Chapter 2: Need To Find A Way To Get Better

-Jackson-

If there was one thing my parents had taught me, it was that a rejection was never a solution and something very disrespectful to do. Not just to your mate, but to the Goddess. A rejection should only be done if you had an abusive mate.

“Dad, what are you saying?”

“I'm saying I'm looking at half the child I used to have,” he said. “I’m worried. Your mother is scared for you, and you’re this pack’s future alpha. They need you, and you can’t keep this going.”

“You and Mom have always taught me how important it is to honor the bond. How can you now suggest that I should reject her?” I inquired.

“Because where do you see this going, Jackson?” he asked. “You’re not even trying to fight for her.”

“I did!”

“How?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I supposed to stalk her and beg her to be with me?” I snapped. “Should I be following her around all the time, or do you want me to go full caveman style, throwing her over my shoulder and claiming her?”

“Of course not,” he said, shaking his head a bit and looking more devastated than me.

“Dad, I want to fight. Trust me. I want to be with her, but she has made no indication she wants me to.”

“Ana says differently. She says Daphne wants to be with you,” my dad said.

“I know what Ana says, but maybe it isn’t true. Maybe she changed her mind," I countered.

“Or maybe there is more to it all.”

“What are you saying?”

“Daphne comes from a very traditional family. Did it ever occur to you they are the ones holding her back? That they are the ones wishing for this engagement and not her?”

“I… have thought about it,” I whispered.

Maybe they were holding her back, but why not write to me? Call me? Let Ana reach out to me? I would come get her. I would take her away.

I like that idea.

What? I asked my wolf.

The taking away part.

I’m sorry?

Take her away!

Kidnap her? I inquired.

Yes!

Are you insane? I growled at my wolf.

Told you to stop calling me that!

I rolled my eyes and then saw my dad watching me. He understood I was having more fights with my wolf as well.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing. My wolf is just being stupid," I replied.

Ass!

“And calling me an ass.”

“Well, he might be onto something,” my dad joked to lighten the mood.

We watched each other for a little while.

“I know there might be things holding Daphne back, but how would I be able to change them?” I inquired.

“I'm not sure," he admitted.

“If her family controls her, only she can fight back.”

“I know,” my dad said.

“Then give me a solution.”

“If I had one, Jackson, I would give you one,” he said, sounding so sad.

“Other than rejection.”

“I got nothing else,” he said.

“No, I know,” I sighed.

“Just consider it, because this is killing you, and I can’t watch my child die,” he said. “You are the future here.”

“There is Ana.”

“Ana got so much as queen now to do. She can’t lead this pack too.”

“I’m sure we could figure something out,” I said.

“Jackson, not funny,” my dad scolded. “I have trained you for this. This is your future.”

“Oh, yes, the old speech,” I mumbled.

I was an only child. My parents had pretty much raised Ana, but as my dad said, she was now queen and had other responsibilities.

“Jackson, I'm not saying it to be annoying. It’s true,” my dad said.

“Yeah, but it’s a bit hard to focus on at the moment," I admitted.

“I know, but it has to be your focus.”

“Easier said than done.”

“It’s why I even suggested the rejection,” he explained.

“And what does Mom say about it?” I inquired.

“She hates it. I do too.”

“But she agrees?”

“Not quite. She wouldn’t give me an answer,” he said.

“So, she doesn’t actually agree. She just… walked away?”

“Sort of,” he said. “So, I knew I had to be the one to bring it up.”

“Wonderful…”

“I know it’s horrible. If I could fix everything in a different way, I would.”

“Then maybe just stay out of it?” I suggested.

“And watch you turn into nothing?” he challenged.

“Sometimes helping means taking a step back.”

“And isn’t that what we did for Ana? And look how close she got to destroying her own future.”

“I know, but she was more closed off than me,” I pointed out. “She had deeper issues. My mate just doesn’t want me.”

“And that is causing you a lot of pain," he reminded me.

“I’m aware. I’m the one living with that pain every day, Dad.”

“Then let’s find a way to make it easier.”

“I can’t reject her.”

“Jackson…” he sighed.

“No, I can’t,” I said, feeling certain about this.

“What is your solution then?”

“Try to get through it. See where it takes me,” I said.