"I'm sorry about that Alice, like I said, he can be very rude." Jason sighed, taking a seat beside me.

"Its alright. He's been through so much, I can't even imagine." I said as I shook my head, picking at my breakfast, trying to ignore the terrible feeling that had returned.

"I know.." He sighed. "Its just that its been three years. I know this isn't something you get over, but I've been running this pack for three years. His father raised him to be a great Alpha, constantly teach him. He could be a great alpha, but he just won't do it. The screenings are the only thing he does." He finished, running his hand through his hair, frustrated.

"Maybe he just needs you to push him. Make him be involved, even if he doesn't want to be." I stated.

"Maybe." He sighed, standing from the table. "I'll see you later, I'm going to go try and have a civil conversation with him." He said, rolling his eyes.

"Good luck." I smiled.

"You too, I hope you find him today." He said, returning my smile.

"Thanks.." I said, laughing nervously.

I already have, and you're about to go talk to him. I thought

I sighed as Jason walked away, staring into my coffee, trying to sort out my thoughts. I didn't know what to do, I was clueless.

Luckily, I had someone who had been through something somewhat similar. I walked back into my room, digging through my bag before finally finding my phone.

I dialed Celia's number, and she picked up on the second ring.

"Finally." She sighed. "I thought you'd never call!"

"I'm sorry, I meant to, I just got distracted." I replied.

"Whats going on?" She asked concerned.

"I found him Celia." I said quietly, my eyes filling with tears. "But.. But its not good."

"Oh my gosh Alice, is he-?"

"No, no." I replied quickly, wiping the tears from my eyes. "He's not dead, he's just.. Have you heard of Alpha Jackson, from Lone Dawn?" I asked.

"Oh Alice.." Celia sighed. "Is it him?"

"Yes." I replied quietly.

"Luca told me about him once.. About what happened to him and his family.." She said softly.

"I know. He doesn't even run the pack anymore, Celia. He doesn't leave his room. He doesn't even know I'm his mate!" I say, running my hand through my hair as I pace the room.

"Have you told anyone?" Celia asks me.

"Just you. And please don't tell Nick, he'll just worry." I sigh.

"I won't, but Alice, you have to tell someone. I'm sure theres someone there who would be understanding, and know how to help." She answered.

"I know. I will." I replied. "I need to go, thank you for everything though."

"Call me if you need anything." She replied.

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

I clicked the phone off, and sat on my bed, trying to figure out my next move.

I decided that I'd talk to Lucy. I really liked Lucy, she was kind, and lots of fun. I really felt like I could trust her.

I went to the office, where Jason sat behind the large desk with piles of paper work. I asked him where I could find Lucy, and he told me she was most likely on the swing on the back porch.

I walked through the back door, instantly spotting her on the other side of the porch. She was wrapped up in a large quilt, a book in her hand.

"Hey Lucy." I greeted.

"Alice! So good to see you again. Where you wanting to meet some more people today?" She asked, moving her bookmark to the page she was on and placing the book on her lap.

"Actually, thats what I wanted to talk to you about." I said.

"Oh, well here, come sit." She replied balling the quilt up in her arms and scooting over on the bench. I sat next to her and she threw the blanket over the both of us. "Its chilly today." She said, smoothing out the quilt.

"Thanks." I smiled.

"So what did you want to talk about?" She asked me, looking curious. "Do you not think he's here?"

"No, no, actually.. Actually he is here." I said, looking at my hands in my lap.

"You found him?!" She asked me excitedly.

"Sort of.. Umm.." I mumbled.

I took a deep breath, before looking at her seriously.

"Its Alpha Jackson." I whispered.

"What?" She replied quietly, her eyes wide, and lips parted. "Its Aiden?" She looked totally shocked, and I wondered for a moment if I'd made a mistake telling her. I didn't want to give a pregnant woman a heart attack.

"He doesn't even know." I whispered, playing with the button on my shirt. "He looked into my eyes, and I knew, I knew right then.. But he can't.. He can't see me." I said, my voice breaking, and the strong facade I'd been putting up shattering as I cried.

"Oh, Alice." Lucy said sympathetically, pulling me into her arms and holding me while I cried.

"We're going to figure this out." She reassured me softly, patting my back. I could already tell she would be an amazing mother to her unborn child, it just came naturally to her.

