Chapter 15
Rue
It was such a fantastic morning. I had been at the training camp for an entire week, and
the students in each block began to respect me after the Cassandra fight. Everyone heard
how I took down three she-wolves while in human form without much effort. Little did
they know that I couldn’t shift into my wolf form. The only one I told was Alpha Heir Travis. I wasn’t sure why I told him my biggest secret; it just tumbled out of me. I stared
into his concerned expression in the dimly lit classroom and caved. Maybe it was because
his blue eyes reminded me of someone familiar, or perhaps it was because when his eyes
dropped to my lips, I could’ve sworn he was going to kiss me. No, it was definitely because he was in charge of the camp and needed to know in case anything happened.
Reece was also doing better at school, even making friends with some of his classmates. My dad visited twice, but we only hung out with Reece. I wanted to focus on growing their bond. I didn’t want to have any adult conversations in front of him just in case specific topics came up. I still didn’t know what to think of Dad’s offer to rejoin the pack. It would’ve been a no if you had asked me years ago if I would go back. But now that Dad has accepted things and given his version of an apology, the answer is maybe.
I parked my car and strolled with a spring in my step toward the main building, where the instructor’s locker room was. I opened the main doors when my name was called over from a grassy spot. A big oak tree shaded the area, and a picnic table was under it. It was a popular lunch place.
I step back and spot Jessica standing there, wringing her hands. I scanned her up and down. Jessica looked stressed in her body language, but her designer clothes, shoes, and bag were in style and not a thread out of place. Her blonde hair was lighter now but still long past her shoulders. She was nervous, and it almost made me laugh. If anyone should be anxious about this reunion, it should be me. I took a deep breath, gearing up for a confrontation similar to the one with Cassie. What else did I expect coming back home after being gone for so long? I casually strolled up to her, “Yo, Jessica. What do you
want?”
“Great manners as always.” Jessica’s mean-girl mask slips firmly into place. Moments like this reminded me that the friend I had missed so much over the last six years never existed. The grief for that friendship squeezed down on my chest. “I just wanted to catch up with an old friend,”
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I laughed darkly, “We were never friends, Jessica. You used me and my status to get the things you wanted and when I was a problem you manipulated the siutation to make
yourself look good.”
“It’s not my fault you were a slut and it got you kicked out of the pack.” Jessica folded her arms across her chest and popped her hip. I rolled my eyes. There was no reason for this conversation to continue, so I turned to walk away. Jessica grabbed my bicep and tugged me back around, “I’m not done talking to you!”,
I yanked my arm away from her, “I don’t care what you have to say!”
Jessica extended her claws and dug into my shoulder when she grabbed me again, “Listen here, you pathetic weakling, you need to know your place.”
“And what? You are going to show me where my place is?” I mock. I had always held more authority and power than Jessica, yet she convinced herself that she was my better. It hurt and didn’t make any sense. I only wanted us to be friends.
“That was your problem, Rue; you thought you were better than me, but as everyone can see, you’re not. I bet you don’t even remember the guy who fathered your kid.” Jessica shouted dramatically. It was then I saw we were drawing a crowd. After my fight with Cassandra, I didn’t want to cause another issue. But I was tired of being put down all the time. I wouldn’t let Jessica, Cassie, or anyone else control my life ever again.
I grabbed her hand, crushing the tender spots I knew would cause pain until she let go, and then I shoved her back. “My son and I are of no concern to you. It’s your fault I don’t know who his father is, so don’t even pretend like you are better than me!”
Jessica’s eyes flared with anger, but something caught her eye behind me. The anger slid into a sad puppy face that oozed, poor me. She stumbled and fell on the ground, looking up at me with a fake teary expression. I felt my brows smash together at the instant change, “You won’t get any pity from me!”
Alpha Heir Travis’s voice sounded behind me as he rushed by to Jessica’s side, “What is going on here?”
“Travis?” Jessica sniffled; she reached for him. Shit, If Travis and Jessica were a couple, that could be problematic for my job. From what I’ve seen, Travis was a reasonable man, but I couldn’t imagine the lies Jessica would tell him about me. When Travis pulled Jessica into his arms, she pretended to limp. “I just wanted to say hello to my long-lost
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friend, Rue. We lost contact until I heard she was here.”
Travis’s eyes flicked up to mine as he assessed the scene. Travis knew my abilities as he had seen them firsthand. There was no way I would inflict so minor damage if I attacked someone. Jessica leaned heavily into his embrace, “I feel so weak. She just attacked me. I don’t know what I said that offended her.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away from this obvious play-acting. I wanted to escape, but Travis growled a stay-here, and for some reason, I listened.
“Let’s get you out of here.” Travis tried to guide Jessica away from the crowd, but she pretended to stumble. Travis swiftly lifts her up bridal style. A weird, tight, possessive feeling spreads across my chest and slams down on my ribcage like a massive weight. How dare she use the Alpha Prince like this.
