JARED'S POV

It had been five days since Anna had returned to us and her Mother had left. I still couldn't fathom how incredibly lucky we had been to find her and her Mother alive and mostly well. I was terrified. Amelia could have done so much worse and I was thankful that she didn't have any lasting damage from the ordeal.

However, I had been talking with Doctor Oliver about getting Anna some therapy. I had mentioned the topic to her, and she hadn't dismissed it much like I had expected her to. It was a good idea for Anna to talk about what had happened to her in order to help herself heal. It was something that I should have done long ago, but never did, and I regretted it.

Speaking about my trauma would have helped me in so many ways. I didn't want Anna to end up like me.

I was trying to better myself though. I had confirmed the surgery with Doctor Oliver, and it was scheduled for a few days time. I was nervous, but excited. This was a step in the right direction- no pun intended.

Anna beamed to herself as she read over her notes that had been given to her by the school I had contacted for her about a job. It was only a ten minute drive from us, and was strictly werewolves only.

Anna needed to work at a place that understood about mates and wouldn't judge her for having one. They had been looking for an assistant teacher, and although it wasn't a full time job, Anna was over the moon when she was offered it.

She had expressed to me how, although she wanted a job, working everyday was a little too much for her to handle. The assistant teaching job was perfect for her- it being only three days a week.

She had been accepted with open arms, especially since Dylan had put in a good word for her. Clara had even insisted that she would move Sophia there, not liking the way that the old school handled Anna's situation.

"Is it overwhelming?" I questioned Anna as she flicked through another page of work. She was reading a briefing on what the school expected from her, having been reading thoroughly for a good hour.

Anna shook her head, thanking me as she took the cup of hot chocolate from my hand. "No, it's actually really interesting. I love hearing about how they run the school and teach the wolves. They have a lesson on mates and werewolf history, and I'm excited for it. I'll be learning a lot on the job."

I beamed. Watching how happy she was made me giddy. "Did they say when they want you to start?"

I had specifically told the school that Anna had just been through a traumatic ordeal, and they had been more than understanding and let me know that they would wait as long as Anna needed before asking her to come in. I hadn't told my mate though- not wanting her to think she was receiving special treatment.

She had earned this job herself. Although Dylan had put in a good word for her, Anna had experience with her other school and was excellent in her interview. They were beyond happy to offer her the position, and they loved the fact that she was human. It intrigued them, and they wanted the young wolves to have experience with humans so they could understand that they weren't much different to them.

"Um, they've kind of left it up to me which is surprising," Anna muttered, taking a sip of her hot chocolate. "I'm going to email them tomorrow to let them know a start date, but I just need to work out when it'll be."

I sighed. I liked the idea of Anna getting therapy before starting work, even if it was just one session.

"Anna," I said. "I was thinking somebody could come round to speak to you about what happened to you tomorrow? I know we've already spoken about you having therapy, so I just wanted to check it was something that you were still comfortable with?"

I wouldn't make her do anything that she didn't want to do.

Anna hesitated, fiddling with her hair- a nervous habit of hers.

"If it's what you think is best, then-"

"No, Anna. What do you think is best? Do you think therapy is going to help you? I know that you might not be too bothered about it right now, but sometimes your problems can creep up on you later in life and it can hit you like a ton of bricks."

I was talking from personal experience.

"I don't want that to happen, but this is your choice. If it's something that you don't feel you need, there's no issue with saying no," I assured her.

Anna nodded. "I mean, I'm not against talking to somebody. It probably would help to have somebody to talk to who wouldn't judge me and someone who doesn't know me personally. Who would it be?"

I smiled. "We have three therapists at the pack, so you can have your choice of who you want, or if you meet them and don't click with any of them, I can hire someone privately for you. It is completely up to you."

"Thank you," my mate said, moving closer to me and settling down on my lap, pressing her lips to mine. "I'm happy to meet with one of them tomorrow."

"I can get a little introduction session set up then," I told her, cupping her cheeks and gazing at her face. She was beyond beautiful. I didn't know how I had got so lucky.

She had developed more freckles over the past few months, and I wasn't sure if it was just because she had been spending more time out in the sun or not. I loved them though. They were her.

"What are you looking at?" Anna laughed, scrunching her nose up at me.

"Just at how beautiful you are," I said, leaning forwards to kiss her forehead, making her laugh and flop back down on the brand new cream coloured couch.

We were in my house, the renovation having been finished. Anna had helped me pick out some new furniture, as I wanted her to have some input into the house design. I wanted it to feel like home for her too. She had loved choosing the paint and the curtain colours, and I loved the way her face lit up when everything was delivered. Sophia had even helped us paint the living room, although most of the paint had ended up all over her face somehow.

"When will you be starting work again?" Anna asked me, obviously having noticed my lack of work ethic lately. I had been too distracted with everything going on.

Dylan had given me time to settle into things, but, I knew that he needed the workout routines for the warriors done soon. At the moment, they were winging it- making their routines up themselves on the day, but it wasn't pushing them to their full potential.

"I'll start next week," I said. "The warriors will survive without routines for the time being. Plus, I think they all need a good rest from what happened with-"

I stopped, gulping, feeling guilty for almost bringing her up. I didn't want to even think of her name.

Anna sighed, placing her papers down and grabbing my hand, smiling. "Jared, you can say her name. I'm not going to freak out or break down."

"She could have killed you," I muttered, my body beginning to shake. Every time I thought of it, I felt sick to my stomach and my anger boiled over.

Perhaps I was the one who needed the therapy.

"But she didn't. I'm here now. With you," Anna reminded me for what felt like the hundredth time this week. She didn't like dwelling on it, and that was what worried me. Anna seemed to have already pushed the subject to the back of her mind, not even bothered by it. I knew it was a defence mechanism as she knew that if she didn't think about it, then she could never be sad about it.

It was good to allow yourself to hurt though. It helped you move on and heal. I was hoping that that was something her therapist could help her with.

"Whenever I think about what she did to you, I just want to go to her and-"

"Jared," whispered Anna. "Please don't. I don't know where she is, but please don't go to her and hurt her. She isn't worth your time and it won't make you feel any better. It's best we forget about what happened and move on with our lives."

I hated the fact that Amelia was still alive. I wanted to kill her. I wanted her dead, but I wasn't sure if Anna would see me as some kind of monster if I ordered her death. I knew that people dying caused Anna stress and turmoil, even if it was people that she didn't like.

Her Father was going to die. There wasn't much of a way around it. We couldn't keep him forever and there was no way in hell I was going to allow him to be released. He would hurt Anna again, and he knew about the existence of werewolves and where our pack was located. It was too risky.

It was something I would speak to Anna about soon- when she was ready.

Now wasn't the right time.

•••

Such a cute couple.

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