Jaci

"Soooo, you two've made up?" Sydney sought from my bed watching for my reaction.

I blushed before turning back to search my closet for the perfect outfit to wear on my first official date with Terrence.

"Yeah, I guess you could say something like that..."

"Does Jay know you guys are going out tonight?" She prodded, inquisitive.

I frowned at the mention of my older brother. The other day I didn't expect him to go off on Terrence like that. I mean I understood why and I love my brother to death but I knew I just needed to let Terrence in or I would never be truly happy. I just wished my brother understood that and would allow me to grow up and not be his baby sister anymore.

I am a grown woman who can make her own decisions.

"You know your brother is just hurt and angry...he'll come around eventually." Sydney said comforting knowing that my silence meant I hadn't told him.

Sighing I sat down beside her, a red blouse crinkled in my hands. "I know I just feel horrible...I mean I pretty much destroyed my brother's relationship with his best friend since they could walk. Me, the dorky little sister who's had a crush on her big brother's best friend, breaking one of the strongest things the world talks about; Friendship."

My brother's mate pushed herself up to a sitting position saying, "Wow, okay now don't go getting all Shakespearian on me now. Here I maybe kinda sorta have an idea. How about instead of you two going out I could oh-so coincidentally be making dinner for oh say four-" Oh no, my wolf thought about her Luciana. "-and I'll invite you guys to come join me and my 'plus one'. Then we can talk things out there." Sydney schemed very innocently.

"I don't know Sydney...I don't like the thought of Terrence or my brother getting hurt and jumping them both like that doesn't seem the brightest..."

"I'll be there to supervise and so will you! See I think we can pull this off." Sydney said giving me a look that meant no matter what I said she was going to pull this thing together. Seeing that I wasn't won over she said, "If it makes you feel better I'll take all credit!"

I sighed, "Alright alright, put this sucker together."

She leaped off my bed and squealed in joy. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

I laughed at her, glad to see that my brother got such a wonderful mate.

"Well, I have an awesome mate too," Terrence's voice came through my head.

"Yes you do," I answered smugly.

I heard him laugh through our ever-growing bond, "So what are you and that mischievous Cinderella planning, babe?"

I laughed nervously, "Well you see..."

☽✣☾

Sydney

Sizzling filled my ears as I mixed the stir-fry I was preparing for my plan of awesomeness. I was still coming up with an official code name for this entire plan.

"Smells good Cinderella,"

Turning around I saw Terrence leaning against the doorframe watching me cook.

"Well, I hope so. Is Jaci ready yet or is she still dressing up for you?" I asked finishing stirring the food and placing the spoon down.

Leaning against the counter I saw Terrence was wearing dark jeans and a button-up shirt. His blondish hair was freshly trimmed and gelled back slick. Overall he looked really polished.

"Not too sure, all I know is that she's not by my side like she should."

I couldn't help but both 'aww' and roll my eyes at that. "You two are too cute!"

Terrence dropped his head and blushed.

"So why are you doing this? Helping us out even if it'll make your mate mad."

A sigh escaped my lips, "Well for three reasons. One, Jay and Jaci are brother and sister and they shouldn't be in conflict." I ended the 't' sharply. "Secondly, you and Jay have been friends forever so nothing like that should ever be destroyed."

"And lastly?" Terrence asked.

I chuckled, "Lastly if he thinks he's getting anywhere with me then he'll fix this up."

Terrence and I laughed.

Both of us stopped when we heard someone walking down the stairs.

Jaci wore a beautiful red dress. It had thin spaghetti straps and went a little past mid-thigh. It was simple but complimented her form. Terrence looked like he had just laid eyes on the sun and hadn't seen it before in his life.

A smile graced my lips as I turned around giving them as much privacy as you could give a couple while being in the same room with them.

"Damn you look amazing Jacinda. Amazing..." He ended almost breathlessly.

"You look good too Ter," Jaci complimented back.

After that silence followed.

I took that as a good sign and turned around, "Dinner is rea-oh god!" I cried out covering my eyes.

Terrence's hands were sliding up her dress as Jaci was kissing down his neck.

"SYDNEY!" Jay yelled out thinking I was in trouble.

