"The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off."- Gloria Steinem
(WARNING: This chapter deals with very serious issues regarding their society. Please be prepared to read.)
J o r d y n ✤ T a m e
"WHAT IS THE term for when water freezes, boils and melts at the same time?" Brooke asks me.
"Triple point," I answer causing her to smile before turning to Lisa.
Lisa shakes her head. "The only reason she beat me is because you gave her the easiest definitions." Lisa says rolling her eyes.
Brooke chuckles. "Damn Lisa, I didn't know you were so petulant."
"I'm not being petulant, I'm simply calling out injustice." Lisa comments as if she was an attorney or an spokesperson for inclusion.
"Guys," I start intervening. "shouldn't we be getting back to the real reason we're all here."
After schooling, we all decided to meet up in my room to study for the exam that was coming up in two days. Brooke had told me that most exams at the facility were 50% of one's grade.
Brooke's phone goes off causing her to avert her attention to the screen. She looks up with a annoyed expression on her face while getting off of my bed. "The nurses changed their minds about the time they wanted me to check in. I'm sorry, Jordyn."
I nod my head understandingly while watching her slip on her Vans and walk out the door.
Lisa sighs while revising the study guide. "Some of this stuff I don't remember being taught." She complains while putting the study guide back into her binder.
I stay quiet still trying to revise. This exam was going to be my first grade in the grade book. I couldn't fail this, if anything, I had to make this my best grade.
"So, I'm guessing you met Miranda." Lisa says all of the sudden making me look at her in slight shock. "I overheard her rambling about you last night."
"You're friends with her?" I question.
She shakes her head. "Not exactly, for my extra curricular activity, I am taking warrior training. She's the co-instructor there." Lisa explains.
"So she was just going on and on about me to her students? I find that a little unprofessional." I mutter under my breath.
Lisa chuckles before turning her body to face me. "She's just a little overprotective of her brother. She has seen things happen to him that we couldn't bare to imagine. Don't take it to heart."
I roll my eyes before giving Lisa a smile. I didn't want to talk about this anymore. It was emotionally exhausting talking about people that weren't even around at the moment. "So can I sign up for these extra curricular activities?"
Lisa was just about to open her mouth until we heard a bold knock on my door.
"Come in," I permit.
I dart my eyes to the front of me to see the blue eyed man standing in my room. Lisa turns to me giving me a playful glare. I watch as she begins to pack her stuff inside her bag.
"Good afternoon Alpha, I should get going." Lisa gets off my bed with her bag on her shoulders. She slips on her combat boots before turning to look back at me. She wiggles her brows before exiting the room.
My focus was now completely on the man in front of me. The words of his sister haunt my head as I glare at his perfectly sculpted face.
Lexis rubs the back of his neck in awkwardness. He looks around as if trying to think of something to say.
"Hi," I mutter fiddling with my fingers.
Lexis grins softly looking around my room. "You like?" He questions.
I nod my head and smile in appreciation. "Yeah, it's really nice."
I could see Lexis shift awkwardly before speaking. "There's a surprise for you." He states making me squint my eyes in confusion. "I'll walk you down, if you would like?"
It would be daring and dauntless walking down with Lexis after the warning I had received yesterday by his sister, but I couldn't help but feel the pleasurable turns in my stomach at the feeling of spending just a few moments more with him. That was the part of me that wasn't intimidated.
"Um, yeah." I say getting off my bed and putting on my converse's. I look into my mirror while straightening my shirt and jeans before turning to Lexis.
The look in his eyes was dark and his pupils were large. It takes him a few seconds to react to my eyes looking at his. He frowns before heading out into the hallway.
I follow him out, failing at keeping up with his pace. I failed to keep up with anyone's pace.
"So what's the surprise?" I ask as we get inside the elevator.
Lexis glares at me with annoyance. "That would defeat the purpose of it being a surprise, wouldn't it?"
I don't answer him but instead mute myself to silence. He was more tetchy than usual.
"Main floor," Lexis orders causing the elevator to jolt us down.
