Chapter 27 - Road-Trip Ends

Chapter 27 - Road-Trip Ends
Fidelia

After learning about Jade’s past, the car journey became considerably better. Fidelia felt sympathy for her of course, considering everything she had learned, but Jade had dropped the false persona she had been using for countless years and Fidelia liked the real her.

Jade stopped talking incessantly about herself and the things only she liked and they actually engaged in real conversation. They bought snacks for the road like big bags of crisps, cans of energy drinks and fizzy juices and loads of sweets. They laughed through mouthfuls of crisps as they chatted away.

The topics never ended, they spoke about Orion Valley, the gossip going around that they believed to be true and false, the guys that were in the pack; who was hot and who were absolute idiots and Fidelia made sure to include Oscar’s name in the absolute idiot category, which made Jade burst out laughing in agreement.

It was the most Fidelia had spoken with someone since Raine had left and it felt nice. The drive was starting to feel less like a rescue mission and more like a road-trip by the second.

Jade had even opened up a bit more about her past after they had filled themselves full of sugar and caffeine. It was mostly about her family but it was still nice to learn. She spoke about how in love her parents had been and how they were a perfect example of a mating couple. Fidelia didn’t miss the slight look of melancholy and sorrow in Jade’s eyes when she had said this, but she was quick to mask it again.

She spoke a lot of her brother. How he would make them race and arm wrestle as kids to prove who the stronger future Beta would be. How he would let her win sometimes; despite being stronger. They would go camping together with their parents in the woods nearby. He would always stick up for her no matter who it was making the mistake of picking on his twin.

She told Fidelia how; despite being twins they didn’t look very alike. Jared was way taller than Jade and ‘built like a tank,’ apparently. He had chocolaty brown hair unlike her blonde hair and his eyes were also brown whereas hers were green. He was the epitome of kindness and would always stick up for the underdog; he hated liars and traitors the most.

She never said it out loud but Fidelia could see the pain in her eyes as she spoke, how much Jade clearly missed her brother Jared. How it must have hurt to be judged and hauled away while he was there and it be the one time he didn’t stick up for her.

Jade also seemed to avoid the topic of her True Mate again, anytime she mentioned anything that could lead her to him she instantly changed the subject. Fidelia could understand why, it must have been painful talking about him and about most of her past considering how things turned out. But she had a question that was burning a hole in her mind and she had to ask; so she waited for a lull in their conversation.

“Jade?” She voiced uncertainly.

“Yeah?” Jade smiled her real smile, the fake one long gone now that Fidelia knew about her.

“If you know you have True Mate, why do you act like you want Axel to Mate you?” She asked.

The moment the words left her mouth Fidelia wanted to slap herself. When she heard them out loud they sounded so mean, especially with her voice attached to them. She was about to retract them when something happened and she instantly shut her mouth to listen.

Jade let out a deep and exhausted sigh.

“I don’t know.” She turned away from Fidelia to look out the window as she continued. “He looks a bit like Damon; dark hair, green eyes and that look of…I don’t know, like they have a lot on their mind but would drop everything to help someone they cared for…”

“Axel accepted me. He became my friend even though he knew I was a rogue and he invited me to join his pack once he became Alpha. It was so refreshing that I think a part of me fell for him and dreamed what if my real Mate was like that and had accepted me and asked me to his pack…It wasn’t hard for my brain to come up with the possibilities…” She sighed again before turning to look at Jade.

“But if Axel had magically asked me to become his chosen Mate and become his Luna…” She paused for a moment. “I don’t think I could accept, not knowing I have a True Mate, even if he is with that bitch! It would ruin the fantasy and I’d probably run away, afraid of the consequences…” She shrugged.

“You don’t actually want to be with Axel?” Fidelia asked surprised.

“No, I just keep him around to remind me of the man I’ll never have.” Jade winked cheekily, making Fidelia laugh.

Despite the cheeky response, Fidelia could still see some sadness hidden in her green eyes.

“He’s honestly not that great!” Fidelia spoke up, pulling Jade’s attention back to her. “He’s an absolute idiot, who only ever considers things that will make him happy, he can be such a jerk and he’s a narcissist!” She ranted, gripping the steering wheel hard. She had wanted to make Jade feel better, but speaking about him only made her angry.

There was an eerie silence as Jade observed Fidelia.

“Why do you hate your brother so much?” She asked.

“I just told you!” Fidelia laughed, but Jade did not.

“Why do you really hate your brother?” She rephrased.

Fidelia glanced at her quizzical and serious look, before letting out a deep exhale.

“He did something, before you came to the pack, for no reason because he decided he didn’t like someone!” She explained.

“Tell me about it.” Jade asked and Fidelia glanced at her again quickly.

“What?”

“Tell me about it? I have been recently taught by a wise person that even though talking about the past can’t change the past, it can still lift some of the burden by sharing it.” Jade smiled thoughtfully.

Fidelia laughed at being referred to as wise, but she did consider what Jade was saying.

“Alright.” She took a deep breath and then began her explanation.

How Raine had been the first proper and real friend she had ever made, how she couldn’t wait to introduce Axel to her and even lent her clothes and got ready with her the day of Axel’s ascension to Alpha. How Axel had learned Raine was a human and had her imprisoned and once she escaped the cells, he had most of the pack hunt her down like an animal. He had even used his Alpha tone to pry information from her, his own sister! He wouldn’t listen to her when she told him to back off and leave her friend be!

