Bruised Not Broken

Chapter 4

*Joan POV*

I stood there afar off watching Sam go off on Lisa. I felt so sad for my bestie. I understood her. I knew she felt left out, but I can also understand why she wasn’t invited. I always tell her about her mouth pushing people away, but she’s so adamant that she refuses to be the hurt one. I wish she didn’t think the world was against her. We’ve been besties since we were born. You’d think that we were twins, how in sync we were. I'm the only one who truly knows her.

As she stormed off in my direction, we walked to the garden. Sam loves flowers. “Sam, you don’t have to be so mean”, she looks at me sadly then looks away, focusing on the lily she was holding. My heart breaks for her. “ Sis look at me” she looks up again. “People will never get to know the real you unless you let them in” she exhales. “This front you’re putting on” I say as I wave my hand. “Will not allow people to even want to get close to you”

she cried silently, “Joan, I don’t know how to let my walls down. I’ve always retorted to keeping them up so nobody can hurt me. Yet, I still always end up getting hurt.” I grabbed her into a hug. Come her Sammy. Your sisters love you, they just hate your ways. I prayed silently to God that he fixes Sam’s attitude and perspective so she can have a good relationship with her sisters as she secretly wants.

*Joy's POV*

OMG I cant believe my 17th Birthday is literally right around the corner. I should be getting my wolf any day now. I'm not really scared of my first shift because I know what to expect. Going through it with Lisa prepared me for my turn. But what about this school thing?

I've been stressed from the moment Sam walked out of my studio two weeks ago. Today we're going shopping for supplies. Daddy was going to have an omega bring it into the house, but Sam insisted that we could go ourselves and have a "bonding experience". Yeah, whatever that means in her crooked little mind, she probably just wants to embarrass me in the mall in front of everyone. God help me get through this.

Joy gets dressed and meets Sam, Lisa, and Ms. Jenn in the Lobby.

"Lisa you're going too" ? Joy asked her sister, "Of course I wouldn't miss this for the world, but you knew that already ". "and you too, Ms. Jenn ?" she turned to their cook and the head of the kitchen staff. " Your Dad doesn't trust his princesses with just any ole body. He commanded me to take off to accompany you girls to the mall. Joy smiled and thought to herself," it's too bad that he doesn't know the greatest protection we need is him and mom." She whispers a prayer" God please help our parents to understand that we need them. We appreciate them providing for us but we actually need them. "

The car pulls in front as joy gets lost in her prayer with silent tears falling down her face.

"Joy, what's wrong, are you okay ?" asked Sam.

"Yeah Sam, I'm okay. Just thinking", Joy responded while wiping her face with a napkin from her bag.

"You aren't crying about going to the mall are you ? because we don't need you walking around the mall crying like a little baby. "Annoying", Sam snarked, being Sam.

"Sam, I don't even do that anymore."

"You bet not because you won't like me if you do, you're too big for that."

"Too late for that, I already don't like you now " Joy mumbled under her breath.

"What Happened ?" Sam retorted with a nasty scowl.

Joy just smiled and kept walking outside to the car with the others in tow behind.

*The Car Ride*

The driver, Dwayne, greets the ladies "My Joy". He greeted Joy first in his singing voice, her being his favorite. He was her number 1 fan. He'd play her music as he drove around whether she was in the car or not. He wished she could see just how special and unique she truly was. He always prayed for her. He turns greeting the rest" Ms. Lisa, Sammy, Ms. Jenn Pleasant day Madams" "Heeeyyy D that my Dawg Joy greets him back doing their special handshake before he turned to acknowledge the others.

Dwayne was an Alpha Wolf who was raised in our pack. He's so strong & powerful & very humble. See he's the freaking driver, for God's sake, you mostly see Omegas or even Betas or Gammas driving, but DWayne, he's so humble. Joy loved Dwayne like a second Dad and he loved her the same.

She was secretly praying that God would match him with Lisa but she hadn't seen or heard of their mate connection yet. He's 22 years old, very handsome and still single and so sweet . He hadn't found his mate as of yet, and he refused to take a chosen mate. I hope I'm as strong as him to wait on God for mine too.

Dwayne takes out his phone and puts his favorite Artist on the speakers and pulls out of the town into traffic.

* The Radio*

The beat plays as Joy harmonizes with the flow. She Starts singing

What is Love? Is it even for real?

warring in my mind to understand the deal

God chooses who we need.

We choose who we love or Naw

because I did not choose my destiny. It's from above

Sane is hard to reach. Just close your eyes and count to 3.

You'll be in dream land and find your way right back to me.

ooooh dream intimacy

I see so clearly that you're calling out to me.

The unspoken separation almost took me to defeat.

I got your heart Baby trust it is safe right here with me oooooh

Joy drifts off into thought, really impressed with herself, but she's too shy for the world to hear it.

Lisa is smiling to herself as she had a thought. "I'm gonna register Joy for the She Reigns pageant. OMG I pray that will help her to come out of her shell. I know just who to get to help me. She smiled, looking at Dwayne.

Dwayne looks in the rearview mirror catching Lisa's smirk and mind links her.

"I know that, look Lee. What are you up to? " She raised one eyebrow," I'm gonna register Joy for the pageant and you're going to be my accomplice, but we can't let her know it has to stay between us. " He smiled too.

Sam sat lost in her own thoughts thinking of the pain she was in. She desired to wait for her destined mate, like Dwayne & Lisa, but she was stuck with Prince JackAss. I mean Jake The Future Alpha of The Blood Silk Pack, The honorable Alpha Joseph's Son. You see the pressure I'm under. An arranged marriage sucks. Why was I the one chosen for him? Why not Joy or Lisa ? I dread our monthly visits, and get this. Once I get my wolf and become of age for marriage, the visits increase to weekly, leading to our engagement , party, etc etc. Yayay me *that was sarcasm*.

Ms. Jenn sat listening to Joy sing her precious little heart out. She's sooo sweet. I wish the world could see our precious joy. She is truly a gift

Maybe her going to school will be sooo good for her. I'm excited for them.

They come to a Red Light not far from their town.

Sam's phone rings *ring ring ring*

"Hey Joan"

"No don't you, Hey Joan me, You left me." She screamed.

"Omg we left Joan" Sam shouts. Dwayne pulls over to the side of the road.

"Joan, where are you ? What is that sound in that background? And why do you sound like you're running ", Sam asked with a confused look on her face. Everyone else is too, because the phone is on speaker and now Sam has everyone's attention.

"I'm running down the road because Lexington told me y'all just left"

Everyone busts out laughing as they turn to see an out of breath Joan running towards the car.

Dwayne gets out of the car, runs to her, puts her on his back and jogs back to the car.

The girls fawn over him. "Omg, he's so sweet."

Joan blushes "thank you Dwayne "as she gets into the car and Dwayne pulls off right back into traffic playing Joy's unreleased music as they head to the mall.

"Joy girl, this is sooo good you have to release this. Stop playing with it," says Joan Joy, blushing, pushing a strand of hair behind her ears. Thank you Joan, you know I could never do that, as everyone settles back into their own thoughts listening to Joy sing and play all kinds of different instruments on the car's speakers from DWayne's phone.