Welcome Home Mate
Chapter 9

ROXIE

Of all the absurd things to say to me, I needed to be shown just in case I broke a nail.

What an a.ss!

I walked into the kitchen and flipped on the kettle.

I was fuming over what Alexander had said to me. It might sound harsh and childish of me to be like this, but I have my reasons for being like that.

I was a geek through school, as many people would call me. I loved reading and doing my own thing, which meant I had no friends. I was alone, but everyone had something to say about me. I was either weak, a freak, or just stupid.

Many of the girls in my school would pretend to be friends with me just to get close to Alexander and Jason. Some would even go as far as coming over for a sleepover and staying. I often found them kissing my brother or Alexander, leaving me out of it. When we were back at school, they all went back to ignoring me or tormenting me. It only happened once, as I was too scared to have anyone else over again. My father never questioned anything; he thought everything was fine. I made sure he didn't know about any of it, as he would have made it worse for me.

Alexander and Jason were popular back in their day, but they were still popular when I was in school. They all wondered why I was never like Jason; boys would call me ugly while girls would call me pathetic. They all thought I should be like Jason. I always wrote diaries about what I went through but never told anyone. I found them all in the back of my closet when I was sorting out my room. I didn't want to get rid of them as I wanted to remember the person I was here. I was never naive, but I was a girl who lived in a house full of men. I never had a girlie bone in my body, and everyone made fun of it.

The only person I had throughout high school was Bex. She never took control or made me feel like everyone else did. She was the only friend I had back then, and she helped me as much as she could. She would console me when I would cry myself to sleep or even just bad-mouth everyone who hurt my feelings. Bex was my lifeline and has always made sure I knew she had my back.

When I went to my Uncle Keith's pack, I was an outsider but focused on what I wanted to do. I never wanted to be alone, and I wanted friends. After I completed basic training, I made some friends. I felt a whole other feeling of being wanted, and it wasn't because of my brother and his best friend.

The kettle came to a boil, and I was pulled out of my thoughts.

But I soon realized that I wasn't alone in the kitchen anymore.

I don't look behind me, but I know who it is.

"Do you want a cuppa?" I asked as I made myself one.

"Yes, please," says my father. I could hear a chair being pulled back along the floor.

I quickly made two cups of tea. Once I get to the table, I place the mugs down and pull the chair next to my father.

I sat down and placed my mug in my hands.

I could feel my father's eyes on me.

"Did it feel good to punch Lex?" he asks.

I looked up at him but noticed the smirk on his face.

I smirked. "Yeah, it did," I said to him.

My father nods, "I have to admit; he went back with that mean hook you threw," he says as he picks up his mug and takes a sip of his tea.

I watched him, "Are you going to tell me how long you have all known that Alexander's been my mate?" I asked him.

My father gulps the tea back and places the mug on the table. He quickly looks at me. "Straight to the point, huh," he says.

I nod as I heard the front door open.

I knew it was Jason.

I sip my tea as he walks into the kitchen. He looks between my father and me, "We will tell you," he says, "But I'm going to make a cuppa."

Jason pours a cuppa and heads over to the table to sit next to me. He sips some and places it in front of him.

He looks at me but smirks. "Have to say that punch was awesome to witness; there is even a bruise forming under his eye."

I could feel Bex smirk as she sat on her hind legs; she was waiting patiently to hear their explanation.

I stared at him, "Thanks, but can we talk about the fact that you both knew Alexander was my mate," I said to him.

Jason looks at me but glances at my father.

"Rox, you have to understand, we found out Lex was acting strangely when he would come here," says my father. "I mean, he would stand outside your door if he stayed over, or he looked like he was going to pounce on you when you came anywhere near him." I grimaced and frowned. "What the hell are you talking about? Alexander never saw me as anything but as a little sister. When he sent me away, he made that clear," I said to them. Jason shook his head. "No Rox, you do not understand," he says and sighs. "Lex found out that you were his mate when you were thirteen years old."

I stared at him, slightly shocked at what he said.

Thirteen, I was thirteen.

That's strange and also illegal.

"But how?" I asked him, with a frown forming on my face.

Jason leans back in the chair. "Lex told me he found out that you were his mate a few months after you left," he said. But he looks at my father, "Dad found out before I did."

I turned to look at my father.

