Blood Mates

Forced Turning

Jasper and Alaia came home two weeks later. Jasper felt more like himself now after spending two weeks with Alaia and learning. He practiced day to day things in front of her and had barely any trouble assimilating as a human.

She took him around Seattle, around humans to see how he’d react. But after only a small slip up in a bar that left a guy with a black eye and wounded pride, she knew he’d be fine. Because while the guy had been bleeding, Jasper hadn’t even been tempted.

Just angered at the drunk prick for slapping his woman on the ass.

 Alaia brought Jasper home knowing he’d be fine around his friends and classmates again. So, when they got to the Fallen House, they were happy to find Arden and William waiting.

Hugging his dad, Jasper breathed in his familiar scent and both pulled apart relieved the other was okay. “You sure you’re okay son?” Eric asked smacking his shoulder. Jasper nodded surprised that he was, “It was an adjustment, but now I feel completely fine. I feel like myself again.”

William agreed, “I do to.”

Eric smiled feeling relieved neither were a danger and they all could stay, “That’s great.”

Loren suddenly walked in with Haven and after greeting them, looked to Eric worried. “What’s happened? What are they doing?” Haven shook her head, “From what we can tell? We think they’re trying to use Rayne. We overheard Wraith yelling at Josette about how it was her time now.”

Jasper looked at the ashen faces of the Knight family, “Time? Time for what?” Alaia stood shaking as she hissed, “That son of a b***h is going to force her to turn early.”

Jasper jerked back, “Rayne wasn’t already a vampire?” Alaia shook her head, “No. She’s a born, like you and William. But she was born of two vampires, after her body can’t withstand it anymore, she’ll get sick. She’ll have to die, and she’ll come back on her own as a vampire.”

Looking at her dad worriedly, Alaia remembered, “Wraith barely let Renaldo make it to eighteen before he killed him. He was adamant it made them look weak.”

Sophia shook her head disgusted, “But this is just too much. Rayne is nothing but a child. She’s still growing into herself, figuring things out, how dare Josette let that man do this to her.”

Alaia shook her head as she whispered, “She doesn’t have a choice.” Everyone looked at her confused and it was her brother who softly asked, “Sis, you said something to Wraith to make him leave once. And he did, what was it?”

As Desmond opened the door for Daniel, they both joined the conversation as Alaia admitted, “I threatened to expose his family.” Eric looked at his daughter surprised but was more surprised when she filled them in.

“Wraith holds his family’s lineage like a badge of honor even though no one gives a damn. He flaunts it and uses it as a weapon to get to people which we’ve all seen.” Alaia looked at her parents, “But I found out the truth about him when we visited Rome.”

“How he’s not his father’s biological son. How he’d never even been adopted and was treated like the family’s punching bag until he was pity turned. And then he was the strongest of them all, and that’s why they let him take up their name.”

Eric shook his head, “No wonder he’s so determined to be the best. He’s still trying to prove he belongs in the family.” Alaia nodded as she warily admitted, “All while lying about how and Josette really met.”

Desmond noticed his niece get angrier when Jasper went beside her and held her hand. Alaia linked their fingers as she told him, “I always found it weird that as cold and badass as Josette Harbinger was alone, why did she need a d**k like Wraith? Why stand beside him with how he treats her? It was obvious they despised each other, and I at first thought it was the s*x until they made it obvious, they weren’t even doing that.”

Jasper scoffed, “So what is it? His charm?” Alaia shook her head sadly, “No. He owns her.”

Everyone in the room froze in horror while William and Jasper were still confused. “Ugh owns her?” William asked raising his hand, “What do you mean?” Daniel put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “We all come from a different time son. If Wraith met his wife at a time where women were not respected, he could have procured her in a less savory way.”

When both William and Jasper continued to blankly stare at Daniel, they turned and looked at Loren who told them flatly, “He’s a d**k and he bought his wife like she was a damn carton of milk.”

Jasper jerked back as William’s jaw went slack, “Bought her? Like s*****y?” Alaia leaned against him, “Josette’s mother was a brothel w***e. She was raised and brought up to be one. Wraith was a frequent customer of hers, and then after he turned, he bought her. Showed her off like a prize, made her his wife and have his kids.”

Sophia worriedly looked at her husband who stroked her cheek, “We have to get Rayne away from them. She’s not ready for her turn.” She told him seriously. Eric agreed with that but, “But she’s not out daughter.” Eric reminded her, “We can’t make any decisions for her or against her parents.”

Daniel nodded, “True,” he said holding up his phone, “But I know someone who might have something to say about this.”