Jolene
Fourth week of December, Tuesday
I spent a week and a couple more days in the hospital. Christmas was around the corner, which only meant one thing: Fucking Christmas songs everywhere. Ugh, I hate them.
My butt was still numb from lying on the hospital bed for so long, so my slight annoyance at my brother’s ordering me to stay at home was justified.
“Alex! It is snowing! I want to go out and play!” I said crossing my arms on my chest and pouting like a little kid. Then I began singing. “Do you want to build a snowman?”
“No, young lady. I know exactly what you want to do and I am not letting you do it. You are still weak.”
Oops. Busted. Alex knows that whenever I am sad, I like to wander. I just mindlessly walk and walk anywhere. When I was still recovering from my break up with Oliver I would walk so much that I would end up in rogue territory. Then, I would have to fight my way back home. Alex probably does not want me to come back and collapse at our doorstep in wolf form covered in blood like I have done so many times before. Sissy.
“Okay. But, I am going back to training tomorrow.” A smirk formed on my face.
“Jolene…” he said.
“Alex…” I used the same low tone.
He sighed, shaking his head in defeat. “Fine. You can go back to training but there is no training on Christmas day.”
“Yay!” I said and turned on the TV.
As soon as Alex left, Mandy walked in.
“Jolene!” she yelled and ran to my open arms. We hugged for a moment; She pulled away and sat beside me, frowning. “How are you? I wanted to visit you in the hospital but you were not accepting visits. You are so mean.”
I just stared at her in disbelief. “Wow…”
“What?” she asked crossing her arms on her chest.
“It is just that I cannot get into my head that you are talking now, and…”
“And?”
“And you are sassy.” I chuckled.
“I am not,” Mandy said feigning offense.
I laughed. “Where is Elena?”
“She is sleeping. She has been tired lately.”
“She has probably been staying up late watching series as usual,” I said.
Mandy shrugged. “Maybe… I will accompany you while you recover like you did with me.”
I clapped my hands together. “Okay. Let’s start by watching a movie. You choose.”
“Sounds good to me.” She took the remote control and began scrolling through the movies.
I heard a soft knock on the door. “Mom?” Aiden said.
“Come in!”
The door slowly opened and Aiden stepped into the room, followed by Matt. Aiden walked down to me and hugged me; he complained about my not accepting visits last week. Sorry, but one freaked out werewolf in the room was more than enough thank you. I had spent most of my time there wanting to hit Alex with the aluminum tray, the empty one.
Matt kept walking until he was standing in front of Mandy.
“So, pretty,” he said. He caressed her cheek and looked into her eyes. “What is your name?” Mandy stayed quiet but I noticed her shaking hands. I pulled her into a hug, and she was sobbing loudly against my chest.
I cooed to Mandy as I stroked her back. “Shh… It is okay, Mandy. No one is going to hurt you. I am here now.”
“What is happening?” asked Matt looking distressed. He tried to reach her and touch her hair but I swatted his hand away.
Aiden went to Matt’s side and pulled him toward the door. “Come with me. I will explain you,” he said.
Matt growled at Aiden and his eyes darkened. “I cannot leave her crying like that. She is my m-”
“Matt get out of my room right now!” I commanded him using my Alpha voice. At least I still got it. Sorry Matt.
I was afraid of Mandy’s reaction to finding her mate. She is only fifteen, so she is definitely not feeling the bond right now, and she said she did not want to find her mate. It would break my heart if Matt gets rejected. I mind linked Aiden to not tell him too much about her yet. I want to respect her privacy.
Matt lowered his head and walked out of the room, followed by Aiden. Once the boys left the room, Mandy finally calmed down. The truth is that Amanda is terrified of men. She rarely leaves the Alpha’s house for this reason. My brother and Aiden are the only exceptions, but still she does not allow them to touch her. When I asked her why in the past, she only wrote ‘memories.’
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
She nodded but then her eyes filled with tears again and hugged me. “I cannot believe I did that. He will think I am a weirdo.”
“What?” A wide smile extended through my face. Is this what I think it is?
She pulled away, still sniffling. “I do not know. He is so handsome and I just want to run my hands through his gorgeous hair. I think this is love at first sight or something.”
So love at first sight, eh? I guess I did not have to worry. “If you stop crying I will tell you about him. He is a friend of mine.”
She immediately straightened up and wiped off her tears. “Tell me!”
I laughed. So cute. “His name is Matt and he is my protegee. He is very strong and has a great personality. I think you would get along very well. Want me to introduce you?” I attempted to wiggle my eyebrows to her.
“Yes!” She looked down at her clothes. “I mean no! I am wearing pajamas. I need to dress up!”
“Okay. Go pick some clothes and take a shower. I will go help you get ready in a second. Let me talk to him.”
Her eyes widened and she shook her head and her arms. “Don’t tell him please.”
“What?”
“That I am fucked up,” she whispered. “I don’t want him to know.”
I sighed. This is going to be more difficult than expected. “You are not fucked up but I will keep myself from revealing personal information about you. I will just check that he does not leave. Got take a shower.”
Mandy nodded and sprinted out of the room. I mindlinked Aiden. ‘Aiden, where are you?’
‘Downstairs. Living room.’
I went to the living room where Aiden sat next to Matt watching TV.
I ran up to Matt and took his hands in mine. Matt looked up and smiled widely at me.
“She wants to get to know you! It’s great. I am so excited,” I said. My cheeks were actually hurting from smiling so much.
The smile on Matt’s face disappeared and his expression morphed in a frown; He pulled his hands away from mine.
“I already like someone else,” he said looking away.
I smacked the back of his head. “She is your mate, Matt. You felt it. Also, that other girl is far away now. Don’t be stupid.”
He stood up and looked deep into my eyes. “No, she is right in front of me.”
I took a step back. “Sorry. After what happened, I am becoming a nun, and you will talk to your mate.”
“Jolene…” he said pleadingly.
“You are talking to her. You will get to know her and help me Moon Goddess if you use the “r word” with her. Do that and you will be dead to me… Because I will personally kill you.”
He gulped. “I will get to know her.”
***
Mandy’s bedroom door was ajar when I went to her room. “Mandy. Are you here?” I asked as I stepped into the room.
I slammed the door shut and rushed to her side when I saw her laying on the floor crying her eyes out.
I helped her up and walked her to her bed. “What is it?” I asked.
She sniffled and sobbed some more before talking. “He is my mate” She took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. “And he likes you.”