My father gave me a small smile, "I wanted to tell you Rox, I did. But it is against werewolf law to announce to anyone who is just the age of consent to announce to the minor that they are mates; they have to wait for their mate to be of age," he says. I stare at him, but that makes some sense, I guess.

"So, why couldn't you both tell me?" I asked them.

My father moves his hand and removes mine from his, and he holds my hand.

"Rox, Alpha Frank told us not to as he wanted you to have no prior knowledge of who your mate is, and also it would be against the law for us too," he said.

Bex looks through my eyes and comes closer, coming upfront with me. Her warmth takes over me as she sits with me in my human form.

My father looks at me, and his eyes widen slightly as he notices Bex.

"Bex," he said quietly.

We nodded at him.

"We understand why now, but mate hurt human," she says.

My father squeezes my hand slightly. "I know, but you have to understand Lex was trying to do what was best for you and him at the time. We don't know exactly what he was thinking about at the time, as that's his story to tell you, but I know he was having a hard time, especially with his wolf, as he was acting more like a hormonal teenager than Lex was," he says.

Bex nods but goes back slightly. She wanted to let them both know that she was there, listening to everything they said.

"Don't I know it," says Jason out of nowhere.

I looked over at him.

Jason looks at me with a frown. "Blaze was hard work, and he would even take over Lex to try and replace you," he says. "Never go between Blaze and what he wants, trust me."

I raised my eyebrows at him, "What do you mean?"

Jason stares at me, "Blaze would fight and even injure people if they wouldn't let him replace you. He wasn't even willing to let you go for Lex's sake," he says. "Alpha Frank even had to interfere a few times, even put him in his place. But Blaze was a strong-willed alpha wolf, and no one could do anything. But Lex had to tell him to let you go, or he would be sent to jail."

I looked away from him and stared ahead.

Everything makes sense now. My father and Jason had to keep it from me. I guess Blaze would have made them tell him where I was if he had his way. But knowing that if they did tell me, I assume they would also be sent to jail.

I sighed, "I get it, but I felt like I had no option in the matter," I said. I looked at my father, then at Jason. "Do you know what it was like to be sent away by someone who stayed here all the time and made me feel like I was the ugliest and something he trod in?" Jason looked at me with a small smile. "I know; Lex told me what he said to you, and I did have a massive go at him, but I knew he had to do it."

I look away, I know that, but it hurt like a b***h.

I didn't want to leave, even with all the bullying I was going through in school. I never wanted to leave my father and Jason; they were my family.

"Why couldn't you both come with me?" I asked them as I looked at my hand. "I was on my own, and I only had Uncle Keith. No one else."

The silence that followed that question was deafening. "I wish we could, but Alpha Frank thought we would slip up or something," said my father, who gently squeezed my hand.

I didn't look at him.

"I can't go. Lex's my best friend, and I would be his Beta," said Jason.

I turned and stared at him. "Oh, so Alexander is someone more important than your little sister," I said to him.

I could feel Bex coming close, but not to the surface.

"Rox, don't be like that," he says and looks at me. There was sadness in his eyes. "I could never choose between you and Lex, and I had to be here. Like dad said, Alpha Frank thought we would tell you, and you know I would never lie to you, Rox."

I closed my eyes; this was information overload.

"Rox, you okay?" asked Bex as she looked at me with concern.

"I'm okay; I just need to process all this," I said to her.

I opened my eyes and sighed. "I think I'm going to go to my room; I need to process this," I said.

I pushed back on my chair and pulled my hand from my father's hand.

I got up and headed to my room.

I know that what they said would be accurate, but Alpha Frank should never have questioned their loyalty to him, and I know I would have asked them to tell me. With everything I went through, I probably would have told them not to mention Alexander's name. But for them not to come to see me for six years, only face time was hard. They never said or even let on about anything on the phone.

I was outside my room and opened my door.

I walked in and closed the door behind me.

I sat on the bed. I couldn't help but glance around the room.

I got out of bed and headed to my closet.

I bent down and grabbed the box full of old diaries.

I placed them on the bed and sat next to the box. I made sure I was comfy.

I pulled one out and began to read.

I didn't want to remember the bad experience I had, but they were a reminder of who I was.

I am still the same person, but I was a girl who lost her mother and was all alone in the world back then. Now I know I have changed, and many people will be shocked to see what I can do.