Continuing Jossie's POV:
Zeke took me into the showers where I was able to privately take a quick one. He got me a new jumpsuit to wear before he brought me into father's old office. My sister was sitting down behind it and scrolling down something on social media via her phone. She glanced up at me when she noticed I entered the room.
"Zeke you can wait outside," she told him sternly.
"Are you sure?" Zeke asked.
"What we have to talk about is private," Juliette told him as she waved him off and to leave.
"Let me know when you're done," he instructed. I couldn't believe it as Zeke left and locked the door behind him. I walked over to the chairs and sat down slowly.
"They made you take a shower?" She asked in surprise. "What for?"
"You don't want to know," I told her softly as I looked down into my lap. I heard her sit the phone down on the desk.
"So something else was the cause?" She wondered as she got up and came to sit down next to me in the other chair. "You're right... I don't want to really know."
"Why did you come here?"
"I have something to tell you."
"What's that?"
She didn't come here to ask me anything... did she? She came here to brag about herself. This visit isn't about me. Was it ever about me?
"I'm going to be the lycan Queen."
'That's not possible. You heard it from Nathalie herself. The King wants you as his mate and as the next queen.' Well... That or Veronica. He must be one of my possible mates that fate wants to hook me up with. I don't know if I want him as a mate... He might have power... But, as I learned... Power comes with a lot of responisbility. There is also always someone trying to take your spot. Rather your life is involved or not.
"How'd you come to that conclusion?" I asked curiously. I would buy into her game. See what she's playing.
"Well it turns out King Camren is looking for this hot hussy that looks exactly like you."
"So you think that showing up looking like me will be enough?" I asked her as I tried to guess her plan. She does know that won't work... right? I still don't understand how he can just go off of my scent alone. We never even met before.
"No. I'm not going there as you, Jossie."
"You wouldn't even make it past the guards," I laughed out.
"I would if its the masquerate where we have been personally invited by his mother."
Wow... this guy's mother is even involved?
Now that Veronica is done dealing with me and Casimir... She'll probably be there to try to win his affections. I wouldn't doubt it if she's planning to woo him over with her scent. Surely she's heard he's looking for his mate. She's possibly his mate as well.
"Jossie you're dumb if you think I'm his mate. I know who his mate is." Well if its not me then it is her. "She'll probably be at the ball trying to woo him. You'll have some major competition."
"No. It's you," she said as she sounded like she was too certain of it. Nothing was going to change her mind about it. Maybe she was right...
But, there is still the possibility of Veronica.
"How exactly are you certain you'll be queen then?" I asked curiously. What is she planning on doing? I'm not exactly in the right place for her to do anything to me.
"Because..." She reached forward and plucked a hair. "Look... a gray hair," she said as she took it and put it in the trash can. I frowned and patted my head as it hurt a little. "Anyway... because I'm going to secure it by making him drink a love potion. It'll secure my future with him."
"A what?" I asked in disbelief. Those don't exist... do they?
'They do,' Jude said in worry.
"A love potion? You don't know what that is? It makes Camren believe I'm his real mate."
"You can't do that!" I said and frowned at her. "That's so wrong, Juliette." How would it even work if I was to show up around Camren ever again after he took it? Would he recognize my scent as his mates? Or would he be in denial... What about Veronica's poor sake? What if they're really mates? Juliette... She can't do this to him!
I believe in mates. I believe he should have his chance... with the one he's supposed to be with. He should have the right to pick and choose who he wants.
"Any worse then you killing dad?" She asked suddenly.
"You don't believe... that... do you? You know I didn't... I love him. I love dad."
"Well I'm sure he would say differently." Jude growled in anger. She wanted to take me over and beat Juliette's ass. But, I wasn't about to let her win. I settled my heavy thoughts by pushing Jude's own away. "Besides... there won't be any evidence of you existing... Your trial will be after the mask. You'll be buried with that rogue in an unmarked cemetary. I thought I would come by and let you know your mate will be safe with me."
"You can't do this... What about your chance at finding the real one?" I asked her.
"I doesn't matter. He's who I want."
"No! You just want the power that comes with it. But, power isn't happiness." I stood up as I went towards her. I wasn't sure what I was doing until I grabbed her by the neck. This didn't feel like me as I saw red. I wanted to stop her from breathing. I squeezed her as I looked into her eyes. "Don't do it!" I growled at her. I felt instantly pissed she wasn't paying any attention to his feelings. She yelped and kicked the chair back. We fell over as she rolled on top of me and started to choke me. I heard the door unlock as Zeke came into the room.
