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The next day was grey, miserable and wet, and I groaned in frustration as I headed downstairs. "Yuck," I declared when I entered the dining room. "It's raining cats and dogs out there."
"Agreed," Elena said with a rueful smile. She was feeding Saffron, and I paused long enough to give my little niece a tender kiss on her forehead. "We were going to go for a run, but it's just too miserable out there," Elena added. "I hope it clears up by this afternoon - my parents are coming for a visit."
George and Mary were the joint alphas of the Golden Shores pack, and as I sat down with my bowl of cereal, I felt a sudden wave of guilt hit me. It was no use reminding myself that the sex between Jackson and I last night had been consensual - George and Mary would fly off the handle when they found out their son-in-law had cheated on his mate with his sister.
And so would my parents. Jackson and I hadn't done much to conceal ourselves whilst having sex last night, and any pack worth their salt would have picked up on our broadcast passion. I was, therefore, surprised my parents hadn't come down on me like a ton of bricks, but when Jackson came in ten minutes later, they raised not a single peep when he hugged Elena and I, and when they saw the rain had gotten heavier, Mother suggested Jackson drive me to school, since he was going into town anyway. To my surprise, Elena seconded that notion, and as I hurried to my room to get my backpack, I wondered just what sort of cosmic hell the universe was putting me through.
'I've worked it out,' Chaser said, as I went back downstairs. 'Your activities last night were simultaenously broadcast and muffled from anyone within cosmic earshot. Since you started it underwater, by the time the echoes resounded across the country, no one was able to pick up on which couple had done the deed.' She sounded puzzled as she added, 'I've never known a mating to go like that.'
Neither had I, but that still didn't absolve the enormous guilt still going through me in waves, and I wished I'd gotten the bus instead. Being alone in the car with Jackson was going to cause all sorts of issues, and I knew I'd have to put the brakes on our budding relationship before it got out of hand. I loved Jackson like no tomorrow, but I hated the thought of causing Elena any further pain by sleeping with her mate.
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The rain was coming down in sheets when Jackson and I left, which gave me some relief; Jackson had to keep all his attention on the road to avoid an accident. The car's headlights did little good to alleviate the gloomy skies above, and Jackson had to focus in order to keep us safe. I sensed, however, a growing frustration coming from him, and I didn't need Chaser's silent censure to know he'd picked up on my determination to put an end to further advancements. 'I know,' I snapped. 'But this is the best thing for Elena and Saffron. They don't need to be witnesses to his infidelity, and God knows Saffron doesn't need a part-time father.'
'And what if Elena is okay with this?' Chaser challenged. 'You recall what she said to you the day before yesterday?'141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY1cq5kXjU
'Yes,' I said. 'But you can't tell me she would be okay with it. If I was in her shoes, I'd do all I could to keep my mate and his sister a safe distance from each other, not shoving them into each other's arms and giving them 'time to hang out.'
Chaser sighed. 'Elena's been advocating for you two ever since she met you,' she reminded me. 'She's not blind, you know. I'll wager you she's fully aware of what's going on, and she's likely doing a jig because now her mate is finally as happy as a man can be when he meets his other half. An accident of birth made you two half-siblings, but that doesn't mean your love is less valid. Elena's not stupid; she endorsed Jackson bringing us to school so you two could talk things out and get the housekeeping out of the way. And we're here.'
Sure enough, we'd pulled up at the school gates, but they were still closed, and when I looked at the car's clock, I saw we still had half an hour before they opened. "Oh well," Jackson said, putting the car in neutral. "Guess there's not much else to do but wait." He cut the engine, and soon the only sound was the rain hitting the car roof. It was still dark, but the car was dry and warm, and I sat back with a sigh. The mood was tense, but I didn't dare make a move to try and say anything, knowing we'd likely get into a fight; the set of Jackson's jaw suggested he was in a ripe mood for an argument. "You know," he said, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "I thought last night meant something. You weren't as reticent when you had your nails dug into my back, and I didn't get any hesitation when I woke you up in the early hours for another round."
I dug my nails into my hands. "It did mean something," I admitted. "And it still does, but..."
"I told you yesterday, Elena is an amazing woman, but she's not you," Jackson snapped, glaring at me. There was anger in that glare, and deep hurt as well, and I winced as that hurt reveberated through our newly-formed connection. "There's no woman on this earth who'll even come close to you, but you're too wrapped up in morals to realise it." He sighed and shook his head, turning his attention back to the gloomy weather outside. "It doesn't matter anyway. George and Mary want to expand, which is why they're coming to see Mother and Father this afternoon. I'm going to ask them to make up the guest room in Reading for us; no sense hanging around when I know I'm not wanted by the one woman who'll never see me the way I see her."
I felt as if I'd been slammed in the heart. "You can't," I protested. "I only just got you back - I don't want to lose you again."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C13AoHUTi
"It's not like you give two shits one way or another!" Jackson snapped, finally losing his temper, his glare fiercer than before. "I've risked my very neck to come back, and you've done nothing but play hot and cold in the three days I've been here!" He slammed the steering wheel in frustration. "Mother and Father told me never to come back when they sent me away two years ago," he went on, his voice calmer, but still full of hurt and anger. "They said if I ever showed my face in Derry Rise again, they'd stake me and use my fur as a hearthrug. I risked death to come back for you! Oh, and in case you're wondering, it was Elena who pushed for me to come back, because she alone knows just how much I'm in love with you! So if you're still feeling guilty, there's a little sop to make you feel better." He turned away with an angry growl, and I felt the hot tears sting my eyes as I realised just how big a fool I'd been. I wanted to open my mouth and beg his forgiveness, but the gates swung open, and Jackson irritably unlocked the doors. "Go," he said, his voice stripped of all emotion. "I'll probably see you this afternoon, but don't go breaking a heel rushing home. We're through."
There was nothing more I could say or do, and the moment I shut the door, Jackson started the car up and peeled away in an angry screech of tyres. It was still raining, but I didn't put open my umbrella, instead letting the cold droplets slide down my face and hide the hot tears spilling from my eyes.
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