Chapter Three
Jack's POV
When I scan the crowd again, I do not find Jenna anymore, with those bright green eyes that had been filled with so much trepidation and hope.
Pain suddenly slams into me, and I stagger back, shocked at its intensity.
Warm hands settles on my shoulders.
“Are you alright?” Violent asks, eyes filled with concern and care.
“I am alright.” I whisper, even though I am anything but. Violet doesn't look convinced, and those knowing eyes darken in suspicion.
I take her hands in mine and drop a light kiss on her wrist, her pulse jumping at the first brush of my lips against the smooth flesh. I look up through hooded eyes to watch her, enjoying the sight of blood that rushes to her cheeks.
“Trust me, there's nothing to worry about.”
Violet nods with a beaming smile, and I right myself to take her hands, leading her towards a further corner, slightly darker, to afford us more privacy.
“When you said you wanted to hold a feast tonight, I didn't know what to expect.” Violet admits.
“Well, I didn't want to wait another moment.” I lie.
“I am so happy to know that.” Violet sighs happily, her long, graceful fingers toying with the buttons of my old shirt.
“Can I tell you something?” She asks, those bright blue eyes snapping into mine.
I give her a smile and a nod to go ahead, wondering why I wasn't feeling the sort of fire I did in the pit of my stomach when I looked at Jenna. Or the strange desire and lust that had pounded my flesh when our eyes met.
“I have been in love with you for so long. I couldn't imagine anyone other than you as my soul mate,” she whispers, her eyes filled with love and joy.
Then this union must have been designed by the gods. I whisper, taking her hands again in mine and giving her wrist another kiss, this time, lingering for more than a few seconds.
Violet's pulse begins to beat erratically and her heart joins the unsteady beat. I watch her eyes, noting the desire in the depths of those eyes.
“I would like to kiss you right now. I murmur.”
“Then, by all means, go ahead.” She whispers back, her voice heavy with desire.
I pull Violet against me, her soft body meeting the hardness of mine. I waste no time in bringing my lips to hers and kissing her. She is all soft and smooth, and her lips remind me of cold mornings during the autumn.
Violet kisses me back with the same focus and zeal she puts into everything she does, and I am almost reeled back from the intensity of her kisses. I find myself breaking our bodily contact and taking a step back, desperate for air and respite.
Violet brings a hand to her lips, her eyes turning dreamy.
“It was even better than I had imagined.” She confesses, her voice thick with desire.
I give a nervous chuckle, fully aware that my wolf has shrunk to the deepest part of myself so that I can barely feel him. He hadn't even tried to be involved in this physical activity. I wonder just how long it'll take my wolf to fully accept this new reality. To accept Violet as our mate.
Discreetly, I allow my eyes to sweep across the hall, even though I can no longer feel Jenna's presence or smell her. I allow my eyes to wander the small crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
But when I don't, I turn to Violet, faking a smile for the first time and deciding to make an exit, suddenly feeling the incessant urge to be by myself.
“Can I attend to a few matters? I will come find you again.” I tell Violet, lifting her hands to my lips and dropping a kiss on her warm fingers.
“Of course, my love.” She smiles. Without another word, I make my way out the door, taking a deep cleansing breath and wondering why I feel so empty.
Even though the night had gone better than I'd expected, I hadn't thought I'd feel this emptiness that I do now. This dissatisfaction... I wonder whether I would have been happier if I had gone ahead and accepted Jenna as mine.
But I guess I would never find out because this has already been done. And a part of me hopes that the strong bond that I experienced with Jenna is broken. I don't feel the presence of my wolf as I make my way towards the building once more, and I grimace at the thought that they could still be sulking over what I have done.
I had made the right decision, hadn't I? Turning Jenna away was for the greater good of the pack. She might not see it now, but I know that one day, she'll understand, but as I turn into my chamber and rest on the chair, my mind spirals back in time, conjuring her pretty face out of the darkness of my heart.
Against all odds, I swat the thought of her out of my mind, and drop my head on the chair's backrest. I did the right thing, right? I ask no one but my subconscious mind. It seems to whisper back in affirmation.
Then why do I still feel this twerk? I ask again, shutting my eyes from the noise in my head.
