Good Mate, Bad Mate

6 - Confronting Jackson

Matthew POV

    I was sitting at my desk, thinking about the memorial we had for my dead mate and pup.  It had been two days, since they were killed by those disgusting rogues.  I was seriously struggling to keep it together.  If it weren't for Courtney giving me those flower petals, I probably would have already lost it, and gave up on trying to live without them.

    Anytime I found myself sinking too far down in despair, I would open the bag of flower petals, and take a big whiff of the mysterious shewolf's scent.  Instantly, I would feel my body relax, as her angelic face popped into my head.  

    I was starting to think she was my guardian angel or something, and I couldn't wait until we were able to visit the Silver Moon Pack.  I was hoping to find her there, or at least get some knowledge about her.

    Our plan was to visit the other pack in a few weeks.  Courtney wanted go right away, but I felt like I needed to give myself more time to grieve for my dead mate and pup, before I went anywhere.  

    Courtney was also helping me deal with the loss in other ways.  She was making sure I ate every day, and she was sleeping on my couch at night.  I know she was worried I was going to do something irrational, but I was using those flower petals to keep my emotions from getting the best of me.

    The way the mysterious shewolf's scent affected me, gave me hope that Courtney was right about her forming a mate bond with me through a spell.  I held onto that hope with everything I had, because I knew if that was the case, she would be the one to keep me from going insane.  

    I couldn't wait to meet her, and see if I felt those amazing sparks that came with the mate bond.  Goddess, I missed feeling those sparks so much.  I would give anything to feel them again.  

    I was still lost in my thoughts, when I felt a slight wave of excitement rush through me.  It felt so surreal, kind of like, when I felt Lilith's emotions flow through our mate bond.  The only thing that made any sense, was that I was feeling this mystery shewolf's emotions.  

    There was no stopping the wide smile that appeared on my face.  When Courtney glanced over and saw me grinning, she curiously asked, "What has you smiling?"

    I looked over at her and skeptically replied, "I think I might be feeling the mystery shewolf's emotions.  She is excited about something."

    "Really?" Courtney asked in awe.

    "Yes, I don't feel it as strongly as I could feel Lilith's emotions, but it's there.  I'm assuming she is exceptionally excited for me to be able to feel it," I thoughtfully explained.

    "That's so crazy.  I hope we find her when we visit the Silver Moon Pack," Courtney exclaimed.

    "Me, too," I quickly agreed, then chuckled.  

    After that, a comfortable silence fell over us.  Since I was feeling calm at the moment, I focused on catching up on some paperwork I had been putting off.

Darren POV

    Since my parents demanded I go to the Forest Pack, for that damn celebration, I had been spending the majority of my free time f*****g Valerie.  I knew if I found my mate there, I wouldn't get as many chances to have my way with this sexy shewolf.  

    I also had a few other sexy shewolves that I was spending some of my time with, but there was something about the little vixon that called to me.  I enjoyed the way Valerie moaned my name, and dug her claws into my back.  I could spend hours with my d**k buried deep inside of her tight little p***y, and not get bored with her.  

    I was pissed at my parents for making me look for my fated mate, and I didn't even try to hide that fact.  I knew I was making my father angry with my shitty comments, but I couldn't stop myself from lashing out at him.  I liked living life as a bachelor, and I wanted to keep it that way, but no, they just had to deny me of the Alpha title until I found her, and we were fully marked and mated.

    Gavin was also pissed off about it.  He was a lot like me, when it came to wanting to remain a bachelor for at least a little longer.  He wasn't as mad about it, as I was, but mad enough to let it be known.  He was lashing out at his father, just as much as I was.  

    They made us so mad, we decided to spend the night hanging out in a cave on our territory.  We both needed to calm down, or we were going to say something we couldn't take back.  

    When we got to the cave, we walked to the back of it, where there was a pond with the clearest light blue water.  It was the one place I could go to find a sense of peace.  I laid down on a sleeping bag, then gazed up at the stalactites hanging down over us.  I found those mysterious formations to be absolutely fascinating, and I could stare at them for hours at a time.

    I got lost in my thoughts, thinking about what life was going to be like when I find my mate, and take the title of Alpha.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little curious about my mate, but I couldn't imagine anybody else being as special as Veronica was to me.  It wasn't until I heard Gavin jump into the pond, that I was pulled out of my thoughts.

    Right away, I stood up and stripped my clothes off, then jumped into the pond with him.  With us being high ranking wolves, we saw each other naked quite often, so it didn't bother me one bit.  We swam in the crystal clear water for awhile, allowing ourselves to forget about everything else that had been troubling our minds.

