In-Laws

Rachel!
Ralph had also associated that name with Jasper. He had said that Jasper had taken Rachel as my replacement. My sister! And she hates me, she was clear about that. Was she why I abandoned Jasper and the pack? Did the two already have a relationship back then and I found out?
I stare at the woman. Many of her features match mine, as does Ruth.
If Jasper was indeed madly in love with me before, it would have taken him no effort to take my sister as a replacement. After all, it took him two years to find me. He may not be looking for me, as he claims. The audacity of Rachel to talk like that to her Alpha and Luna indicates that she is not an ordinary pack member. Perhaps Jasper just bumped into me in Human Town and felt compelled to get me back. All sorts of scenarios run through my head.
Ruth and my mother enter the dining room.
With one look at Rachel, they understand what has happened. So the feud between Rachel and I dates back to my mating with Jasper. Were the two in a relationship before Jasper discovered that not Magda but I was his fated? He told me he had been in love with me before we were even eighteen, but is that the truth?
Ruth walks with firm strides toward Magda.
" Rachel, what have you done again? Why do you bring nothing but trouble with you?" she bites to her. "Are you targeting Rain again, you jealous bitch!" She grabs the woman in front of me by the arm and drags her out of the room. When the door slams hard behind them, I jolt out of my frozen state. My mother runs toward me now. "Honey, don't blame her. She could never face the fact that you found your mate before her. When you left, she dreamt of taking your place, but Jasper consistently rejected her. He loves you so much," she cries, comforting me in her arms.
I turn my head and look straight into Jasper's eyes.
They are expressionless and stare back at me. "It's okay, mom. She'll come around," I reply. Elena enters the room and we all take our seats. Jasper urges them to eat some too, while he refills my glass with juice. I follow his actions with a lump in my stomach. There is still much I need to know about my past, Rachel was just a reminder. Ruth enters the dining room again, alone. Her face is still stormy as she takes a seat next to John.
For me, the joyful moment with my mate is spoiled.
Not even the food in front of me can tempt me anymore. Jasper looks at me strangely a few times as he starts a conversation with my father. My mother and Ruth try to include me in their discussions but my mind is in turmoil. Jasper takes my hand on the table and brings it to his lips. "Shall we go back? It has been a long day, you need some rest," he tells me sultrily. Everyone around the table smiles; after our dry sex on the plane, it's clear we want some alone time. I nod, walk over to my mom. When I stand before her, she rises right out of her seat.
"Thank you, mom, for continuing to believe I'm alive. You and dad must be the perfect parents every she-wolf wishes for. I may not remember the past now, but I'm sure I must have had a wonderful childhood in your home," I tell her solemnly as I hug her tightly. And of course, the emotional tears come, my father and Ruth join the hug. I walk back to Jasper's side, who greets my parents and guides me by the hand out of the dining room.
As we stand in the elevator, he takes me in his arms.
"You are upset by Rachel’s behavior. Don't let her get into your mind. She's a real manipulator, Rain," he soothes me. I gently press myself against his chest. "Jasper, why did I really leave? There's a missing piece in the story. You say you've always loved me, the pack thought I was barren. But why did I still leave if I had you, my fated mate?" I ask him. "Did you succumb to Rachel's charms and I found out?"
Jasper stiffens, his eyes piercing mine in shock.
"Rain! How can you think that? I never cared about Rachel, you were the perfect mate and Luna. Yes, she intruded and imagined she could take your place. But no one could, I made that clear to the pack and Elders," he exclaimed. "I was even willing to give up my Alpha position to keep you." His breath quickens, in his eyes I read pain. "Everything went the way I told you. I never lied to you."

The elevator stops and Rasper leads me to a double door.
Opening it, he pulls me to another door where I see a beautiful bedroom. However, I don't get a chance to admire it, Jasper walks right into a walk-in closet. "Look, all these are your clothes, just the way you left them," he points out, opening closet doors and drawers. "We used to go to Human Town together to buy your clothes, you loved me around when shopping. And there is all your jewelry there, designed exclusively for you". Indeed I see some expensive dresses and casual clothes hanging there. Seeing the jewelry, I can't hold back a cry of admiration. Beautiful sets with all kinds of stones, rubies, emeralds even diamonds.
I lift my face to Jasper with a smile.
"Yes, I sense that you love me. But Rachel is so confident. She throws me off-balance," I confess. "Now tell me honestly, Jasper. Why did I leave Storm Forest and my gorgeous mate?"
"Rain, why do you want to go back to the past? Isn't it more important that the pack has welcomed you, and our love is as strong as ever?" he insists. "You've even managed to withstand the King. You can handle anything, no matter what comes your way." He caresses my face and pecks me on the lips.
"The truth, Jasper."
He sighs deeply. "The pack became hostile to you and my mother and sister kept reminding you that you couldn't provide a successor. You sank into a depression and I realized that too late". In shock, I take a step backward. "This same pack?" I ask anxiously. "And where are your mother and sister now?"
"They don't know you're pregnant. So they stayed back when they heard you were coming," he finally confesses. "But don't worry, everything will be fine. I'm sure they've heard the good news by now. Tomorrow, they will definitely show up and you will meet them". My thoughts go back to Alidya, my mother-in-law at the Palace who had welcomed me with open arms and treated me so well even before she knew I was pregnant. I feel a pang of loss.
I know what I have to do.
Under no circumstances will I stay in this packhouse with cruel in-laws who are determined to trouble me. I don't want to fall into depression again; I am carrying two pups I want to deliver healthily. "Jasper," I say. "I wish to stay with my parents until this is resolved. If your family still doesn't like me, we will have to continue our life together in the Kingdom. Under no circumstances will I stay in a hostile environment with my pups".
For a few seconds, he stares at me. Then I see his eyes blur and he stomps out of the room. Defeated, I slump down on the bed. This is an unexpected setback. A minute later, Ruth storms into the room. Silently she pulls me off the bed and we walk out of the apartment to the elevator.
"Rain, everything is going to be fine. Just relax. We're going home," she says softly....