Chapter FourJenna's POVI don't know how long I'd lain on the forest ground, but as I slowly come back to myself, I realise that I might have been there for far too long, long enough to attract prey.As I crack one eye open and look around, the still midnight air alerts me to the dangers that lurk in these forests. And for a moment, I regret leaving the pack.However, now is not the moment to scrutinise hastily made decisions. Now is the time to get up as stealthily as I can and get the hell away from here.I can't help but remember the tales that Papa had told me about avoiding the forest as a younger child. I had first learned about rogues and shapeshifters from Papa, who had told me that they would never come into the pack to cause trouble, but getting lost in the forest could mean being harmed by them.I get up slowly, wincing when pain shoots through my ankle. I must have sprained something when I fell over the shrubs.Trying to make as little noise as possible, I begin to limp
Chapter FiveJack's POVThere is still no sign of Jenna anywhere, and even though I try to ignore my wolf's whining, I feel her absence keenly.Suddenly, I miss those green eyes that had followed me everywhere tonight. Those large innocent eyes that had been filled with so much longing earlier tonight. So much longing, desire and hope.I had looked her in the eyes and squashed that hope because I had needed her to understand the impossibility of us being together. I had needed to make a favourable decision for the pack.If what I'd done had been for the safety of the pack and for the good of everyone, why did I feel so empty? Why was this sadness and longing for Jenna refusing to go away?I couldn't talk to my beta about this; I had already lied to him. And I couldn't bear the shame of going to him now with the truth.He would reproach me for it and could trust me less... I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let anyone see me as weak. It could be used against me. I had to learn to l
Chapter SixJenna's POV“There she is. Get her!”I pick up pace, fear propelling my legs faster and faster as I continue to run, ignoring the pounding of feet behind me. For a moment, I regret this decision. I regret leaving the pack, leaving my friend behind, and thinking it was a wise idea to leave the safety that Jack had afforded. I should have stayed. I should have sucked up the rejection and tried to court one of the eligible bachelors in the pack who were looking to find their mate. I should have remained there. I should have learnt to disengage. But I had allowed emotions to overrule logic, and now I was nearly at the mercy of strange neanderthals.Cold, callous hands clamp on my shoulders and reel me backwards, flinging me against a tree stump. My ribs connect with the hardness of wood, and I let out a scream as I land on solid ground. There's sudden silence as I lay on the ground, my head reeling from the acute pain that shoots from my side. I put my hands on my burning
Chapter SevenJack's POVWe search the entire cave without any signs of Jenna. We don't find her in her trunda either. Guilt eats at me as my guards and I continue the search, hoping that we find her before sunrise.This would not have happened if I had not denied Jenna as my mate. She would still be here, she would not have fled. This is all my fault, isn't it? “Alpha,” Sav murmurs several hours later. “I don't think we would find the girl.”I pause and then turn to my head-guard. We are now at the perimeter of the pack, the large land that divides our pack from the forest where the rogues and shapeshifters roam. Jenna understands what crossing this border means. After several hours of our futile search, I have begun to hope that she hadn't done the unthinkable. We have rules guiding our packs. And one of those rules, which is older than time itself, has always been to never cross the borders without the consent of the alpha. The only time anyone's ever been required to leave th
Chapter EightJenna's POV“Show your face, dimwit!” Scarred face yells, his breathing loud and harsh.The forest is deadly quiet as we wait for who might possibly be my saviour to emerge.“We should have gotten out of here sooner.” The second abductor says, his words laced with what can only be described as fear.“Shut the hell up.” Scarred face snaps. And then, turning towards me, eyes filled with nothing but hatred and contempt say. “You stupid shit, if you didn't try to escape, we would have been halfway out of here. I'll kill you myself before the vagabond gets the chance to.”Scarred face pulls a wooden dagger from his boots and aims it at me. I shut my eyes and await the sharp plunge I know will knock me completely out. This is it. Here is where it all ends. This is how my days have been fated to end. I won't even try to fight this inevitability. There's a loud grunt and a loud scream of pain that causes me to open my eyes. What I witness is a blur of movements. Scarred face
Chapter NineJenna's POV“Don't you touch me!” I scream.The two women look at me, their expression registering fear.“I'm sorry. We only want to help you out of your dress.”“I'm not a child. And I'm not sick either.” I inform them. I wasn't an invalid who needed extra care, nor was I a child who could not take off their clothes by themselves. “We know that. But our duty is to follow the instructions of our alpha.” One of the women, one who is much closer to my age, says.“Well, the instructions of your alpha affect my person, and it makes me uncomfortable. I will undress and take a bath by myself, okay?”The women look confusedly at each other and then, after a few seconds, nod.I breathe out a sigh of relief and then begin to pull off my dress. But noting that the women are still very much in the room, I suddenly grow self-conscious and hold the dress against my naked body. “Are you all going to watch me bathe?” “We will remain here should you need our assistance.”“I won't need
Chapter TenJack's POVI toss and turn for the remainder of the morning, consumed by thoughts of Jenna. My heart thrums with fear at the thought of any potential harm coming to her before I get the chance to save her. I would never forgive myself for causing Jenna harm. How would I live with the guilt of knowing that it had happened because of my actions? When the first sun rays hit my open window, I rouse from the bed and make my way to the connecting room to carry out my morning business.Even while I scrub my body clean, Jenna does not leave my mind; I see her in my mind's eyes, those wide innocent eyes that had bore into mine.I regret that I had not gotten to know Jenna better before rejecting her as my mate. I would have given her a chance to prove herself.Now, I was stuck with someone whom I felt no sort of bond with. Great friendship with Violet did not translate to a wonderful union.I should have known that. But if I could bring Jenna back, I was going to train her. I was
Chapter ElevenJenna's POV“Here. This is for you.”The older woman stretches a beautiful cream-coloured gown towards me.“Thank you.” I mutter.“You're welcome,” she replies, looking pleased with herself.I slip into the beautiful dress, the soft fabric comforting against my skin. I look down at myself, a bit shocked at how different I look in the dress.My arms are exposed, and the short dress stops a little above my thighs, leaving the rest of my legs exposed. It also tightens around specific places, like my midriff, making me acutely aware of each breath I take in.“I have never worn anything like this.” I confess quietly.“You look amazing in this. And I'm sure the alpha would think so too.” One of the women, a younger one this time, winks.“This dress leaves my skin vulnerable to pest bites.” I argue, pulling at the dress's hem, as if doing so would make it longer.I mean, wouldn't it?“Where are you from?” She mocks. “You look wonderful in that, and I don't think you should rem