Chapter 23: Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23 I woke up the next morning to an empty bed. I wasn’t sure how long it had been since Alpha Jackson left but his side of the bed was cold. So he’d been up for a while. It was barely sunrise, so I was guessing that he snuck out in the middle of the night. Fucking amateur. We live in the same house. He can’t avoid me.

I climbed out of bed and headed down to the kitchen to get a coffee and there was no one to be seen around the whole packhouse. I went to his office and he wasn’t there either. So I took my coffee upstairs and I went back to my room.

I had a shower and got dressed for school that morning and made sure that I had everything in my bag before I left the house and I started heading towards the school. I knew that it was really early and there would probably not be anyone there, but that was no different to home.

As soon as I got to school I went to the library and I sat down with some books and I started doing some homework when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder.

Hey Edward.” I say without raising my head.

“How’s it going?” He asked sitting in the chair next to me.

“It’s alright. Didn’t have much time to get all of the homework done over the weekend so I thought I better get it finished before we head into class.” I explain.

Sounds like a good plan. How are you after the party?” He asked.

“Is that all anyone is going to be talking about?” I asked looking up from my books at finally looking him in the eye.

Probably. And I’m sorry about that. But it is what it is.” He says.

I know that. Doesn’t mean that I have to like it. High school fucking sucks.” I say.

Well, think of it this way. Tomorrow if your 18th.” He says.

“Don’t remind me.” I say rolling my eyes and going back to my books.

“What? How can you not be excited about your 18th? Every she-wolf loves her 18th. It means that she will finally be able to meet her mate.” He says.

“Well, in case you haven’t noticed Edward, I’m not like every other fucking teenage girl around here.” I snapped.

“I definitely know that. But right now you’re acting just as bitchy as them.” He says.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.

But I just don’t want to get into my birthday right now. I’d much rather just forget it.” I say.

“Why?” He asked.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve just got too much crap going on right now.” I say.

“Alright then. I guess that makes sense. I’ll leave you to it.” He says picking up his bag and he left the library.

As soon as I knew that the principal was in I went to his office and he saw me.

straight away.

“What can I do for you this morning Miss Stevenson?” He asked gesturing for me to sit down.

“Well, I was wondering what I had to do. in order to graduate early?” I asked sitting on the other side of his desk.

“Graduate early? You’re in your final year.” He stated, like it wasn’t already obvious to me.

“I know. I’d like to finish as soon as possible. I don’t plan on sticking around here for too much longer. If you don’t allow me to graduate early then I will just have to quite school and leave on my own.

“I threaten. 1 “Are you really willing to do that? I’ve seen your grades. They are the top of the class. You could graduate valedictorian.”

He says.

“I’m aware of that. But I don’t care. I want to finish as soon as possible. Now, are you going to help me or am I here to give you notice that I’m dropping out? And by notice, I mean, walking out right now and never coming back.” I say.

“Alright. I don’t want you to do that. I’ll talk to a couple of the teachers. They all say that even with the extra workload that the Alpha ordered you never fell behind. So, we can do that for you. We’ll get you the material that you need in order to graduate as soon as possible.” He says.

“Thank you.” I say standing up.

“Is there something going on that I need to know about?” He asked.

“No. I just want to get the hell out of here. “I say leaving his office with no more of an explanation. He didn’t know if I meant school or the pack. And honestly, neither did I.

When I got to my first class I saw Emily sitting at her desk and she saw me but I ignored her and walked to the other side of the room and sat next to Aria. Aria kept looking at me out the corner of her eye and I saw a lot of people looking over their shoulders at me. Obviously because of what happened on the weekend, but I just tried to ignore them.

That was definitely easier said than done and by our third class that day I started snapping at people and yelling at them. Telling them to mind their own business.

and stop looking at me.

At lunch time I was sitting outside reading a book on my own because I didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone until my mother came outside.

“Let me guess, you heard what happened as well.” I say looking up at her while she was standing there and I was sitting under a tree.

“Yeah. I did. Are you alright?” She asked.

“I’m fine.” I say.

“I also heard that you’ve been biting people’s heads off today.” She says sitting next to me.

“They keep staring at me like a sideshow attraction. What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to be known as the girl who almost got raped.” I say.

“I know. That is something that is very private but it’s all over high school. Unfortunately, that’s what high school is.”

She says.

“Gee, thanks for the words of wisdom. I already knew that.” I say lifting my book back up.

“What else is going on? I know that there’s something going on in your head. I know you too well to believe that it’s the only thing bothering you.” She says.

