Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother

Chapter 62

Hardin

Maybe it was the way Camila’s eyes were bright with life and Jasmine’s with joy. Maybe it was the way it looked like oxygen had finally reentered my father’s lungs when he saw that Camila had gotten better. But I could not stand it for obvious reasons. It did not mean that I hated them, well that was exactly what it meant, did it not?

I was so jealous of the fact that my mother had not survived it. Because if she had, she would still be here, smiling at me, holding my hand and chastising me for being so uptight and irritable.

If she was here, then maybe I would not be as unhappy as I was.

I needed to leave. The talk of celebrations were getting to me and even though I had contributed my part to ensuring that Camila was well and she had shown her gratitude over and over again, I did not have it in me to participate in a party. Not when every time that I saw Camila on that bed, I remembered the desperation that I had felt everytime my mother deteriorated instead of getting better.

Leaving the house, I got into the car and was about to drive off, preferably to someplace quiet where I could be alone and sad in peace while everyone was in a festive mood because the last thing on my agenda was to be a party pooper especially because I would have done the same had my mother recovered from her illness and even more, when there was a knock on the window of my seat.

Looking up, I saw that it was Jasmine, panting like she had run a mile and she gestured for me to wind down.

When I did, she took in a deep breath, steadying her breathing in a way that reminded me that she was very human at the end of the day and not like us even though she was born a werewolf.

Her hair was down in long waves and she quickly put it up into a messy bun that I would rather die than admit that I liked.

“What do you want, Jazz?” I asked, my voice coming out harsher than I even intended it to because whenever I was with her, it felt like I needed to be on fight or flight mode. It could also be the fact that I just realized with a school that I had shortened her name.

“I really want to speak with you.” She answered, her voice soft and totally ignoring my attitude. Well, she was already used to me being cranky all the time and I had to give her a round of applause for putting up with me.

“It can’t wait? Thought you had a party to plan?”

She rolled her eyes and walked over to the passenger side of the door and when I rolled down the window, she answered.

“The party is not happening tonight anyways and it’s really important that I talk to you.”

When I just stared at her instead of replying and she folded her hands, waiting for an answer, I realized that she was not going to leave. So I might as well open the car door and take her with me.

“Alright hop in.” I finally ground out and opened the door to the car for her.

We drove to the cottage in silence and when we got there, I walked out of the car down into the woods, knowing that she was following me until we approached the lake.

This used to be one of my favorite places in the world because my mother and I used to come here to fish whenever I wanted, which was almost all the time.

Now, it just felt hollow to be at this beautiful scenery without her but it was where I had some of my best memories of her so I could not stop coming.

Sitting with my back against a tree, I watched as Jasmine sat beside me, resting her back against the large branch of the tree and stared out to the lake, her side profile illuminated by the moon that brightened up the sky.

She was beautiful. Even though I hated to admit it, she was probably the prettiest girl that I had ever seen. Perhaps that was why I was always making sure to be as angry with her as I possibly could.

“What’s on your mind?” She asked after a long moment of silence and I looked at her with raised eyebrows, more curious than irritated by the question.

“Why did you follow me, Jasmine? You said you wanted to talk about something and here you are asking the questions when it should be the other way around.”

Why was she asking that? What did she hope to hear or find? Was it related in any way to what she wanted to talk to me about? Or was she checking how upset I was before launching into why she was here?

“I’m here because I care about you, Hardin. You looked really sad before you left the house and I wanted to make sure that you were not sidelined or feeling alone.” She answered gently, as if she was expecting me to bite her for that answer and even though I was shocked by her reply, I kept my face calm and neutral.

“You are here because you care about me?”

I asked, the words sounding foreign on my lips because I had been nothing but cruel to her since our paths crossed. So why was she here saying something like that? And why was I hoping it was true?

“Why? Is it unfathomable to care about you? You saved my mother’s life, Hardin. I don’t know what I would have done if you had not been there these past couple of days, taking charge of everything and even going a step further to encourage me even though you don’t like me. I’m worried about you.”

Oh. I had forgotten that even though I had forced myself to believe that Jasmine and her mother were conniving accomplices, a truth that some part of me still wanted to believe, Jasmine was very soft and kind hearted. Of course she was here talking to a guy that had been repeatedly wicked to her, even as far as molesting her, because he had done one nice gesture.

“You and I know that I had no choice in the matter.” I replied and she nodded, understanding that there was no way I could have abandoned Camila when my father was away and I had my orders to make sure everything was in place, a test to prove how capable I was to the pack.

“But still, even if you had no orders to, it does not change the fact that you helped. And now when all of us are celebrating, there is hardly a smile on your face. If not for anything, a sense of accomplishment that you saved her life. I know that you don’t like or trust me, but just this once, allow me to repay the debt by being here for you.” She whispered and when she placed a hand on my thigh, my eyes widened and I looked at her.

Perhaps it was the innocence in her eyes or the environment but I suddenly felt the need to speak about what gnawed at me every night when no one was looking.

“Seeing your mother laying on that bed reminded me of mine. She used to be the strongest woman I know and one day, she fell sick and she never recovered. I wonder if I could have been able to save her. That thought keeps me up at night, that if I was older then or more sensible. That maybe, just maybe I would have been able to save her. And that maybe she would still be here with me. And everytime I go to her grave, I ask her if she forgives me for being too young to rescue her.” I whispered, my voice monotone like I was reciting someone else’s poem but when I looked at Jasmine, her eyes were brimming with tears and she wiped at her face, taking my hand in hers.

Maybe it was the sadness but I could not resist resting my head against her jean clad thighs and as she stroked my hair gently, I tried to remember how my mother used to do the same when we came here.

“You were just a child, Hardin. And she was the most loved person in the entire pack. It was not your fault. It never was.” Jasmine whispered and I don’t know how long we stayed like that but when I finally raised my head, I didn’t feel that bone crushing guilt anymore.

“Come on.” I said when I stood up and helped her to her feet and turned around to head back to the cottage when she called out my name.

Turning around to face her, I waited for her to speak and her request made my eyes widen.

“I would like to visit your mother with you next time you go.” She whispered, looking away as if expecting immediate rejection.

Maybe it was the way I was feeling tonight but I didn’t feel an ounce of anger at her request, only momentary confusion and my answer made her eyes widen in surprise.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“Okay. Let’s go now.”