Jay stomped up the stairs from down in his fathers' office.

Once on our floor, his eyes found me. He took a few milliseconds to take in my warm almost mustard yellow dress, graced with frilly off the shoulder sleeves, and drapped mid-thigh with little flowery designs embroidered with creme string. Overcoming his clear lust he rushed to my side catching my face in his hands. "Are you alright? Why'd you scream?" Jay asked his eyes already scavenged my body for something wrong.

"I'm fine Hon, I just uh dropped a chicken?" I said but it came out like a question instead.

"Wha-" Jay turned and saw Terrence had settled into hugging Jaci from around the waist. "What is going on here?"

"I was just making dinner for us and thought that instead of going out Jaci and Terrence could join us since everyone else is busy. Why make them go out when I'm cooking a, hopefully, delicious meal?"

"So this is an intervention," Jay inferred sounding annoyed.

"An intervention really? Just come on Jay, sit down. It's not like you can avoid this forever." I told him tugging his hand.

Jay drew his hand back, not out of my hand, just enough so I would look at him.

"Why are you supporting them?" Jay asked through the link.

"Do you want to sleep on the couch?"

"Sta-"

"Do you want to sleep on the couch yes or no Jaycen."

"Fine. Let's get this over with."

"There you go."

"Wait will I get a little something for this?" Jay asked with hopeful and a provocative smile.

I grinned at him, 'We'll see."

"Okay, now come on let's eat."

We wall sat down around a table each of us taking a side. Jaci and I sat across from each other as the boys sat opposed to each other as well, staring at one and another down.

I handed everyone their plates and silverware, then brought over the large pan of food, and rested it on a towel as not to mark the table. Nobody moved till I sat down back in my spot.

Together we dubiously divided the food amongst the four of us, and ate, slowly and awkwardly.

"So, how's school going Jaci?" I asked trying to make some sort of conversation.

She looked up to me breaking out of her daze, "It's um alright. We working with partners in the junior journalism class to write an article and the guy I'm working with is-"

"What?!" Terrence asked with a growl. He clearly wasn't aware of his mate having to work with a male.

"Good lord, why are guys so possessive?" I asked not realizing I was projecting to Jay.

"Because males are tempted." Jay briefly answered before aiming his shout at Terrence. "Don't you dare yell at my sister like that!"

Terrence pushed himself back from the table and up to defend himself against Jay. Jay stood, chest puffed out.

"Boys..." I said rising myself.

"No Sydney, he screwed my sister like she was nothing and now almost half a year later he comes crawling back to her. My sister deserves way better than this scum and to make this situation better neither of them said jack to me."

"Jay calm down okay," I said going to his side.

"Jay please calm down," Jaci said from her seated position. "He's my mate and you can't change that. Yes we went through some ups and downs but in the end, we care about each other and we are destined to be together, so why try to stop us?" Jaci's voice was hopeful as she wished for her brother to understand.

Jay scoffed. "It's not like you guys care about my opinion or anything that I have to say, so why does it matter."

And with that Jay shoved in his chair and stomped up the stairs.

Jaci sighed and let her head collapse into her hands.

"I really thought that might work...I mean he's my big brother, my only brother, I-I just want him to accept us."

Jaci burst out into tears crying into her small hands. Terrence came to her side and knelt to whisper comfort into her ear.

Taking that as a sign to go, I went upstairs in search of my mate.

I found him sitting on the side of his bed facing the window, his head dropped in his hands.

My hand rested lightly on the doorway as I leaned into the room. "Jaycen," I called softly.

When Jay didn't answer I walked in and sat down beside him. With one hand, I stroked his back lightly feel him shiver at the sensation. I kissed his shoulder letting my forehead press to his shoulder blade, comforting.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked softly into his back.

"I don't know."

A sigh brushed through my lips. "You can't be angry at them forever Hon, I mean what they did I understand why you're so hurt I mean they both betrayed you in a way, but babe you can't be angry for something that they can't control."

