Mia’s Sadness and Jess’s Surprises

My heart races as I watch Jess being tackled to the ground. I rush over, trying to make sense of the chaos. "What's going on? Why did you tackle Jess like that?" I ask, hoping to diffuse the situation.

One of the guards turns to me, his expression stern. "We have reason to believe that Jess may be a spy for the neighbouring pack. She's been acting suspiciously, trying to sneak into the pack."

I can't help but laugh at the absurdity of the accusation. "Jess? A spy? That's ridiculous!"

The guard's expression remains unchanged. "We can't take any chances. She needs to be interrogated."

I look at Jess, who is squirming under the guard's grip. "Can't we just ask her some questions? I'm sure she'll be happy to clear her name."

The guard considers my request for a moment before nodding. "Fine.” He says and the guard that’s holding her down lets her go.

Wiping away a stray tear, Jess sniffles, "You haven't been to school, and I was worried about you. I went to your dorm room, and you weren't there. I also checked the infirmary, but they said they hadn't seen you for a while. Then I saw Adam and his fiancé, and they told me you were staying here at the pack house. I rushed over here, and when I saw you, I couldn't hold in my excitement anymore."

As I listen to Jess's explanation, my heart fills with warmth. Despite everything that's been going on, it's comforting to know that there are people who care about me.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," I say, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I just needed some time to myself." I decide not to mention the blood tests. I don't want to worry Jess any further.

Jess nods understandingly. "I get it. But you should have told someone where you were going. It's not safe to be out there alone, especially with the current situation."
I wince at the reminder of the danger lurking around us. "You're right. I'll be more careful from now on."

I turn to the guard who had tackled Jess earlier. "Can we release her now? She's not a spy. She was just worried about me."

The guard hesitates, but eventually nods in agreement. "Very well. But we need to keep an eye on her. We can't afford to take any risks."

Jess and I both let out a sigh of relief as the guards leave us alone. We take a moment to catch our breath and compose ourselves before continuing with my original plan of checking on Mia in the garden.

As we walk through the lush greenery, I can't help but feel grateful for having someone like Jess by my side. Despite our differences, she's always been there for me. And in times like these, that's all that really matters.

The air is fresh and fragrant with the scent of flowers as we make our way to the garden. The sun is shining bright, casting a golden glow on everything it touches. It's a peaceful and calming scene, one that makes me forget about the chaos and danger that's been plaguing our kingdom.

Jess breaks the silence. "You know, I've been thinking about what happened back there. It's strange that the guards would accuse me of being a spy. Maybe someone is trying to frame me."

I raise an eyebrow. "You think someone is trying to set you up?"

"It's a possibility," Jess replies, shrugging. "I mean, with everything that's been going on, it wouldn't be surprising if someone wanted to create chaos within the pack."

I put on my best detective voice and lean in closer to her. "Well, Jess, it looks like we have a case on our hands. The Mystery of the Misunderstood Spy."

Jess gives me a playful punch in the arm. "Okay, Sherlock. Let's stick to the facts and figure out what's really going on."

I shake my head, trying to suppress my laughter. "Nah, no one is trying to frame you, Jess. It's just that security is tight because the council members are here. They're probably just being extra cautious."

Jess lets out a sigh of relief, “Oh, thank goodness. I was starting to feel like I was in some spy story or something.”

I laugh. "Well, if you were a spy, you'd be the worst one ever. You came running in here screaming and drawing attention to yourself."

Jess playfully punches my arm. "Hey, I was just concerned about my best friend. Cut me some slack."

We both laugh and continue walking through the garden, I notice Mia and her guard sitting on the bench.

As Jess and I approach Mia, her shoulders slump, and her eyes are downcast. I can tell from her furrowed brow and downturned lips that something is troubling her. She seems to be lost in thought and unaware of our approach.

As I crouch down to Mia's level, her tear-filled eyes meet mine. "What's wrong, Mia?" I ask.

Mia's lower lip quivers as tears pool in her eyes. Her small frame shakes with the weight of her sorrow. "I miss Grandma Agatha," Jess wraps an arm around her, offering a gentle squeeze of comfort.

"I know, Mia. You will get to see her soon, okay?" Jess says softly.

I interject, hoping to ease Mia's pain. "Yes, how about I speak to Alpha Volkov and see if she can come and visit you here at the packhouse?"
Mia's face brightens, the sadness melting away. "Really? That would be amazing!" She wipes her tears and beams at us.

A warm smile spreads across my face at her enthusiasm. "Of course, Mia. I'll talk to Alpha Volkov as soon as possible."

As we stand up to leave, Mia wraps her small arms around us, hugging us tightly. "Thank you, Alivia," she says, her eyes shining with gratitude.

"Hey, how about we go check out your new room for now?" I suggest, wanting to show her that she has a place here at the packhouse, and hoping to divert her attention to something positive, "Alpha Volkov set up a room for you next to mine."

Mia's eyes widen with excitement. "Really? Can we go see it now?" she asks eagerly.

I laugh at her enthusiasm. "Yes, let's go see it now!" I say, standing up and holding out my hand for her to take.

Mia takes my hand, and we start walking towards the packhouse Jess and the guard following closely behind.

I notice Adrienne walk out of the pack house, his eyes scanning the area as he takes a deep breath of the fresh air. He walks over to the guards who are stationed near the entrance, their weapons at the ready.

"What was the commotion earlier? Has it been taken care of?" Adrienne asks, his voice calm but firm.

One of the guards’ steps forward, "Yes, sir. It was Alivia's friend Jess. She was worried that she hasn't been to school and came to check on her."
Adrienne nods, satisfied with the explanation. He turns his gaze towards the woods, his instincts on high alert. As a council member, he is always aware of the dangers that lurk in the surrounding forests.

"Keep a close eye on the perimeter," he orders the guards. "We don't want any unwanted visitors."

I lean in close to Jess and whisper, "That's council member Adrienne." But as I glance at her, I notice her eyes fixed on him not moving.

It's strange to see such a strong and confident woman like Jess react this way. I wonder what could have caused this sudden change in her demeanour.

As I try to piece together what could have caused Jess' reaction, Adrienne turns towards us, his piercing gaze scanning our faces until it lands on Jess. His eyes seem to soften as he takes in her features. Without a word, he steps closer to her, and their eyes lock. The tension in the air is palpable, and I can feel my heart racing.

Then, in a low and husky voice, Adrienne says only one word, "Mate." It hangs in the air like a promise, and Jess' eyes widen in shock at the realization of what it means.
For a moment, she stands frozen, unsure of what to do. But then, instead of running towards him, she takes a step back and looks at him with fear in her eyes.