Chapter 110


    ***Chastity***


    The week after Christmas flew by Rowen, Jax, Ross, Joe, dad, and Pete were back to work. Molly was


    off due to winter break at school. Melissa was off from her online courses as well. She did spend


    Tuesday, and Wednesday at her mom’s shop with her. Lexi, and I spent Tuesday, and Thursday


    working with midwife Wanda. Thursday we got to be part of a delivery. That had been so exciting.


    The rest of the days were spent with Molly, Melissa, Lexi, and Gina. It was nice having girl time, and we


    all got along really well. Listening to Molly talk about her students was adorable as I could really hear in


    her voice how much she enjoyed them, and teaching. I noticed that Melissa talked more about working


    in her mom’s shop than her sses, and said noting about hering sses. She seemed like she


    was hiding. something. When I finally got the chance to ask Molly about it one evening, she informed


    me that Melissa ended up hating it once she really got into it. She hadn’t nned to go back the


    following semester, but didn’t want to tell me because she was afraid of letting me down.


    I fixed that quickly though. I took Melissa to lunch, and after a bit, she finally admitted to how she felt


    about her sses. I made sure that she knew I was not disappointed in her in anyway. She also


    admitted she was more interested in taking over her mom’s shop some day, as well as expanding it.


    She just didn’t know anything about business. With some discussion, and looking into programs offered


    by her college. We found that her college offered a Business Management degree. She attempted to


    sign up for sses while we sat there. We both felt a lot better by the end of lunch.


    I also had lunch with Jax one day, at the town diner. Unfortunately Rachel was our waitress. She tried


    flirting with Jax, but got turned down quickly, much to her displeasure. She didn’t say anything to me


    though, and actually got my drink order correct, thankfully. Jax, and I did make ns for him toe


    for a visit when I returned to school. He was going toe for a weekend, by himself so we could


    spend some much needed sibling time together. I was really looking forward to that.


    Dad had a lot of end of year paperwork to do so he wasn’t able to go out for a meal with me, but we did


    have lunch in his office one day. I didn’t know he had hung the coge I made him in his office. When i


    saw it on the wall next to his door so he could see it from his desk, I smiled, and felt really good about


    it. I also appreciated the picture he had of all of us from Molly, and Jax’s mating ceremony on his desk,


    next. to the one of him, mom, and me from the day I was born. I spent most of our lunch listening to


    him tell me about the ns he had for the train I got him. He even picked up more expansion sets for it.


    I couldn’t help, butugh at his excitement over it.


    Rowen, and I did have another one on one date which was really nice. We had dinner together then we


    went to the pottery ss Molly told us about. That turned into a bit of a mess, but it was fun none the


    less The pieces were premade, we just had to paint them. Rowen’s artistic abilities were not great, but


    he did try I could tell he wasn’t really a fan of the activity, but he did it for me. That meant a lot to me.


    We did also end up finishing the Transformers movies. We messed around once or twice too, but


    nothing. more than we had already done.


    It had been a great week, but unfortunately I was heading back to school the day after New Year’s. On


    New Years Eve, we decided to hang out in the main living room. Norm and Marcus would be joining us.


    I knew they had made it to Moonlight a few hours before, but they had to drop Norm’s mom off at his


    sister’s house I figured they were spending some time with his sister first The night’s n was to hang


    out in the living room, ying games, eating, and having fun Gina, and Braxton were off spending the


    night with their friends Dad, Joe, Peter, and Naomi would be joining us. I was looking forward to it. I


    was setting out a tter of sandwiches, and wraps when Lexi went to open the door.


    “The PARTY is here!” I heard Norm squeal from the door, causing me to giggle.


    “Hey there sugar pop. Come on in.” Lexi said with a giggle.


    Norm, and Marcus followed her into the house. Well Norm was more bouncing than walking. I turned,


    and smiled at him. He wasn’t having just a smile though. He rushed to me, and picked me up, sort of


    into a huge hug.


