Chapter Ninety

Jasmine’s POV

It was a surprise to everyone at breakfast the next morning to see Luke seated to Regan’s left, and the two thoroughly engaged in conversation.

I am sure Luke’s mate was surprised as well because we shared a glance of astonishment before turning back to watch our mates interact.

It was as though Luke had never left.

The only difference was, when before it would be very obvious that they were both mind linking the other, it had now become that they would openly speak to each other.

I secretly believed they did that so that Lena could see.

If she saw and was affected by it, she hid it well, keeping a blank and almoubored expression on her face and only interacting with the ladies and her mate throughout the meal.

It was the bored expression that let me know that she was indeed affected.

Lena was never bored. If she was, she created something to entertain herself and others.

On the other had, the two friends who had obviously resolved whatever issues they had originally had, went about conversing extensively.

Even when Nana scolded them and they had to stop speaking, it was obvious that they were still having a conversation by mind linking each other.

They would randomly burst out laughing or try to hide their amusement throughout the meal.

Personally, I was simply happy to see my mate laughing again.

Even though he did not admit to it, I still knew how much he had missed Luke and knew how he had longed to tell him about the happenings in our pack just as he always had.

I had to pretend not to notice the pile of written letters that were never sent as well as the half written letters that were crumbled up and thrown away.

All of them addressed to one person.

That was when I had realized just how difficult it had been for him to cope without even a message from his closest friend.

I had been left with little choice that to write to Luke about how dearly we all missed him.

Whether he had read my letter or not did not matter.

Because even though he had not responded to it, just as he did to Lena’s letters, at least he had still come to visit.

We had not been able to speak properly like we used to, but if he had not been on proper speaking terms with those he considered his siblings, I did not think he would wish to speak to me.

All the same, it pleased me greatly to see them both behaving as brothers again.

I was not the only one who shared that sentiment since I could see the wide smile on Nana’s face that showed her happiness at the scene she witnessed.

After breakfast, Luke, Regan and Alpha Gaius left to Regan’s study in the pack house and I invited the ladies to accompany to visit with the pack children.

To no one’s surprise, Nana and Gaia excused themselves to go to the healing house and left soon after.

While cleaning up, I noticed that Lena had a quietness about her that had nothing to do with being focused on her task.

I moved closer to her and nudged her arm.

“Share your thoughts with me”, I said with a gentle smile.

She turned to me and despite the sad look on her face, she smiled.

“Am I being unreasonable?” She asked.

It did not take me long to realize what she was talking about.

She was talking about her decision to ignore Luke.

I took her arm in a comforting hold.

“You are not”, I assured her. “Your emotions and feelings a important”, I said.

“Then why do I feel that I am wasting the little time I have with him in a fit of childish anger?” She asked me, her eyes sad and her tone low.

I placed my head on my shoulder.

“Why are you ignoring him?” I asked.

“Because I am angry at him”, she said.

“And why are you angry at him?” I asked again.

“Because no one else will be”, she said, her voice back to normal. “Regan will always understand and take his side no matter what he does”, she said. “And Nana will love him and forgive him no matter what. But Luke needs to understand that simply because he knows that we will love him no matter what he does, still does not give him the right to disregard our feelings”, she said before turning to me.

“I saw Nana cry”, she confessed. “Not once and not twice”, she told me. “She was so worried about him and missed him so much and all she wanted was simply a letter”, she said, her voice rising in anger. “How hard is it to write a letter to people you claim to love?!” She yelled in anger.

All was quiet, everyone lost for words at the sight of the hurt hidden in the anger.

“Harder than you can imagine”, a voice said and we all turned around to look at Luke’s mate.

For a brief moment, I had all but forgotten that she was still present.

She put down the pile of plates she had gathered before turning to face us.

“He did respond to your letters”, she said, looking at Lena. “He just never sent them”, she added, a sad smile on her cheeks.

“I know it must not be easy, for any of you”, she said. “But no matter how hard it must have been for you, Luke had it worse”, she told us. “It was the first time being away from his family, not knowing when he would come home and it was clear for me to see how it affected him”, she said. “That is why we came. I simply could not stand the sadness on his face each time he saw anyone who reminded him of you”, she said before a smile came onto her face.

“He said I reminded him of you”, she shared. “I see why he said so now”, she said, her smile growing bigger. “But at least, with my temper, there is my red hair to match”, she teased.

