Chapter 164: I Can't Take Backseat

Chapter 164: I Can't Take Backseat

Doris

Is he kidding me? Was he seriously not going to say hello to me? I had thought that we could be cordial about this but seeing as one of us wanted to behave like a child, that is fine too. I was in no position to try and force him to do anything. Elena cleared her throat, filling the awkward silence that had formed.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"I knew that you and Alisha would be working on the wedding plans, and I thought it would be nice to bring everyone over for dinner. I didn't know that I would find Doris here as well." Jack replied.

My back stiffened, in other words, Jasper wouldn't have been here had he known that I was here. It was clear that Bernard was on his friend's side and why wouldn't he? I was the one who messed up.

"Well, the more, the merrier." Elena muttered.
She was trying to make it so that all of us get along but there was no fixing this kind of situation. Only time will tell.

"I think I will just excuse myself." I stood up from my seat.

"Don't be ridiculous, Doris. You are a guest here too. I am sure we can all be cordial with one another for a few hours, can't we?"

I could but it looked like Jasper thought differently, my intention had never been to hurt him or upset him. I was only trying to do what I needed to do in order to save myself. He had to understand the need for self-preservation, right?

"Great," Elena smiled.

"You boys head inside, we just need to finish up some girl talk here."

Jasper was already out of his seat before Elena could even finish what she wanted to say. Jack and Bernard kissed their woman and left the table as well. Elena and Alisha watched them walk away with a dreamy look in their eyes. I wanted that as well, I thought to myself. I longed for that feeling.

"Are you okay?" Elena placed a hand on top of her mind.

"If I had any idea that he was coming, I would have warned you, you know that, right?"

There was a lot of sympathy in her eyes, I didn't like the way she was looking at me. Like I was some broken doll or wounded animal, I am Doris for goodness sake, I am tough and made of platinum. Nothing was meant to break me.

"It is fine," l offered her a tight-lipped smile.

I didn't want to become the Debbie downer of the night, so I would try. I would play the part of unbothered and polite, the name of the game would be 'fake it till you make it.' Besides, how hard could it be? I had faced far worse before, but I could handle it. Could I actually handle it?

After a few minutes, we headed inside as well and we were already at the dining table. Elena and Alisha were talking animatedly about the wedding, Bernard sat at the head of the table with his wife to his left. Jack and Alisha were sitting next to each other which left Jasper to the right of Bernard and I was sitting next to him.

To say things were awkward would be an understatement, I was kept from all conversation. Jasper chatted with Jack and Bernard, at the same time, Elena and Alisha were in wedding planner mode which left me alone with my glass of wine.

This had been a bad idea, I was so hyper aware of his presence right now. His scent was assaulting my nostrils, it was a tantalizing scent that had me taking in deeper breaths than normal. I was greedy for him, I wanted more of it that I could bottle up. Was it getting hot in here? I was beginning to feel flustered. I pushed my hair forward, trying to form a curtain around myself. I didn't want them to see my face, I was probably red as a tomato.

I looked across the table and my eyes connected with Jack who was looking between Jasper and me. I didn't dare to look to my left for fear of meeting Jasper's eyes.

Thankfully, the first food was served and everyone busied themselves with dinner. Alisha and Elena talked animatedly about the upcoming wedding, and Bernard and Jasper were discussing issues related to the Pack.

"So, Doris," Jack started drawing my attention.

"How is the training going? Jasper told me that you guys are changing the training program."

"What?" My head snapped to Jasper for the first time since we sat down, this was all new to me.

Jasper was glaring at Jack like he had done something he hadn't been meaning to do. I stared at Jasper, utterly confused. If there was a change to the training program, surely he would have told me. I was the head trainer for new recruits.

"I thought you would have told her, seeing as she is the head trainer."

"Decisions like that aren't run through trainers first. Those are decisions that Bernard and I make, then everyone just follows suit."

"Since when? Nicholas always informed me of any changes before they were made even Bernard knew of this." I looked at Bernard but he simply shrugged. I turned my attention back to Jasper.

"Jasper?"

"Your brother may have had a way of doing things but I have mine. I run defense for the Pack and what I say goes once it is approved by Bernard. I don't need to run anything through you first."

He said the word brother like it was poison on his tongue, he was being petty and I knew it, he also knew it too even though he wouldn't admit it. This had to do with our failed date than it did anything with new protocols.

"So, what are these new training programs you will have me running?"

"You won't be running them?" He said it like it was the most casual thing.

"Excuse me! What do you mean I won't be running them? I am the head trainer for the new recruits, if it won't be new then who will it be?"

Jasper reached for his glass of water looked at a long unnecessary gulp of water and then turned his attention to me.

"I will," my blood simmered, what did he mean by that?

"What do you mean you will? You are not kicking me out of my position, Jasper. You don't have that kind of authority."

"I am not kicking you out, Doris. I am simply taking over and you will become my second. I need the recruits trained in a certain way and I would feel most comfortable being their teacher. I am more skilled and better equipped to teach them."

"And I am not? I have proven myself worthy of my position, Jasper. You can't do this." I looked at my Alpha.

"Alpha, tell him he can't do this." Bernard opened his mouth to speak but Elena spoke before he could.

"Okay, how about we all just take a moment to breathe because I can see that the tension is starting to run a little too high."

But it was too late, with the alcohol running in my blood and the rage fueling me, I was already wound tight and I was searching for a release.

"Can you just get over yourself, Jasper? I am sorry our date went how to do it but that isn't an excuse for you to start being petty and trying to sideline me. I feel like I want me but don't come professionally. You and I both know that I am a weapon on the mat, I have schooled you more than once." He scoffed.

"Get over yourself, Doris. I am not being petty, I am only letting you know that you will take a backseat this time around and you will let me head the session."

"Like hell! I have been training some of the best warriors we have for five years now, I will not take a backseat. I have earned my place as head trainer, unlike some people who got their position handed to them simply because they had an in with the leader of the Pack."

"What is that supposed to mean?" It was Alisha who piped up.

Crap, she is Elena's assistant and I was sure she would have taken my comment the wrong way. This wasn't about her, this was about that idiot man beside me who was staring at me like he wanted to shoot me. I looked around the table and took in everyone's varying emotions on their faces.

Bernard looked passive and had no real emotions on his face, Alisha looked like she was ready to have a go at me. Jack's eyebrows knitted together in disapproval. It made sense, he thought I had tried to dig at his betrothed. Elena looked shocked and didn't know what to do and Jasper looked like he wanted to murder me.

Silently, I stood up from my seat, staying for dinner had been a mistake and now it was time for me to leave.

"I am sorry that I dampened the evening, it wasn't my intention and I think I should leave."

Before anyone could say anything, I left the dining room and headed straight for the front door. This had gone wrong according to the plan but when had anything in my life ever gone according to plan?

I should have just stayed under the covers of my bed.