    “CHASTITY! HI!” Norm squealed.


    “Hi Norm. It’s great to see you too.” I giggled after he set me down.


    “Hey Chas.” Marcus said, waving at me.


    “Hi Marcus. I see he’s already excited.” I said.


    “Very much so. He’s been like this since we left Dark Moon.” Marcus responded with a chuckle.


    “Hey Marcus. Hi Norm.” Colby said as he walked in the room, carrying a cooler for drinks.


    “Hi Colby! I’m so d she loved the ring. The ne was such a great idea. You did great.” Norm


    rushed out as he bounced over to Colby to help with the cooler.


    “Thanks Norm. I am too.” Colby stated with a chuckle.


    Norm bounced around to everyone to say hello. Once that was done we all loaded up tes to eat, and


    found seats around the huge card table dad, and Joe set up. Some one bought the game Cards


    Against Humanity, and we were ying that night. I had never even heard of it, but was willing to give it


    a try.


    “Did you ever send that application in, Marcus?” Colby asked as he took his seat.


    “Oh. Yeah. I didn’t tell you?” Marcus responded.


    “Tell me what?”


    “They put a rush on the process because they need to fill the position quickly. My applications was one


    of 3 epted. I interviewed, and did the practical two days ago. I got a callst night. I got the job. I go


    in on Monday to fill out the paperwork, and start orientation on Tuesday. I should be in a ssroom in


    two weeks. I’ll be starting with first years, but that’s ok. I’m excited.”


    We all congratted Marcus. That was really exciting for him. Colby truly believed Marcus would do


    well with this new position. It also provided more financial stability for him, and Norm.


    This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “How was dinner with your parents, Marcus?” Lexi asked since they had been so busy we hadn’t had


    much time to talk.


    “Informative.” Marcus answered.


    “How so?”


    “Dad had a whole bunch of financial tips for us. He also wanted to help us apply for Norm to get a


    schrship to Clovend due to being mated to warrior.” Marcus responded.


    “That was good of him.”


    “Yeah but due to my job change, we don’t qualify any longer.”


    “That kind of sucks.”


    “His dad is going to help us figure out other options.” Norm added.


    “So he is trying now?” Joe asked.


    “He is. I found out that after that day at the street fair my mom gave him an ultimatum. Either he


    learned to ept that I’m gay, and get to know Norm or she would leave to live with us.” Marcus


    exined.


    “She did?” Lexi asked, sounding shocked.


    “Yes. She said that she couldn’t stand not being a part of my life any more. She didn’t want to choose


    between me, and dad, but she didn’t know what to do any more.” Marcus answered.


    “Well I’m d she did.” Lexi stated.


    “Me too. They came to mom and dad’s for Christmas. His dad did spend most of the time giving


    financial advice to my family. At one point he held my youngest niece so my sister could eat. He was


    really good with her.” Norm added.


    “My uncle has always been good with pups.” Lexi said with a shrug.


    “How do you feel about this Marcus?” I finally asked.


    I….I’m not really sure. It’s weird for me. I can’t say I trust him either. He hasn’t been rude to Norm, but


    he hasn’t exactly talked to him much though.” Marcus answered.


    “Yes he has.” Norm stated.


    “When?” Marcus questioned.


    “We talked about my sses, and he asked me some questions about the house.” Norm responded.


    “The house?”


    “Yes. He was asking how the remodel was going, and if we needed anything to get itplete by the


    time I graduate.”


    “Oh. Is that all he said?”


    “He sent me a text this morning asking me to tell you he’s proud of you for your new job.”


    “He….why didn’t he text me that?”


    “He’s still not sure of your rtionship with him, and he’s a little worried about upsetting you.”


    “Oh.”


    “Try texting or calling him sometime. It might help with him going directly to you instead of going


    through


    me.”


