Chapter twenty-eightJenna's POV“Will you teach me?” I ask, and my skin prickles with trepidation at what Veronica's response will be.“We have never really been keen on teaching weaklings how to defend themselves.”“I'm no weakling.” I growl, my wolf rousing for the first time since I was brought here. My wolf's presence fills me with happiness. I didn't realise how much I missed her.Veronica takes a cautious step back, her hands lifted in the universal sign of surrender.“I may lack knowledge of combat, but I am no weakling. I will fight you back with every strength within if you try to come for me. I only need to be trained.”I move towards the window, drawn to the scenic farmland and the golden look that twilight has cast upon the land. This might as well be my favourite view in all of Duskhowl.“We do not train people who might use our strategies against us.” Veronica replies, her chin lifted naughtily, as if did dare me to challenge her.“That's quite selfish of you.”“I would
Chapter Twenty NineJenna's POV That night, after Veronica pushes out a constructible iron and transforms it into bed and invites me to use the one I'd come to see, the one that looks more comfortable, and feels just as comfortable when I lay my body on it, finding sleep becomes impossible.Veronica appears to have dozed off as soon her head touched the sheets, her even breathing goes to shows that, and the fact that she isn't tossing and tossing like I am.I stare wide eyed up at the ceiling, thinking about tomorrow morning and how my first training would be.I think about the earlier events of the day and how I had almost left there, certain that Zephyr was not the broad shouldered savior that I had thought him to be.Now, I was in the home of his beta, enjoying her hospitality. Even though I still had my niggling doubts about Veronica, it was apparent that she was kind meant me no harm.All evening, she had done everything to ensure my comfort. Even the way she had converse with m
Chapter ThirtyJenna's POVI watch Veronica mix what she calls dough until she achieves a liquid consistency that makes her grin with satisfaction.Now, we fry this. She announces, scooping the thick liquid in smaller quantities and frying it in a large pan. The sweet fragrance hits my nostrils, causing my stomach to growl noisily.Hungry already? Veronica chuckles as she flips the pancake.I shake my head no, but even I know that that is a lie. I wish we knew how to do this back in our pack. There's so much we would have done with our limited resources.Veronica nods. That's why we are sometimes grateful that we met the humans and that Zephyr had somehow gotten to meet Christabel in the forest. With the tools they'd brought, life has been so much easier.I see that. I say, moving around Veronica's room and studying the beautiful furniture there. This morning, I finally take notice of little paintings hung on the furthest part of the room.I move closer to take a better look, realisi
Chapter Thirty OneJack's POVI spend the rest of the day in my room, away from everyone else, as I try to come to terms with the loss of Jenna.I do not understand why I still feel so strongly for her when I had in fact chosen a mate for myself.I am also plagued with guilt at the realisation that something bad happened to Jenna in the forest. It doesn't matter whether or not she had been taken willingly by some crazed animal in the forest. The truth remained that I had done something to push her out of the pack, and her leaving was and will always continue to be my fault.When the door raps once and then pushes open to reveal Violet's face, it distracts me from my thoughts.She pushes into the room without permission and comes to stand beside my bed, her eyes studying my frame thoughtfully.“Are you alright?”“Do I look like I am not?” I retort, fully aware that my tone is biting and that I am in no mood for company.I expect Violet to be angry at my rude words and to take leave imm
Chapter thirty-twoJenna's POVVeronica and I train until the scorching afternoon sun becomes unbearable, and my throat becomes completely parched.When I am almost on the verge of slumping to the ground from exhaustion, a very sweaty Veronica drops her weapon to the ground and moves towards me.“Let's take a break.”Totally on cue, I drop to the ground and pant completely from exhaustion and the sheer need to gather my strength once more.“Thank you.” I mutter, after I have gotten enough air into my lungs to say something without the risk of passing out.Veronica, who doesn't look in the terrible shape that I do, smiles fondly at me and says,.“Not bad for your first day.”I shake my head at Veronica, who appears distracted by the birds that circle the woods from the distance.“I get the feeling that you were holding back.” I confess as I sit up, studying Veronica, who has turned to meet my eyes.“It's your first day. And you did good. Though I'd say we're both in desperate need of a
Chapter Thirty threeJenna's POVThe next day, Veronica and I continue our training, and even though my arms hurt and I feel like I'm seconds away from face planting on the ground, I am determined to not give up.“You're doing great, Jenna.” Veronica breathes as she lunges at me.I slip past her, and having studied her movements, I predict what she is about to do next, which gives me the sliver of opportunity to elbow her in the ribs and jerk her weapon from her hands.With a scream, I push a shocked Veronica to the ground and straddle her, balling my fist and pointing it at her in a threatening manner.Veronica brings her hands to her face to shield it, and I smirk as I get up and dust off my soiled dress. Even though I am a sweaty mess and my hair feels damp from all the running and punches that I have had to block, I feel incredibly pleased and really accomplished.“That was a nice one.” Veronica says, getting up and mirroring my earlier movements of dusting off the dirt from her d
Chapter Thirty FourJack's POVThe days pass by in a blur of activities that begins to feel monotonous. I settle scores between packmates and organise hunting to ensure that we have enough meals stored away for winter.But none of those activities seem fun anymore, even the sheer act of spending time with Violet leaves me feeling empty. As the days continue to go by, I begin to experience a level of sadness that I cannot shake. I begin to long for so much more than just the daily hunts and settling scores. I find myself wondering about Jenna and the kind of life she lives now. Because I have a certain conviction that she had somewhat lived. And the fact that a young woman, whom I barely knew, could consume my thoughts like this makes me want to smash my head against something.It's Violet that I should be thinking about. It is she whom I should desire, but why isn't that so? Why do I still think about the young woman that I had rejected? This morning, I am filled with the same str
Chapter Thirty Five Jack's POV“I just want us to go back to how we were. It feels like agreeing to be your mate changed things.” She sobs against my shoulder. Guilt tears through me, and I shut my eyes, trying to tamp down the feelings of pain that rams through me. “I am very sorry, Violet.”Violet sniffles and pushes away from me, wiping the last of her tears and meeting my eyes, which are now red-rimmed. “I know that you're sorry, Jack. But what really changed? I need to know.”I shake my head slowly at her, turning away to look into the distance, lost in thoughts. Violet was right, something had really changed. And although I could not deny that Jenna's departure from the park had been the genesis of this change, I couldn't tell Violet so. I felt a lot different now. The activities that used to hold so much meaning for me no longer did. And sometimes I knew that these recent feelings had less to do with Jenna's absence in the pack but more to do with my state of mind. I had