Chapter 1
It was a strange feeling, coming back here. We've never visited the same place twice, but here we were, on our way to find Victoria's friends on the other side of California. Quite frankly, I didn't much care for Damian. The couple times I'd met him, he seemed closed off and quiet, much like myself, but I just didn't like the werewolf. Werewolves were below me, and I always felt a certain disconnection with them.
I looked around our private jet to see Gemini leaning against Leo's shoulder, their fingers intertwined as she smiled peacefully and I felt a familiar tug at my heart. She wasn't mine anymore. Well, she never was mine. But now I definitely had no shot. She found her erasthai, which wasn't me. The pain I felt at that thought was foreign and I pushed it away, feigning indifference as Tori droned on about the wedding beside me.
Hers and Gemini's wedding was coming up soon, and that's all they've talked about the past few weeks. Now we had to go find Tori's old friends so she can personally invite them to the wedding. They could have gone alone, but apparently if part of our pack leaves, we follow. That's the whole point of sticking together. We followed each other like sheep.
"Jaquez, are you even listening to me," came Tori's voice. I snapped my head up at hearing my name being called and nodded back.
"Yeah. You were talking about the floral decorations," I prompted. She studied me a moment before huffing in satisfaction and continuing. I was used to half listening to my pack mates conversations.
Nick came over and sat down on the other side of me and I glanced at him. He did this on purpose, seating me in the middle. Now I felt trapped and I hated it. I let out a barely audible hiss and stood up, walking to the room in the back of the jet, plopping down on the only single bed.
I was the only one in my pack who hasn't found my mate yet. I was waiting for my erasthai, but I wasn't sure if it would happen. I wanted it to happen though, so I could get over this stupid feeling I have for Gemini. I shouldn't have even been thinking of her like that in the first place. She was gay for most of her life anyways! Until she met Leo.
"Eek! That's cold," exclaimed Gemini. I stood back up and peeked out of the doorway to see that she had spilled milk all down her shirt. Leo was biting his lip to keep from laughing but I didn't have such restraint and her head snapped up to glare at me.
"You- stop laughing it's cold and now my shirt is wet," she complained. I snickered and ducked back in the room when a throw pillow flew at my head. I smiled for a moment longer before laying back on the bed with a sigh.
•••
When we landed, Tori was beyond excited and almost literally jumping for joy. I envied her constant enthusiasm.
We went back to the mansion we had been staying at before and I immediately went to the room which had previously been designated as mine. I wasn't sure what all we were supposed to be doing here, but I did know that I was supposed to be doing in the time being. I could go clubbing. I haven't done that in years. It was definitely tempting, but the more I thought about it, the less appealing the idea became.
There was a soft knock on my door and I told the intruder to come in. A blonde head poked in through the crack and Gemini smiled at me.
"We're all going to go meet up with Damian. Are you coming," she asked. I stared at her, momentarily lost in her green eyes, the color of freshly cut grass. Pulling out of the stupor, I nodded. I didn't particularly want to see him, but the idea was better than sitting here and thinking about Gemini.
When I was in the backseat of the car with Tori, Nick, Gemini, and Leo, I shifted against the window seat. Tori was in the passenger seat while Nick drove and I was sitting behind the driver's seat, beside Gemini. Rose and Evan had stayed back, claiming to have some date night plans.
Our legs were pressed together, but only because she was kind of directed towards Leo. They were talking in hushed times and I wasn't one to eavesdrop so I tuned out. I think that whatever I was feeling for her was slowly and gradually fading. I hoped.
We pulled up to a familiar building and we walked up to Victoria's old apartment. I had been here several times during Tori's kidnapping and I remember the constant worry I had felt about getting her pack. Our pack wasn't complete without all of the members.
After Tori knocked softly, the door opened, revealing Damian. He seemed surprised but didn't question the random visit.
"Damian," Tori exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. I watched Nick visibly stiffen, his hands tense at his sides while he tried to regain control when Damian wrapped his arms around her to return the hug. I felt a burning in my chest and I knew that Nick was angry and jealous, which wasn't a surprise.
When Damian let go of her, Nick possessively pulled her to him by her waist. Damian noticed and smiled in amusement. His eyes flicked over the rest of us.
