Hunter's Secret
Chapter 16 - Jealousy

^^^Ryker, in case anyone was curious.

Titus’ POV

Once Ryker and I have both calmed down some, we return to the pack house. I walk in to replace Ash sitting on the couch with Raine who is asleep next to her. I gesture to Ash to follow me outside and she carefully rises from the couch and meets me outside.

“She is going to be okay, Titus. The nurse gave her some pain medicine, antibiotics, and a salve to put on her cuts and scrapes. She is underweight but not by that much so she should bounce back physically quickly. And she is so young that she should bounce back mentally too. I know I could just spell her and erase her memories, but I refuse to do that to a child who can’t tell me she is okay with it. I just hope she doesn’t grow up and remember anything.”

“Me too, Ash. Me too.”

“She is going to need someone to look after her. I think you know that. I think that is why you had me bring her to your house and not to anyone else’s.”

“You’re right. I don’t know why but I just need to be the one to take care of her. To show her that not all people are bad. I don’t even care that she is a human. She will grow up here not seeing differences and instead just see a very blended family who all love each other and get along, despite our differences.”

“I am glad Ryker has good judgement and told you to trust me,” she smirks, “but you aren’t so bad yourself. You are really just a big softie. Nothing I learned about wolves as a kid was correct. I am glad the next generation, at least the ones here, can learn the truth and not some made up stories meant to scare people into rejecting change.”

“I am glad you are here. I didn’t realize how much my pack needed you, but I can’t picture my pack without you now.”

“See, big softie,” she smiles before going back inside and I follow her. She goes back to sit on the couch by the still sleeping Raine. I quietly tell her that I am going to go replace Lillian.

I walk back to my bedroom, my heart clenching a bit when I pass the was-supposed-to-be nursey. Lillian and I had just left everything in there when we found out the news and shut the door. Neither one of us could shoulder the burden of taking everything out. I reach my room and slowly turn the handle and crack open the door. Lillian is standing by the window again. I can tell she is crying. I gently place a hand on her shoulder, and she whips around to face me. I expect to see sadness in her eyes, but I see fury and it scares me a little.

“How could you do this to me!?!” she screams and roughly pushes me back. I just watch, shock all over my face, as she starts pacing back and forth.

“How could you do this me!?!” she screams again, “Wow. Now you have nothing to say! Real mature Titus!” her voice full of sarcasm.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, love,” I gently say, moving to try and calm her down.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” she rages, “You know *exactly* what I am talking about! Don’t try to pretend that you don’t!”

I open my mouth to speak but no words come out. I rack my brain trying to figure out what she is talking about, but I come up empty.

“Love, I really don’t know what you are talking about. Can we please just try to talk?” I ask, reaching for her hand.

“I SAID DO NOT TOUCH ME!”

The fierceness in her voice scares me but before I have time to react, her fist makes contact with the side of my jaw. I stumble back in shock and instinctually move my hand up to my face, feeling the blood coming from my lip. I can’t believe she just hit me. I blink a few times trying to process what just happened.

I take a deep breath to regain my composure, “I know you are angry with me right now but that does not mean you get to put your hands on me. I am going to leave and when you are ready to talk without screaming at me, I will come back.”

I didn’t give her time to respond, and I left the room. Tears prick my eyes and I head straight for the front door. I completely forgot that Ash and Raine were in the living room. I take another deep breath and turn to face them. Raine has buried her face into Ash who is gently rubbing her back. I know they heard everything, and I can see Ash looking at my jaw which I am sure has a bruise forming. I start to move to comfort Raine, but Ash stops me with her stare and shakes her head. I can’t help it as a tear runs down my face. Ash gives me a knowing smile and I leave the house.

Ryker tried to say something to me, but I just cut the connection. I can’t deal with him right now. I walk around the pack grounds, greeting the pack members who see me. I can’t believe she hit me. I know I won’t have any mark on my face soon, thanks to Ryker ability to heal me but I don’t know that he can heal my hurting heart. Sighing, I run my hand through my hair and try to figure out what has made her so angry. I come up empty again. I replace myself standing by the marker by the pond. I just don’t know what to do.

‘Can we talk now?’ Lillian mind-links me.

‘Are you going to yell at me?’ I reply.

‘No.’

‘Then yes, we can talk. I will come back now.’

I enter the house to replace Ash and Raine gone, anxiety starts rise in my chest, but I see a note on the table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took Raine out for some fresh air. Stop worrying. She is with me. -A

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I smile to myself and try to mentally prepare myself to talk with Lillian. I replace her sitting on the bed this time and she looks up when I walk into the bedroom. I sigh and sit across from her at the desk.

“How could you, Titus? I am your mate. Me. Lillian. Not her.”

I finally understand what she is talking about. She is jealous of Ash.

“There is nothing going on between me and Ash. You are my mate, Lillian. I would never do that to you.”

“Oh please, I see the way you look at her. You spend time with her all the time. You brought her into my house…”

“Our house,” I correct her.

Rolling her eyes at me, she continues, “Our house. Whatever. You brought her here and you are letting her steal you away from me. I know you love her. Just admit it.”

“It’s not true. I don’t love her. I am not cheating on you. I love you. Only you.”

“You liar! You sneak off with her almost every day. I have no idea where you go but I know you are with her. You need to tell her to leave.”

“I am not going to tell her to leave. Yes, we have been spending time together. She is helping me to rebuild the pack. I go with her to meet the new members she brings back. That is all. I consider her to be a friend but nothing more than that.”

“I don’t like her touching you. You are mine,” She growls.

“I know that which is why there is nothing going on between me and Ash. You are my mate. I only have eyes for you.”

“I don’t believe you. You are leaving me for her. You are never here anymore. You won’t even touch me. You won’t even sleep in the same bed as me anymore.”

“That’s not fair, Lillian! You pushed me away. You told me not to touch you. You told me to sleep on the couch,” I say exasperated.

“No! You abandoned me when I needed you most! Can’t you see that I am hurting!?!” she accuses me, her voice getting louder.

“Lower your voice and watch your tone,” I cautioned her.

“Fine. But this is your fault! If you…”

I interrupt her this time, “If I what? Had forced you to get help? Disregarded your wishes? Let Ryker do what he wanted? Blamed you? How is any of this my fault?”

“I lost my baby and now I am losing you too.”

“No! No! See this is part of the problem! We lost our baby! This didn’t just happen to you. It happened to me too! You aren’t losing me. I have been here the whole time. Do you realize that this is the first conversation we have had in months!?!”

“Stop yelling at me,” she cries.

I sigh and run my hand on the back of my neck. I apologize for raising my voice. I was hoping she would apologize too but she never does. She just tells me to leave. I don’t know what else to do so I start leaving.

“If you love me, you will tell Ash to leave,” she demands.

Ignoring her, I just walked out of the room. I can hear her start crying and my heart breaks a little, knowing I am the reason she is crying this time. I decided to go replace Ash and Raine. I eventually found them laying in the shade, looking up at clouds. I hear Raine giggle, and I smile and head over to them. As soon as Raine sees me, she moves closer to Ash, and I can see the fear in her little eyes. Ash whispers something to her before looking up at me and shaking her head. I take the hint and walk away. Why do I always seem to mess everything up?