My Alpha's Mark

177 Attitude

Kacie

I tossed and turned in bed. I couldn’t find a comfortable position and kept waking up. It wasn’t until Viktor wrapped me in his arms and I slept on my side while cuddling into his side that I could drift back to sleep. With him by my side I felt safe, I felt loved, I felt cared for.

The sound of the door clicking closed stirred me from sleep. I’m surrounded by darkness, beneath a blanket, my source of heat by my side. Cautious footsteps made their way closer and closer. The bed dipped beside me and the warmth whooshed out as cold air rushed in. My skin pebbled and I groaned as I reached for him. I blinked as an angry voice filled the room.

“Come back to bed,” I pleaded.

“I can’t right now. I know you need rest but Jake just got home,” Viktor said.

I’m instantly awake and sit up in bed. The light flipped on as Viktor turned the dial. The blanket pooled at my waist and Jake’s eye took me in. I hated the way heat pooled between my legs. I hated him right now.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Kacie,” Viktor warned.

“What are you doing here?” I repeated and ignored Viktor.

“Why wouldn’t I be here?” Jake asked.

“Are you really going to play dumb? Do you not see how you’re acting? Where the fuck have you been Jake? You spent the night out and didn’t tell us where you were!”

“I wanted to talk to you yesterday you wouldn’t give me any time,” Jake said.

“I said I wanted to be alone!”

“And I let you be. Am I not allowed to come home now?” Jake asked.

“I can’t believe you. Don’t make this about today. Answer the damn question Jake. WHERE WERE YOU!?”

Jake doesn’t’ say anything. He stayed standing and looked down at his feet. He shuffled from one foot to the other. I was so done with this. I was done with the secrets and I was done with the lies. If he couldn’t be honest and couldn’t choose then I would help him.

“Do you know how worried we were? Just answer the question, Jake. It’s not that hard,” Viktor said.

“I think I’ve done more on my part than I should,” I started. “I’ve tried to be there for you and to make you feel like you have a solid place in our relationship. It’s supposed to be the three of us but since the witches showed up you have taken matters into your own hands. You don’t respect me as your Luna and you don’t listen to me. This is your last chance to be honest with me Jake. This is it.”

Jake sighed and took a seat at the table by the bed. Viktor sat at the edge of the bed by my feet. My mind is screaming at me to tell him he needs to leave. We know what we saw and he didn’t come back until this morning. What else could have happened behind closed doors? It’s obvious but my heart is saying something else. It’s swaying that nothing could have happened even though we saw him with his arms around her.

My heart is telling me to give him one last chance and listen to him. I want to rip it out of my chest. If he didn’t do anything he would have stood up for myself. He would have come clean and told us what he was doing and where he was, but he hasn’t. He hasn’t made an effort to say anything. He’s just sitting there staring at his hands.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” Jake said.

“We’re your mates, Jake. You should feel like you can come to us. We have a lot on our minds too on top of running the pack. We have a child on the way. We need to get it together. You disappearing doesn’t help any of us, especially after whats happened. She isn’t in the clear yet and you’re stressing her out,” Viktor said.

“Did you sleep with her?” I asked.

Jake froze and didn’t look up at me. Viktor turned to face me, a look of confusion on his face as he looked at me. My gaze darted from him to Jake. I willed Jake to deny it, to tell me he didn’t know what he was talking about, but I didn’t want to be stupid. I wouldn’t pretend I didn’t see anything. I wouldn’t sit here while he lied to me. I waited for him to say something, anything, but he didn’t. He just sat there and hung his head.

“Did you sleep with her, Jake?” I asked.

“Who are you talking about?” Viktor asked. “Who is she and why would Jake sleep with her? Jake wouldn’t cheat on us, Kacie.” Viktor turned to Jake. “Tell her it isn’t true.”

“Did you sleep with Clara?” I asked. Viktor froze. His eyes widened and he looked at Jake.

“No,” Viktor murmured. He shook his head. “No.”

“No,” Jake said.

“Is that the truth? Or are you only saying that because Viktor told you to say it?” I asked.

Jake lifted his head and looked at Viktor before he looked at me. I watched as he wet his lips and swallowed. He took a deep breath and held his head high while he held eye contact with me.

“I didn’t sleep with her,” Jake said.

“So what were you doing all night with her?” I asked.

“We were talking,” Jake said.

“All fucking night? Without linking any of us? You were talking all night and came crawling back early in the morning with an attitude? Do you not want to be here? Why would you come back here if you don’t want to? Why come back at all?!” I screamed.

“Do I have to report everything to you at the drop of a hat? This isn’t a pack issue, this is an us issue. I’m not just your fucking Beta. I’m your mate too! Yes, I have an attitude. I just rejected my mate! I chose you guys! Why? Because I love you! I fucking love you guys! Can I not be angry? Is it my fault that she’s my mate? I didn’t fucking choose her! Can I not be hurt? Can I not mourn the bond I just denied? Can I not be heartbroken over the life I was destined for? Can I not have that?!” Jake yelled back.