    “It’s ok to be scared, or nervous Marcus. It’s not always easy to forget when someone hurts you, but if


    you let that fear hold you back you might miss out on having a great rtionship with your father in the


    future.” I stated.


    “Chastity would know best about that.” Naomi stated, and I blushed a bit.


    “True. I know you’re right Chastity, it’s just hard.” Marcus stated, and my heart went out to him.


    “Believe me, I know it is, but don’t miss the chance you have, you may regret it in the long run.


    Remember what you said to your dad at the street fair about looking back, and wondering why he’s not


    there. Yes he screwed up in the past, but if he’s sincere about making it right, let him.” I said.


    “I get it, but it’s not that easy.”


    “No it’s not, but look at me.”


    “What about you?”


    “Sorry everyone. I’m not trying to make any one feel guilty, just trying to prove a point. Marcus,


    remember what I told you about my life before?”


    “Yes.”


    “Do you realize that people that hurt me are sitting right at this table in varying degrees? Some by


    ignorance, or turning a blind eye. Some with words. Some with silence. Some physically. Some


    throught rejection.”


    “Um.”


    “The people at this table that hurt me in one way or another wanted to make amends for their actions in


    the past. Had I not let them, do you think you, Norm, Lexi, and I would be sitting at this table? Do you


    think I would be as happy as I am right now? Do you think I would have my mate in my life?”


    “I…..No. I guess you wouldn’t.”


    “No I wouldn’t, but I did forgive them, and I gave them a chance to make things right. By doing that I


    have never been so happy in my life. I have a family who loves me. I have friends who mean the world


    to me. I have a mate who loves me very much, and I love him.” Rowen kissed the top of my head, and I


    smiled, “I know it’s hard, but it could one of the best decisions you ever made in your life.”


    “I see what you’re saying, and you’re probably right. Just how do I forgive him?”


    “Maybe talk to him, and find out why he thinks and feels the way he does. That could be the first step.”


    “How did you do it?”


    “For me it was all about being able to move forward with my life. I couldn’t do that if I held onto the Hurt,


    and anger. They made the rest easy for me because they treated me better than they even needed to.


    They have proven to me over, and over again that they were worth my forgiveness.”


    “And if he doesn’t?”


    “Than you make your decision on how to proceed with your life, with or without him in it. Does it hurt to


    give him a chance?”


    “If he hurts my mate, it does.”


    “Norm, how often do you hear from Marcus’s dad?”


    “Since Thanksgiving, about twice a week.” Norm answered.


    “And what does he usually have to say?” I asked.


    “Mostly just checking in to see how we, more Marcus than me, are doing, and if we need anything.”


    “Have you ever told me we did?” Marcus questioned.


    “No. I’ve always told him we’re doing really well, working hard, and stuff like that. I do tell him that you


    do need a rtionship with your parents.” Norm responded.


    “What does he usually say?”


    “He asks me what he can do to have that.”


    “And you say?”


    “That I’m not sure. I think, he’s not sure either. He talks about helping us create financial security for


    ourselves, and helping us figure out ways to put more money in our pockets is because he’s not sure


    what to talk to you about. You two are so different, and he really knows little about you. I think he’s


    scared to say something to upset you.”


    “So what do I do Chas?”


    “Invite him out to dinner, just the two of you, ask questions about himself. If he asks questions about


    you, answer them honestly, but know he’s not asking to attack, but to know you. Ask him about how he


    met


    your mom, or ask him about things he did as a pup. Also ask him about things he enjoys now.” I


    answered. “I guess I could try that.”


    “If it doesn’t go well at least you know you tried, and you won’t be left with regrets.”


    “Thanks.”


    “You’re wee.”


    “0000k. No more heavy stuff. Game time!” Colby stated, making us allugh.


