Good Mate, Bad Mate

3 - Bethany Leaves Home

Bethany POV

    While James helped me pack a suitcase, he suggested, "I think you should go see Aunt Sydney first.  She is the closest, then you can rest for a little bit.  Uncle Anton's pack will be having their mating celebration or whatever it's called, in a few weeks.  You should go, and see if you find your mate there."

    "That is really good advice, James.  Are you sure you don't want to join me?" I asked with hope filled eyes.

    "I can't do that, sis.  Mum and dad are already going to be upset about you leaving.  I can't burden them, with me leaving at the same time.  Especially when we all know, it's just a matter of time, before Estella goes to Jackson's pack," he quickly replied.

    "Yeah, I suppose you are right about that.  It will be okay.  I've got this," I stated with determination.

    I wasn't too worried about having problems, since I would be driving my Jeep Wrangler.  Not to mention, I have already unlocked the Force Field Ability and the Healing Ability.  Plus, James and Andre started training me and Estella on fighting techniques, as soon as they shifted and started their training.

    After I finished packing my favorite clothes into my big suitcase, I packed my shoes, cosmetics, soaps, lotions, hair accessories, and a few keepsakes in my smaller suitcase.  While I was doing that, James took my backpack to the kitchen and filled it up with various snacks and several bottles of water.

    We carried the suitcases and the backpack out the back door, then I hid them on the side of the house, behind a cluster of Azaleas.  As soon as we went back inside, James followed me to my bedroom.  I shoved my car keys and my cellphone into my purse, then I set it on my nightstand.  

    I was nervous, but also excited at the same time.  I was nervous, because it would be my first time leaving the safety of our pack's territory, by myself.  I was excited, because I wanted more than anything to find one of my mates.

    As soon as our parents returned from the birthday party, they came straight to my bedroom.  I was glad we hid my suitcases outside, or they would have known right away that something was up.  After they made sure we were okay, and said "goodnight", they headed to their bedroom.

    James refused to leave my bedroom, and stayed with me.  We heard Andre go into his room, then we heard Estella and Jackson whispering to each other, as they walked to her room.  I waited another thirty minutes, then looked at James, and whispered, "It's time, bro."

    "I will walk you to the Jeep," he whispered back.

    I stuck my hand up, as I whispered, "No, it's too risky."

    James sighed in frustration, then he whispered, "Fine.  I love you, Bethany.  Please, be very careful."

    Instantly, I engulfed him in an embrace, and allowed the tears to slip from my eyes.  I hugged him tight, then sniffled before I whispered, "I love you, James.  You have always been my favorite sibling, and I am going to miss you the most."

    "Same," he whispered, followed by a sniffle.  

    I could feel our tears mixing together, where our faces where touching, as we embraced each other.  When I pulled back from the hug, I used the pads of my thumbs to brush the tears off his cheeks, while he did the same thing to me.  I was seriously going to miss him more than anybody else.

    "I love you, bro," I whispered, then I stood up and grabbed my purse.

    As I walked toward my bedroom door, James whispered, "I love you, too, sis."

    I glanced back at him one more time, and beamed a smile in his direction, before I quietly opened my door.  I poked my head out, and glanced down both directions of the hall.  When I didn't see anybody, I tiptoed all the way to the back door in the kitchen.  It was the farthest from my parent's bedroom, and the closest to my suitcases.

    After I stepped out of the house, and shut the door, I glanced up at the moon, then I sheepishly mumbled, "Moon Goddess, please bless me on this journey and lead me to my mate."

    I quietly tiptoed across the porch, then down the stairs, and around the house.  I was pulling my suitcases out from behind the Azaleas, when I felt a hand grab my shoulder.  I spun around with my hand clenched in a fist, ready to punch somebody.

    Instantly, I gasped.  Jackson of all wolves, was standing there with a confused look plastered on his face.  He glanced down at my suitcase, then he warily asked, "What in the hell are you doing, Bethany."

    I furrowed my eyebrows, and narrowed my eyes at him, as I nonchalantly replied, "I have to go.  I can't stick around here right now."

    "Why?" he angrily asked.

    "I don't owe you any explanations.  Go back to your mate and keep this to yourself," I deadpanned, instantly feeling defensive, because of his angry tone.

    Jackson gasped, not expecting me to respond in such a way.  As soon as he got over the momentary shock, he grabbed my arm, then he tried to pull me away from the bushes.  

    I swung the hand that I still had clenched tight in fist and landed a punch to his jaw.  Instantly, he let go of my arm, then he stumbled back a few feet.  He growled, before he snarled, "What the f**k, Bethany.  Why are you acting like this towards me?"

    I sighed, then I turned around and pulled the last suitcase from behind the bush.  As I hooked my arms through the straps of the backpack, I angrily mumbled, "It doesn't matter now, Jackson.  You aren't my mate, you are my sister's mate, therefore you have no authority over me whatsoever.  I wish you and Estella the best of luck.  Have a great life."

