Alpha's One Night Bride
Alpha’s One Night Bride – Chapter 56

Confessing everything to Jonathan was the hardest thing she’s ever had to do. The way he looked at her, as though she was a complete stranger, crushed her heart. She never wanted this for him, and she was hoping to keep this from him for a lifetime. But she knew it would have to be a subject at some point since giving Graham that cufflink.

That was the biggest mistake of her life, but she did it to protect her son. She would do anything to protect her family; even if it meant putting the pack, and all other packs, in danger.

Jess didn’t think Jonathan would ever forgive her again, and he might not. But right now, his main concern was protecting the packs from Graham. She was really proud of that mindset. He reminded her of Regan every day, and it made her miss him that much more.

After telling Jonathan everything, they came up with the plan to summon Naomi, the Witch of Perception, during the red moon ceremony. This was something she’s never done before, and she wasn’t sure when the last time someone successfully summoned her was. She only remembers hearing some stories of her during her childhood.

She always assumed they were make-believe; she didn’t think other timelines or worlds existed outside of her own. Naomi first came in contact with the Davis bloodline when she was a young witch. She lost her way as she traveled from her world to the Amaranthine Cliff.

It was known that Naomi’s dear younger sister, Willa, was dying of poison. Willa was given an estimated time to live, 48 hours. Naomi had heard of a spell that could cure Willa and allow her to live for an eternity. However, for the spell to work, she needed to obtain an amaranthine flower. An amaranthine was a gorgeous purplish-red rose-type flower, Jess remembered seeing images of it in an old book. Amaranthine roots from the Latin word aramantos, which means flower.

It also has the meaning of unfading, everlasting, immortal, and undying. Which is exactly what Naomi needed to complete the spell and save her sister’s life. But you can only find that type of flower on the Amaranthine Cliff.

Naomi got lost on her travels and ended up in the world Benjamin lived in. She also ended up on his route as he traveled the world as a lone wolf. As Naomi figured out her next steps on moving forward and getting out of this world, she and Benjamin bonded. She kept him company on his travels and she revealed to him her powers and where she was traveling to.

She was also the one who informed Benjamin of the war that was going to take place between packs and what he needed to do to stop it. She also told him of the power he will one day hold and the difference he’s going to make between the packs. It was because of Naomi’s words that Benjamin put a stand once the war came about.

Years later Naomi returned as Benjamin was on his death bed and passing the torch to his son. She gave his son the cufflink to make his job that much easier. She gave the family the book of magic in case they ever needed her for anything, they could summon her.

Before Benjamin died, she thanked him for being a friend to her and he thanked her for showing him the way and being helpful to his family. She revealed to him that she was able to save her sister and now Willa is living a beautiful, everlasting life. She asked Benjamin if he wanted her to do the same for him and make it so he doesn’t die.

He declined her generous offer, saying that his time has come, and it was time to pass the throne to his son, and then his son, and so on.

They said their final goodbyes, and then she left. Never to be heard from or summoned again.

She wasn’t needed.

Until now.

Jess was going to be the first one, in centuries, to summon the great Naomi, and she was terrified of what was going to happen once she did. She wasn’t even sure she was going to be able to do it.

But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to try. She had to try because Sabrebite and every other pack depended on it.

She knew she had the Book of Magic on her bookshelf at home; it was a book she always thought was a fairytale. She never dreamt it could be real until she got a glimpse of Naomi’s magic and everything it could do. She was in awe of how real it actually was.

She just needed to get to the book, but with Graham having the ability to hear and see everything, there was no doubt in her mind that he heard their plan to summon Naomi. He was most likely going to try and get to Jess before they have a chance to do that. This means Jess couldn’t be alone.

Jonathan is putting her under 24/7 radar until they can summon Naomi and defeat Graham once and for all.

Erick and Ronnie arrived an hour or so after Jonathan linked them. Ronnie’s hair was thrown messily in a bun and her button-up blouse was buttoned unevenly. Her freckled nose was outlined with a pink aura that expanded across her cheeks. Her fingers were entwined in Ericks as they walked into the house.