I couldn't help but stare at him as we were going down. His face emotionless and his breathing light. His eyes were shut and his head was pressed against the wall. His posture mimicked the drawing I drew of him and for some reason, I found it more beautiful to look at in person.
When the elevator stops his eyes flutter open and he straightens his stance. I instantly look away from him and dart my eyes to the open doors of the elevator.
I follow him out the open doors. About five feet away from the elevator there were two large double doors. Lexis stops in front of them and moments after they open automatically; on their very own.
I follow him inside, blocked from seeing anything from his tall built. As if knowing this, Lexis moves out of my way revealing my parents.
It was as if the whole world's gravitational pull fell on me. The overwhelming excitement waved over my body causing me to shiver slightly.
My mother ran over to me with her arms out. I hugged her back so tightly I was scared I was going to break her small frame. I felt other hands wrap around my body. I knew they were the hands of my father.
I open my closed eyes and they fell on Lexis. His face was still static but there was something there in his eyes as he watched us. "Thank you," I whisper out not sure if he heard me.
But Lexis' brightened gaze told me he did. He heard me.
After I was reunited with my parents, I wanted to thank Lexis again for allowing the visit. I had been down lately and he knew that deep down in his frigid heart.
I walk down the crowded hallways looking for the Alpha. I searched for the deep blue eyes I got lost in so much. Yet, I couldn't find them.
I recognized Danger walking among the crowds. I walked over to him getting his attention. "Danger, do you know where Lexis is?" I ask him.
Danger shrugs. "I would help you look for him, but I have to get down to training. Try checking the infirmary. He helps out there sometimes." He says before walking off.
I had no idea where the infirmary was. I walked down the hallways glancing into every open door capturing the stares of people walking by.
I sighed in relief when double doors with infirmary written across them caught my attention. I open the doors meeting the eyes of some nurses that shot me smiles and confused glares. I walk down the hallways of the hospital looking into the open rooms.
I couldn't believe I was going out of my way to see him but for someone who went out of their way to bring my parents to me...I didn't mind. It was as if this unnatural longing for him corrupted my brain. It wasn't just longing, it was a pull.
Suddenly a deep, raspy voice hits my ears. I walked towards the door it was coming from, looking into the small space that was opened. Chills went through my body as a shirtless Lexis was visible. His inked body was exposed. His muscles were on full display.
"When will he stop?" He questions running his hand through his dark hair in frustration.
A nurse peers from the corner with an injection in her hand. A soft expression was on her face as she injected the fluid into the arm of the Alpha. Lexis does not even flinch as the needle pierces his skin.
I watch willingly but guilt was present in my head. I shouldn't be listening to this. This was none of my business but I couldn't help but stay put.
"Alpha, I don't know. I looked at all your scans. You haven't been making progress but your results haven't worsened—I guess that's progress in a way." The nurse explains.
"Nothing's working. He's taking all of what I have left. You have to do something." Lexis says, almost begging.
"Alpha, as of right now, I don't have any productive remedies. This substance is just supposed to stabilize your reactants."
What was going on with him? Why wasn't he telling me anything? Was he okay?
The sound of glass breaking is heard through another room. The familiar sound of Brooke's voice makes me stop my eavesdropping and head into the other room. I walk into the adjacent room to see Brooke on the floor with blood dripping from her hand. Tears clouded her eyes and whimpers escaped her lips.
"Oh my god, Brooke!" I holler grabbing the paper towel near the sink and rushing over to her making sure not to step on any glass.
I kneel down next to her. "Where's the cut? Let me stop the bleeding."
Brooke doesn't answer me, instead she takes her hand and cuffs it with the other.
I widen my eyes at her. "Brooke!" I holler before reaching for her hand.
"No! Get away from me." She orders, keeping her hand to herself.
"Brooke, you're being irrational. Please give me your hand so I can stop the bleeding."
She snatches the paper towel from me before placing the paper on her cut. "Get me the first aid. It's in the bottom left cabinet." She instructs me.
