nico was sitting at the kitchen table with his head hung low and his hands in his hair. He didn’t know where else to look and feared we wouldn’t find her. I had asked if he looked in town and the surrounding area. Apparently he didn’t since he shot out of his seat and ran out the door. It was maybe an hour later that he linked us that he had her and that she would be staying the rest of the night at the pack house. He then asked if I would bring her clothes in the morning.

That brings us to now. I was rummaging through her closet and dresser trying to find the perfect outfit for her. I know that right now she most likely didn’t care what she wore, but I wanted her to feel good. So I found her favorite sweatshirt along with those yoga pants she loves. I grabbed clean underwear and socks and put them all in her duffle bag. I know it was still early and the sun had barely risen but I couldn’t wait anymore. I needed to see JJ, I needed to make sure she was ok.

So I threw the duffle bag over my shoulder and ran downstairs. I was only stopped by my Dad.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” I looked at him holding his cup of coffee. He looked like hadn’t slept either. It doesn’t surprise me, this whole situation was eating him up inside.

“I’m taking JJ her clothes.”

Dad looked down and seemed so much sadder in that moment. “Make sure my baby is alright.” He whispered then left the room.

I felt so sad seeing him like this and I truly hoped that the two of them would work things out. I don’t think anyone in our family shares a bond stronger than the love between Dad and JJ. So I continued on my mission and headed to the packhouse. As I walked into the packhouse Nico was about to head up the stairs clearly coming back from training. He smiled when he saw me.

“You know it’s early.”

“I know but I really need to see her.”

“I’ll show you what room she’s in, but she looked pretty rough last night so she might still be sleeping.”

“I don’t mind. Right now I just want to see her.”

Nico smiled and held out his arm and I moved closer to him. He then wrapped his arm around my shoulders and walked me up the stairs. When we reached her door he gave me a proper hug and went to his room. I took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door. I waited for about 10 seconds. When I didn’t hear an answer I turned the knob and opened the door.

JJ was wrapped in the covers, fast asleep. She had a strained look on her face which told me she wasn’t sleeping peacefully. I dropped the duffle bag on the nearest chair and made my way to the other side of the bed and climbed in. I moved as close to her as I could and wrapped my arm around her. I felt her body relax and knew that I was giving her the comfort that she so badly needed. It didn’t take long for my eyes to grow heavy and now that I had seen my sister and knowing that she was ok I gave in and fell into a deep sleep.

Jessica POV

I woke up with the worst headache, not that it surprised me much. I really just wanted to sink under the covers and forget everything but that's not what was needed right now. I heaved a sigh.

"Might as well face the day." I whispered to the room.

I went to roll over but discovered I couldn't move very far. It was at this moment I realized there was an arm around me and I froze. Someone had snuck into my room while I was sleeping and climbed into bed with me. Who would be dumb enough to not only enter the Alpha’s house but crawl into an accupoid bed. I heard the person behind me grumble and slightly tighten their grip on me.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. I scooted as far out from the person as I could then with all the force I could muster I elbowed them. The shock caused them to release and fall onto the floor with a loud thud. I was up and out of the bed before they even hit the floor.

"What the f**k Jess?"

It was Jace! He stood up rubbing the area my elbow connected with. I know I should feel bad but he did it to himself.

"What the f**k me? What the f**k you? I don't know what you thought would happen."

"That you would at least look to see who it is before you attack. That's gonna bruise you know?"

"Suck it up, you did to yourself. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I brought you clothes." He pointed to the bag on the chair.

I did a mental facepalm when I remembered Nico said he would be stopping by. I went to pick up the bag then stopped and turned around to look at my brother.

"How did you go from bringing me clothes to sleeping in the bed?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the floor. He always looked so grown up when he did that. "Well, when I came into the room you were sleeping, but you looked stressed. So I thought I'd comfort you and since I didn't sleep last night I fell asleep."

Now I kinda feel bad for elbowing him so hard. I crossed the room and hugged him. Then I thought about what he said and took a step back.

"Did you say you didn't sleep?"

"Yeah, and from what I saw this morning I don't think Dad did either. We were all so worried about you."

Now I really did feel bad. I needed to talk to my Dad but I felt apprehensive about going back home. Jace seemed to be able to see it on my face and gave me a sympathetic look.

"Hey wait right here." He went to walk out of the room.

"Where are you going?"

"Just wait! I'll be right back!" Jace opened the door and Nico was standing there with his hand raised like he was about to knock. Jace turned back to me. "Well I guess I don't have to go anywhere."

"What is going on here? I heard commotion, then shouting, then nothing, then shouting again."

"I may or may not have attacked Jace by accident." I rolled back and forth on feet, swinging my arms and looking innocent.

Nico raised an eyebrow. "How do you attack your brother 'accidentally'." He air quoted the last word.

"Ok I feel bad now but I did wake up with him in the bed and I didn't know it was him."

Nico looked at Jace and shook his head. The words "You're a dumbass" were written all over his face. "Anyway I'm assuming by Jace's comment you were about to come looking for me. What's up?"

"JJ's feeling a little uneasy about going home and making up with Dad. Do you think we could have him come here?"

"Absolutely, just let me know when."

Jace grabbed his phone and started fiercely texting on it. It didn't take long for it to ping, signifying an incoming message. He looked up at us. "He can be here in an hour."

That hour felt like an eternity. I spent the whole time pacing back and forth, with Jace looking like he was watching a tennis match. I mumbled to myself trying to figure out what I was going to say. I felt my heart rate kick up when Jace looked at his phone and told me he was here. I walked down the stairs still trying to figure out what I was going to say. That was until I saw him standing in the large entry way. My mind went blank and tears started to run down my face as I ran to my Dad.

"Papi!"

He held his arms open wide with a watery smile on his face. He wrapped me in a tight hug then kissed my entire face. "Oh my hija! I'm so so sorry I shouldn't have said the things I did. I should have listened to you and had a real conversation."

I was a blubbering mess at this point. "No no Papi I'm sorry. I didn't mean the things I said. I was angry and hurt. I'm sorry Papi. I love you."

"I love you too, hija."

As I cried on my Dad's shoulder I could hear Nico and Jace talking.

"Do you ever get a tearful reunion like that?"

"Nope, but I'm also not Daddy's princess either."

"But you are Momma's boy."

"That I am."

I rolled my eyes at them as I started to calm down. Dad held me at arms length before he spoke. "Come on home hija, we can sit down with your mother and discuss your next venture in life."

And we did just that, we discussed my wanting to join the Marines. While neither of them were too thrilled with the idea they both knew this was something I really wanted to do. As reluctant as they were, I was given their support with the promise that I would be careful. So this was it, in a few short months I would be off to become a Marine.