Jess noticed that Ronnie wouldn’t even look at her. Not that Jess blamed her; they never actually spoke one on one after that night of the meeting where Jess basically confessed to not trusting Ronnie. She wasn’t really sure where her own head was at; she was tired, confused, and worried. Plus, she didn’t really know Ronnie that well. Everything was still so fresh for her that she wasn’t really sure who to trust. One minute Ronnie is by Rock and Melissa’s side, and Arina hardly wants anything to do with her. The next minute she’s being all sisterly with her and acting like nothing ever happened between the two of them.

None of it made sense to Jess at the time, but since then she’s come to realize that Ronnie was just an innocent bystander much like Arina was her whole life. It took Jonathan to explain that to her firmly for Jess to understand that. When Ronnie left for Blackcrest, Jess couldn’t help but blame herself and she felt awful that she was the root cause for Ronnie to take a stand and put matters in her own hands. She was the reason Ronnie wanted to prove herself.

If anything happened to Ronnie while she was in Blackcrest, Jess would never be able to forgive herself. Ronnie hardly got out of there alive, and Jess was still beating herself up for it.

She’s been wanting to speak with Ronnie alone so she can truly apologize for her behavior that night. But it seemed as though Ronnie has been avoiding her.

Jonathan spoke quickly to Erick and Ronnie, filling them in on everything Jess had told them. Jess watched their faces express different layers of emotions.

Shock, betrayal, anger, fear, and then finally accepting and understanding the plan laid out in front of them.

Jess could hardly imagine what they all must be thinking about her at that very moment. But she couldn’t think about it right now; they had to protect their packs and defeat Graham once and for all.

“So, what do you need us to do?” Erick asked after processing all the information Jonathan had given him.

“Right now, our next step in the plan is to get the Book of Magic at my mom’s house. So, Erick, I’ll need you to accompany her there to grab it and then come right back. I don’t want my mother being alone,” Jonathan instructed.

Erick gave Jess a look over, making her feel uncomfortable. His eyes revealed different layers of judgment and she could feel her stomach turning into a knot.

She worried nobody was ever going to trust her again.

“Okay,” Erick agreed.

“What’s going on?” Arina’s voice came from the bedroom doorway.

They all turned, shocked to see her standing there. She appeared to have some color back in her face, though she still looked exhausted. Her stomach was bloated from the baby, Jess could see the white bandaging around her body hidden under her light purple pajama top.

Much like Ronnie, Arina had her blonde curls pulled up messily in a bun. Even without makeup, and as sick as she was, Jess found her to be stunningly beautiful. She always has been. She reminded Jess a lot about Emlin in her appearance and personality.

She couldn’t be happier that Arina ended up Jonathan’s mate. Though she knew it was inevitable since the day Arina was born and Jonathan held her for the first time at the young age of 6 years old.

Arina has become like a daughter to her, and she loved her just as much as she loved Jonathan. She knew Arina would eventually have to know the truth as well at some point.

“How long have you been standing there?” Jonathan asked as he walked towards her.

“Long enough to know that something’s going on,” she answered, staring amongst the group with curiosity lingering in her eyes.

“Why are you up?” Jonathan asked, rephrasing his original question.

She frowned up at him.

“I couldn’t sleep anymore. I feel helpless lying-in bed all day. I heard voices out here, so I got up to see what was going on.”

She was still looking around at the different faces in front of her; all expressions were different.

“What’s going on?” She asked again.

Before Jonathan could say anything more, Jess intervened.

“Jonathan, you should tell her the truth. All of it. She deserves to know too,” she told him.

He looked at her briefly before turning back to Arina who was now eyeing him suspiciously. After a brief hesitation, he nodded.

“While you talk to her, Erick and I will run to my house and grab the book and we will be back as soon as possible,” she told him as she walked over towards the front door where Erick was patiently waiting.

“Yeah, I’ll explain everything,” Jonathan told Arina softly. He then turned to Ronnie. “Care to join?” He asked.

She nodded slowly as she followed them back into the bedroom. With one look at Erick, he gave her a disapproving glance back. She stepped passed him and out the door and into the fresh outdoor air.

It was going to be a long walk home.