“There were humans at your university right?” She found herself asking near the end of her story.

“The place was mostly filled with human students and only a very small percentage were something else. We had quite a number of classmates and friends who were human.” Jade informed her.

“See! I knew it couldn’t just be a random hate for humans, he had it out for her the moment he saw her! And he wouldn’t tell me why!” She complained.

“It’s certainly odd.” Jade answered. “He never seemed to have a problem with anyone at school; especially not any humans.”

“So it was just a mindless attack on my friend! The asshole!” She cursed.

There was another long silence before Jade broke it and nearly made Fidelia crash the car.

“We’re not going to see your brother, are we?” She suddenly asked and near gave Fidelia a heart attack.

“What!?”

“Well, you said when we left we were heading for Warrior Harpe because you missed Axel but it doesn’t seem like you’d miss him to the point of leaving in the middle of the night without telling anyone.” Jade pointed out.

Fidelia was speechless. She silently cursed herself for letting out just how much she despised her brother as it had gotten her caught out. Jade quietly observed before continuing.

“You’re friend's nearby, isn’t she?” She asked, again shocking Fidelia so much she nearly crashed the car.

“Wh…what?” She spluttered.

“We’re driving all the way to Warrior Harpe, so you can stop him from finding your friend.” Jade gave her a knowing look and Fidelia knew she had been caught; there would be no point in denying it now.

“How did you know?” She asked with a sigh.

“I have a feeling you’re one of those people who would do anything to protect the people who are important to you and she’s your first friend and clearly very important to you.” Jade smiled. “It was an educated guess really.”

“First friend?” Fidelia asked, with a smile playing around her own lips.

“Yeah, the one before me of course.” Jade winked.

“We’re friends?”

“Well, we’re in the middle of a road-trip on a mission to save your friend before Axel can find her and we’re having some real deep conversations. If that doesn’t make us friends I don’t know what will.” Jade laughed and Fidelia laughed along with her.

“I have another friend.” Fidelia said aloud, barely believing that the words were coming from her own mouth.

“Damn right! And now I’ve gotta be friends with this Nessa girl too, to even it out.” Jade grinned.

“It’s Raine.”

“What’s Raine?” Jade gave her a confused look.

“She changed her name. It’s not Nessa anymore it’s Raine, but you can never tell Axel!” She warned.

“Raine…Now I won’t look silly when I meet her and call her by a different name.” Jade’s grin was even wider.

“So you’re on my side, you’re not gonna tell Axel about this?” Fidelia asked cautiously.

“Of course not, I would never betray a friend. I know the consequences of that more than anyone. My lips are sealed.” Jade smiled.

“Okay then as my friend you are privy to something very special!” Fidelia smiled widely.

She reached into her driver side door and pulled a disk from the pocket; one that she had stashed there from her duffel bag while Jade had stopped by a rest stop to grab more snacks. She swiftly slipped the disc into the CD player and watched as Jade’s face turned from confusion to absolute awe as Raine’s voice drifted from the speakers.

It was a CD that Raine had recorded for Fidelia, with the obvious promise of being careful of where she listened to it and not to let her family; more specifically her brother; hear it.

She explained to Jade that it was her friend Raine’s voice and how it was her profession as a sort of cabaret/club singer. She laughed at the way Jade looked shell-shocked from hearing Raine’s singing through the CD.

“She’s amazing…” She gasped.

From that point they listened to the songs on the CD as they drove. A few times Jade would give her a questioning look when another voice appeared on the track that was playing and Fidelia would explain how it was one of the club members singing along with Raine, though she was careful to use their club names as she had been taught by Raine and Joe.

A few times a song they both knew would come on and the two of them would sing along despite their voices lacking any talent for the profession; it still didn’t stop them from belting their lungs out loudly alongside Raine’s.

It really was starting to feel like a real road-trip and Fidelia felt this strange warm sensation spread from her heart as she smiled with joy and sang with Jade.

However, their high was soon brought to an abrupt stop when the Jeep suddenly pulled across the other side of the road and lights began to flash on the dashboard, making strange noises. Fidelia was forced to make an emergency stop.

“What happened?” Jade gasped, gripping her seat tightly.

“I don’t know.” Fidelia answered, quickly flinging her door open and leaping from the car. Jade was quick to jump out her side as well.

Fidelia popped the hood of the car open and examined the contents. She knew a little about cars, not enough to ever become a mechanic, but enough to save herself on the roadside and as far as she could see there was nothing wrong inside.

The road was empty and there were no other vehicles to even attempt to flag down for help.

She was still inspecting everything inside the front of the Jeep, when Jade called out to her and caught her attention. She found her standing by one of the back tyres, holding up something for her to see.

“An arrow?” Fidelia asked her.

“It was in the tyre!” Jade said, her eyes wide and alarmed, as she glanced nervously around them.

Then suddenly she screamed.

“Fidelia run!”

Fidelia had enough time to turn before she felt something pinch her in the neck. She reached and pulled something from her skin and brought it to her eyes.

‘A dart?’ She thought vaguely.

Black dots began to creep into her vision as she swayed, suddenly finding it very hard to stand and keep her knees straight. She could hear Jade calling to her from somewhere, but her voice was fading; slowly become quieter.

From the trees all around them she could see the blurry outlines of people appear and beginning to approach. With all her might she tried to take a step forward to run but her knees gave out and she fell numbly to the ground.

She could make out their feet advancing them before her vision failed and she fell to the never ending darkness that threatened.