Chapter 37

As I sat there on Gram’s couch thinking about the conversation that Shane and I just had with Jessie. I am still in shock that even after all of these years I am still being talked about in that Alpha’s pack house. After telling Gram everything that was just said to me by this new guy Jessie, Gram was also taken back a bit.

"It just seemed off that he knew about me... He didn't say how much he knew, but from what he did say, it just seemed like there was way more to it."

"How long is he going to be at the pack for?"

"From what Shane said to him he is going to only be here till tomorrow."

"Well, at least it isn't longer than that. So that is a good thing."

"I guess… Ramiro? Have you heard anything about this guy Jessie?"

I wasn't sure if he had any clue who he even was... But I knew that it wouldn't hurt to ask. Ramiro looked at me over the rim of his cup.

"Yeah… Actually… I have heard a little bit about him." Ramiro said shocking me slightly.

"Do you mind telling me what you might have heard?"

"Sure Luna, I know that he and Shane used to be friends."

"Yeah, best friends." I said...

"Well I wouldn't go as far and say best friends."

"What do you mean by that dear?" Gram asked as curious as I am.

"Well, Shane and Jessie were friends yes... Best friends not so much. They were very young when they met. As you know Jessie is part of Logan's pack. And Shane is his nephew."

"I know that."

"Over the years Shane refused to ever go back to his uncle's pack because of the things that he witnessed his uncle do."

I knew that he was referring to what happened to my pack so I didn't press him to tell me why.

"Jessie would call Shane every day wanting to hang out. A few times Jessie came here when Shane's parents were the alpha and Luna. Shane said that Jessie always wanted to do things that caused trouble. Shane was never that kind of kid."

"Do you mind me asking how long you have known Shane?"

"I have known him since we were kids too. We went to school together and are from the same pack. We hung out a lot. He gave me the job as his driver/ security guard after he became Alpha."

"He trusts you."

"And I trust him," Ramiro said matter of factly

"I can tell you guys are close."

"Yeah, we are. As we got older Jessie kept insisting that he and Shane were best friends. He even told Shane he wanted to be a part of his pack once he became Alpha and wanted the job of his Beta…"

"So what happened…"

"One time while we were hanging out Jessie thought he was in with Shane and started to boss around some of the younger pack members. We had to be like 10 at the time. Shane got very upset about it and told him to stop. Jessie's only response was that he was practicing from when he became beta. Shane then told him that he wasn't going to be beta." Ramiro informed me.

"Did Shane give him a reason why?"

"He told Jessie that the beta was already pre-picked. Normally the beta is predestined by the prior beta. Unless the beta is childless then the beta is picked from the pack. But if they have children the title is handed down. Like the Alpha title."

"Gotcha.. So yours was handed down?"

"No actually, the prior Beta didn't have children. The picking comes from the Alpha before he hands down the title."

"Gotcha.."

"So when Jessie heard that I was prepicked at such a young age... He and Shane got into a fight."

"Like a physical fight.."

"Yep... I was the one that broke them up. Shane tried to tell him that it wasn't his intention to upset him or hurt his feelings... But this is the way of the pack. It took a few conversations and it seemed like Jessie finally got over the whole issue.."

"I don't think he ever got over it."

"I don't either. Just by the way he acted before it had me feeling that he would never have gotten over it that easily."

"I knew it... I knew that there was something very off about him."

"The last incident that happened was after Shane became Alpha... Jessie sent an invitation to Shane asking him to come to his party for being given the title of the pack's best warrior."

"Did Shane go to that party?"

"No, Shane had Alpha duties that he couldn't get out of and couldn't make it."

"So Jessie feels forgotten."

"I would say so.."

"Jessie said that it had been like 20 years since he saw Shane... He even mentioned that he has never been to this pack."

"Right... So when Shane's father was Alpha the pack was a few miles up the road. There was a fire one night and a lot of the area burned down. So the pack was rebuilt from the ground up here… So no Jessie has never been to this pack... That was just about 20 years ago now.."

