Chapter 54
The crowd cheers as we come into view Carter and I hand in hand. "My loyal subjects," Carter begins.
"It's with great gratitude I'm standing here today in your presence with a promise to grow this pack, please do not look at me as your leader but I am your servant here to serve you and meet every one of your needs with my Luna Hailey Stewarts to make this pack the greatest in the whole lycanthrope world tonight a new era has begun!"
The crowd cheers and I hear a few people call out to me and Carter but the whole time I'm distracted Carter's speech blurs in the background as I feeble with the necklace wondering why Jaden is being distant. "Hailey..."
"Hailey.." Carter calls louder this time, I gaze at him puzzled.
"Everyone wants to hear from you"
Everything starts coming to me as I hear the crowd chant my name, something I was afraid of.
I wasn't prepared to talk to a huge amount of people. What the hell do I possibly say?
"Just speak loud and confident" Carter encourages with a side nudge.
"Good day members of the Blood moon pack tonight we are gathered to welcome Carter into our pack no matter the circumstance and pain his being here may cause he's welcomed anyway"
Carter's grip tightens on my hand and the crowd looks a little stunned by my response but what did they expect I did my best I wasn't going to pretend.
"Umm," Carter coughs.
"I believe what Hallie is trying to say is we are happy being here today and no matter the trial and challenges we encounter we will be devoted and committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of every one of you" The crowd started cheering again Carter has won them back throwing me a: we will have a little talk later look.
"Luna Hailey, aren't you mated to Jaden?" Someone in the crowd blurted out, making me take a step backward.
"Yes, why did you switch sides so easily?"
"If I become Alpha will you be my Luna?"
The criticism continued insinuating I am shameless for deserting my mate for power.
I felt really bad about it.
Didn't no one care about my side of the story?
"People people please stop! I won't tolerate any judgment against my luna if anyone dares to you will be punished severely " Carter warned.
"We have a right to know" Someone yelled and the crowd defended it.
I wanted to run away from it, run from their hurtful words but Carter didn't let me, holding me firmly.
"Well if you don't want to cooperate that will be all for now" Carter gave a signal to the guards to escort everyone out of the premises and pull me in. When we were confined in the walls of the house I yanked my hand out of his grip.
Tears brimmed my eyes.
I had been humiliated.
"You heard all that you caused it" I pointed at him, wiping at my eyes.
"Hailey you need to-
"You've done enough" Ride interrupts.
I felt so relieved seeing him I was beginning to worry he was in danger.
He steps between me and Carter.
"You dare-
"I dare " Ride cuts him off pulling me in his arms not a bit fazed as he walks me out of there.
I've never felt so dirty in my life.
They called me characterless and a clout chaser when all I wanted was to save the man I loved sacrificing my happiness for him.
Ride pulls me into a room, closing it behind me.
"Don't worry Angel I got you" He says rubbing my head.
I pull away sniffling.
I rub my eyes feeling I was dreaming but no it was real.
Jaden was in the room tied to a chair with ropes and a piece of cloth tied to his mouth.
I look up at Ride and notice his bruised face.
"Thought you needed the fucker" he says with a shrug.
I hug Ride warmly leaving his hands to remove the cloth from Jaden's mouth.
He glares at Ride who smirks slightly taking his lip ring in between his teeth.
"You're welcome," He says walking out the door.
I laugh and cry at once while looking at Jaden.
His hair was short and he smelled of gel. I never believe I'll see Jaden Perry look like a commoner.
He doesn't meet my eyes and sadly I don't make an effort to release him fearing he will run away.
"Jaden," I say, gliding my fingers on the side of his face, a small cut indented there.
"Hailey can you please untie me"
"No, I won't! Do you know how bad I feel?" I kneel, forcing him to look into my eyes.
"Why Jaden why the hell did you give up on us we still have a chance here"
"No, we don't, we were never meant to be," He says, craning his neck as far as the ropes let him.
I'm taken aback and a little hurt by his words.
"There you were calling me stubborn, okay Jaden Perry I'll obey your instruction" I untie the ropes dropping them to the ground.
"If all we are is a lie if you don't feel a thing for me. If truly we are never meant to be you can leave I won't stop you" I dare him to step back, giving him space to walk away if he wanted.
He tenses rubbing his ankles, he steps forward as he walks towards the door holding my part of the bargain, I don't stop him.
Even if I badly wanted to. I begged inwardly that he doesn't leave if he truly loves me like I feel he does he'll stop.
"Hailey Stewarts I wish you knew how much it kills me to leave. I hope you can forgive me?"
"I'll never forgive you if you walk out that door" He halts turning towards me.
"Jaden Perry I will never forgive you for shattering me to pieces how can you easily walk away from everything if I die my blood is in your hands"
His eyes flicker then go dark, retracing his steps back to me.
Jaden hugs me and our lips find each other in a romantic dance we ignite like a furnace holding onto one another.