“It’s nothing. It’s no one’s business but my own. Can’t a person just be in a bad moon without everyone giving her a hard time? Not everyone has to be happy every single fucking day.” I say.

“You’re right. You’re entitled to a bad day. I’ll leave you to it. But if you need to talk, then you know where I am. I’m still your mother and I will always love you.” She says.

“I know that.” I say. And she stood up and left.

After lunch I went back inside and I went to my locker to get some books out and I saw Alpha Jackson down the hallway. He was talking to some staff members but I saw him look my way. He was looking at me for a while and I was looking at him too. But then I shook my head and I closed my locker and started walking in the other direction. I didn’t want to talk to him either.

The rest of the day went by really slowly and I was bored to death in those classes. but the principal called me to his office when school was finished. He told me that he worked it out with the teachers.

that they are going to put me on an accelerated program and that I will graduate earlier than everyone else. I just needed to put in the work to get it all done. Which I assured him, I would definitely do.

When I walked out of the principal’s office someone grabbed me by the arm and spun me around.

Are you avoiding me?” Alpha Jackson asked.

“Why would I be avoiding you?” I asked.

“I saw the look you gave me at lunch time. What’s going on?” He asked.

“I’m having a bad day.” I state plainly trying to show as little emotion as possible.

“What’s happened today?” He asked.

Why do you care? You made it pretty clear last night and this morning exactly what I mean to you. Another fucking bedwarmer.

You have every intention of rejecting your mate so who knows how long you plan to keep me hostage in the packhouse.” I say.

“You’re not a hostage in the packhouse. You can leave whenever you want.” He says.

“Good. I’m moving out tonight. And I quit working for you.” I say walking away leaving him there completely stunned. I honestly don’t think he knew what to say.

When I left school I walked straight to the packhouse and I grabbed my bag and I packed all my clothes into it and I left before Jackson even got back home again.

I didn’t know where I was going. But I didn’t want to go home to my mother and I wasn’t staying at the packhouse anymore. My birthday was tomorrow and I knew that it was going to be the worst day of my life. I couldn’t do it. I could handle that.

I ended up walking through the forest and I ended up at the cliffside just outside the territory that Alpha Jackson showed me when he was driving me back to the pack from Richmond pack. I put my suitcase down and I sat on the side of the cliff looking out over the town and I just stared at everything that was there. I couldn’t believe how beautiful this place was. But that didn’t change my mind on wanting to get out of here. I knew what was coming and I really wasn’t looking forward to it. I couldn’t stand the thought of it.

By the time night started to fall I heard footsteps coming up behind me and they stopped a couple of feet back.

“What is it Alpha?” I asked.

“I didn’t think you were serious when you said that you were moving out and that you quit.” Jackson says not moving from his spot.

“Why would I lie about that?” I asked.

“I don’t know. You said that you were having a bad day. I thought that had something to do with it.” He says.

Well, apparently not. How the hell did you know where I was?” I asked.

“Patrols saw you heading this way. I told them to let you pass. You obviously needed to sort things out on your own. But it’s getting dark, you can’t stay out here alone.” He says.

“I can take care of myself.” I say.

” I know that you can. But not against a pack a rogues.” He say coming closer to me and kneeling down.

“Just leave Alpha. I don’t need you.” I say.

Is this about this morning? I had to go because we thought there were rogues near the border again.” He says stroking my hair but I pushed him away and I stood up and grabbed my bag. I started walking through the woods and he was following me.

“What the hell is going on Taylor.” He says.

“I’m not going to let you do it.” I demand.

“Do what?” He asked. And I threw my bag on the ground and turned around.

“Reject me you idiot.” I screamed. And he stopped walking and stared at me in shock.

“You know?” He asked.

“Yeah. I fucking know. I know that I am your mate and I know that you plan to reject me tomorrow when I turn 18. You told me so last night. Even after sleeping with me, you weren’t going to change my mind. You are just like every other pretentious prick Alpha who takes what he wants and doesn’t give a shit about anyone else. Especially the girls that you leave behind.” I screamed at him.

Taylor. I know that’s what I said last night. But I didn’t know that you know I was talking about you.” He says.

Does it really matter? You still said it and you still plan to do it.” I yelled.

“I don’t know what the hell I plan to do. I know that I was going to reject my mate when I found her because of what my friend went through. But then I met you. I know what it’s like to have that mate. To feel the pull. To want to be near my mate all the time.

That’s why I got you to work at the packhouse. That’s why I never hesitated for one second to let you move in. And when it came to us sleeping together, I couldn’t control myself with you.” He insisted while yelling it at me.

Are you still planning on rejecting me?” I asked.