    By the time, I finished my statement, I had both suitcases in my hand.  I quickly turned around, then I stalked toward the trail that would lead me to my Jeep.  I was halfway down the trail, when I heard Jackson ask, "Are you doing this, because I am mated to your sister?"

    I stopped walking, but I didn't turn around, as I mumbled the word, "Yes," then I continued to walk.

    Suddenly, I felt arms wrap around me from behind, making me stop again.  Jackson buried his face in the crook of my neck, then took a big whiff of my scent and moaned.  A second later, he started trailing featherlike kisses up the curve of my neck.  Having the guy from my dreams touch me so intimately felt completely surreal.

    I leaned back against him, then I timidly asked, "What are you doing, Jackson?"

    "Bethany, you must know, that I have been in love with you, for as long as I can remember.  Just because Estella is my fated mate, doesn't mean I have to choose her.  You could be my chosen mate," he murmured against my ear.

    "Jackson, you can't ask me to do that to my sister.  I can't hurt her like that, even if it means, I can't have you.  I have loved you my whole life, but we just can't be," I begrudgingly mumbled.

    "Please, just think about it, Bethany.  Stay one more night, we will spend the whole night together, then you can decide," he begged.

    I sighed in frustration, then I pulled his arms off of me, as I yelled, "No, I can't do that, Jackson.  You are asking me to betray my own sister.  I will not do that."

    Before he had a chance to respond, I sprinted down the remainder of the path.  While I ran, I felt a surge of power come to the forefront, then my speed accelerated, allowing me to reach my Jeep in no time.  I quickly threw my stuff in the backseat, then I reached for the handle of the driver's door.  

    As I opened the driver's side door, I heard Jackson yell my name, but I didn't respond.  I quickly jumped into my Jeep, and started it.  I wasting no time, to throw it into reverse, and quickly backed up.  Just as Jackson was about to reach for my door handle, I stomped on the gas pedal, and sped away from him, like a bat out of hell.

    I glanced in my rearview mirror, and saw him standing in the driveway, with his shoulders slouched in defeat, and tears streaming down his cheeks.  My heart ached to go back to him, but my love for my sister kept me from doing that.  There was no way, I would ever do such a horrible thing to my sister.  Especially, after seeing how happy she was to be mated to him.

    When I reached the gate, the patrols immediately opened it, without asking me any questions.  I pulled onto the road, then drove to the nearest gas station.  After I filled up my gas tank, and bought an energy drink, I used my cellphone's GPS, to direct me to my Aunt Sydney's pack.  She belonged to the Bright Star Pack.  

    A part of me was hoping I would find a good friend there, just like my mum did, when she found Uncle Ace there.  He wasn't a blood uncle, just like Jada wasn't a blood aunt, but we still called them Aunt and Uncle, just because of how close they were to my mum.

    As I drove down the deserted highway, I thought about what Jackson said, and how he acted before I left.  I was utterly shocked my his actions.  It bothered me, that he was willing to act intimate with me, when my sister was his mate.  He had already said how happy he was that she was his mate, yet it was so easy for him to put his lips on me.  It made me worry about whether or not, he would be a good mate to her.  I could only hope he would, since I wouldn't be in the picture anymore.

    Once I reached the border for the Bright Star Pack, I didn't see any border patrols, so I slowly crossed the border.  As I drove, I noticed more and more wolves following beside me.  I got about halfway through the territory, before they surrounded my Jeep, making me have to stop.  

    I rolled my window down, less than halfway, then I informed them, "Hi, my name is Bethany Braden.  My mother is Andrea Biloxi Braden, the niece of Sydney Gale, and good friend of Ace Shultz.  I am here to visit with Sydney."

    The warrior in charge quickly responded, "Wait here while we mind link with Sydney."  His eyes glazed over for a few minutes, before they returned to normal, then he stated, "You have the okay to proceed.  Welcome to the Bright Star Pack."

    "Thank you," I replied, then I drove the rest of the way to the pack house.  

    As soon as I parked my Jeep, Aunt Sydney sprinted to me, then wrapped her arms around me.  When she released me from the hug, she cupped my cheeks in her hands and asked, "What has brought you here at such a late hour?"

    "It's kind of a long story.  Can I explain in the morning, after I get some rest.  I'm really tired," I dejectedly mumbled.

    She frowned, then hugged me again, as she replied, "Yes, dear.  We can talk about it in the morning."  

    I grabbed my purse out of the Jeep, but left everything else, then followed my Aunt Sydney to her room in the pack house.  As soon as we got there, I plopped down on her couch, then laid on my side, and instantly closed my eyes.  I was beyond exhausted, both physically and emotionally.  The last thing I remembered, was my aunt laying a blanket over me, then I was out.