    The table was cleared, and cards were dealt out. I had to have the game exined to me, and it took a


    bit for me to catch on. I didn’t understand some of the things on the cards, but it was a lot of fun with a


    lot ofughs. Rowen was really good about quietly exining things to me if I didn’t get it. I did spend a


    good bit of time blushing though. I could see why this game was called Cards Against Humanity


    because it was offensive, but that was half the fun.


    Some where during the middle of the game Norm got a call that his sister went intobor. She was 2


    weeks early, but there was no real concern as the pup was fully ready to go. Of course that made Norm


    even more excitable. He, and Marcus would go to see the pup before they left to go home. Norm


    couldn’t wait, thus causing moreughter. All in all the whole night was a lot of fun.


    the


    A little before midnight we put the cards away, and turned on the TV to watch the ball drop. This was,


    first time I remember seeing it. Before I became excluded I was too young to stay awake sote. I


    always fell asleep before midnight. After, well at this point everyone knows why I missed it. I was


    excited to watch it. I squeaked when Rowen pulled me onto hisp, and buried his head in my neck.


    “I want to start this year with you as close to me as I can get.” Rowen quietly growled in my ear,


    sending a shiver up my spine.


    “Why is that?” I whispered.


    “Because this is the first of many, many, many years we’ll have together. I want to start it out right.”


    “You always say such sweet things.”


    “Only for you. Only for you.”


    We were interrupted by every one yelling out the count down


    10


    9


    8


    7


    6


    5


    3


    2


    1


    ”


    “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” We all yelled.


    Rowen turned my face to him, and he kissed me sweetly a few times than hard. I kissed him in return.


    When he pulled away, I was passed around to everyone to get hugs, and kisses on the cheek. Joe


    finally got us all out to the front porch so we could watch the fireworks being set off in the town center. It


    was


    amazing.


    By the time we all went to bed it was almost 2:00 in the morning. When Rowen climbed into bed with


    me I wasying on my side, facing him, and smiling. I was just so happy. I meant it when I told Marcus I


    was the happiest I had ever been in my life. Rowen was a big part of that happiness. Things started out


    terribly between us, but they were amazing now.


    “Thank you.” I whispered to Rowen.


    “For what?” Rowen asked.


    “For being amazing to me. For contributing so much to the happiness I have in my life now.”


    “You never have to thank me for that. It is my honor to do all I can to make you happy. I’m so d that I


    do. For a long time worried I would never be able to. I worried that you would decide to reject me, then


    leave, and never return.”


    “You were?”


    “I was. I made such a horrible mistake in the beginning, and I worried you would never be able to truly


    forgive me, or move past what I did. I would have understood, but I would have never forgiven myself


    for


    it.”


    “OH. I never knew that. I would have never guessed you felt that way.’


    “I never told you because I never wanted you to feel obligated to stay to avoid me feeling that way. You


    staying with me, epting me as your mate has to be your choice, and your choice alone. I can’t say


    that I never want to influence you to stay with me because that’s not exactly true. I treat you so well so


    you know for sure that I will always treat you well. I guess in a way that’s me influencing your choice to


    stay with me, but I would never use guilt as a reason for you to not reject me.”


    “I know I haven’t made things easy.”


    “Chastity, I knew full well when I retracted my rejection that things would not be easy because of what !


    did to destroy any trust you would have had in me if I had epted you the moment I knew you were


    my mate. I was prepared for it. I was, and still am willing to do anything you need me to do.”


    “Yeah, but….”


    “Nothing you have done, or said has made me angry, hurt, or regretful of retracting my rejection. There


    have been things that have made me worry about you. Especially when I couldn’t be right there to get


    you through rough patches, but never angry or any of that. Watching youe into your own, and


    bing the female you are meant to be has been a kind of joy that words cannot express. Your inner


    strength, andpassion take my breath away. I can’t tell you how proud I am of you in everything you


    do, and say. I’m damn lucky to have you as my mate.”


    “Thank you Rowen. I love you.”


    “I love you too Chastity. So much.”