"What are you doing?" He asked in a panic and pulled us apart.
"She was trying to choke me!" Juliette screamed. I could see fury like no other in her eyes. But, I reflected the same rage back at her. This was not like me. I didn't understand this feeling of hatred I now had for her. "No more visits!" He said as he started to pull me out of the room. "I should have known better than to leave you two alone in a room together."
Zeke pulled me through the hall as I started to uncontrolably fight back against him. I was becoming hard to control. His hands fought to hold me together and I was fighting to calm down. But, I was too worked up for the first time. This felt the same as my first trasformation. I was really going for it this time. I believed I could do it in a shorter amount of time. I was going to attack him and everyone around me. Jude's thoughts were taking over as she was trying to force me out of my own head. Things were becoming to distance theirselves around me. I felt restricted. My movement wasn't my own. I was becoming distant from myself.
His voice raised, "STOP JOSSIE!" He screamed. Jude's vicious thoughts to stop Juliette began to flood my mind as I pictured her at the mask. Forcing Camren to love her. How much crueler could one be? Nobody should be put under a spell. No one! I couldn't stop my imagination of a dark king being forced to drink that damn love potion. What's wrong with me? Why is this just... getting to me?!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry Zeke, I can't control myself!
I felt like the world crashed as my clothes were becoming tight around me. I felt restricted until they were loose and I was breaking every bone in my body. My world was changed as the trasformation happened and I went with it. It was fast and Zeke was able to pick up on what was happening.
"I NEED BACK UP!" He yelled. He was quick to trasform into his wolf as his bottom half of his uniform was taken off and the shirt was left on in the process. We were locked in a battle of time as we raced to be first as a wolf. He beat me as he didn't hesitate to ram my body into the wall. His goal was to injure me. I knew why. If he could hurt me just enough to get me to shift back then he would have control of me. Jude's mind pressed into my own. I didn't feel like myself as she pressured the rest of my trasformation onto me. My screams echoed the hall as they turned into a howl.
I caught a glimpse of Juliette's shocked face peak out from my father's office. I wasn't going to let Jude take over. I pressed to stay in control this time. I wanted my own blood.
'Not this time. I want this,' I told her as I felt confident.
I was here for a kill this time.
'You suck at fighting!' She groaned out. I knew it was true. How could I know what to do as a wolf? I was still new at this.
My trasformation was complete and I was now on all fours. But, Zeke was coming in for an attack as he aimed to bite my neck. I heard a gun go off twice down the hall. My heart pounded in my chest as I saw out of the corner of my eye- Matthew with a dart gun. I was hit suddenly and my mind started to grow numb. Zeke came off of me as he trembled and collapsed next to me. I didn't stay awake much further. It was too much as the drug took over.
Juliette's POV:
Matthew had the guards take away Jossie and Zeke's bodies. Jossie headed towards the cells while Zeke was rushed to the medical sector. Matthew comforted me with a semi-hug as he walked me out of the station and to my mom's waiting limo. He opened the door and let me inside. "April..." He trailed off and I felt my hair stand up. I wasn't sure how to feel as I felt fear rush into my heart he would tell her before I had the chance. It was my story to tell.
"Matthew."
"April, I don't think its a good idea for the two to visit again," Matthew said as he looked in at my mother. He waited until I was in to close the door behind me. The window was cracked slightly so my mother could speak to him.
"I tried to tell her not to," my mother said as she waved at him. "She just insisted she had something to say to her sister." He waved back. He looked me in the eyes. Like a sign for me to tell her what just happened. Of course I would.
"Let me make myself clear... I don't want it happening again. Nothing is too important to not at least have supervised visits," he said as he tapped the window. It rolled up. I gave him a warm smile in which he reflected a similiar one to me. He looked too much in a hury as he went back to the station. Probably to deal with what just happened. I pulled out the hair I collected. The limo began to drive off. I looked at my mother as I showed her what I got.
"You won't believe what just happened," I said.
"Great job," my mom said as she took it from me and put it in a zip-lock baggie and stuck it in her purse.
"You won't believe what I'm about to tell you..." I retried as I still couldn't believe it myself. I have to tell her about Jossie's wolf. "Jossie just shifted into a wolf, mom!" I said as I rubbed where she just had her hands around my neck.
"I didn't think the day would come," she said in amusement. "What did you say to make her do it?"
"Why are you assuming I said anything?"
"I'm not assuming anything. But, I was worried when I heard the gun go off. I was worried that rogue got out." I see she wasn't quick to come see for herself. I could have been in real danger.
"Jossie did try choking me."
"So it was you. You did say something."