"Hey guys. Who's this," he asked, his eyes landing on Leo. Leo didn't say anything and he actually looked bored and aloof, as of nothing mattered to him, but that was just his resting bitch face. I took a deep breath to calm myself. I needed to keep my control. It was the one thing I was sure of because I was always in control of myself. I also needed to stop hating on Leo. He wasn't a bad guy. He was actually really cool. The only thing I had against him was that he had Gemini and I didn't.
There I go. Thinking about her again. But I tried my best to suppress my thoughts. Suddenly, we were being led inside and I realized that I had missed a whole conversation between the five.
We were now sitting on the familiar sofa, which we hadn't seen in months. Tori looked comfortable as could be, but Leo and Nick looked tense. Nick, I could understand because him and Damian weren't exactly buddy buddy, but Leo always had that guarded expression.
My phone started ringing and I stood up, excusing myself so I could walk out and take the call.
"Hello?"
"Hey. What's up," came Melanie's voice. I smiled and leaned against the brick wall of the building.
"The sky. You okay," I asked. She hummed in reply and then she grew silent, which I wasn't sure was a good sign. Melanie wasn't one for silences.
"Listen, um, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to hang out. When you get back, I mean," she said quickly.
"As friends or…" I asked, trailing off. She was quiet and I found myself with a small smile. I knew that Melanie had a crush on me. I wasn't really one for dating, but I knew that there was no harm in trying it. At least not with Melanie. She was easy to be around, always laughing and cracking jokes, and she was one of the most optimistic people I'd ever met.
I knew that I wasn't going to meet my erasthai, and Gemini wasn't an option, although she never really was, so maybe I could give Melanie a chance.
"Well I mean, sure. If you want but I was thinking maybe as something more… it's stupid actually. Just forget I asked. I don't know why I thought-"
"Melanie," I said, interrupting her rambling. "When I get back, I'll pick you at noon this Saturday, and then we'll have a lunch date."
I heard her suck in a sharp breath and she excitedly agreed before hanging up.
•••
It's Saturday, and I'm sitting at the diner, where Melanie had agreed to meet me. She walked in a few minutes after I arrived and sat down across from me in the booth, her dark hair swishing as she took a seat.
She smiled brightly and her big baby blue eyes lit up. I gave her a small smile and nodded my head in greeting. Once she was settled, she spoke while we waited for the waitress.
"Hey. How was the trip?"
"It was… boring," I answered honestly. We didn't do much on the trip except relax while Tori and Nick were inviting people that they knew. Mostly Tori. Nick pretty much has everyone he needs.
"Sounds incredibly fascinating," she remarked sarcastically. I gave her a small smile in amusement.
"What did I miss," I asked her. She shrugged her shoulders and made a face that said there was nothing to miss.
"Not much. My dad has fully recovered and my aunt came back after the accident," she said, referring to when her dad was in the hospital a few weeks before.
Leo was reluctant to leave his sister and his father at first but somehow Gemini had convinced him. I didn't know him very well but I knew that he was very protective over his family, much like I was. Since Leo and Gemini were together, they were my family too, and I'd protect every one of them until my very last breath.
"That's great," I replied.
She started telling me about baseball practice and I was listening intently when my lycan suddenly stirred. My head snapped up when a strong, tantalizing scent hit my nose at full force. The bell to the door clanged as it shut and I watched as a hooded figure walked quickly to the back.
She paused and lifted her head, her hazel eyes locking with my glacier blue ones. She swallowed harshly and ducked her head down again, walking to the back. Before I could comprehend what I was doing, I abruptly stood up and stared at the employee door that the girl disappeared into.
"Joc, what's wrong," Melanie said, looking towards the door. She got up and stood beside me and I towered over her small frame. "That was your mate, wasn't it," she asked.
I gave a small nod and silently walked out of the diner.
~~~
Hey guys! This is the third book in the Lycans Love series and for the new readers, I strongly suggest that you read Resisting Love and Unexpected Love prior to this story. Also, I wasn't sure if I should switch view points from Jaquez to his mystery mate or not, but let me know in the comments what you guys think I should do. I hope to update again very soon! Love you all and have an AMaZinG day!!!
~Jade♥️
