Book 1: Chapter 32

The Crossroads were a place where you used to become an adult. It was off territory and only the big kids got to go because they were allowed to leave the territory. For a long time, it was a mythical place that the young kids fantasized about going. Over the past ten years though, Jackson had grown from a small town to more of a city. Now, that was the place where you could go to hang out if you were old enough to be off territory without your parents. The Crossroads became the thing of the past.

There wasn’t much to it either. It just happened to be an plateau overlooking a lake. If you had the balls, you could jump off the edge into the lake. Otherwise, it was just a big open space, with no adults that we used to bring chairs, beers, smokes, and other shit to hang out. Outside the eyes of the adults and the pack.

My truck was fairly large and since the dirt path hadn’t been used in so long, it was overgrown and I could hear a few tree branches scrap against it. But I pulled up to where the tree line stopped and the plateau overlooking the lake started. It was beautiful, even as the sun was going down. I walked to the edge and shoved my hands in my pockets, looking over the lake.

“It must have been amazing, actually making it out here when you could finally leave the territory.”

I looked down to my left and Aelia was standing next to me. She had her leather jacket on, pulling out one of her clove cigarettes. Holding up the box, I grabbed one and she lit it with a snap of her metal fingers.

“It was the first time I’d ever been off territory. At least, after you were taken. Dad was furious of course, but it was Nate’s wrath that I truly feared.”

She chuckled. “You went while he wasn’t old enough.”

“Yeah. I went when I could. He still had two years.”

“Was it worth it?”

I took a drag and blew out the smoke. “Honestly, no. No one wanted the Alpha’s son there. They all assumed I would tattle and so no one gave me shit. It was so boring and I just watched everyone else have fun.” Smiling, I shook my head. “But when Nate came with a couple years later, it was completely different. He shows up in his newly acquired Jeep, chalk-full of contraband. I mean every type of alcohol, smokes, weed…you name it he had it. That was the first time I’d ever been so shit-faced I couldn’t remember how I ended up naked on the other side of the lake.”

Pointing out to where the rocks jutted out on the far East side of the lake. Aelia laughed, shaking her head. “Ever figure it out?”

“No. Never. Though the guys kept telling me I fucked at least three she-wolves on my way over there. I never remembered. Apparently, I’d been so drunk even Eros couldn’t remember. He said at one point he did try to take over but he passed out almost immediately.”

Her laugher rang out even louder. “That I would have liked to see.”

“What about you? I mean, you didn’t get out till sixteen…”

“Yeah. After about a year of suicide attempts, I didn’t really rejoin the real world until about seventeen or eighteen.” She narrowed her eyes, smoking for a moment. “I think the first real time I’d gotten drunk, black out drunk, was with Finn and Noah. We’d stolen booze from a local store. Celebrated a huge win against one of the larger sects of Hunters.”

I looked at my little sister. She was fighting the worst enemy anyone within our supernatural world could encounter at the age of seventeen. I’d taken over Alpha but even then I couldn’t image the things she had see or even done at that age. Hell, our worst skirmishes were with rogues. We’d had one group of nine come through, trying to at least spread havoc. That had been the worst our pack had gone through over the years.

“Was it worth it?”

She looked up at me and grinned wide. “I ended up naked between two very large werewolves. On the rooftop of a prestigious college, covered in my first six tattoos.”

I laughed. “I honestly can’t wrap my head around you, Noah and Finn. Your guys’ relationship. I mean, you can tell those two are mates. I know your mate, but how do you fit in with them?”

“They have a special connection. I also happened to be there for it when they connected. I don’t know if that was part of it or if it’s just their connection in general. For a while, we kept everything plutonic but as teenagers, we had needs. Noah and Finn have a very set dynamic when they are with each other. Whereas, when I’m thrown in the mix, they can try things they don’t normally get to do.”

Shaking my head, I looked back over the lake, the sun slipping down more. “The Elders are requiring me to find a mate by the end of the year. Or else.”

She snorted. “Or else what? They get their thongs up their asses? They can’t do shit.”

“They keep sending me on these month long trips to packs to see if I have a mate in them. I’m tired of it.”

“Why not just tell them to fuck off? I mean, you are their Alpha. The only reason they are pushing you around is because you are letting them.”

I took another drag. “Maybe.” Silence enveloped us for another few minutes. “Why don’t you just break the connection with Nate?”