    “I was thinking about something.”


    “What’s that?”


    “Do you think things would be different if you had epted me from the start?”


    “I’ve asked myself that a few times, and there are times I think yes, and times I think no.”


    “Why is that?”


    “Think about the person you were at that point. Think about how scared you were of, well everyone.


    Remember what you believed about yourself. What do you think would have happened?”


    “I’m not really sure.”


    “I think you would have epted me, but you would have been terrified of me, and just waiting for me


    to hurt you like everyone else did. I think you would have just focused on serving me, being beneath


    me instead of my equal in every way. Looking back, I think epting me would have only changed you


    not being harmed any more or having to hide it even more than you already did.”


    “They wouldn’t have been able to hurt me any more with you as my mate though.”


    “Maybe or maybe they would have gotten worse to get you out of the way of what they wanted.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “Well think about it. Aurora had convinced Fiona that she was my mate, and I would make her Luna.


    Aurora felt that Fiona being the Luna would put her position even higher because she was Fiona’s


    aunt, and the female that raised her. Essentially she was more a mother to Fiona than an aunt. Aurora


    saw the benefits of Fiona being made Luna for herself. Mated to you, Aurora wouldn’t get those


    benefits, or may not have. Aurora already murdered one person because she was in the way of what


    Aurora believed was hers. Even fear of me wouldn’t have prevented her from doing it again. In the


    meantime making life more difficult, and painful for you. You life would have been even more at risk


    than it already was.”


    “But she wouldn’t have been able to use you as a threat against me.”


    “No, but she could have probably tried to convince you that she had my permission or that I didn’t truly


    want you.”


    “But she wouldn’t have been able to do that because you wouldn’t have treated me badly, right?”


    “Of course I wouldn’t have, but remember what your mindset was back then. Would you have told me


    she or anyone was hurting you?”


    “I…..No. I probably wouldn’t have. You would see the signs though.”


    “Yes I would have, but let me ask you something.”


    “Sure.”


    “Did mom ever see the signs of you being hurt? Did she ever ask you about it?”


    “She did to both questions.”


    “And what did you tell her?”


    “That I was clumsy.”


    “Why?”


    “Aurora threatened Jax’s position as Beta. She threatened to have him pulled from school. That she


    would make up some lie to get him demoted, thrown out, or even punished for something if I told Jane.”


    “Exactly. She got you to lie by using the only person who treated you well, and that you loved most to


    keep you quiet. Don’t you think she would have continued to do that to keep you from telling me what


    she was doing to you?”


    “But what would she have to use against me?”


    “I have no doubt she would have found something. As you said she was very good at finding a person’s


    weakness, and using it against them to get what she wanted.”


    “That’s true. So why do you think things would be like they are now if you had epted me back then.”


    “Sadly, more wishful thinking on my part.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “The egotistical part of me wants to believe that I alone could heal you, and get you to be the person


    you are bing every day.”


    “But?”


    “I think that you being away from home, and seeing that things are not really as you were raised to


    believe were true has done a lot of good. Being stuck in this house, with your abusers would have


    continued to make you fearful, and closed off. I think you being here would have also kept them from


    changing, and doing better. As much as I hate it, I know in my heart this is the best thing for you.


    Maybe the best thing for both of us, and our rtionship.”


    “Why do you say that?”


    “Chastity, before all of this, how much did you know about me?”


    “I knew you were Joe, and Jane’s son. I knew you were Gina’s brother, and Jax’s best friend, as well as


    the same age as Jax. I knew you were the future Alpha of our pack Beyond that, not much.”


    “Right. When I first saw you serving drinks at the party, I didn’t even remember you. I had no idea who


    you. were. It didn’t click until we caught Aurora, Fiona, aunt Naomi, and Gina. When I heard what Jax


    said, that’s when I remembered. I remembered a few times when I was pretty young of you ying with


    us. With you following Jax around constantly. I’ll admit that there were times when we were pups I


    would get. annoyed with Jax for bringing you along when we yed, but looking back now I realized I


    was just being a jerk. I don’t remember much of you during my teen years, but that was because of me,


    not you.”


