Scars
Book 2: Chpt 16: Growing New Roots
Chapter 16: Growing New Roots
James
When will everyone stop treating me like a kid? Maybe it’s my own fault, I can’t help but start acting like a kid when my family is around me. I’m so pathetic, how am I ever going to run the Ashwood pack? Hell at this point how do I expect to keep An Jieun by my side?
“Uncle Jameeesss! Mommy said you would play with us.” Daisy tugs on my arm and pushes out her bottom lip. I love my nieces, but I am exhausted and so is Rafe.
“Girls why don’t you play with your uncle Rylie? Daddy needs to talk with James.” Gideon and Rylie pop around the corner like my saviors. I do feel bad about passing the flowers off to Rylie. I know he’s tired too.
“Don’t worry about it. I can take this much.” It’s always been like that. Like Rylie could read my thoughts or maybe I’m just that easy to read. Rylie takes Rose out of my arms, and she quickly wraps her arms around his neck.
I caught her whisper into Rylie’s ear. “Secrets don’t make friends.”
“Mind your business.” Then he tapped Rose on the nose. “Do you girls want to play jungle?”
“YEAH!” Daisy stops and looks at Rylie with a cocked head. “How do you play jungle?”
“I’ll show you come on.” The three continue walking down the hall and out to a garden area. How do you play jungle?
As my mind wandered Gideon brought me back to the moment when he grabbed my shoulder. “Come on let’s sit down and talk.” I followed Gideon to the hotel bar.
It’s still early in the morning so no one is here. He finds a table in the back corner and sits. I sat across from him. I feel my whole body want to collapse in a heap because I’m so drained.
“So, the obvious question first. How are you feeling about everything, little brother?” Gideon leans forward, elbows on the table and hands clasped under his resting chin. He’s tired too but he’s here worried about me. He’s started calling Rylie and me little brother over the past year. It’s kind of I only have sisters; Rylie is my sister’s brother and my best friend but it’s not the same. Sometimes Gideon really does feel like my older brother.
“I’m feeling a lot of things. I’m happy that I found my mate but the situation and everything surrounding her and me is so messed up.” I rub my temples. I honestly don’t know what to do.
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Book 2: Chpt 16: Growing New Roots
“Well if there is one thing, I know about the Ashwood’s is that nothing is simple and that includes their mates.” Gideon chuckled and leaned back in his chair, but I couldn’t even get upset because he was also including himself in that statement.
“You’re not helping.” I crossed my arms and glared back at him.
“I’m sorry. Tell me what’s on your mind. I’m here as your big brother not the Alpha of the Druit
Guard.”
“I have this overwhelming feeling that she’s going to disappear just vanish. That just makes me want to hold on to her. Then the whole thing with her family and now the news about these witches makes me want to hold on tighter and just have her with me 24/7. Like right now sitting here with you is killing me. I can’t read her, sometimes she clings to me and then she pushes me away. I don’t know the boundaries but a part of me doesn’t care and just feels like I need her now. It’s like I’m starving and she’s the only thing in the world that can make me feel full. Then there’s the fact that she’s some crazy hybrid demigod. What the hell am I going to do?” I pinch the bridge of my nose. Everything is sinking in, and I feel like I’m drowning all of a sudden.
“First one thing at a time. You can only control what you can control. The other stuff will have to be dealt with as it comes up. So that starving feeling you feel is the mate bond screaming at you. You have to control it you need to go slow with her.” Gideon reaches across the table and squeezes my
shoulder.
“You and Am didn’t go slow.” I’m so frustrated. I know he’s right, but I don’t want him to be.
“You know I’ve learned a lot about plants since your sister and I became mates.” Gideon leans back in his chair again.
“Yeah, so what?” Why is he bringing that up?
“What I learned is there are two main types of damage that plants can have. One is damage to the stem and foliage of the part of the plant that’s above the dirt and then there’s damage that can happen to the roots. When the stem or foliage is damaged plants repair and continue to grow well because they have strong healthy roots. It just takes them some time to heal some to grow even bigger. Root damage is harder. If a plant gets root bound because it’s in a pot that is too small it starts to choke itself and will slowly die. This is an easy fix re–pot in a larger pot, new soil, and time and it will thrive again. Now if the plant has root rot it’s a little harder. You have to cut off all the dead roots, clean the roots, put the plant in a new pot, new soil, and a lot more time. Your sister and I didn’t have damaged roots, we had foliage damage. Our roots were our families, friends, and our packs. We had strong roots; you have strong roots. An Jieun does not have healthy roots. The firs steps have been taken the rotting roots have been cut off. I guess what I’m trying to tell you is she needs time to grow healthy roots. You know you can kill a plant by over–watering it and a plant with root rot will die even quicker with over–watering. You need to give her space and build trust. Be her friend first, you will probably be the first real friend she’s ever had. Let her come to you, be there within her reach. She’s your Luna your other half blessed to you by the goddess. Treasure her.” With
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Book 2: Chpt 16: Growing New Roots
that, Gideon gets up. “Go get some rest we will be meeting the international council in the early
evening.”
I sat there by myself for what felt like hours. I need to be her friend. How do I do that? After going over different ideas with Rafe I couldn’t think anymore and went to my room. When I walked in, I saw An Jieun sleeping on the bed. I just looked at her for a moment. It was the first time she looked peaceful. She looked so small and delicate like fragile glass that would shatter if I just touched it. I wanted to lay next to her and hold her while we sleep but I know she’s not ready for that. I took the other pillow and found a blanket in the closet. I was going to sleep on the little couch, but I found out quickly that I would be better off sleeping on the floor since most of my legs hung off the couch. I lay as close to the bed as possible. If this was as close as I could get for now, I’m happy. I’m here now and I’ll protect her.
Chapter Comments
Renea Adams
A safe way of letting her know that you will respect her and protect her.
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