“You ask too many questions I can’t answer, Sil.” There wasn’t annoyance but more amusement in her voice.

I locked my jaw, turning fully to her. “It just seems so much easier. He gets to have a new mate, or at least he won’t feel this incessant need to always be finding you. He could at least move on and you could be Noah and Finn. I don’t understand…”

“It will kill me, Sil.” She glared up at me.

My eyes widened and my hand I was about to bring to my lips fell to my side. “What?”

“Breaking the connection with Nate will kill me. I’ve tried before. But it will kill me. The force it takes will take all my life.”

Swallowing, I started to shake my head. “How…how does that make sense? You broke connections, fated and chosen, all the time.”

“I still can. What I can’t do is the one between Nate and I.”

“Is it because it’s you? Because it’s your own connection or…”

She smiled at me. “Again, asking too many questions I can’t answer.”

“Can’t or won’t, A? I ended up avoiding Nate all this week. I don’t even know what to do with myself around him. How am I supposed to just ignore you? Ignore that you’re my little sister?”

“Sil…”

I reached out, pulling her to me. “I don’t want to leave for a month because I’m scared you’ll disappear. I’m scared you’ll die while I’m away and I won’t be there when you need me.” My cheek rested on the top of her head.

She was so small in my arms. I was used to being around Nate and Sam who were both over six foot but she was barely six foot, if she even managed to hit the marker. When I touched her it was like I was feeling the warmth of home again, back when we were kids. Even with not being able to smell her scent from the crystal she wore.

“I’ve still got a bit of time, Sil. Don’t worry.”

“I can’t help it. Isn’t that what older brothers do?”

Aelia snorted and shook her head. “There isn’t much left of me that can be considered your sister.”

I hummed. “I dunno. I see a lot of my sister. Just missing a couple limbs. Though, I am sad her love of sundresses has disappeared.”

She laughed again in my embrace. “They are just so impractical. I’m too buff, too tatted, and too un-ladylike to be in dresses anymore.”

Leaning back, I looked at her in the eyes. She was literally just the female version of me. Same hair, same eye color, and despite our height difference, same build. We were mirrors of our mother as well. Not a single part of our father managed to worm its way into our looks. Now the only differences were the glow of blue in place of her missing body parts. I could feel my face soften.

“I mean it. I know you have Noah and Finn but I want you to rely on me too. Be able to tell me things. Let me help in whatever you have left to do.”

She sighed, her shoulders falling ever so slightly. “I know. There are a lot of things I don’t even tell Finn or Noah. You have to understand that. Some of it, some of what I have to do, has to do with you too. You and Nate, the pack, even some things include Finn and Noah. I’ve spent at least two years getting ready to die.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry, Sil. Trust me. I’ll take care of it. It’s nice to know that you’re willing to help if I need you. I appreciate that.”

I tried to smile but I struggled. So far, I was glad I was able to hold it together enough not to cry like a child again. “There is a place right down the road. Dinner?”

She hummed for a moment. “I guess I could eat.”

Tossing her back a little, Aelia stumbled, cracking up as she tried to keep her balance.

“Well, I’m going. You can join me if you want.”

“If I come, you’re paying.”

I scoffed. “Oh yeah? Why don’t we compare bank accounts and see who has the most money?”

“Just one or do all of my accounts have to be included. Cause if thats the case, I’ll definitely be stuck paying.” She smirked at me as she put out the last of her cigarette.

“Oh, now you think you’re richer than me?”

Aelia shrugged. “I mean, I’m bigger than you as a wolf. I’m a better fighter than you. I make more money than you. It all just fits. I’m the better sibling, let’s face it.”

“Excuse me!”

Hip checking her, I jumped into my truck and backed out of the area before she could get on her motorcycle. She managed to catch up to me on the road. We pulled into the small town that was built just before the Heartland Brewery started up. It had two restaurants, a bar, a grocer, and a gas station. Nothing else. The BBQ place that was here was actually really good and even though it was tucked away, they had been visited by quite a few jazz and blues musicians, their photos littering the walls.

I threw my arm over her shoulder as we walked in together. “I’m pretty sure I could beat you in a fight. Let’s be real.”

Aelia laughed, shaking her head. “Name the time and place, Alpha. I’ll be happy to show you why I’m the First Alpha Prince.”