Ch. 92: Hollow

CHAPTER 92
Jake~
In horrible situations, even if you tell yourself that you’re prepared for the worst possible outcome - you're just not. At least I wasn’t. The hollow feeling that kept taking over my body just to get through the things that needed to be done - my duties as an Alpha - was a reprieve.
Most of the time I struggled to manage it all. I was supposed to have so much more time to train under my father, and more time on top of that to assume the role I now found myself in. Losing our warriors when my parents had been taken was one thing, I had something to focus on - to focus on looking for them. But now I found myself suddenly orphaned and with too much on my plate. I had always pitched in as much as I could, but this - this was something else entirely. Part of me was forever broken. I wasn’t anyone’s son anymore. I wasn’t going to have any more time to just ‘be a kid’ like Mitchell’s mom had always pushed me to be. It was too late for that now.
My parents had been ripped away from me in an unfair and brutal way. Kidnapping. Black magic witches. Demons. Things I hadn’t been prepared for.
“I think that can conclude things for today,” my Beta, Evan’s dad, said.
I glanced over at my Gamma who was looking at my face - he probably noticed something in my expression change in this meeting and told the Beta to wrap it up early.
It was getting harder and harder to get into this numb version of myself, to be in control of when I let my emotions take a back seat.
“Thanks everyone,” I said, scooting out my chair from my father’s desk. Me desk now, I guess.
Beta and Gamma both nodded and quickly left the room, with me exiting right behind them. I thought about going to the kitchen for a second - remembering I hadn’t eaten anything today - but the thought of running into anyone made me change my mind. I needed to be alone for a bit.
“Alpha!” Sophie said from the hallway. Ugh. I knew her nasally voice anywhere.
I walked on, pretending to not have heard her.
She didn’t take the hint.
“Alpha Jake,” she said, much closer now.
“Sophie, not now,” I said, warning in my tone. This was the third time today that she had tried to talk to me.
I waved her off and continued onto my room. I was done being nice about it like I had already been this morning, and this afternoon right before the meeting I had just exited.
“Alpha,” she said, stretching out the word in a pleading tone.
I stopped right before the wing to my room, not wanting her anywhere near it. I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“I really need a minute to myself, please go to the Beta if you need something,” I said in frustration.
She just stood there, batting her eyelashes.
“What is it?” I groaned out.
“Alpha, I just want to let you know that I’m here for you,” she said, her voice sticky-sweet. She grabbed my forearm and continued, “I know what you’re going through.”
If she hadn’t said all that in that tone, or proceeded to stick out her chest and try to push it on me again, I would have maybe appreciated the thought. Was she seriously using her mom’s death to - flirt? Aamon shuddered from disgust in my mind after growling from her contact.
I pushed her firmly back. “Don’t. Touch. Me.”
She batted her lashes again and pouted. “When you’re taking care of this pack, who is taking care of you?” She said, again reaching out her hand but I moved back faster than she could make contact.
“I just said. DON’T TOUCH ME,” I growled, letting a little of Aamon’s voice come through. “You are not my mate. Stop trying to be,” I added and began to walk away.
I heard her stomp her foot and mutter in frustration as I walked off.
A horrible she-wolf, Aamon growled.
Yeah. She keeps pulling this crap and she’s out of here, I angrily said in agreement.
Aamon huffed in response, annoyed I wasn’t doing that already.

Ally~
“Ugh!” I grunted in frustration. “I can’t do this!”
“Let’s… take a break,” Kyle hummed in reply.
We had been outside sitting in my backyard, trying to use this new incantation my grandmother had been able to share with us that is supposed to locate demons. I had been trying for hours but had no luck in trying to find Vance’s accomplice. Being connected to the earth was supposed to help my strength. So far, I was calling bullsh*t.
I followed Kyle back inside and we found my mom at a computer. She said she had been doing ‘research.’
Kyle grabbed a snack bar from the counter and joined my mom at the kitchen table, asking her, “Find anything?”
“Actually… I think I found someone legitimate,” my mom said, tapping the eraser of her pencil on her chin in thought. “I think I’m going to pop out and meet them in person. Are you two good here?”
“Depends on what you mean by ‘good’,” Kyle said, mouth full of cereal bar. “Ally’s being way too hard on herself - as usual - and it only hurts her progress,” he said loudly on purpose as I flopped onto the couch. A puff of air left the cushion.
“Ugh,” I groaned again. “Well if - someone - would help me out with his ability instead of letting me flounder for HOURS, maybe I would have made some progress!”
“Yeah, sounds like you’re doing awesome,” my mom said sarcastically. “Please don’t burn down the house or beat each other up while I’m gone,” she added while grabbing her purse and heading out the door.
My mom had been looking for a legitimate witch online. She was scouring witchy shops that sold herbs and stones and stuff, looking for someone real, hoping to find a reliable source for this whole Rachel business. My grandmother was asking our Elders beyond the grave about her memory problems and from what little she was able to glean, pointed to Sean as the culprit.
When Kyle had woken her up from her attempted kidnapping, he had seen something there and between the two of us we were able to feel a sort of veil on her memories. They weren’t gone, just hidden. But whatever the veil was made of was some inky dark web stuff. It acted like a tick. The more we tried to pull on it, the more it dug in. And from what my grandmother shared, telling Rachel things that conflicted with her current state of mind would only cause her great pain. It made sense, she had been complaining about migraines for some time. It was him, we knew it. I wanted to end it for him.
<<From Nick to Ally>>: Hey there my love.
I looked down at my phone to see the text from Nick. His words pulled me out of my irritation. God I missed him. The bond is just so crazy - one minute I’m fine being single and alone. Next my body is literally craving someone’s presence and touch like an addict.
<<From Ally to Nick>>: Hey, how’s it going over there? I’m still not making progress on the incantation, sorry
I wrote back and hit ‘send.’ My feelings were sinking, feeling bad I was letting him down.
<<From Nick to Ally>>: Love, don’t be sorry. You told me how difficult this one is. Only very strong witches who have trained for years can pull this off. You can’t expect to conquer it all in one day. I believe in you, you will get strong, you just need practice and time. Show yourself some grace
I re-read his message twice, tearing up at the sincerity behind it. I knew he was right, but I have always struggled with failure.
<<From Nick to Ally>>: Breathe, love. Let go for a bit and then come back refreshed and ready to kick a*s.
I laughed aloud reading that one, already feeling lighter.
I loved this guy. It’s been like a week and I’m in love with Nick. He’s just - everything.
<< From Ally to Nick>>: Thank you, I needed that. I miss you
“Are you done gushing over there?!” Kyle called from the kitchen, opening and closing the fridge.
He walked around to the couch I was on, handing me a sprite. “Thanks.”
“Well, at least the pup gets you into a better mood…” he said in a teasing tone.
I threw a pillow at him.
“Hey! Watch it!” he exclaimed, moving his orange soda out of the line of fire.
“Alright Mr. Grumpy-gills, you ready for round 478?” I asked all the chippers.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go,” he said, tossing the pillow back on the couch.
<<From Nick to Ally>>: I miss you too. Can I come by in about an hour?
I looked at his message and smiled, immediately twice as happy.
<<From Ally to Nick>>: Please do
I quickly wrote back my reply and put my phone in my pocket, urging Kyle to hurry up and follow me back down.