Heartless Angels

Chapter 57 – Jack

Chapter 57 – Jack

Well, sh it. We’ve really messed up in ways much more far reaching than we’ve ever thought. My heart can’t decide if it’s going to stop or beat out of my chest in my fear. Not only could we lose our sister and our pack, but we could lose our mate. All because we were prejudiced, ignorant as sholes.

I feel myself start to hyperventilate, my fear taking over. James comes to stand beside me, fearful of what is going on. Oakley is concerned and Sophia’s beautiful face is somewhere in between the two.

Instead of looking overly concerned, Sophia comes over to me and takes the nape of my n*eck, pushing my head down between my legs as she sits on the floor in front of me. The second that she touches me, the fated sparks march all over my skin and it is the most blissful thing that I’ve ever felt before. Her scent, leather and gun powder, fills my senses and I start breathing easier because of it.

“Concentrate on my voice, ok? Breathe in with me.” She breathes in and I follow her example, pulling in her intoxicating scent. “Good, now breathe out.” 1 follow her again. “Good, Jack. Do it again I follow her for a few more breaths before my breathing is under control enough that I can sit up.

I sit up and Sophia’s hands go from my n*eck, moving down my shoulders and arms to hold both of my hands. She looks me in the eyes and I can’t help but lean in so that our foreheads are touching. James kneels beside Sophia on the floor and puts his forehead to ours as well. The feeling of completeness is so all-encompassing that I let out a happy sigh and fall to my knees in front of Sophia, joining her and my brother on the floor.

“Awkward…” Oakley murmurs and it’s only then that I remember that she’s in the room with us.

Sophia pulls away from us and stands, the blissful look that was on her face when she was touching us falling away. Its quickly replaced by the stern warrior that we have seen up until now, but it’s too late. I know that she wants us. I know that she

does, because of that moment that we just shared.

Does that mean that there is the possibility of changing her mind? Will she accept us, even if Oakley stays here?

Before I can think too far down those lines, Sophia says, “I’ll leave the three of you to talk.”

She moves to walk out the door, but Oakley calls her back. “Trainer Sophia. Are you…are you my brothers’ mate?”

Sophia stands stock still, her back tense as she faces the door. Both James and I hold our breaths, thinking that she will deny it. It will make it easier for her, especially since I highly doubt, by her facial expression and b*dy language, that Oakley just finished up a romp with Levi in the office. It doesn’t seem like our mate is going to be following us and the only thing I can do is hold on to the memory that she wants us. That she felt the fated sparks on her skin when she touched us, that she breathed in

our scents as deeply as I breathed in hers.

She turns back to us and her eyes lock on James and me as she answers. “Yes. We are mates.” Is it just me or do her eyes

soften?

Oakley nods and then walks over to Sophia, whose gaze turns to my sister. “They are good males. What they did to me was awful and it shows prejudice deep down, but they would never have acted on those thoughts if it hadn’t been for the Moon Goddess.” She swallows and looks over at us. “No matter what I do and why, I need you to know that they will treat you like a goddess. They will love you above everything else. You will be their everything. Please don’t let anything that I decide sway you. I’m doing what I need to do for me and for my life so that I can move on. Not because they aren’t quality males for their mate.”

Tears are streaming down James and my faces. Oakley’s basically just told us that she’s staying here at the castle, that she’s rejected Levi, and that this is the last time that we will see her. At the same time, she is still taking care of us. She is still

she’s rejected

Chapter 57 – Jack

being the sister that we have always loved and adored and trying to get our mate to accept us.

She is the best wolf that I know, better than either James or I deserve. It’s probably for the best that she won’t be around us anymore. All we will do is taint her. Dim her shine.

Sophia locks at us and I see tears dancing in her eyes. My wolf howls at her pain, trying to surge forward to pull her into my arms and I hear a whine come from James as his wolf takes a little more control than mine has.

Sophia grabs Oakley’s hand and something warms in my heart as I see that my mate and sister aren’t just trainer and trainee. They are at least close enough that physical touch is a comfort between the two of them.

“Thank yo

you, Oakley. Truly, it means a lot to me that you think enough of me and of them that you would try to smooth over our bond.” Sophia takes a deep breath and looks at James and I. “But I have my own prophecy to fulfill. And I have to make decisions based not just on my heart, but on that as well. I’ll return when you are done talking”

My heart plummets and James and I clutch at each other.

We don’t watch Sophia leave the room, but we hear the door close behind her. When I look up again, I see that Oakley is watching us, looking as if she wants to comfort us, but like she’s not sure how. I get it. We’ve hurt her too bad to have her come care for us, no matter how bad we need it.

With a quick mindlink to James to tell him that we need to get it together enough for Oakley to talk to us, we both stand and move to the couch. James uses the hem of his shirt to wipe his eyes, while I grab the tissues from the side table to clean myself up.

I toss the tissue in the waste bin and take a deep breath to prep myself before I turn to Oakley. I nod and see James do the same out of his periphery.

“You’re staying” I say. A statement, not a question. It’s already evident.

I

In the same bland tone that I used, Oakley says, “Yes Levi completed the rejection and I have told Father.”

I nod, though it feels like a stab to my heart. I’ve destroyed the trust and love that my little sister had for me. I’ve destroyed. the most pure thing in my life.

Even so, I’m proud of her for figuring out what she wants and what she will and will not stand for. She has grown in so many ways and, according to Sophia, she’ll be a major player in wolf culture, either as a luna or as a member of the Elite 10. She’s

going to be a wonderful leader, benevolent and strong.

I just wish that we would be there to see it.

But you can’t always get what you want and this is definitely one of those times.

James clears his throat. “Are you happy?”

Oakley smiles and nods slowly “Yeah, I am. I…” she starts and seems to take a second to think about whether or not she should provide any more information. Then she continues. I already have my second chance mate. I’m doing well here. I have

friends that care about me. I haven’t figured everything out yet, but for now…I’m really happy”

I can’t help but smile. Oakley deserves to be happy. “I’m happy for you, Oakley. For what it’s worth, we are extremely sorry

for what we did. We know that nothing will ever make up for it, but…we hope that you will some day forgive us and think of us in

a good light.”

Oakley gives me a small smile, “I’m sure 1 will some day.”

I want to hug her. Badly. But I’m not sure if she’ll let me.

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Chapter 57 – Jack

But it seems like she’s read my mind. She stands and pulls both James and I into a long, tight hug. “Be well. Take care of Father.” Then she pulls away and walks right out the door without a backwards glance.

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