Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

- Josie -

Stepping into my home wasn't quite the quiet return from hospital I had expected. Word must have gotten out that Doctor Abel had signed me out first thing this morning as long as I promise plenty of bed rest.

He made a point of saying that he would visit to ensure I was following his orders, something that seemed to not sit well with Knox.

As much as I love this hospital, I preferred to be the one giving aid, not the one receiving it.

So, when I step through into the hallway and find banners and balloons screaming out, "Welcome Home", I can't help the smile land upon my face. I thought my return had remained discreet, that everyone would be busy at training. It grew wider when I spotted Jace in the corner next to Mum...happy that he hadn't left yet.

I knew he would, I could feel it, feel that he needed to leave but for what reason I still didn't know.

The identical male only a few feet away from him having the opposite feeling, wanting him to stay.

As soon as my eyes land on Jaxon, I hold his gaze....letting him know without words that he and I would have a private one to one when the time was right.

"Welcome home, how are you feeling?" Dad takes a step towards me, where Knox's hand was still wrapped around my waist. I think he feels that I am going to fall at any moment.

"I'm good, I just missed you all."

"Well Doctor Abel made it very clear you still need to rest, so after a return home breakfast you can go back to bed." Mum orders at me.

"I was thinking..."

"No, absolutely not." Dad cuts me off knowing exactly what I was going to say. That I wanted to try and shift for the first time.

"But.."

"In time Josephina, in time."

After breakfast I spent the rest of the day upstairs in bed. Knox remained with me and even brought his laptop in so that I could watch trash TV shows on catch up.

But I had now had enough of rest, I wasn't a rest type of person. I liked to keep busy, I liked to keep active.

When Knox finally falls asleep during the tenth episode of a TV show, I'm not surprised to hear a creek outside my bedroom door.

Knox has fallen asleep curled up next to me, his arms wrapped around my waist, his small snores gently tickling my ear.

Jaxon pushes my bedroom door open, his eyes rolling into the top of his head at the sight before him.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to seeing my mentor like a love sick puppy." His face makes a disgusted expression before moving into a soft smile.

"What do you want?" I grunt back at him, not particularly keen to see him at the moment.

"Come on then..." He whips his head behind him back to the hallway outside.

"Come on what?"

"Let's see what she can do." Jaxon continues, a small smirk gathering at the corner of his lips.

He could obviously sense through our bond that I was eager to meet my wolf. I bet he was just as eager.

"I don't know..Dad said..."

"Since when do you listen to Dad?" Jace appears out of nowhere, his head almost floating in mid air as he curves it around the door frame.noveldrama

"Leave sleeping beauty. I'm sure we can handle you." Jaxon laughs, elbowing Jace in the chest jokingly.

"Okay then." Excitement floods through me and I know it is a mixture of mine and my wolf's. Both of us were keen to shift, both of us were keen to complete this bond between us.

If Knox wasn't almost on top of me I would have bounced out of bed, instead I slowly move the laptop to the side and untangle his arms from around me.

The house was quiet, Mum and Dad in a meeting with Auntie Alora, Ezra and Beta Riley. Now would be the perfect time to do this together.

We sneak out the back, knowing full well that if we were caught Dad would have something to say to not only me but my brothers.

We were the only ones on the training field. Training had finished hours ago and as the evening starts to set in, it's the perfect timing to try and shift without pack eyes on me for the first time.

I won't lie, I had been feeling anxious at the thought of having to shift in front of the pack for the next pack run, especially if that would have been my first time.

Coming out here with Jaxon and Jace, meant I was able to shift in a safe environment. I could shift without pressure of not meeting the pack's expectations.

"Okay..." We form ourselves into a triangle formation.

"...So, how do I do this?"

"Do you feel some kind of barrier between the two of you?" Jace asks.

"Yes, it's like a veil...a doorway that I'm trying to keep closed but the material covering it is too weak still, she can push through it...like fabric." I respond, not caring if what I say makes no sense whatsoever.