Chapter Five
Jack's POV
There 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 live with the decisions I had taken.
“Little lady, go home. I have told you the alpha is indisposed.”
“But I really need to talk to him.” A female voice begs the people who stand guard outside my home.
This wouldn't be the first time a woman has come to offer herself to me and beg me to take her as their mate. My guards have always been able to handle the situation, and as always, I'd let them handle it.
“The alpha has chosen a mate already and is no longer available for anything you might offer.”
“You don't understand. I don't want the alpha as my mate! My friend is missing, and we have to find her.”
My ears perk up, and I rouse from the bed before I realise I am even doing that. A few seconds later, I am right in front of a young woman with wild brown eyes and a heaving bosom.
“Who is missing?” I ask her. Even though I can guess who is.
For a moment, her eyes light up, and her gaze runs over me, her eyes registering fear.
“Why is she not talking?” I ask my guards impatiently, my wolf becoming restless.
My guards take one look at my face and look away very quickly.
“I'm sorry, my alpha, Sav murmurs. I think she is just nervous where you're concerned. You don't look very much like yourself right now.”
Understanding what he means, I shut my eyes and try to control my powers.
“Young lady, tell me who is missing right now.” I command. “You are wasting my time, and I do not appreciate that.”
“I am sorry, Alpha.” The young lady cries. “My friend Jenna is missing. She begins to talk, her voice infused with fear and urgency.
“One second she was with me, and the next, she wasn't.” She continues to explain, as if my command had unglued her tongue from the roof of her mouth.
Jenna was missing?
That explains why I had felt her absence intensely. That emptiness I'd experienced in her absence had been more physical than emotional. Even though I had rejected her as my mate, we still shared a bond that I couldn't completely wrap my head around.
“When was the last time she was seen?” I ask, as I begin to descend the stairs, my guards and the young lady following suit.
“While we were at the feast. She was right beside me. Then a minute later, she wasn't. She wasn't exactly herself today and had acted quite a bit strangely.”
The young lady says as she worries her lips between her teeth. I could tell that she was genuinely worried about her friend, and her confusion as to why her friend had suddenly left the gathering without any plausible explanation lent credence to the fact that Jenna had done as I had commanded.
She had told no one.
“We need to find her.” I turn to address the guards behind me as we begin the hurried search.
“What about me?” The young lady asks.
I had completely forgotten that she was still here, fueled only by the desire to find Jenna and to ensure her safety.
“You need to go back to your trunda. It is not very safe out there.”
“But my friend is missing, I won't sit down and do nothing.”
“That is exactly what you will do.” I turn to tell her, irritation causing the beginnings of anger within me. “You are delaying this search, and I will not have another second of that. Get home right now before I make you.”
My voice is low and deadly, and even though my eyes are locked on that of Jenna's friend, I do not use my powers of compulsion on her. I don't need to, because, without another word, she whirls around and begins to walk away.
I breathe a sigh of relief, because even though I had been blessed with the power of compulsion as the alpha, I hated to use it on my people. I hated when they were at my mercy, under my will and command, their own free will having been snapped up by me.
So I only used my powers when it was absolutely necessary. And I am glad that tonight it didn't have to get that.
Suddenly, a hand lands on my forearm, and I turn to find the bright eyes of the young lady on me.
“You will let me know as soon as you find her, won't you? You might be as scary as the devil himself, but if you don't find my friend before something horrific happens, I swear to the gods—”
“I will find Jenna, alright?” I assure the young lady, picking up her warm hands and dropping them by her side. And when we do, we will bring her to you.”
“I trust that you will, Alpha. Thank you.” She answers, her tone meek again. And with that, she moves completely away.
We watch her disappear into the darkness.
“Feisty little lady.” Sav murmurs, his tone tinged with something akin to admiration.
“We have to find her, and we have to find her quickly.”
“But where do we start?” John asks.
“The cave.” I answer without thinking. “Let's start there.”
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?”
Chapter Thirteen Jenna's POV “Everything? Do you have all day?” I joke. “For you, yes.” He drawls. And I look up to find his eyes on my exposed thighs, filled with nothing but desire. Self-consciously, I tug at the hem of the dress, trying to make it more modest. Where I came from, women were never found dressed like this. I had just grown up in an environment where everyone was always modestly covered. While men could shift whenever they wanted, women not so.There were no stringent rules about these things, it was just that, growing to find that not one single woman did it, I had begun to consider it wrong to do so too. And right now, it felt wrong to wear a dress that exposed my body like this. I felt uneasy about the way the alpha was eyeing my exposed skin, and it made me understand why modesty had been the order of the day where I'd come from. “The dress doesn't go further than that.” The alpha comments. I look up to find his eyes on mine this time, and I give a slow sha