I walk over to the bottom left cabinet taking the first aid before walking back to her. I open the box before taking a disinfectant wipe. Before I could even wipe her cut she snatches the wipe from me. I frown not understanding why she didn't want me to help her.
She wipes her cut with the wipe without even giving me a single glance. I watch as her eyes begin to tear up.
"Brooke?" I question softly. "What's wrong?"
She shakes her head before sobs came from her mouth. She was unable to talk to me. She was overwhelmed with emotion and I couldn't help but pity her.
"I-I thought--I thought I was over it." She mumbles, her lips trembling.
"Over what?" I question causing her to shake her head once again.
"I-I can't t-talk about it. I d-don't know how..." She stutters while trying to speak.
I take a band-aid from the first aid box and place it on top of Brooke's cut. I scoot closer to her laying my head on her shoulder.
"It wasn't easy for me to open up yesterday. I couldn't find words to describe how I felt, so I drew how I felt. You just need to find ways to cope." I tell her.
The room is silent for a couple of minutes. Brooke and I just sit still in the comfort of one another. I shift when I hear Brooke's rough, and shaky breath escape her mouth.
"It was four years ago..." Brooke starts off. "Four damn years and I still can't move on."
"There's not a timer when it comes to getting over tragedies." I retort.
"I know," Brooke mutters. "but I've always been the type of person to be strong no matter what obstacle I face."
I nod at her statement. "Yeah, but even the strongest people break. Like you said, we're only human."
Brooke sighs before turning her head to look at me. "I was 14 years old," She begins. "my parents were lucky enough to work in the business field. Because of this, I was around many members of the supernatural union." She explains.
"I remember one day my father brought me to work so I could see how his job is done. He told me to wait in this empty room because he had to check with his boss to make sure I was allowed to go into the meeting." Brooke takes another shaky breath. "A man came into the room. He asked me for my name and instantly I knew he was part of the union. He told me I had no right to be here and he hit me. I screamed for my dad but no one came. He went towards the door and locked it." Brooke's tears were now prominent again while I sit there and listen to her story.
I was petrified. I knew where this was going. I knew.
"And he-he..." Brooke stops herself not able to say the rest and I was relieved. I didn't want her to finish that sentence. I was already angry that she had to go through such trauma...I hated that she was reliving it with her words.
"And after, I acted like nothing happened. I acted as if nothing was taken from me. But inside, I was hurting and I got real depressed..." She trails off. "I cut myself. I cut myself so hard that I punctured a vein. I was taken to the hospital and these amazing women who have gone through the exact same thing as I talked to me and took care of me. They healed me. That day I told myself that I was going to work hard to help others and to get the education I need to become a doctor." Brooke says causing my teary eyes to look at her with such encouragement.
"That's why when I accidentally cut myself with the glass I started to freak out. All those memories just came back to me." She explains to me.
It's funny how the ones that were supposed to be strong, were broken inside, just like the rest of us.
"Brooke, it's not here." I tell her running my hands through my brown locks. "I put it under my pillow like always."
The drawing of Lexis was gone and I had no idea who could have taken it. It was my responsibility because I had left my door unlocked but the drawing getting stolen never crossed my mind.
I had to get it back. I had only drawn it to cope with my feelings, but now, it was out there.
"Don't worry," Brooke says. "whoever has it probably won't know you drew it. You didn't sign it or anything."
I nod trying to calm myself down. "I'll check this floor, you go down and check the main." I say about to walk out the room.
"Jordyn..." Brooke mutters nodding her head towards my bed. I scan my bed to see a wrist band laying there next to the edge of my mattress. "This has the pack's signature crest as an embellishment...do you think?" She questions.
Him.
Anger consumed my body as I clenched my jaw. "Brooke, I'll be right back." I tell her causing her to nod and rest herself on a chair.
I snatched the wristband from the bed and walked out the door. My mind was pondering with ways I could confront him. Before my fist even touched his door, his door opened. He reveals himself with a blank face, his sexy eyes looking into my green ones.
