Jealousy

"Can we visit other packs next time?" Rebecca asked from the back seat as they exited Stonehill's territory and entered Blackmoon's.

"Rebecca, it's dangerous right now," Helena explained.

"But you and Romeo go all the time!" Rebecca whined.

"That's because we're better warriors than you," Romeo chuckled from the driver's seat.

"I'll be better and stronger than both of you!" Rebecca declared, crossing her arms on her chest and glaring at her two older siblings who sat in the front seat.

Helena checked her phone while Rebecca and Romeo bickered.

She had several messages from her Mom and Dad as well as Rae. Her Uncle Jeremiah also sent her a schedule of events in Stonehill pack that he wanted her to attend.

As she scrolled through her messages, she realized that there was one she had forgotten to answer.

Alphonse: I guess I missed you last night. I hope you're having a fun time back at Blackmoon.

Helena frowned.

So much had happened that she'd forgotten she and Alphonse had made plans to speak over the phone.

Helena: I'm so sorry, Alphonse! So much happened I forgot to send you a message.

She didn't have to wait long after hitting send. Alphonse was quick to reply.

Alphonse: It's fine, it's not like I waited up for you to call back or something.

Helena frowned at his message. She didn't realize that he was so affected by the fact she missed his call.

Helena: Are you mad?

She waited, but he didn't respond.

"Who are you talking to, Helena?" Rebecca asked as she leaned forward from the back seat.

"A friend," she mumbled.

"Is it that Alphonse guy?" Romeo asked without looking at her.

Alphonse: No.

It was a short reply, very unlike Alphonse.

"Yes," she told Romeo as she tapped on her phone.

Helena: You're pissed. I have an explanation. An Alpha I slept with challenged Romeo so there was this big fight and I was so worried about Romeo. Then early today I was about to call you but Uncle Jeremiah needed me in Stonehill.

Helena tapped send and hoped that Alphonse would understand.

"Are you really not dating him?" Romeo asked as they reached the entrance to the forest surrounding Blackmoon's main town.

"I'm not," Helena grumbled. "He's just a friend."

Alphonse: So you aren't at the packhouse at Blackmoon?

Helena: No.

Alphonse: Fine, I understand.

Helena let out a breath of relief. At least Alphonse understood her lack of communication the day before.

"You spend so much time talking to him. Are you sure nothing is going on between you?" Romeo asked.

Helena could see that his was gripping the steering wheel tighter, that was not a good sign.

"I talk to my friends all the time. I don't understand why it's such an issue for you," Helena grumbled. "Don't tell me you want to control who I talk to now!"

"Helena, I just—" Romeo began to say, but he cut himself off midsentence and shook his head.

"You just what?" Helena questioned.

"You're pining for him!" Romeo said with a raised voice.

"I am not," Helena argued.

"You keep checking your phone, like, like, like you can't wait for him to text you back? What are you? A teenager?" Romeo asked.

Annoyed by Romeo's attitude, Helena rolled her eyes.

"I never pined as a teenager," she hissed.

"Oh really?" Romeo teased.

"Rebecca," Helena said as she shot Romeo an annoyed look and turned to face her younger sister. "When an Alpha gets all possessive over you someday, don't forget that he doesn't own you."

"How sure are you an Alpha will get all possessive over me?" Rebecca asked as she tilted her head.

"Cause you're our sister," Helena said with a wink.

"When it's your mate that gets possessive over you, it's different," Romeo grumbled.

Helena quickly looked at Romeo and glared at him.

He had a cocky smile on his lips but it was clear that he wasn't teasing.

"You're not my mate," she declared.

"You act like mates," Rebecca commented.

Helena gasped while Romeo chuckled loudly, his deep laugh reverberating through the car, making Helena blush.

Why the fuck was she blushing over someone's laugh?

"We aren't," Helena insisted.

"We don't know for sure yet," Romeo said as he winked at Helena.

"You've never been around each other during the Blood Moon?" Rebecca asked, her eyes wide with shock.

It seemed that Rebecca was slowly realizing that one of the two was avoiding the Blood Moon, and it didn't take a genius to figure out who.

"I've been busy," Helena grumbled.

"And you never met your mate in the other packs?" her sister said, pointing out the obvious. "Not even Alphonse?"

"You know about Alphonse?" Romeo said, growling from the front seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.

"Do you like Alphonse?" Rebecca asked, ignoring her brother's question.

"Alphonse is just a friend," Helena said a bit defensively.

"And have you been around him during the Blood Moon?" Rebecca asked.

"No," Helena admitted.

"Is that where you're going after the Rite? To be with him?" Rebecca asked, making Romeo slam on the breaks.

Helena stared at Rebecca in shock. She didn't even bother to scold Romeo about his reckless driving.

"You're not staying for the Rite?" Romeo questioned as he glared at Helena.

"How did you know?" Helena asked Rebecca, ignoring Romeo's question.

"Mom and Dad talked about it," Rebecca shrugged. "They thought I didn't care or wasn't listening."

Helena sighed and shook her head.

People did tend to speak more freely around children, thinking they didn't understand what was being said around them.

"Helena, are you going back to Alphonse?" Romeo asked, his voice shaking.

"I don't see how where I'm going matters!" Helena said with a raised voice.

"You cannot go back to him," Romeo said as he reached out and held Helena tightly by the wrist. "You cannot leave before the Blood Moon."

'Maybe Romeo is right,' Hera told Helena. 'Ryder feels the same way, too.'

"I'm going. It's none of your business," Helena argued back as she pulled her wrist away.

"It is. You're—"

Romeo wasn't able to finish his statement.

Something hard slammed against the car, flipping it on its side.