"She got mad when I told her about the potion."
"Why would you say anything to her? I didn't tell you to do that."
I might have wanted to brag.
"It just slipped."
Lies.
"None of it matters now. We have to plan exactly down to the T what you will do the night of the mask..." She trailed off as she reached forward and took my hand away to look at my neck. "There's slight swelling... We'll get some cream to relieve the pain. You're lucky she didn't claw your eyes out. She must have been really angry... To trasform like that..." She trailed off in throught. "What did she look like?"
"It wasn't her first shift," I noted as I rememberd my first shift. All werewolves have the sticky substance from their first trasformation... But, it never comes back around after the first.
"What did she look like?" She growled out. I hummed as I thought over what to say.
"Like father... She was a black wolf," I told her. My mother looked away as she tightened his fist. "Why does it matter?" It just gives the pack another reason to hate her. A black wolf is a cursed wolf. Father was strong since he fought off his family curse for so many years. It's kinda funny though. I waited so many years wondering when she would trasform and become my rival. My mother has been fighting this whole time for me. But, was she also waiting to see her first born get to become a wolf?
No matter what... Josephine is... still her daughter. Still my sister. I wish it could have been different and I got to celebrate her first shift with her. Of course it matters to my mother. The fate of Jossie's fur is what hung in the balance. If she wasn't the same color of my father... then she might have a chance in this pack. The unspoken reality of Jossie's fur color is all anyone can think about.
"I doesn't," my mother said sharply. Her voice covering up the silence. "Your sister's fate still remains the same." She looked at me with promising eyes. She was still on my team. "She's still your father's murderer."
"When are you going to tell Grandma Della that Edith will inherit the Alpha's title?"
"Before the pack knows my dear." The limo drove us back towards the main road towards the house. There wasn't much to talk about now that I did as she wanted. But, I now had time to let what Jossie said sink in. It was wrong what I was going to do to Alpha Camren... I knew it. But, I just couldn't let an oportunity like this slip away. Better I have him then someone else that doesn't know how to run a pack... let alone the whole werewolf territories.
Vee's POV:
I spent the day soaking in the tub with a can of wolfweiser. Only to put on comfortable clothes because I was finally able to relax and watch The Bachelor. I had curled up on my love seat with a bowl of kettle corn popcorn and another can of wolfweiser.
I was different from the norm. With a movie projector instead of a flat-screen. I was able to stream my shows from my phone to the white sheets hung up. I felt old-fashioned as I loved the feel of the theatre it brought me.
Even though I was settled back into my normal routine... I felt lost. It didn't feel right. I didn't feel right leaving Josephine there at that station. Something was eating away at me. In the bathtub I had decided it was because something just... Wasn't right.
It was too late to go to the station.
But, in the morning I decided to pay Beta Matthew a visit.
I just wanted to check in on things. Make sure Josephine was ok. Something was wrong inside me and I felt obligated to be sure that Josephine... would be ok. I didn't want to be the reason she's back to a miserable lifestyle. I knew she was the pack's outcaust even before her father's death. It's terrible she's being forced to come back here. I know the pack doesn't like her because she's so much like her father's ancestors. But, I've already seen enough of her to know... she's not like them.
Josephine is different somehow. Even though Josephine is too weak to go against me... she had some spark left in her from her father's Alpha ego. She was so cute when she pulled that gun on me. It wasn't expected. She's got something different about her that made me want to grow closer to her. Josephine was in bad needs of training. She lacked a lot of knowledge. She didn't even trasform to back up Nathalie in fighting me. She was still knew at being a werewolf. It was probably from the sheltered life she lived growing up. It was unusual how much the pack picked on her. How protective her father was of her.
She had been a disappointment in everyone's eyes. But, did any of them stop and think... They should have been encouraging her instead? This back is sinning against the moon goddess over the crimes they've commited to the Alpha's first child.
If Josephine wasn't a Cromwell... If she didn't have her father's black hair... If she did show to have a wolf... They would see their own sins.
I feel so sorry for her now.
I would have to check in on her personally. Matthew would be able to set me up with a chance to see her. She'd probably be settling in at home by now. It was too late to be irritating Matthew with a simple check-in message.
A knock came from the front door. I had to pause The Bachelor to check and see who it was. It was super late. Too late for visitors. The audasity! It better be important for a pack member to be here so late. Especially when I'm off duty and watching The Bachelor. My first though was that it were a pack member here to ask for clothes. But, it wasn't who I expected when I opened the door to find her staring in my face.
