Chapter Four
Jenna's POV
I 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 towards where I'd come from but halt when the memories from earlier slam through me.
“Tonight, I, Jack, chose Violet as my mate, to remain mine in all seasons, across multiverses, realms and time.”
I shut my eyes as that familiar pain courses through me again. I had been rejected by my own mate.
I had been seen as weak and unfit. Unsuitable to be the alpha's met. Incapable of being taught and trained. He hadn't even tried to take a chance on me because I was never the woman he wanted. He had always had eyes on Violet from the beginning.
I try to take a forceful step forward, despite the pain of that rejection, the pain that came with realising that I wasn't good enough for someone the gods had destined me for...
But my legs refuse to move because the second the alpha had publicly announced his new mate, rejecting me in secret, the pack had ceased to become home.
How would I go about my day every day knowing what had happened? How would my wolf cope with the loss of her mate? Was I always going to fight for control whenever the alpha was near? And continue to question my worth each time the memories of that rejection come back?
“No.” I say out loud as a swivle around. I refused to live that way.
I wasn't going to live like that. I wasn't going to wallow in pain and watch someone who was supposed to be mine frolic with someone else.
I was not going to live a lie and pretend to be happy just so Jack could have his wishes. If he didn't want me as his mate, it meant that he didn't want me in the pack. And I refused to go back where I wasn't wanted. Or needed.
I begin a slow trudge further into the forest, already on the lookout for dried woods I could use to make fire. Tonight, I was going to rest, and tomorrow morning, I was going to search for a new pack. A pack that was going to be accepting of me, and one that would train me.
I needed to be trained. I didn't wish to be like Violet, but I needed to learn to stand up for myself.
Happy with the internal decision I have just taken, I gather a few dried woods and settle under a large maple tree. Even though my appetite is still nonexistent, I am lucky enough to come across a few fruit trees, taking a handful of pineapple and raspberries to stuff myself for the night.
Tonight isn't the time to try to hunt. I need all the rest I can get and proper time to restrategize and plan my life from here on out.
I have managed to light the fire, just as Papa taught me. I am a little proud of myself for doing this all on my own, without his aid.
I can't help but recall those happier times with Papa. And more than once, I had wished that he was still alive. Maybe, if he were, this would not have happened.
He would have trained me, and maybe if I had been trained, I would not have been considered unfit to be the alpha's mate.
I bit into the juicy pineapple, quickly filling my stomach with all the fruits that I had gathered. My wolf was starving and needed more than what I was having. But this was going to have to do for now.
The wood is eerily quiet, so the only noise that permeates the still air is the crackling of the fire as its bright embers continue to lick up the dried leaves and hard wood I'd piled.
When my wolf stirs and suddenly becomes alert, I pause, my heightened senses catching onto the definite snap of a dead wood from about a mile away, which causes me to become tense.
My wolf suddenly becomes restless, and I know what that means. We need to get out of here.
I get up very quickly, filled with sudden strength from the meal I'd just had. I look down at the dress I still have on and slide my fingers between the satin, ripping off the hems and throwing it into the dying fire.
There's no time to cover my tracks, no time to put out the fire; they'd still track me through my foot imprint on the forest ground. There are people headed this way, and their unfamiliar scent lets me know that none of them are from my pack.
Without wasting any more time, I break into a quick run, feeling the midnight wind against my face as I continue to run, not caring where I go, so far as I am as far away as possible from my potential assailants.
I am filled with terror as two indistinctive bodies emerge behind me, their much bigger and longer legs covering more ground than mine.
“There she is!” An unfamiliar voice growls. “Get her!”
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
Chapter TwelveZephyr's POV“Why did you save me?”I look up at the young woman in front of me, studying her luscious waves of natural brown hair and her perfectly bowed lips.I have never quite met anyone like her. A woman who could be brave yet so fearful. Who could match me stare for stare, even though her eyes showed nothing but fright. “I saved you because you needed saving.” I answer her question with a smile. The young woman looks down, her hands moving over the hem of her dress, as if she's unsure whether to cover her exposed thighs. “I know that.” She whispers. “But why did you bring me to your pack?” She looks up then, her glassy green eyes locking on mine, those arresting greens stirring a familiar longing in my groin that causes me to part my legs to make room for my growing shaft. “You have no idea who I am. For all you know, I could be a spy. You brought me here and had your women tend to me.”“But you're not a spy.” I tell her confidently.“And you know that how?”