CHAPTER 20
Jasper
When we touched down in Glasgow Airport not four hours ago, it felt amazing to be on home turf. It’s just a shame we had to leave Kevin and Karina behind because Karina wasn’t fit enough to travel back with us. I felt bad leaving him, but the pack needs their members home. It wasn’t fair to leave them short of their main members.
The drive back out to the camp is worse than the long flight. Thankfully, Joel and Markus have taken turns with the driving, but for the last hour, I insisted that I drive. We’re about at our destination and the vehicle is quiet. We’re not only returning home ourselves, but we have new members with us, and anxiety is radiating off them in buckets. It’s only to be expected after what they’ve been through, but I have faith that a few months here will feel like they’ve been a part of this pack for life.
“Looks like we have a welcome committee,” Joel says sarcastically. It’s good to see him a little more himself, and I think being home will make him see Darcy for who she actually is.
I park the car, step out, and open the back doors to let everyone out. Before I even close my door, Carlos descends upon me. His hand is held out and I’m taken aback when he pulls me into a man hug, patting my back.
“Miss me, buddy?” I pull back and look behind me to see Chardonnay doing the same with Stracey, and getting to know the girls we’ve brought home. That’s why Chardonnay is the perfect Alpha’s mate, because she’s kind to everyone.
“Miss ye. I don’t know whether to slap you or kiss you. You ever put the fear of God in me again and you won’t need to worry about poisonous wolf bites and black magic.”
We both laugh, but Joel, Markus and Callum join us. “You need to join the very long line, Alpha. I must have aged thirty years over the last two weeks,” says Markus, shaking his head.
“How’s young Kevin doing?” asks Carlos.
“He’s doing a little better now he can connect with Karina’s wolf. When I woke up, he was losing the plot a bit, but Lisa and Markus were a good help, teaching him to connect with Karina in other ways.”
“Good. I take it Lelland will look after them while they’re there.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have left them if I thought otherwise. They’ll be fine. I said I’ll check in daily. How’s things here?” I look around the pack and nothing much has changed, but pack members are starting to form around us.
“Joel!” I turn to see Morag running through the trees towards us. I can’t help but smile, because she’s been his guardian for a lot of years. It’s only natural that she worries while he’s away.
Joel sighs. “Oh dear God. You’d think I was the one at death’s door.” I slap his shoulder playfully, and he changes his tone. “Morag. How are ye, doll?”
“Don’t you doll me, ya big lummox. You ever go off like a crazy person without telling me again, I’ll give ye what for.” She pulls him into a big hug and we’re all entertained seeing Joel being told off by Morag.
“I had to go, Morag.”
“I know ye did, but a little warning would’ve been good. I’ve driven Hamish crazy since you’ve been gone. Jasper, sweetheart, how are ye?”
I bend down and place a kiss on her cheek. “I’m good. I’m much better. Well, maybe you want to have a word with this great lummox.” I laugh when Joel turns and glares at me.
“What did you do?” she asks Joel.
“That’s a good question,” says Lisa as she joins us. “This eejit is denying his soulmate. Maybe you can talk some sense into him.”
“What?” Morag looks excited at this topic, but Joel just shakes his head.
“I swear to God, you’re all a nightmare. You couldn’t let me be home a day without telling her. Now I’m never going to hear the end of it.” He walks off but stops dead a few feet away.
Our laughter soon dies when we see Julian and Braxton walking towards us. I hold my hand out for Stracey, and she takes it.
“They didn’t waste much time, did they?” Callum says, loud enough for them to hear.
I take in a deep breath and step in front of everyone, pushing Joel behind me. I won’t let anyone get in the middle of this crossfire, and the mood Joel is in at the moment, he won’t think twice before smarting off.
“What can I do for you?” I ask sternly.
“Jasper. It’s good to see you,” says Julian, stepping forward and holding his hand out to me. Of course, I take it, because I have no beef with Julian. We’ve always been on each other’s side until lately.
“I’d like to say the same, but I get the feeling this isn’t a social call.”
Braxton steps up beside Julian and holds his hand up to my shoulder. “It’s good to see you well, Jasper. We were all worried for a while.”