It was the cute Filipino girl. The one with pretty brown eyes that reminded me of chocolate if given the right lighting. The same girl with toned ended brown hair that made my spirit howl. I love this girl. I love her cute bangs. She stood in the way of the door with her hands resting over her chest. She must have just came out of trasformation. I yanked her inside and looked past her at the quiet forest. I shut the door behind her and made sure to lock it. I turned back to her.
'It's your mate,' I heard my wolf say happily to me. Her high spirits put joy into my heart. It was good to see her but I wasn't sure how she managed to get here.
"Nathalie?" I asked in surprise.
How... did she get here?
"What?! You even know my name!" She growled out in anger.
"How did you get past the border?" I growled out in disbelief. What's the matter with her? Doesn't she know that's dangerous? If any of my pack members saw her...
"By a car. I parked it just outside of town."
"How did you find me?"
"I think we both know that answer, mate." She gestured towards her neck before her eyes wondered across my cabin. "A-Are you watching The Bachelor?" I smirked a little as my eyes were stuck on the mark I gave her body. She shook her head before taking the colar of my shirt and backed me up against the door. "WHERE IS SHE?" She growled out viciously. Her eyes radiated rage as she took me and slammed me back up against the wall. This time my head hit and caused it to ring. "Who are you?" Isn't this something I should be doing to her? She's in my house... Not the other way around. I kind of like this now. Her wolf must have helped her track me here.
"Josephine? I left her at the station."
"Who are you?" She asked and slammed me back against the wall for a third time.
"O-Owe... I'm Veronica," I told her as I wined and placed a hand on the back of my head to protect it. She should calm down... But, I'm not telling her that. I'm afraid of what she'll do if I say it. "But, you can call me Vee. Josephine told me your name is Nathalie."
"Does she understand what you done to me?"
"I don't think so."
Is she worried about what Josephine will think?
"What about you? Do you understand how serious it is?"
"I'm not a kid," I told her calmly.
I knew full-well when I marked her.
This girl is the one straight from my dreams. I've wanted to meet her my whole life. When we first met I knew instantly she was someone worthy of the devotion I could give her. I just have to prove to her I mean that mark I left on her neck.
"Listen... How about you take a shower and get into something nice before we pick up on this," I told her firmly. She looked relieved as she let me go and stepped away from me. I guess she believes she can trust me. I grabbed her wrist and took her into the back hall and towards my bedroom.
We went straight to the closet and I picked her out something to wear. Luckily she could slip into a white t-shirt and the expensive name-brand leggings I found too tight for my body. She could keep it. I let her get dressed and we regrouped in my kitchen. I cooked her a quick ramen meal and set out a glass of water. She'd walk in with a towel wrapped around her head and in the clothes I lended her. I sat beside her as she ate.
"So you left her at the station?" She asked and sounded a little worried. At least she looks to be calmed down. But... Why does it sound like I'm the bad guy for doing my job?
"It's where I was asked to drop her off at. She was probably asked there for a few questions before she could go home," I assured her. But, even I don't believe it all entirely. I saw a guy bringing a polygraph machine into the Alpha's office before I left the station.
"Can you take me to her?"
"I was gonna go down to the station myself and get permission from her uncle to see her. You shouldn't come. Infact you should remain here until I get back and can tell you what I find out. If you're discovered here you could be in some serious trouble."
"I-I know that... But, I'm worried about her."
"I know that's why you came here," I said with a sigh. It was depressing to know she came here for another girl. I wanted to be her number one. She gave me a look like she knew what I was feeling.
"It's just that she means so much to me already," she explained. "She's a sweet girl. If anything bad is happening to her here... I can't let it. She deserves happiness."
"Y-You're right."
"She didn't want to come home. I'm here to make sure she still feels that way. If she does I'm gonna take her away."
"Our pack doesn't exactly like her," I muttered as I worried about her safty now that she is home. Her father won't be around anymore for her. They've always bullied her. I can't imagine what they'll do now. If Luna Rabidcrest doesn't control the pack... She could have it rough here in the future. Josephine can't leave the pack until she's eighteen... Nor can she inherit her father's Alpha title until she's eighteen. The night of the king's ball falls on the same night of her birthday. She can't pass her title until after that time. When she's useless to the pack she'll be equel to dog-shit again.
"I thought so," Nathalie said with worry.
"Even if she's buttered up and happy to be here right now... I don't think it would last. My pack is pretty strict on shaming her for being a Cromwell."
"Just because her ancestors were rogues doesn't mean she should be hated," Nathalie growled out in anger and finished off the last of the ramen from the bowl. I took it from her to rise out in the sink.
