Blood Mates

Yasmine Apologizes

Jasper and his mom sat in the diner getting blatant stares. Every soccer mom and gossip hound looked at Jasper and Yasmine in shock. Like it was a scandal for the ex-wife to show her face again and come to see her son.

He grinned at her knowingly as he bounced his sister, both their ears picking up on what was being saying. But neither cared, they were just happy to spend time together. And even better, Yvonne hadn’t seen anything different in her older brother. The six-month-old baby just kept babbling as she slapped his cheeks and told him everything.

Yasmine grinned a little as she looked at her son lovingly, “I’ve missed you.” Jasper smiled as Yvonne smushed his cheeks, laughing at his face scrunched up together, “Missed you too.” Kissing Yvonne’s head, Jasper admitted, “You too little tot.” Yvonne giggled and then hummed before kissing Jasper’s chin.

Looking at Yasmine, Jasper asked, “So what’s been going on with you?” Yasmine exhaled, “Nothing much.” Pulling the saltshaker from Yvonne, Jasper reminded their mom, “You know being undead makes it pretty easy to tell when someone is lying right?”

Yasmine looked at her son and her tough “I’m alright” demeanor cracked as she admitted, “Okay, so after Christmas break, I had been feeling extremely guilty. I mean I had opened my eyes to how my actions affected people and I realized I never said sorry for any of it. Never tried to fix it.”

Jasper smiled a little, “Mom, you were dealing with a lot. Not to mention you couldn’t blurt out the big W secret out of fear I’d freak. And I get that, dad does too know, we know what it’s like to get sucked into this world. We’ve both found our mates, remember?”

Yasmine winced and when a sour look took over her features, Jasper c****d an eyebrow, “And what’s that look for?” Yasmine’s green eyes snapped up and she winced, “Ugh, it’s nothing.”

Jasper rocked a little as his sister started to fall asleep on his shoulder, “Okay, this you lying to me thing is frustrating.” Putting a hand on his mom’s, Yasmine melted when her son promised, “You can tell me anything and it stays right here.”

Biting her tongue, Yasmine was unsure how to ask or if she should. But then just went with her gut, “I guess I was just wondering…what do you think of your dad’s mate? Erin isn’t it?”

Jasper laughed a little, “Her name is Arden, and she’s great. She actually lives with us now, her and grandpa.” Yasmine wanted to smash s**t thinking this woman had moved into the house she’d picked out with her ex-husband. And was now spending ample time with their son.

It was selfish since that was a possible stream of normalness Jasper needed while dealing with everything else. But it made Yasmine feel threatened in his life.

Especially with all the new developments, changes, and the possible outcome it could have on their future. But Yasmine didn’t want to laden Jasper with all her doubts and insecurities. So, she deviated.

“It’s just been a lot to deal with. Seth’s been struggling a lot more with his anger, and Lucy’s being nice which is scaring me.” Jasper froze holding up a hand, “Yeah since when is Seth been an angry kid?”

Yasmine blew out a breath, “He thinks my trip next month is an excuse to bail. I keep trying to tell him I’m coming back, but he doesn’t believe it. He keeps thinking I’m just not telling them.”

Jasper thought of his little brother worried, “He’s a kid, kids lash out when they are hurting. The thought of you leaving him and never coming back, it’s hurting him and he’s not sure how to deal. I’ll talk to him tonight.” Yasmine thanked Jasper sweetly and then he asked, “And Lucy? Why is she scaring you?”

Laughing a little, Yasmine admitted, “You think after almost two years of her being cruel and mean to me would make me glad for the change. I mean she’s being polite, respectful, and even crazier she’s trying to include me in her life. Wanting to talk and engage, but I just don’t know if it’s genuine or fear.”

Jasper pegged the latter option as the winner. “Definitely fear.” Yasmine’s eyes snapped up as Jasper pushed Yvonne’s pacifier into her lips making her quite down when she started to fuss.

“And you know this how?” Jasper grinned at his mom, “I talked to her last time I was there. And Lucy was scared on how her dad and brother would treat her if you left them.  She already feels like it's her fault you’re leaving in the first place, and they’d concreate that feeling in. So, she’s trying to get you not to go.”

Yasmine exhaled, “Which I keep saying it’s not, but they all keep thinking it’s about them.”

Jasper c****d an eyebrow, “Wanna tell me why you are then?” Yasmine met Jasper’s eyes, “You said you were struggling with what I told you. Because if it was the tipping point, I never meant for you to feel guilty, or-.”

Yasmine shook her head, “No…no it’s my fault.” Swallowing hard Yasmine admitted, “Meeting Davon wasn’t something I ever banked on. And meeting him felt like the sea had been parted and this path just appeared. He was like an angel, and for a moment I forgot I was on earth.”

Shaking her head lost in thought, Yasmine admitted, “I never thought I’d stoop low enough to cheat. I never saw myself as someone capable and I haven’t had the best track record with guys. Before your dad I broke hearts for fun, it was him that slowed me down. Gave me stability and showed me love, fixed what was broken in me.”

A tear fell down Yasmine’s cheek, “I never thanked him for that. And even worse? I repaid him by cheating in his home. I left him and our son broken and…and I justified it by saying it wasn’t my fault. That I didn’t ask to be a werewolf’s mate and that this was just a freak thing that happened.”

Jasper watched his mom sadly as Yasmine sipped her coke and then gritted out, “I was selfish. I should have gone about things differently, and I didn’t. I didn’t have the decency or even the respect to just end things. Instead I skirted around, lied, and destroyed a man who tried to give me everything. And I betrayed your trust in me, I made you feel like you couldn’t talk to me. And I’m so sorry Jasper.”

Yasmine cried as she held her son’s hand, “From the bottom of my heart.”

Jasper shook his head as he rocked his little sister in his arms, “Mom, you don’t need to apologize. Me and dad have forgiven you, we hurt and then we grew.” Looking at his mom seriously Jasper pleaded, “You don’t need to punish yourself.”

Yasmine wiped her eyes as Jasper thought of his stepsister, “Mom, Lucy’s biggest fear is letting you in. She’s scared to lose another mom, that pain is a hard one to get over. Hell, she’ll never get over it. But she has you, and whether she’s all warm and fuzzy about it now, she’s going to need you later. She just wants to know you’re not going anywhere.”

Yasmine took that into consideration as Jasper looked down at his beautiful little sister, “Besides, how could you possibly leave this little face?” Yasmine didn’t think she could honestly.

And as she sat in quiet contemplation, a meeting place, time, and date were given.