“I bet you were. What can I do for you? I said I’d do your mission and it’s done. Kevin is still in Canada at his mate’s side. Callum and I have done everything you asked. Our pack’s punishment is done with.” I stand my ground. “Which brings me to my next topic. I’m done. I can’t keep putting myself into these situations. I have too much to lose now. My family needs me. My pack needs me.”
Braxton smiles that big, goofy smile that I just want to slap off him. “If it was only that simple, Jasper. You can’t just walk away from your responsibilities.”
“My responsibilities are and always have been Lisa and Markus. I can’t protect them if I’m dead.”
“And your mate doesn’t have anything to do with this decision?” I look over my shoulder slightly to Stracey.
“How dare you?” Stracey lets go of my hand, steps away from me, and gets into Braxton’s face. “Jasper made the decision when you locked him in your fucking cells like some criminal. If that’s how you treat your own, no wonder your men are moving on. Everything you touch turns to ash.”
“Strace-”
“No, Jazz.” She shakes her head and doesn’t take her eyes off Braxton. “Enough is enough. You’ve done more than enough. Even after everything you’ve been through, you still save our kind and welcome them to the pack.” She points over to the girls we brought home. “I won’t lose you. The kids won’t lose you. You take on Jasper and Kevin, you take on us all.” She puts her hands on her hips, never flinching away.
“Stracey is right.” I look over my shoulder to see Joel standing beside me. “You take on the pack.”
Markus and Lisa stand at the opposite side of me, followed by Carlos and Chardonnay. Second by second, more of our pack stands beside me, for me.
“I believe you’re welcoming Darcy Dakota to your pack,” says Braxton, never taking his gaze away from Stracey.
“You know we are. What of it?” I ask bitterly.
“Black magic is against the rules.”
Joel steps forward, fury and anger radiating from him. “Don’t even go there. Black magic is against the rules, but when you’re abused, raped, and beaten, you’ll do anything for one day of normalcy. Our fucking wolves shouldn’t be putting women through that, but they do. So don’t you dare come in here trying to pin anything on her.”
I glance over at Darcy. Her brows are scrunched together. Her hands are tangled together with her nerves. I’m not sure if it’s because of the council or Joel sticking up for her.
“They’re kids, Braxton. From Lisa to Markus, Joel and now the girls… they shouldn’t need to go through any of it. You would do anything to survive as well,” I say.
“We have rules, Jasper.”
“Fuck rules!” I yell, making Stracey jump. “They’re kids. No one, not even you, will punish them any more than they have been. I will stand here and now, and I will challenge you.” I kick off my shoes and start to pull my jumper over my head. As weak as I feel, I’ll still stand my ground on this.
“Jasper, there is no need for this,” says Julian, standing between me and Braxton.
“The only other option you have is turning around and leaving our pack to live the life we want. I’m not doing any more work for you. Darcy isn’t getting punished for what she did. None of us hold that against her, so it shouldn’t affect you.”
“I’m sure Joel would disagree. I believe he did hold it against her.” He smirks.
“Fuck you!” Joel pushes forward but Julian stops him from reaching his target, and I pull Joel back, resting my hands on his chest, standing directly in front of him. “You won’t know what goes through a wolf’s head when they meet their soulmate for the first time. No fucker would take you, so don’t you dare come in here, punishing me for my stupid actions. I don’t disagree with what Jasper said. I disagree with what I said in Canada. Darcy is an asset to this pack, and you will not touch a hair on her head. So help me God, I will bury you.”
“Enough!” Carlos roars, and we all stand down, including me and the council. “Get off my land, Braxton. No one, I repeat, no one is going anywhere. Joel, take Darcy to your cabin. Let her settle in.”
I glare at Joel not to say anything. I know as good as anyone that he isn’t ready for Darcy to be living with him, but in front of these bastards, that’s where they think she’s going.
Carlos continues, “Jasper and Stracey, go home and settle in. Markus, take Lisa home. Everyone else, dismiss yourselves. Callum, show the girls up to the cabin you were staying in. It should be plenty big enough until we sort things out. You two,” he points to Julian and Braxton. “My office. Now!”
I don’t want to leave Carlos to deal with this, but he nods in my direction and I relent. I take Stracey’s hand and head in the direction of her cabin. I make sure Markus, Lisa, and Joel are doing what they should before I give Stracey my full attention.
Whatever happens now is anyone’s guess.