    It was great to have some good old fashioned fun, with no worries.  When I got out of the water, I felt happier and lighter on my feet.  I pulled my black gym shorts back on, then I got comfy on my sleeping bag.  I stared up at the stalactites until I felt my eyelids getting heavy, then I allowed myself to drift into the first peaceful night of sleep, I'd had in awhile.

Andrea POV:

    I was too disappointed and angry with Jackson to call him out about his actions after I talked to Bethany.  By the time evening arrived the next day, I thought I had calmed down enough.  I stalked to the living room, where Andre was sitting on the recliner, while Jackson and Estella were cuddling together on the loveseat.  

    James Jr. was nowhere in sight, and that was probably a good thing, because if he found out about Jackson's behavior, he was liable to kill him with his bare hands.  He was very close to Bethany, and I could tell he was hurting, and he missed his sister like crazy.

    Once I reached the loveseat, I pinched Jackson's ear, and pulled him to his feet.  Jackson being the future Gamma of the Twisted Moon Pack, did not take kindly to me manhandling him.  He growled before he asked through gritted teeth, "What is the meaning of this, Andrea?"

    I turned him around, so we were facing Estella, while keeping a firm grip on his ear, then I demanded, "Tell your mate what you did when you caught Bethany leaving."

    Instantly, his face went pale, and he opened his mouth a few times, making him look like a fish out of water.  After a few seconds, I tightened my grip on his ear, then I snarled, "Tell her now.  I promise she will be madder if she hears about it from me or somebody else."

    Jackson looked down, then he guiltily admitted, "I kissed Bethany along her neck, then asked her to stay, and be my chosen mate."

    Instantly, I heard not two, but four gasps sound through the room.  I looked behind me and saw my mate standing in the kitchen doorway, and James Jr. standing halfway down the stairs.  In the blink of an eye, my son jumped over the banister of the stairs, then he grabbed Jackson by the throat and threw him across the room.

    Jackson slammed against the bookshelf, then he landed on the floor with all of the books falling on top of him.  Before I had a chance to react, James Jr had him by his throat again, as he walked to the front door, then he threw him across the yard, as he angrily yelled, "You stupid mother fucker.  How could you do that to both of my sisters?  Who the f**k do you think you are playing head games with them?"

    "I swear that's not what I was doing?  If Bethany had accepted, I would have let Estella know right away, but since Bethany refused, I didn't see any point," Jackson breathlessly mumbled.

    That just pissed my son off even more.  He stalked straight across the yard, then kicked Jackson in the stomach.  As Jackson laid there, gasping for air, James Jr. angrily demanded, "You better f*****g apologize to Estella for being a worthless f*****g mate, before I rip your sorry ass to shreds."

    "I am sorry, I swear I am.  I never should have done that.  It was wrong of me, and I swear I will never do anything to betray Estella or her trust again," Jackson insisted with pleading eyes.

    "You're apologizing to the wrong damn person, now get to it," James Jr. screamed.

    Jackson scrambled to his feet, then he sprinted toward us.  When he reached Estella, who was standing behind me, he dropped to his knees.  Right away, he grabbed her hands, and gazed at her with those pleading eyes, as he gushed, "I'm so sorry, mate.  What I did was wrong, and I swear to the Moon Goddess, I will never do anything to hurt you or betray you again.  Please, forgive me, Estella."

    Estella pulled her hands out of his, then she deadpanned, "I don't know, Jackson.  How can I be sure I can trust you now.  You should know that I have a second mate out there, that just might be worthier of my love than you."

    Jackson gasped, before he anxiously asked, "You're kidding me, right?"

    Estella scoffed before she nonchalantly replied, "Not one bit.  You need to leave for a little while.  I need time to think."

    "No, I'm not leaving you.  I refuse to let you go.  I've seen the error of my ways, and I don't want anybody but you.  Please, don't reject me over a stupid mistake," he begged, as big fat tears rolled down his cheeks.

    That was all it took for Estella to drop to her knees and wrap her arms around him.  Jackson buried his face into the crook of her neck, then he mumbled, "I'm so sorry, mate.  Please forgive me.  I can't live without you."

    I hadn't seen Jackson in tears, since he was a small pup.  Having known him his whole life, I couldn't help but feel bad for him.  It was obvious, he knew what he did was wrong.  It was also obvious, he cared about Estella, and did not want to lose her.

    I motioned for my fearless boy to follow me, then led everybody, but Estella and Jackson, back into the house.  James Jr was still seething in anger, and went straight to his room, with Andre following right behind him.  I was proud of my son, and I could tell his father was also just as proud of him.  

    James and I stayed in the living room, until Estella and Jackson walked back into the cottage with smiles on their faces.  When I knew she was fine, we retired to our bedroom for the night.