"I sensed you." He explains himself before moving away from his doorway to allow me inside. I walk in with my arms crossed trying my best not to cave.
He closes his door before facing me, giving me the perfect opportunity to give him back his wristband. He takes it from my hand hesitantly before eyeing me with question.
"Why are you going through my stuff?" I ask him causing him to furrow his eyebrows.
"I didn't go through your stuff. I didn't even enter your room."
I scoff. "Then how the hell did this get on my bed?" I say pointing to the band in his hand.
Lexis smiles softly. "I had asked Yuri to put it there. It's a very important symbol of your membership towards the pack. You're an important addition and I thought you should have it." He retorts causing my heart to sink in guilt.
I was over here interrogating him for no apparent reason and I couldn't feel more embarrassed of my actions.
"Oh," I sigh rubbing my forehead. "I'm sorry. I lost something today and I can't find it."
Lexis squints his eyes before turning his head to the pictures on his walls. I gasp when I see the paper sketch I drew of him among them all. "You mean that drawing?" He asks. "Yuri found it under your pillow."
I nod my head. "Y-Yeah, I can explain-"
"Beautiful artwork doesn't need to be explained. I love it." He says.
His words meant a lot to me. I mean, it was meant to be personal and a coping mechanism. I didn't expect the man in front of me to ever consider that artwork.
Lexis grabs my hand while pulling me to him. He slips on the black engraved wristband on my wrist. Fighter. The word that was engraved on the band along with the crest. A smile reaches my lips and I couldn't help but look at the man standing there a lot differently.
How was he so feared among his peers? Yes, he was unpredictable and had a beast that was concealed within a very thin barrier, but those people can't see what I see.
We'll what I am slowly beginning to see.
I wrap my hands around his neck and we swayed to the mental music playing in our heads. Lexis pulls away from me suddenly. His eyes showing me regret before he spoke. "You stay put, I have to go check something." He tells me.
I squint my eyes in confusion watching him walk inside one of the small rooms inside his. I take a breath before noticing the black curtains in front of me.
No wonder it is so dark in here. Lexis never opens them up. I walk over to the beautiful silk curtains, opening them up. I squint my eyes as the overwhelming light enters the room. Behind the curtains revealed a balcony. The view seen through the transparent windows was beautiful.
I turn the handle to the doors before opening them, sighing at the air's contact with my skin. I walk out to the balcony watching some of the guards who took duty outside.
"The view is beautiful out here!" I holler hoping Lexis could hear me.
The sky was like the perfect therapy. I wonder if Lexis came out here often. I wonder if this was how he coped with things.
"Jordyn!" I hear Lexis holler causing me to turn around. His eyes were wide and the worry in them gave me concern. He runs towards me, taking my hands in his and pulling me out of the balcony.
He closes the balcony door before taking a key from his pocket and locking it. He closes the curtains causing the room to go dark again.
He sighs before facing me. His eyes were still filled with worry and I wondered why. "Don't you ever go out there again!" He yells, slightly making me flinch.
He notices his aggression and softens his eyes. "Jordyn, you must promise me you won't step out there again. Do you understand me?" He asks causing me to frown. The seriousness in his voice was very nerving and I had no idea how to react.
"I was just-"
He cuts me off by hugging me. His warmth shutting me up. Why was he acting this way? I had done nothing wrong.
"Please, baby." He whispers against my neck. "I don't want you going out there."
The emotion and vulnerability in his voice made me feel for him. I don't know why he was so sensitive to me stepping out to the balcony...but it was really affecting him and his feelings were not something I wanted to play with.
I hug him back trying to calm him down. I ran my fingers through his exposed, inked arms. I traced the inked lines with my fingertips. I wanted him to stay calm.
I could feel his heart beat. It was fast and rapid. His hands traveled up and down my waist but I wasn't even paying attention to that sensation. I was just feeling the beating of his heart.
At that moment, I learned that beasts have hearts too.
To be continued...
Xoxo
-V
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Edited.