The Jaded Assassin

What If...

Jaessa POV 

I awake to the sunlight streaming into my room through the open window, with a lovely dehydration-induced headache.  I stumble downstairs, in my pajama shorts and t-shirt, to the kitchen, where I open the fridge, grabbing out a bottle of water before downing it in one gulp.

“Good morning, Jaessa.”  A deep voice behind me startled me, and I turn to see Alpha Travis seated at my dining table, with a cup of coffee in his hands. 

“Morning.”  I reply as my head pounds.  

“Hey Jaessa!”  The cheerful voice of Sarah sounds as she enters the kitchen.  “We’ve had an urgent situation arise in Black Hills and will be returning this morning.”  She informs me before asking, “Your dad said you wanted to go with us?” 

I nod my response, before summoning my voice, “Yes, please.”  I answer.

“Perfect, we will leave in about two hours if you’d like to gather your things.”  Sarah says, as Travis stands from the table, and walks past me towards the sink to rinse his cup.  Goddess the Alpha is huge.  

“I have most of it together, but sure.  I’ll meet you at the packhouse?”  I offer.

“That works for us.  We will see you soon, dear.”  Sarah says as my dads enter the kitchen, and she hugs them both tightly, before Travis shakes their hands, and they depart from the cottage.  

I briskly make my way up the stairs to my room, pulling on a pair of black leggings and t-shirt, before slipping on my Converse.  I then begin gathering my toiletries into my carry-all bag, before collecting my suitcase, and returning with my things downstairs.  My dads both hug me tight as we say our goodbyes for now.  They ask if they should accompany me, but I insist on going alone. 

“You guys will make me cry, so no.  I love you both.”  I tell them, before I leave my home and make my way to the packhouse.  When I enter through the main entrance, I leave my belongings at the door, and head to the recreational area, a move I regret immediately when I see Westley seated in an armchair near the fireplace. 

Our eyes connect, and he looks so sad.  “You’re really leaving?”  He asks me.

“Yeah, it’s what I need to do.”  I reply, shifting uncomfortably.

“I’m really going to miss you.”  He says to me, as he stands and walks my way.

I look down to the floor, “I’ll miss you too.”  I admit.

I can feel his warmth as he stops directly in front of me, and I try to avoid his gaze.  Westley cups my chin, tilting my head back until my eyes meet his.  “Jaessa... what if you didn’t go.”  He pleads.

“Westley, I have to, besides you’re leaving too.”  I remind him.

“What if I don’t.  What if I stay... for you.”  He murmurs to me.

“No, we can’t do this.  We both have fated mates somewhere out there, we can’t just give up our destiny to remain together.”  I tell him sternly.

“We could.”  He offers, and I have to quickly shut him down.  I step back from him, but my back hits the doorframe.

“Oh sure, and what happens to me when your real mate comes along?”  I frown at him, frustrated that he’s not being reasonable.  

“I’ll reject her.”  He whispers moving in close to me until his body is pressed to mine.

“You can’t guarantee that.”  I scold him, as tears threaten to fall from my eyes.  Westley lowers his head to mine, and just as his lips brush against my own, Liz comes waltzing into the room.

“Hey guys!”  She announces her arrival as Westley abruptly moves away from me.  “What’s going on here?”  She demands an answer from us.

“Oh nothing, I was just teasing my friend.”  Westley says as he ruffles my hair, and I duck away, glaring at him, as I press my fingertips to my lips, still feeling the tingle from his ever-so-brief kiss.  

I shake off the emotions flowing through me, as I turn and smile to Liz before she challenges me to a game of Uno.  We sit at the card table and play for the next hour until Sarah and Eva arrive.  

“Jaessa, are you all ready to go?”  Sarah asks me with a smile, and I ignore the overwhelming presence of Westley’s eyes boring into me.  

“Yes, I’m ready.”  I smile back to my cousin, standing from the card table.  Eva wraps me into a tight, motherly hug, before Liz overtakes me with a breathtaking squeeze.  

“I’ll miss you so much!”  Liz sobs as I hug her back.  

“I’ll come back soon to visit, I’m sure.”  I tell her.

Sarah steps forward, helping me untangle myself from my best friend’s arms.  “Of course, we will return in a couple of months and I’m sure Jaessa will have loads to show you then.”  She promises, before I give one final wave, to my extended family, before following Sarah out to the black SUV, where Travis is waiting.  

The Alpha helps me load my luggage before he holds open the door for me, and I thank him as I climb in.  He then opens the front passenger door for Sarah, assisting her into the seat, before he jogs around to the driver’s door and settles in.  

“Goodbye, Jaessa.”  I hear Westley’s voice through mind-link, as Travis shifts the SUV into gear and we pull away from the packhouse.

“Goodbye, Westley.”  I return to the Alpha-to-be, trying to ignore the pain and regret in my heart.