An answering smile came onto Lena’s face as well and I could not help but laugh at the truth of what she implied.

“I like that my temper takes people by surprise”, Lena said with a smile, before it melted into a small one. “I suppose I should let it go”, she said. “If Luke was having such a hard time as you say he was”, she said to Zara.

“He was”, Zara reaffirmed. “He only started to sleep well when we came here”, she confessed.

Lena waved her concern off.

“Luke has always been particular about many things”, she said. “If you as me, I would say Nana spoiled him with too much affection”, she supplied.

“I see”, Zara said with a smile. “And I suppose Nana spared you those affections?” She asked slyly.

“Certainly not”, Lena said, making me believe she was unaware of Zara’s insinuation. “If you know Nana, you would know that is impossible for her not to attempt to sometimes smother one in affection. You will come to understand what I mean with time”, she said. “And unlike your mate, I am not one to succumb to the power of Motherly affections and risk becoming spoiled”, she said in response to Zara’s insinuation with a sly smile of her own.

“I can now see what Luke might have meant when he said you remind him of me”, Lena confessed. “But I will have you know now that I will not fully forgive him until he has apologized. Not just to me, but to Nana as well”, she said. “Despite his reasons, he caused us a great heart ache”, she said.

Zara nodded. “I agree”, she said. “I will try and speak with him”.

“Please do not trouble yourself by doing so”, Lena said. “I believe I know my cousin well enough to know that he knows he ought to apologize for his actions”, she told her. “You needing to tell him to do so before he does would mean he has lost the morals we were brought up with, and I cannot imagine what he would be within them”, she said.

“Very well”, Zara agreed. “I will say nothing to him of it”, she said.

“Thank you”, Lena said with a smile. “I believe we may have more in common than we know”, she said. “And I look forward to knowing you better”.

Zara smiled at her words.

“As do I”, she said.

I was pleased that Lena did not allow her anger towards Luke to stop her from getting to know his mate.

Zara was a delight to know. And I became more grateful for who Lena was.

As always, Isla simply watched in silence.

I suddenly remembered something I had wanted to share with them.

“Did you hear?” I asked all three. “That the Alpha of Moonrock pack will be arriving here in two days time?” I asked.

Lena nodded. “Nana told me”, she said and I turned to Isla.

She simply shrugged a shoulder.

“I did not hear”, she said. “But I had another dream about the crest last night. I supposed it meant that they would be here soon”, she said.

Looking to her and noticing the lost look on her face, I realized that she had not been around when Regan had told us about it.

“The Alpha of Moonrock pack is set to arrive in two days”, I told her. “He is the Alpha of the largest pack in the West, so his numbers and strength will be needed to help us in the war”, I told her before placing a hand on my growling stomach.

“I heard he is part witch”, Lena said.

I nodded. “He insisted on seeing us for himself to know if the prophesy is true, before agreeing to pledge his help to us when we need it”, I said to Zara.

She nodded, no doubt taking in my words before finally speaking.

“I hope you are aware that my father had pledged the hand of our pack whenever you call”, she said. “Though if he had not, you would still have Redclaw’s help”, she said before looking to where my hand rested on my stomach. “I will not let anyone harm a member of my family”, she swore.

I could not help but smile.

“Your assurance brings joy to my heart”. I told her.

“Is there anything you will need from us before the Alpha of Moonrock arrives?” She asked.

I shook my head, still smiling. “I believe my mate has handled all preparations”, I said. “I only hope he will grant us his help. I fear we may not win the war without”.

“Do not think such thoughts!” Surprisingly, it was Isla who rebuked me. “Even without his help, we will still win the war”, she assured.

“You sound certain, dear Isla”, Lena said with a smile. “Have you perhaps seen something?” She asked.

Isla shot her a look that she responded to by smiling wider.

“I do not need to see something in order to know that I will not allow anything otherwise”, Isla said. “This is a war I personally cannot afford to loose. It would mean I loose everything. And I will die first before I live to see that happen”, she said.

Her words brought a somber mood that she immediately noticed.

“I do not mean to instill fear but courage”, she said, looking straight at me. “We will win this war”, she said. “That, I promise you”, she said.

For some reason, her confidence and words dispelled the feelings of uncertainty that had crept up.

She was right.

We would win the war. I had to believe it.