We have been home for a few hours now and I still can't fully wrap my head around the bomb that Jax dropped on me. I keep replaying everything he said and the look that flashed in his eyes as I was laughing. He looked hurt. Ughhhh!!! Why did this have to happen today? I already have to deal with the entire pack knowing my mother didn't want me now I have to add this to my plate too.

“Yo! Earth to Sean.” Jasmine says as she waves her hands in front of my face. “Were you even listening to me?” Oh my gosh I almost forgot she was here, I was so lost in thought. I turn my head slightly from where I am on the floor with my back to my bed to face her. She was laying on my bed on her stomach with her feet in the air swinging back and forth with her head now propped up on her hands. 

“Oh.., sorry. I zoned out for a bit. What were you saying?” Jasmine doesn't say anything as she continues to look at me. “What’s going on with you? You have been extremely quiet since I got here and then you’re basically ignoring me.” I turn away from her. “ Is something bothering you? You know it’s a judgement free zone. Just let it all out. If you are ready to tell me that is?” Jasmine has always been patient with me. 

She was the first person I was able to be myself around and not feel judged. I don't really know if it's because we are both omegas but she put me at ease. I was even brave enough to voice my deepest fears. I was also able to tell her things that I couldn't tell anyone else about the feelings I kept bottled up from that night. She became my light when I really needed one even though I had Brenda and my dad. 

She became my friend but also like a sister in a way. I really don't know what my life would’ve been like if I didn't have her in it. That is something I will never want to figure out. 

“Come on Sean, this is not like you. If you aren’t ready then say so and I’ll drop it.” 

I think about where I should start from. I have a slight headache from over thinking everything and it would be great to voice my thoughts. So I just let it all out. 

“Stephanie a.k.a. My birth mother came back to the clinic today. She caused so much of a scene that damn near the whole clinic was gathered at my door.  Then Alpha Kaine, Luna Mabel and Jax appeared at my door. I was shocked and embarrassed. I didn't want anyone else to witness my family debacle, especially the alpha and his family.” I take a quick breath and continue. “To be honest I was happy they got there after a while because most of the crowd dispersed and the way that Alpha Kaine and Luna Mabel quietly but harshly put her in her place.” Jasmine smiles at that and says, “They are our leaders for a reason. Anyways continue. What happened after that?” 

“Well the part that shocked me about the whole encounter with Stephanie was that she didn't know that she lost all rights to me after she left or she is just a great actress. She was also tongue tied when we played the recording that you took of her. I’m sure someone recorded it, or already posted about the craziness that happened.” Jasmine rolled her eyes and made a face that made me smile. Thinking back to what Jax said about people using him. I wonder if Jas knows anything about that? Turning fully around to face my bed and look straight at Jasmine. 

“Can I ask you something? But before you start asking questions, I will tell you everything else after you answer my question.” 

“Okay, ask away.” She sits up in the bed with her legs tucked under her. I didn't even realize that she had already changed into one of my pajama sets. As per usual whenever she plans to sleep over. I don't even remember how or why she started doing it. I just let her do whatever she's comfortable with, the same way I basically have free reign over her room whenever I stay with her.

“Did people use to get Jax in trouble?” I was looking her directly in her eyes and I saw the shock that passed over her face before she answered me.

“Uhh.. Yeah back before you came there were a few kids who used to harass the ones who were omegas. They used to bother both boys and girls. Unfortunately for Jax, they used to throw his name around saying they were the best of friends. They used to brag about being able to go to his house and ‘play’ with him. They used to always cling to him too and because he is the alphas son he couldn't really do much. Besides, we were only seven or eight at the time. Those guys that were bullying the omegas made it seem as though Jax told them to hurt them.” Jasmine stops to take a deep breath. 

“Mitchell used to try to defend Jax, but it was the two of them against those jerks and the omegas that got hurt. It wasn't until one of the teachers overheard those same group of kids plotting to hurt someone else and letting Jax take the blame. The teacher let everything play out as they planned it but instead of finding the omega they wanted to hurt, Alpha Kaine and that teacher were there along with their parents. They tried blaming everything on Jax but when asked when he gave them their orders, they all had different answers. Neither of them had even realized that Jax hadn’t been in school for the whole week.After that Jax kept everyone at arms distance. Only allowing his two closest friends into his circle.” Jasmine finished with a crestfallen look on her face. 

