Chasing Our Stepsister

Chapter 2 The Stranger

　　Jade

　　"This is betrayal!" I blurted out, my eyes teary, and my voice slurred as I downed another shot. The burning sensation running down my throat sent fiery jolts through my already frayed nerves- this would calm me down.

　　"One more!" I thumped my hand twice on the counter, and the bartender, familiar as always, handed me another drink. I knew all the bartenders here, more familiar than I was with my mom these days, to be honest.

　　As I gulped down yet another drink, I felt the dizziness attempting to smother my thoughts. Well, the effects of the liquor were already taking over, but I was confident I could handle them.

　　The bar, dimly lit with decorations that lacked elegance, possessed a peculiar charm, especially for those seeking refuge in conversations, drowning their sorrows in alcohol, or, in my case, attempting to numb the pain. Yes-at least I was trying to drink it away.

　　"I don't think it's betrayal, Jade," Mya's voice intruded into my thoughts, piercing through the soft background music. "She can do what she wants. It's her life, and don't you think she deserves happiness too?"

　　God! I'd never wanted to punch my own wolf so bad!

　　"It is- to me, it is," I retorted, "If I were in her place, if I had lost my mate..." a hiccup interrupted me, more tears streaming down my cheeks, "I'd never even think about seeking the company of another male and making him my so-called chosen mate! I mean, this is f*****g bullshit. If you could choose your mate, why do so many people just f*****g die waiting for theirs? Why not just choose a mate and move on?"

　　"Jade-"

　　"Then tell me, why don't they? Because that's love. It doesn't follow logic, okay? It doesn't know the concept of moving on, and most of all, it doesn't understand the word 'betrayal.' But right now, my mother is doing exactly that-betraying my dad!"

　　"It's the choices that shape the course of every being's life, whether human or werewolf, Jade," she began.

　　"Nonsense!" I scoffed, taking a sip of my drink, but she continued.

　　"Everyone deserves a chance at happiness. Some people find it by waiting their whole lifetime for their mate or choosing not to pursue another chance at love. But then again, it's their life, it's up to them, and they should be allowed to make their own decisions, right?"

　　I stayed silent- honestly, I didn't want to speak.

　　"Your mom, simply because she's choosing to move on, doesn't mean she's a bad person or doing something terrible. It's her choice, and she's seizing the opportunity to live life with someone who'll be there for her throughout their lifetime," she continued. "What happened in the past is exactly that-the past. It will never be your present or any part of your future. So why should Eleanor stay stuck in the past? She deserves to be happy, too, doesn't she?"

　　She does...

　　"You'd also be happy seeing your mother happy, you'd love to witness her smile instead of her tears," before I could respond, she cut me off, "And before you lie and say you won't, just remember, you and I share the same consciousness. So lying to me is futile."

　　This is precisely why I'd always preferred a simpleton wolf over a wise one.

　　"But in the midst of it all, she'd forget about my dad..." It slipped from my lips, my voice barely above a whisper.

　　"How do you know that? Just because she might not mention him doesn't mean she'd forget him. And you know your dad, don't you? He'd have also wished that Eleanor wouldn't be alone, and there'd be someone to take care of her just the way he did," she said gently. "So, let Eleanor be with Frank if that makes her happy. In the end, you won't lose anything. Not your dad, not your mom, but you'll only gain a person to stand by you and your mom's side in tough times."

　　"But I don't need anyone to stand beside me, Mya. You don't understand, I can't bear the thought of someone taking on my father's role. I don't want to give it to anybody. And I don't even know how I'm going to see my mom the same way," I breathed out, feeling like my head was about to explode at this point. Everything was overwhelming. "This is f****d up!"

　　Before Mya could respond or offer more well-meaning but unwanted advice, the sound of a stool being pulled up beside me broke through my turmoil. My gaze shifted, and I found a strikingly attractive man taking a seat beside me.

　　Well...He looked like a god, though I couldn't confirm if he really was one.

　　With his impeccably defined chiseled jawline and a hint of stubble adding to his charm, sharp nose, and plump pink lips, his deep, stormy sea-colored eyes held secrets yet to be unraveled as they gazed at me with a subtle smolder. He had an aura that drew me in...something different.

　　His well-tailored shirt accentuated his broad shoulders and muscles, and a hint of a tattoo peeked out from beneath the cuff of his shirt, promising stories of adventure.

　　God! I could tell he certainly was not a human...but aside from being a werewolf, he had to be something else, something greater than god.

　　At that moment, the clinking of glasses, chatter, and the hum of the bar seemed to fade into the background as our eyes locked.

　　"Hello, beautiful," he flashed me a smile, revealing a set of perfectly shaped pearly white teeth. A few strands of his tousled hair added to his allure.

　　Fuck! This was a work of art-the man before me.

　　"So you're going to ignore me like that now?" Mya's voice echoed in my head.

　　But what did she even say? I hadn't heard a word, not with a god sitting in front of me. So, I chose to ignore her once again and replied to the man.

　　"Oh, hi."

　　I noticed a subtle twitch at the corner of his lips-he had definitely caught the stammer in my voice. s**t!

　　"If you don't mind me asking, what's the reason behind a beautiful lady drowning herself in alcohol?" he inquired, leaning against the stool, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. That was when I realized he had a drink in his hand, which meant he'd been here for some time, long enough to witness me downing more than ten, maybe even twenty shots.

　　"Care to take a guess?" I found myself asking, surprising even myself as the question slipped from my lips.

　　Fuck! What was wrong with me?!

　　His smirk widened, and he tried to conceal it behind his hand as he scratched his jaw.

　　"Heartbreak or regret?" he guessed, leaning in ever so slightly this time.

　　I swear to all the f*****g gods in the world, I didn't know why my breath caught because of that small movement. Okay, I admit he was good-looking, but it wasn't just his looks... there was something else.

　　"Uhuh, none," I responded, managing to keep my voice steady this time.

　　Surprise flickered in his eyes, evident in his gorgeous features, "Then, what is it?"

　　"You don't even know my name, and you're curious about what's driven me to drink like an alcoholic?" I chuckled as I downed another shot, my gaze fixed on him. The effects of the liquor were making my personality seem even stranger to me.

　　"Well, then, start by telling me your name, beautiful," he said, with no hesitation whatsoever.

　　"Why don't you tell me yours first, handsome?"

　　He smiled at the nickname I'd suddenly given him before he introduced himself. "Chase. Chase Ashford," he said. "Now, can I know yours?"

　　Well, that sounded familiar. I didn't know where I'd heard it before, maybe it was nothing. Alcohol makes everyone seem familiar, doesn't it?

　　"Jade Evans. Nice to meet you, Chase," I mused, downing another shot.

　　"Woah, you might want to take it easy there," he cautioned, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. "I can tell by looking at you that you're not a regular drinker."

　　"So, you can read people, huh?"

　　"I don't know, but I think I can read you."

　　"Really? So, help me solve a puzzle, one that's apparently the reason behind my sudden drinking appetite," I found myself leaning in, our faces closed as we locked eyes. His gaze darkened, and I could take in his scent, it was like a well-worn leather jacket infused with a hint of smoky cedarwood. I kind of loved it already. "Does it really mean betraying their departed mate if they find love in someone else? Is it not a betrayal to the one they were destined for, made for, if they choose someone else's company just because they are gone?"