    “What do you mean by that?”


    “In my teen years I was more worried about females, school, and training with dad. I barely remember


    seeing you because I was caught up in my own little world. When ever Jax would talk about you, while


    we were away, I never really made the connection, again being caught up in my own little world.”


    “Oh. I guess that makes sense.”


    “As much as it sucks, and as horrible as it makes me sound, it is the truth.”


    “Ok, but it doesn’t exin why you think that us being separated like this maybe what is best for us,


    and our rtionship.”


    “It does though. Do you realize that the majority of mated couples know nothing about each other prior


    to jumping into mating?”


    “I did know that. That bond is instant, and they be all you want.”


    “True, but they know very little about each other. Mated couples tend to struggle for a long time getting


    to know each other, and building their rtionship after themitment has already been made


    because they know nothing about each other. It’s different for us because we’ve had this time to really


    get to know each other, befortable with each other, and I think in the long run build a much


    stronger rtionship than most mated couples have.”


    “Mated couples have strong bonds.”


    “They do, but more often than not it has more to do with the mate bond than the people themselves. It


    can take a long time for the bond between the pair to be more than just being mates. It takes


    them time to build the friendship, trust,fort and true foundation of the rtionship. They are sort of


    forced to do that as fighting the bond is not something one wants to do.”


    “That’s true, but they make it work.”


    “They do, but there are times when that foundation isn’t really ever there.”


    “How can you say that?”


    “Well take Uncle Pete, and Aunt Naomi as an example.”


    “What about them?”


    “How much has Aunt Naomi hid from Uncle Pete over the years?”


    “….um…..what do you mean?”


    “Do you remember her saying she never told Uncle Pete the real reason she didn’t want more pups,


    and how she treated Ross? As well as her hiding how her parents really were to her.”


    “Oh. Yeah. I do.”


    “If their foundation had been stronger she wouldn’t have felt the need to hide those things. If she felt


    that he would have supported herpletely or helped her, she wouldn’t have kept those big things


    from him.”


    “That’s very true.”


    “As soon as they found each other they marked each other, and Aunt Naomi moved in here. They knew


    nothing about each other, but moved forward with a fullymitted rtionship within days of


    meeting.”


    “OH.”


    “Yeah. The difference for us is that we’ve got this time to build that foundation. You’re learning to trust


    me to always be there for you, help you, support you, and take care of you. We’re getting to know each


    other, and have built, what I think is a great friendship.”


    “Just a friendship?”


    “No my sweet girl, not just a friendship, but shouldn’t your life partner also be your best friend?”


    “Yes, I think they should be.”


    “Exactly, I think that our rtionship is, and will be stronger going forward because we have taken the


    time to build those things.”


    “I cannot disagree with you there.”


    “I didn’t think you could.”


    “So maybe the rejection in the beginning was a good thing for us.”


    “As much as I hate to admit, I agree. Maybe better for you than me, but still a good thing none the


    less.”


    “Why more for me?”


    “Because of how far you havee over the past months. Because of how much happier you are now


    than you were. If I had epted you that night you wouldn’t have been able to leave for Clovend


    without serious problems emotionally, mentally, and possibly physically. You’ve stretched your wings,


    grown, and learned about yourself while there. Here, you may have still been trapped.”


    “I see your point, and I think you’re right.”


    “I am every once in a while.”


    I leaned forward, and kissed Rowen with all of the love I felt for him. He pulled me tight to him, and


    returned my kiss with one of his own. When the kiss ended I snuggled up close to him, and buried my


    head under his chin, just breathing in his scent. He wrapped his arms tight around me. I felt him kiss


    the


    top of my head several times. I fell asleep just like that.