“I can understand a bit more why he acted the way he did when we first met. He apologized to me today and then told me I was his mate.” I quickly rush everything out in one breath. I avoid looking at Jasmine for a few seconds then take a peek at her through my lashes. She is looking at me with bewildered eyes that I have to try not to laugh at her. Meeting her eyes, I pat her leg. “Jas breathe. At Least you didn't laugh like I did when he told me.” 

Finally snapping out of her stupor, “YOU DID WHATTTTTTTT?!” She screams. Her very icy blue eyes look at me as if I lost my mind. She starts shaking her head and muttering something. I don't try to interrupt her and let her continue until she composed herself. I myself am still trying to get my head around it also. When she still hasn’t said anything a couple minutes later I pat her leg. 

“Are you guys okay?” Brenda calls out to us as she knocks on my door. Jasmine finally looks at me, “Does she know about this?” I shake my head and before I could say anything Jasmine is up and off of the bed and heading for my bedroom door. Trying to stop her now is futile. She will either wait until after we eat dinner or sometime during this weekend to tell Brenda if I didn't. 

Jasmine opens the door and pulls Brenda into the room, closing the door behind her. “Hey! What’s going on?” Brenda looks from Jasmine to me then back to Jasmine. “Jax told Sean that he was his mate and Sean laughed in his face. If we know Sean it was his doubled over knee slapper laugh.” 

Brenda gasps and moves to sit on my bed as Jasmine also gets back into her place. 

“Sean sweetie is that what you guys were talking about before we got to the car.” I sheepishly nodded my head because both Brenda and my dad asked me what Jax and I talked about. I told them that it was about a school assignment. I didn’t mean to lie but when they asked I wasn't ready to tell them yet. 

“After laughing at him, he told me that I could reject him and act like it never happened.” The entire scenario replayed in my head. 

“What was his reaction to your reaction?” Brenda asked. 

“Well he looked hurt but relieved at the same time. I think he was ready for me to reject him on the spot. He did ask one thing of me before I made my final decision.” I bit my bottom lip and looked at the space between the both of them. “He asks me to give him a chance to get to know him.” 

“What was your response?”

“What did you say?” 

They both ask at the same time. I swear watching them right now you would think they were my sisters and not my bestfriend and step-mom. That reminds me I still have to talk to Brenda about that adoption thing. 

“Don't keep us waiting like this! What did you say?” Jasmine pushes my shoulder with her foot. 

“I didn't say anything. Brenda and dad came to the car before I could answer. Plus his parents were waiting for him. I mean he said he would give me time and that he won’t bug me for an answer.” He was being so sweet and I was being a jerk. He didn't have to apologize and explain himself. Because he is an Alpha no one would expect it of him, but he took the time to do so anyway. I was shocked but happy and scared all at once. I didn't know how to react to his confession. I mean is it a confession? He never said he liked me. He just said that we were mates. 

“What’s wrong sweetie? You were smiling and then you started scowling.” 

I didn't realize that I smiled in the first place. Sighing I decide to let them in on my thoughts. “I was thinking about how I felt when Jax apologized and confessed to me. But then I thought was it a confession. He only said that we were mates, that's it.” 

“Well think about it this way. If he had told you he liked you would you have believed him?” I shake my head without even thinking about it. 

“There’s your answer. That is probably why he wants you guys to get to know each other first.” Brenda says. If I do think about it that way, it actually does make sense. 

“The real question here is, are you going to give him a chance? A real chance where you aren’t holding his past against him.” Jasmine voices when there is a lul in the conversation. 

“To be honest you were both young and coming from hurt places when you met. You can take things at your own pace if you do decide to give him a chance.”  Brenda chimes in, patting my shoulder as she gets up.

“Okay guys, is pizza okay for dinner.” She didn't wait for our response, she just kept walking to the door. “Let me know what you decide Sean, that way I can butter up your dad before you give him the news.” She throws over her shoulder before closing the door behind her. Jasmine and I double over laughing, “I can already imagine exactly how that is going to play out.” Jasmine says while trying to catch her breath. 

“Yeah lets just hope he doesn't have a heart attack once I do tell. Which will have to be soon since I think I’m going to give Jax a chance.”  But what if he changes his mind half way through the whole thing. Mentally shaking those thoughts away. I can't think negatively before anything has even started. I'll just have to talk it out with Jax the next time I see him. No more running away.