Chapter 10

Jolene 

The drive to my parents' house felt shorter than it used to.

Or maybe I spent too much of it trying not to panic.

The roads were familiar. Every tree, every turn, every cabin hidden between the woods carried memories I never asked to keep. Some good.

Most are painful.

I kept both hands tight on the steering wheel while Jasper sat  in the passenger seat deep in thought.

The silence between us wasn't comfortable,the weight of his words still hangs in the air.

Not after the reminder that while I was surviving, everyone else had been trying to move on.

Growing. Falling in love. Living. Having children. Building families.

And I missed all of it. 

"You still nervous?"  Jasper asked suddenly.

I let out a weak laugh. "Is it that obvious?"

"A little."

"A little?"  I glanced at him briefly. "I feel like I'm about to throw up." 

That finally made him smile.

"There’s the Jo I remember." 

The Jo he remembered.

Not this new Jo. The old,fun and bubbly Jo. The one that had full of life.  

Not this Jo.

Not the one who woke up screaming in the middle of the night. 

Not the one who checked every lock twice before sleeping.

Not the one who stiffened whenever strange men stood too close.

Because the old version of me died a long time ago,when they took my dignity from me.

Our large familiar house finally came into view between the trees.

My chest tightened instantly.

Home.

The word didn’t feel real or right anymore. It hasn't been for seven years.

Jasper barely waited for the truck to stop before jumping out.

"They've been waiting since six this morning," he said while grabbing one of my bags from the backseat.

"It's barely noon."

"Exactly."

I huffed softly despite myself and stepped out.

The second my boots touched the gravel driveway, the front door burst open.

“JOLENE!”

Mom.

I barely had time to react before she came rushing down the porch stairs.

Crying.

Actually crying.

"Oh my baby," she sobbed the second she reached me, throwing her arms around me so tightly I lost my breath.

Emotion punched straight through my chest.

"Ma," I whispered shaking.

Her hands moved over my face, my hair, my shoulders like she needed proof I was really standing there.

"You're too skinny," she cried immediately.

I laughed through sudden tears. "Hello to you too."

"I should smack you for disappearing for seven years." 

"Evelyn," Dad warned from the porch. I think he followed mom,that man hasn't changed a day.

"What? I can cry and threaten her at the same time." 

That sounded exactly like my mother. She hasn't changed a bit.

The familiar voice almost shattered me completely.

Dad walked toward us with calculated steps as if figuring out if I was real.

But the second his eyes met mine his composure cracked too.

I had never seen my father cry openly before. Not once.

Yet tears filled his blue eyes as he pulled me against his chest after Mom finally let me breathe.

" My princess," he said hoarsely.

Guilt hit me so hard I almost couldn't stand.

Because they didn’t deserve what I did to them.

None of them did.

"I'm sorry,"  I whispered against his chest.

Dad immediately pulled back, gripping my shoulders firmly.

"No,"  he said sharply. "You don't apologize today." 

"But..."

"Not today."

My throat burned....

Then another familiar voice echoed from the doorway.

"Well damn. She actually came back." 

Jacob.

I turned just in time to see my other brother leaning against the porch exactly like Jasper used to.

Or maybe I just forgot how identical twins worked.

Same dark hair.

Same green eyes.

Same annoyingly handsome face.

Only Jacob had a beard now while Jasper stayed clean-shaven.

A watery laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

"You grew facial hair."

"That's your first observation after seven years?"

"It's aggressive facial hair." 

He barked out a laugh before crossing the yard toward me.

Then suddenly his expression changed completely.

The humor disappeared.

And my brother just hugged me.

Tightly. Not letting me go.

"I missed you, Jojo," he murmured quietly.

The childhood nickname almost broke me.

"I missed you too."

For a few seconds none of us spoke.

The only sound came from Mom quietly crying again behind us.

"You done traumatizing the family permanently?"  Jacob asked after pulling back.

I rolled my eyes instantly. "There he is." 

" There who is?"

'The annoying twin." 

Jasper gasped dramatically beside us. " Wow. So you still love him more."

" Obviously."

" Disrespectful," Jasper muttered.

For the first time since crossing the border into Crove Pack, I actually laughed freely.

And it felt nice.

Normal.

Like nothing had happened over the past seven years.

Because normal things made you forget pain for a little while.

Then life reminded you.

" You haven't met everyone yet, there is one particular person, anticipating to meet you baby" Mom said suddenly, excitement breaking through her tears.

I froze slightly. Right.Children.

And Jasper's mate. I wonder who she was and how many nieces and nephews I have now.

I wasn't prepared for that part. I didn't buy enough toys.

Dad noticed immediately because of course he did.

"You don't have to overwhelm yourself," he said with a warm smile.

"I'm okay."

A lie, a big fat one but I can manage this suitable, although it's overwhelming.

Mom practically dragged me toward the house before anyone could argue.

The second I stepped inside, the scent hit me first.

Vanilla, something familiar and sweet.

My entire body went rigid.No.

No fucking way way.

Then a laughter so familiar echoed in the living room.

A laugh I hadn't heard in seven years but would recognize anywhere.

"Oh my God," I whispered.

Before I could process anything, someone rounded the corner holding a toddler on her hip.

Like I said ,no fucking way this was happening right now.

Oh moon goddess haven't I been through enough.