As I sat there listening to all of this it got me thinking. What a better way to get to Shane than showing up here after all of these years and getting all kinds of info about his pack together to bring back to Logan so that he can take it over? Now this might be a long shot.. But why else would you show up and be so cheerful with someone you had that many problems with? Why would you come all these years later and act like nothing happened, like he had no ill-will feelings towards Shane... There has to be a motive for his actions... I am determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Thank you for the information Ramiro" I said to him

"Any time Luna."

Gram put another show on and we sat there for a while just watching in silence sipping on our tea. Not long after starting the show, Shane linked me.

"Hey love, it's almost time for dinner, you, Gram and Ramiro start heading over here now."

Instantly I heard my stomach rumble. I was hungry.

"Will do see you soon."

I turned to Gram and smiled.

"Hey guys it's about time to eat, Shane said that we should start heading over there now."

"Alright."

He instantly got up and cleaned our tea cups from the coffee table and put them in the sink. We walked to the door and made our way to the pack house. When we got to the front door Ramiro opened it and Gram walked in. Something came over me and I on the other hand could not walk into the pack house. When Gram sensed that I was not walking in behind her she turned around and outstretched her hand to me. I looked at her hand and then back up at her. She smiled and I tried my best to smile at her back. I slowly placed my hand in hers and she gently pulled me into the house over the threshold.

Shane came over to the foyer to greet us as we came in.

"Hey babe! How was hanging with Gram."

"It was good honestly.. It felt just like it did before she got sick."

"I am glad to hear that. Does she seem happy?"

"She does thank you. Do you think that we can talk about some stuff later?"

"Yeah is everything alright?" He asked me with a look of concern on his face.

That is when I caught Jessie walking up to us from the corner of my eye.

"Oh yeah, everything is just fine... I just have a few things I want to start planning and need your help."

"Hey Sierra! I hear you want to plan something. I'm great at planning!"

"That's good!"

"I better get an invite!"

"I will send it myself.." I said trying not to give away that anything was wrong.

He was weirding me out. Jessie walked away heading towards the table where a few she-wolves were sitting. One in particular… Claudia.

Shane and I walked past the table and Shane never even gave her a second look. Claudia on the other hand couldn't take her eyes off of him.. That way until Jessie walked over to her. Dinner went well and I was beyond glad to not have been sitting anywhere near Jessie. I had to excuse myself from the table so that I could use the little girl's room... Much to my surprise when I rounded the corner to the bathroom. Jessie was pacing back and forth on the phone. I paused and took refuge in a nearby room to try and hear who he was talking to or what it might be about.

***** Jessie’s POV *****

Dinner was great and I think I might have a chance to score with this she wolf claudia. She let me know how upset with Shane she was so I think her sleeping with me might help her feel a bit better. Before I had the chance to make my signature move my phone rang. When I took it out of my pocket I noticed the caller ID said AL. That meant that Logan was calling and wanted to be updated on anything that I found or heard.

"Hey please excuse me, I have to take this call."

Claudia just locked eyes with me and nodded. I got up and walked into the hallway to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Any news for me?"

"I have one thing that you might want to hear…"

"And that is?"

"That girl that you have been following and looking for... Is here.."

"Really?"

"Jessie- Yep.. and she is your nephew mate and soon-to-be Luna of his pack.."

"Well, I must call him and congratulate him."

"You can't"

"Whys that.."

"Because they know about you stalking her, and that you caused her grandmother to get attacked... And all the other things that you have done."

"What have you told him.."

"I have kept everything to a minimum like you asked of me and told them that I would do my best to find out the information that they were asking me to get.."

" Like what.."

Alpha Logan asked and even before I could answer his next question, I looked up and Sierra was walking down the hall towards me...

How much did she hear? How long was she standing there? How did she sneak up on me so quietly and me not hear her?

"Alright well, it was good talking to you too Mom.. Talk to you later... I will tell Shane you said hi. Bye now."

I had to play it off this way... However, I wasn't exactly sure what she heard... So until she says otherwise... We are going to leave it at this.