"I know that, it's just how Terrence hurt my sister. She told me the next day that she found her mate and he broke her heart...I-I just didn't think that Terrence would one sleep with my sister but have the balls to leave her, sleep with another girl, and then act whenever I talked about it like he wasn't the one who did to her. And Jaci, she-she should have told me. I'm her big brother. I thought we were closer than that...She just should have told me."

"I'm not going to act all-wise and all-knowing, but I think you should forgive them or at least give them a chance to redeem your trust. You can't know everything and help fix everything that happened in the past Jay, no matter how much you wish you could."

He simply nodded.

Then out of nowhere, he shot up like a bolt of lightening retreating to the sky. He snatched and hurtled the clock from the side table into the wall making it shatter and splinter to the ground.

I just stood there aghast and watched Jaycen wreak his room, knocking things over and violently throwing things into his walls. Jay yelled and threw things. He cried and tossed objects like pictures and books at the walls. The walls dented and occasionally gave way to some small puffs of drywall that hung in the air then drifted to the floor in dusty piles.

Finally, when there was nothing left to grab, he crumpled to the ground in tears.

"I can't do it. I can't protect anyone I love. Everywhere I looked people are getting hurt and I can't do anything to help prevent it...I'm a useless and sad excuse for a mate, an alpha, a brother, and a friend. I mean what am I good at, why don't I just end it all?"

My heart stopped and then it was beating like a horse's.

"Don't you dare say that Jaycen Ward! Say that again and see what happens I dare you. I'll strangle you with my bare hands if you threaten yourself like that." Tears were welling in my eyes.

Jay snorted lightly up at me. "You're cute when you're angry."

My hand snapped out and I struck him right across his cheek.

His hands shot up and cupped his cheek. "Damnit! That hurt Sydney!"

"I don't care whether or not that hurt. You're my soul mate and I'll be damned if you think you're going to leave me alone." I threw myself into his arms still startled by his idle threat on his life. Before I even realized what happened I was crying like it was the end of the word. It felt like it.

My wolf and I were hurt to our core that our mate even thought about hurting himself, leaving us by ourselves.

Jay's arms immediately tightened around me, practically absorbing me into his sculpted body. "Oh, Baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Ssh, it's alright. I didn't mean it."

I shoved my hands into his stomach still angry. "Then don't you ever say that again Jaycen. Don't you ever even think that! We can get you the help you need."

He nodded pressing a kiss to my temple. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I wouldn't do that, I was just talking in the heat."

I couldn't reply, a gutwrenching sob cramped my stomach.

"It's alright Star. Just breathe." He stroked my back trying to ease my sorrow.

Taking in deep breaths of his amazing fresh scent I tried to center myself. "You know I would kind of sort of want you in my life if we were to have kids one day and grow up together. I mean it takes two to have kids and start a family. I would want it to end that way...the two of us." I whispered my recent dreams to him shyly dropping my head once I finished.

Jay didn't say anything, which is the one thing I dreaded. I wanted Jay to tell me how excited and he wanted that with me too.

Just when I was about to get up and leave crying Jay caught my chin with his finger and lifted my chin to look him in the eye. Looking into his eyes I saw his eyes were teary much like mine, but for different reasons. "I want that Sydney and I want that with you."

Then our lips moving together softly—hesitantly. Suddenly something crackled between us and we pushed close, kissing almost furiously. Sucking on my bottom lip Jay tried opening my mouth. When I refused his attempt to part my lips he growled at me turning me on.

Jay gripped my thighs and pulled me up onto his lap, he stood up with me hanging onto him. He walked us to his bed still fighting to get my lips open. Once he set me on the bed I let him in, parting my lips for him. Tongue brisk across my lip, it was almost like he was trying to be a gentleman about this.

I rocked my hips against his hoping he would get the message at how bad I wanted him. I moaned at the friction. Jay responded by biting my lip before he dipped his tongue into my mouth brushing up against my tongue.

In, that moment I knew whole-heartedly, I would do whatever I could to keep this man happy and healthy. I would do whatever it takes to bring our dreams to life. I knew that all that I wanted was Jay.

Pulling back I said breathlessly, "Jay, I love you."

His breath caught and he looked down at me with his close to glowing eyes, "I love you, Star,"

☽✣☾

EDITED JULY 2 2020