Chapter 4 - Acceptance

Rochelle

Remington never glanced at me, didn’t say a word, my eyes didn’t leave his back as he guided Monica through the crowd.   A pain that I can only be described as a knife piercing my heart had me closing my eyes shut, not to allow it to affect me but to harden my heart towards the blatantness of their disrespect.  Walking back to our home, both Mom and I stayed quiet, there was nothing left to say about the loss, about the emptiness we both felt as we entered our home.  She had lost her mate; the love of her life and I lost the only man that would truly love me unconditionally.

The following days were empty, both of us trying to get through each one, as people went about their lives normally, because the loss of John Jasper didn’t affect them as it did us.  Mom cried every day, no less than she did the day before.  Neither of us ate, we barely slept, she stayed in her bedroom, and I curled in his chair. 

The following Monday, my mother’s bedroom door creaked opened, and she stepped out, “you need to go to school, get your finals done and it’s time to stop grieving your father.”  She held my hands, “your dad loved you and he wouldn’t want you to stop living because he was protecting us, so you need to go on and live your life.”

She was right and I knew that, yet it didn’t make it any easier.  I grabbed my phone and turned it on, ignoring the missed calls and messages and sent a text to Linda, “see you at school.”   

I pulled my hair into a messy bun, washed my face and got dressed in torn jeans and one of my dad’s button-up shirts.  I had one final today and then I could leave.  I walked inside the school, ignoring everyone’s stares and whispers as I opened my locker Linda’s voice came from my side, “hey, I missed you.” 

I slowly nodded, “yea, I missed you too.”  I pulled out my hoodie, stuffing it inside my backpack, “I’ll see you after the final,” I shut my locker and headed for class. 

She threw her arm over my shoulder, “I want to walk you,” she leaned her head touching mine, “I’m your BFF, we can talk after class.” 

I went to reply when I heard Monica squeaky voice, “wait till you see the dress I’ll be wearing at his party,” she giggled, “we’ll match like a mated couple.”  Linda’s arm tightened around my shoulders, “don’t pay her any attention, she does this just to get to you.”

I stared out the classroom window thinking how much my life had changed in one day, how devasting it could be.   I’ll make sure my dad is proud of me, I’ll become the fiercest warrior.  I’m his little girl; his little warrior and nothing will stand in my way. 

The sound of the bell had my head turn only to find Remington standing in front of my desk, “hey, how you been?”

My jaw clenched as I stared at him, my eyes focused on something pink on his collar, “fine,” I gritted out. 

His eyes softened as he exhaled and slid into the seat in front of me, “Roe, we need to talk.”

My eyes stared at the pink stain on his collar, then looked him in the eye, “okay, you can talk to me at your party.”  I snapped my fingers, “oh, that’s right I won’t be there since I wasn’t invited, now turn around and leave me alone.”

The teacher spoke, “all eyes up front,” his jaw set tightly, and he turned from me as she explained about the exam.  He slipped a piece of paper onto my desk as he passed the test to me.  I eyed the note as I took the test paper from his hand.  I finished the test and opened the note, he was asking to meet me at the dock, he must be fucking joking.  I snorted, “NO,” as I passed his desk, slinging my backpack over my shoulder and walked to the front, handing in my test before walking out of the classroom.

As I got to the packhouse front door I knocked and one of the houseworkers opened it, “please, come in,” she spoke politely. 

“I need to see Alpha Maxwell,” my voice full of confidence.  The houseworker smiled, “of course, he’s in his office.”

“Thank you,” I headed down the hallway towards his office, his door opened as I approached, his words carried down the hallway.

“Remington spoke to me last week about Monica and it slipped my mind, but you understand how these young people are, if you’d talk to her, make her understand how he feels, I’d appreciate it and so would he.” 

Beta Kirt nodded, “right away Alpha, I’ll do my best to make sure she understands his intentions,” he smiled as he turned towards me, only for his face to go stoic.  “Rochelle,” the Beta stepped up to me, “how are you sweetheart?”

How am I? shattered, broken beyond repair I thought, but I wouldn’t say that “I’m fine Beta Kirt, thank you for asking, I need to see Alpha Maxwell,” my eyes pleading as I looked from him to the Alpha.

Alpha Maxwell extended his hand towards his office, “of course, Rochelle, please come in.”  Entering his office, taking it all in, his huge mahogany desk, the sitting area and the floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the pristine garden.  I sat in the leather chair and straightened my back, as his door shut and he sat behind his desk.  “What can I do for you,” he asked with his hands clasped in front of him.

My voice was steady a contradiction of my inner turmoil, “My father had asked if I could go to warrior training and I believe it was all set up for me to leave next week, but I was wondering if I could leave at the end of this one.” 

He sat back in his seat, “you’re sure about this, the first two weeks of training is probationary, it’s quite brutal you know,” he sighed.  His eyes bore into me and an expression I didn’t understand flashed in them, “this week? but aren’t you going to attend the graduation party, it’s this Saturday, it’s not just for Remington, it’s for all of you,” he gave me a slight smile.

My emotions stormed within me; do I tell him I wasn’t invited?  That his son has decided that I’m not worthy of attending, that I’m nothing in his eyes.  “I’d rather get my life on track, it’s what my father would want me to do.”

Something border lining compassion crossed his face, “I see, this is about your father, you’re leaving beforehand,” he sighed, “if this is really what you want, then the convoy leaves Friday at noon to the compound, will all your tests be completed?”

A wave of relief flowed through me as I nodded, “yes, I’ll be done on Thursday.”