Destined

Home is where the heart is

I cried for what seemed like hours before my eye lids fluttered closed and a dreamless sleep took over.

My eyes were sore when I opened them again. I could feel the dried tears on my cheeks as I looked at who was gently shaking me.

"We're home, Penny." Ian has his arms open like he is going to carry me, but I push them away and step out of the car.

My bones creak and crack from the journey in the car as I stare at the pack house, my home. It feels like I have been gone years, rather than a couple of days.

I am instantly pulled into the embrace of my parents. They hold me so tight, I think my lungs will burst from lack of oxygen. But I need the comfort.

Neither of them say anything. They pull away, probably realizing that I am tired from the journey. I begin to walk towards the house with them talking to Ian behind me.

I know that Ian won't say anything about the mate stuff. His loyalty lies with me, as a Beta but mostly as a friend.

The door flies open and Jenna rushes on to the porch. She sees Ian and relief washes over her, but immediately her eyes snap to me. She gives me a small smile before opening her arms.

The tears come back to my eyes as I run up the steps and into her waiting arms.

"I was so worried!" She whispers as she hugs me tighter.

I can feel Rose come out of her corner and pace around my mind like when we were at my birthday party. Before I can ask what is going on with her, she interrupts.

Jackson is here.

I look behind Jenna and see him walking out the front door quickly. He pulls me out of Jenna's grasp and pulls me tightly into his firm chest. He looks just as he did a few days ago, except he cut his shaggy hair short, just enough that it could be spiked.

"Don't ever disappear like that again, beautiful." his hand runs gently up and down my back.

The tingles bring tears to my eyes. Now that we are together away from the party I can smell his scent, fresh pine and a hint of coconuts.

It's different then Reed's. 

"Can we go somewhere so I can mark you as mine? I hated that you were gone from me for so long, it nearly killed me." he whispers as he strokes my hair.

Marked? Am I ready to be marked by him when I am this confused?

I pull away from his embrace and stare into his blue eyes. His eyes hold mine, but all I can think about is Reed's honey eyed gaze.

What am I going to do? I can't be with Jackson without wanting Reed and vice versa. Is this the Goddesses way of saying that I am to be mateless? But then what about the warning about the locket?

I am so confused.

I push out of his arms without another word and run to Jenna. I grab her hand and pull her into the house, much to the protest (and confusion) of Ian and Jackson.

I pull her up the stairs and slam my bedroom door behind us, sliding down the wood to my butt.

"Aspen, What's going on?" Jenna's eyes are worried and I can't stop the waterfall of tears.

Will I ever run out of tears? It feels like I have done nothing but cry since my birthday.

"I found my mate." My voice hoarse from crying.

"Yeah, Jackson, we've met. So what's the problem?" She chuckles a little before sitting in front of me with her legs crossed.

I shake my head slowly, not meeting her gaze. Where do I start? I have known her since diapers, surely I can trust her with all my secrets.

"No. Another mate. His name is Reed Kennedy."

"Alpha Kennedy? Of Shadow Wolves?" I nod slowly.

She stares at me with wide eyes, as more tears fall.

What is wrong with me? When I was with Reed, I thought of Jackson. Now that I am back with Jackson, all I can think about is Reed.

It's like when you are kid that has to share toys. As soon as someone grabs the toy you aren't playing with, that's the one you want.

"Aspen, two mates is impossible. You know that." she says slowly.

"I know." I whisper.

This is all my fault. I'm sorry I am confused.

No, Rose. Its not your fault.

"What do I do, Jenna?" She had been staring at me the entire time and I hope she can see the pain in my eyes.

I hate not knowing but I hate this pain in my heart even more. The look Reed gave me as I left his pack, the hurt that swirled in those honey spheres. I purposely avoided looking at Jackson.

One broken hearted face haunting me is enough.

"Only you can decide that, Aspen. But will do whatever you want me to do to help. Ian will do if he wants a happy mate" I chuckle at her words.

But what do I want?

Rapid knocking at my door makes us both jump.

"Aspen? What was that about?" Jackson's voice causes my eyes to go wide.

In that second, I know what I want; Space.

I need to stay away from Jackson and Reed until I figure this out. Reed should be easy, he is in another territory, but Jackson, I might need Jenna to run interference.

"I don't want to be around either of them right now." Jenna nods in understanding and pushes me, so I am sitting behind the door. She shoots me a wink before opening the door.

"As- Jenna where is Aspen?"

"She is tired as you can imagine. She is freshening up from the journey then she is going to take a nap. Can I give her a message?"

Jackson huffs out a sigh before he speaks.

"Just tell her that when she feels rested, I would love to see her. Unless she wants me to sleep with her for comfort?"

"I will tell her and I am sure she will seek you out soon... You know, mate pull and all that."

Jenna closes the door and I am assuming that Jackson left. She takes a seat next to me, giving me a thoughtful look before her eyes go far off. She is probably mind linking.

"Alright, No sulking, I know just what we need."

Before I can ask her anything else, she gets up and opens the door. Did someone knock?

Ian walks in with a grocery paper bag and sets on the bed.

"I'll keep Jackson busy, Penny. I have been itching to see what he can do in a fight anyways." He winks at me before kissing Jenna.

I stand and walk towards the bed to give them their privacy. I look in the bag and smile when I see it full of our favorite junk foods and a pint of cookie dough ice cream with two spoons.

I love my friends. I turn quickly and engulf them both in a hug. Thank Goddess that they were done kissing or that would have been awkward!

I am so lucky to have them as my friends and beta's. But they are more than that, they're like my family.

Jenna kisses Ian one more time before pushing him out the door. She launches herself onto my bed, grabbing the remote and a bag of Cheetos.

"Netflix or Hulu?" she asks.

"Age of Adeline is on Hulu." I smile and sit next to her on the bed with some M&M's.

I am caught off guard when a Cheeto hits me in the face. I turn to gape at Jenna.

"None of that romantic crap." She quickly chooses Kill Bill.

I can't help but wonder if Reed is still mad at me. I shake the thought quickly and focus on the movie.

I cannot dwell on the mate drama. I wanted space from it and this is my chance.