"I think I agree," I told her in honesty. I looked towards her and half smiled. "Josephine seemed like a sweet kid." When I sat the dish on the drying rack I turned to her. "Let's get some sleep. You can sleep in my bed and I'll take the couch," I suggested. It wouldn't feel right if I didn't guard the door tonight.
"Do you have a hair dryer?" She asked as she stood up.
"It's under the sink in the bathroom," I explained.
"Thanks for giving me your bed tonight," she said gently and blushed as our eyes locked. I smiled as I walked over to the couch and laid down on it. She disappeared down the hall and not long after I was able to hear the hair dryer going. It didn't stay on longer than thirty minutes. I put The Bachelor back on at the lowest sound possible to hear. She came out once more with dry hair that she put up into a pony tail. She must have borrowed one from my stash. She walked over and sat on the edge of my coffee table. She crossed her legs as she gave me a serious look.
"I can't sleep until we have the conversation," she explained.
"What's that?" I wondered but I had a feeling it was going to drag back around to me marking her. I knew at some point... She had a mate before. He was in the pictures on the shelves back at her appartment. In those photos she was with her family. Her daughter was little a smaller image of her. I want to meet her. I want to know more about them. What happened to him?
"I think we should take things a bit slow. I have a daughter... and I don't think she'd understand right away," Nathalie told me as she pushed her bangs away from her eyes. She looked nervous to talk to me. "I didn't expect to find another mate... Not so suddenly at least. Plus... you're in a different pack and all. Maybe we should reject each other and just get it over with. I'm not sure we would work out." I frowned and sat up quickly.
"Hey, you can't just give up so easily," I told her as I grabbed her by the wrist. "If its about distance I will move packs to be with you there."
"It's not just that... You're a-"
"Girl? So, what? You think I can't satisfy you in bed?" I asked and felt offended. I could be a damn good lover for her! I could be a good mother to her kid... We could be a good team. I can show her that.
"It's not just that..." She looked away from my eyes as she blushed a deep shade of red. Even her ears were turning pink. "I-I just think about the way we first met. We were pratically seeing eachother as enemies."
"I had a job," I muttered.
"Yeah and you chose that first," she said and looked pissed from the thought about it.
"Josephine has responsbilites here to forefill. She had to come home. Sooner or later. You cannot let her come between what's going on between us."
"Josephine is my friend first," she snapped and looked me in the eyes as she was trying to calm down.
"Take her out of this conversation and give me an actual reason why you think this can't work," I ordered and watched her lips quiver. She didn't have an answer as she seemed to be staring at my lips. "You don't have anything holding you back now... do you?" I asked. I stood up fast and grabbed her hips as I pulled her up into a tight hold. Her lips crashed down on mine and I could feel her hunger. Her lips tasted like cherries. As if she put on some of my chapstick before invading my livingroom. I pushed past her lips with my tongue as I felt a rush of excitement. I never kissed a girl before. My mind focused in on one thing.... Teasing her until she agreed to finish the marking ritual.
I picked her up and carried her towards my bedroom. She parted from my lips briefly for air. I placed her down on the bed and got on top of her as I began to rub my body against hers. Our boobs bounced against each other as I began to trail my fingers against her skin. I rubbed her down as I made sure to hit my own favorite spots. My fingers took control as my arms wrapped around her and teased her back with light massages. I'd trail my hands downwards in spiral circles.
I pulled up her shirt to get to the soft skin underneath. At least mating to a female... Meant I knew where all the good spots were. I felt lucky. Like fate was expecting good things to come out of our pairing. I'd take control as I got her shirt to expose her small chest underneath. I'd take it off completely. We never dropped the beat of our energy.
Nathalie moaned as my lips parted from hers to travel down her neck. I found a spot that must have sent sparks down her body because she shivered underneath me. I smirked devilishly as I began to suck on the frail skin. I'd leave a trail of love bites from there as she squirmed with excitment. Her hands played with my hair the lower I went until I was too far and dragged me back to her lips.
I laughed as our lips became inseperable. I was locked in her hunger. She'd kiss me needily and I ran my fingers down... So far they stopped at her thighs. My fingers sank into her inner thigh and ran up to the damp cloth covering her. She outstretched her spine and the smell of her excited body radiated. I could already feel the tingles between my own as I fought to make her beg.
"Okay... Okay," she'd whisper. "Let's do it." Which was all it would take to drive me over the edge of arousal. I wanted to be satisfied by only satisying her needs. I'd make sure to give her my all so she wouldn't reject me in the morning. I'll show her it was right to choose me. I would give her my all.