Pulling myself together, I stopped crying and leaned away from Lucy, wiping my eyes and pushing the hair away from my face. "Thank you for being such a good friend to me, even though you barely know me." I laughed, smiling at Lucy.

"You're family now." She smiled. "Aiden is like a brother to Jason, but I don't know how much longer Jason can run the pack. He's a Beta, he wasn't raised and taught how to be an alpha."

I nodded my head, listening.

"We'll make sure he figures it out." She reassure me. "I take him his food everyday, so you can come with me. We'll see what happens." She said, standing from the swing and walking in the house with the quilt.

I followed her through the living room, where she left the quilt and her blanket on a chair, and into the kitchen. She quickly put a plate together, grabbing a bottle of water as well.

"Well, here we go." She smiled, before leading me down the hall towards the right end of the house.

It took a while to get the opposite end of the house, but finally we stopped at a large door, where she turned and gave me a reassuring smile. She turned the knob and stepped into the pitch black room.

"Aiden." She sighed, putting the bottle or water under her arm and searching for the light switch.

When she finally flipped the light on, illuminating the room, I was shocked at how large the room was. With tall ceilings and dark wood floor, it was a beautiful room. There were no windows, and few pieces of furniture.

A bed, a dresser, a desk and a few chairs were all that occupied the large space.

A large cushioned chair faced away from us, towards the wall.

"Aiden, I have your food." Lucy said happily, approaching the chair.

"I'm not hungry." Came a low voice from the chair.

"Don't lie to me Aiden. Your food from yesterday is still sitting on your desk untouched. You have to eat." She said seriously.

"Im. Not. Hungry." The voice said again, louder than the last time.

"Aiden, this has to stop, you can't go on like this." She said as she shook her head.

Aiden stood from the chair, walking away from her. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. A look of confusing crossed his face. "Who's with you?" He asked Lucy quietly as he listened.

"What?" She asked, faking confusion.

"There are three heartbeats. You're not having twins, last time their were only two. Who's with you Lucy?" He asked seriously, as he turned to look in my direction.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Lucy said, sitting his plate on his desk, and picking up the one from the previous day.

"Really?" Aiden asked, standing up straight, walking towards me.

I backed up slowly towards the door, wincing as I stepped on a squeaky board.

A small smirk formed on Aiden's face as he heard the small noise, stepping closer to me.

He stood directly in front of me, the small smirk still on his face. My heart raced as he leaned towards me. "You again, Miss Hadden?" He whispered. "I just can't get rid of you, can I?" He asked, softly touching my hair.

He put his hand on my shoulder, causing tingles to spread through my entire arm. I held my breath as he leaned in closer. "Get out." He whispered in my ear, holding my shoulder tighter. "Now."

"W-what?" I stuttered.

"Get out!" He shouted, shoving me away. "I don't know who you think you are Lucy, bringing her here after I told Jason I wanted her to leave!" He shouted angrily.

My eyes filled with tears at his words.

"I know you're still standing there, what part of get out do you not comprehend?" He yelled in my direction.

"Aiden, calm down!" Lucy yelled, walking up to him.

"No!" He yelled. "No one around here ever listens to me!" He shouted, hitting the plate of old food out of Lucy's hand causing it to shatter against the wall.

Me and Lucy both jumped, Lucy rushing to my side as she stared wide eyed at Aiden.

"Just get out." He whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed, cradling his hand that was now bleeding from hitting the plate.

The sad helpless feeling that had been haunting me for the past few months settled over me again. I looked at Aiden, as he sat on the edge of the bed and I put the puzzle pieces together.

He was depressed, and I was picking up on it. I'd been feeling his growing depression, unable to help him, and now here I was, standing in his room, still unable to do anything.

Lucy took my hand, opening the door, and leading me out of the room. I didn't speak, I just stared at Aiden through the door, before it finally shut.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." Lucy said softly.

"How long has he been like that?" I whispered.

"I've only known him for a year, but he was never like this before." She sighed. "He's gotten worse the last few months."

"He's depressed." I stated.

"I know." She said quietly. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I think we need to talk to Jason."

"I agree." I said.

He needed help, and unless he decided to leave his room and drag me out of this house, I wasn't going anywhere.

He needed help, and I was going to make sure he got it.