Bonus Scene #8: Pinky Promise?

Bonus Scene #8: Pinky Promise?
Tori’s POV

2 weeks. 2 weeks and I already feel like I’m suddenly cursed. 2 weeks since the Ambersky festival had ended and I’m already losing the three most important people to me. Jake, Zak and Alex.

The three of them just barely home from Alpha school and I’m already losing them. Again. Having overheard them by accident, that I’m now trying to avoid them whenever possible in hopes of when leaving that it would somehow become easier.

A sigh quick to rise.

A voice soon reaching my ears. “Avoiding us little one?” comes the voice of Jake. My eyes currently locked on a nearby pond as I sit beneath my favorite tree. The spot holding the best view.

“No…” I answer, even though it’s technically true and I really had been hiding from them since the day I overheard them talking.

“Your lying to me. What did I say about lying to me? I can practically smell it on you little one.”

Sighing, I slowly close my eyes. My mind suddenly remembering that night within the bathroom and to where he scolded me about not coming to them. Or of the night we shared our first ever kiss. Okay, not completely first kiss, but it was real. Jake once kissing me back when I was 8 yet didn’t think much of it.

Jake soon sitting beside me along the grass, our knees barely touching, yet still close enough that I could feel the heat that radiated from along his body. A heat that did strange things to my insides whenever they were close.

“Now then little one, I’ll ask you again, are you avoiding us?”

Another sigh my only answer and I instantly nod. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because…” I pause before continuing. “I overheard the three of you talking one night within your bedroom.”

Jake just silent and I take the silence as my cue to continue. “Tell me Jake, why are you leaving? I mean, I just got you back and the three of you are leaving again.”

Jake now sighing. “You… You heard that?”

My gaze soon turning to his. His face soft while his eyes held something like instant regret. “Yes. I mean how couldn’t I? I was standing right outside your bedroom door.”

Jake sighing again. “Look… I wanted to tell you. I really did, I just didn’t expect you to find out exactly that way. But I swear on my title as Alpha, I was going to tell you Tori. Once I knew how.” His words full of absolute sincerity that my heart clenches in pain at how sad they actually sounded.

“Then tell me now,” I counter. My voice firm yet not demanding. A piece of me wanting Jake to be open and honest with me without feeling cornered. Jake just pausing before speaking again.

“Fine. But trust me when I say this, it’s not because we want to, it’s because we’re forced to.”

“Forced?”

The words now making me pause and I instantly blink. Suddenly unsure if I heard him correctly or if my mind was just playing tricks. “Forced? In what way Jake?”

“Because we’re being forced into a corner that’s why. By the Elders.”

At the mention of that, does my heart instantly spike, and the words spoken to me by my father soon rise within me. His comment about mates soon rising. “Because… you didn’t find your mate?”

Jake now scowling yet nods and my heart instantly breaks. “Yes. No. Look it’s complicated Tori. Thus, according to father, we either had to find our fated mate, take a chosen or train under King Arlo for 4 years. And since neither of us wanted a chosen for a mate, we chose to train under King Arlo.”

“But… But…”

Jake quick to silence me. “No. And before you ask me, we already have a mate. As I’ve told you many of times before while growing up, your MINE, OURS. You just can’t feel it yet until your finally 18 which won’t be for another 4 years.”

His words another reminder and the words spoken to me that night. When Jake cleaned and bandaged my wounds caused to me by Lilyanna. That whole scene instantly flooding back to me and how Jake confessed to me about being their mate. Words I found a little farfetched yet wanted to believe.

“But Jake… how are you so certain that I’m actually yours? I’m only 14, not to mention still wolf-less. I mean, I’m also scentless. So, how are you so certain it’s me?”

“Because I am. Because Vox refuses to let anyone else decide what mate we should have. And because you’re the only mate we want.”

His words a simple confession yet sound like a vow. A vow that makes my heart instantly jump.

“Promise?” I suddenly whisper. Almost like a piece of me hoped it was true.

“I’ll do more than just promise you Tori; I’ll pinky promise it.”

A soft gasp soon rising as pinky promises were extra special between us. Jake taking that time to link his pinky with mine and I’m instantly reminded to when we were little. How Jake always tried to do right with his promises. Even if they were all farfetched. Jake then quick in cupping my face. A touch that sends butterflies along my stomach.

His duel eyes my most favorite thing in all the world. The one blue, one green like a vast open sea. A sea I could stare at for days and never get bored.

“Now then, if that’s all your worried about, then don’t be. Because your it for us little one, always. Just promise me, that you’ll stay out of trouble while the three of us train. Okay?”

“…Kay…” I whisper and Jake suddenly pauses. Jake soon quick to lean forward and kisses me upon the lips. The kiss soft, but one full of promise. Jake then quick to stand. His eyes still upon mine.

“We’ll be back soon Tori. When you finally turn 18. Till then, stay safe.”

Then, with that as Jake’s final word, does Jake instantly leave. He, Zak, and Alex all set and ready to train for the next 4 years under King Arlo himself. Then, only then, would the three of them finally return. On the day I finally turn 18 and hopefully, receive my wolf.

A new voice soon reaching my ears.

“Don’t think for a second your safe runt. The second their gone, is the moment your mine and I’m turning your life into a living, breathing moment from hell, each and every second I get with you.”

My body soon tensing when hearing the words, yet, instead of giving her the sweet satisfaction of seeing me run or cry, do I attempt at holding my ground. “Try it Lily. Because if Jake found out, it’s game over for you.”

Lilyanna just laughing. “Go ahead. Try it. I’d like to see them try and stop me. Because the only way they’ll ever learn the truth is if somebody like you tattles on me.” And with that said, does Lilyanna walk away from me slowly. Her words and echo.