Chapter Thirty-Four

Regan’s POV

We returned to the pack from the hunt.

A successful hunt.

While we had caught a very big deer, the other warriors had caught other smaller animals.

When we returned, we went down to the stream first to wash ourselves clean of the blood and dirt gotten from the hunt.

Then we made our way to the back of the pack house where a large area was set up with tables and chairs in order to have a celebratory feast under the full moon.

The newly shifted werewolves were given their new robes of black and red to change into before they went back to their respective families.

I watched as Emry went over to meet his mother and a calm looking girl I guessed to be his sister, judging from the color of their dark hair.

Seeing how happy they seemed for him, I turned away to look for the person I was most eager to see.

My eyes finally found her to see her eyes already on me, watching me with a smile.

I immediately made my way over to her and pulled her into my arms, burying my face into her neck to inhale her addicting scent.

I felt her arms wrap around my waist as she burrowed deeper into my embrace.

I caught a scent that wasn’t hers, alongside Nana and Lena’s and figured it was probably one of the she-wolves she was working with.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of bliss, she pulled away and I let her go.

“How did it go?” She asked, looking up at me with those gorgeous eyes.

I smiled at her. “Very well”, I said. “I believe I would even call it a success”, I told her.

“And Emry?” She asked, somehow already caring about the young wolf she knew I had grown fond of.

“He did well”, I told her and took her hand to begin pulling her towards our table.

When we arrived, I pulled out a chair for her to sit before taking my place beside her.

“At first”, I continued. “I was concerned because his wolf was quite small compared to the others. But guess what?” I asked, leaning over with a smile as I waited for her to do so.

“I fear you would just have to tell me”, she said, a smile coming onto her lips as she lifted a hand and brushed a stray lock of hair away from my face.

I smiled at her gesture, glad that she had become comfortable enough to touch me in public.

“It turned out that even though Emry’s wolf is small”, I told her. “He is one of the fastest wolves in the pack”, I beamed, knowing she could clearly see the pride in my smile and hear it in my voice.

“Truly?” She asked, her face lighting up in excitement at my news.

I nodded.

“I am so glad, Regan”, she said. “I know how worried him and his family must have been”.

Before I could respond, I caught Emry’s scent and turned to see him coming towards us, his face almost splitting in two with his smile.

“Alpha”, he called as he approached us. “My Lady”, he said with a smile and a bow to Jasmine which she returned with a smile of her own.

“Congratulations on getting your wolf, Emry”, she said to him kindly.

Emry beamed with pride.

“He is one of the fastest, My Lady”, he said proudly.

“So I heard”, she replied, still smiling. “What have you named him?” She asked, looking up at him.

The smile suddenly displayed from his face and his eyes widened.

“You have not named him yet”, she asked. “Have you?”

He simply shook his head, looking lost.

“Well, that can easily be done”, she said with her eyes suddenly shining with a teasing glint. “I am sure your Alpha would be very pleased to help you with finding the perfect name for your wolf”, she said, turning to me with a teasing smile.

Emry immediately turned to me with eyes filled with hope.

“I am not sure I am the best person to come up with a name for your wolf”, I told him. “After all, I named my own wolf after an emotion I felt when I first had him”, I pointed out.

“In that case”, Jasmine said, turning back to Emry. “Why don’t you think of something your wolf reminds you of?” She suggested. “I believe you will find a name somewhere in there”.

Emry looked from her to me, then back before looking back at me.

“I do not know much about my wolf”, he said. “I only know that he is quite fast for his size”, he said.

I suddenly remembered someone distinct I had noticed about his wolf.

“And he has rare silver eyes”, I added and watched them both turn to look as me.

“He does?” Emry asked and I nodded.

“Rare and distinct ones”, I added.

“Then how about ‘Lightning’?” Jasmine suddenly asked. “It is quite fast and distinct”, she said.

Emry’s beamed an excited smile after a moment of thought.

“It is perfect!” He announced excitedly. “I have to tell my mother and sister he said turning away and coming to an abrupt halt before turning back to face Jasmine and bowing his head briefly. “Thank you, My Lady”. He said and ran off.

I shook my head, a laugh escaping my lips at his excitement.

“He takes my fondness for granted”, I told Jasmine who was laughing softly. “I do believe he no longer fears me”, I said, knowing it was true.

“Is that not a good thing?”she asked leaning closer with a smile. “How could he love you if he fears you?” She asked.

For some reason, the look in her eyes when she said it made it seem like she was talking about more than Emry’s behavior.

However, seeing an opportunity in her closeness to me, I decided not to let it go to waste.

I leaned in and took her lips in a soft kiss.

While she would have pulled away before, she leaned in instead and returned my kiss.

Before I could deepen it, she pulled away, placing a short kiss on my jaw as she did so.

“I have to find Lena”, she said, pulling away with a smile to push her chair backwards.

“But you have been with Lena all this time”, I said, sounding whiny even to my ears. “When do I finally have you all to myself?” I asked.

I had expected her to laugh as she normally would have whenever I expressed my jealousy over her closeness with Lena, but she didn’t.

Instead I watched as she forced a smile onto her lips before looking back up at me to respond to my question.

“We will all the time in the world together very soon”, she said. “And I will be yours forever”, she said before placing another kiss on my cheek before she stood and left to find her dearest friend.

Something was wrong.

I didn’t know how I knew but I did.

It had just been a small reaction but I could not disregard the feeling I had gotten.

Rage seconded my opinion and when the food was finally served, I took the first bite so everyone else could start on their meal before rising to my feet and leaving the table in search for the one of the few persons I knew would not hide things from me.

Nana.

I knew Lena’s loyalty would be torn if I asked her what was wrong but I also knew Nana would tell me enough to ease my worry but not enough to break her word.

She was very wise indeed.

I caught sight of Jasmine with Lena around a table with Luke but did not approach them.

Instead, I followed the trail of Nana’s scent until it led my to where she was, inside the kitchen in the Pack house.

She was with Mari and was laughing about something while she dished out a pie onto a plate.

“Do you care for a pie?” She asked without turned around but I knew she was referring to me.

“No”, I said before adding. “Thank you”.

“It is Jasmine who made it”, she said to entice me.

It worked.

“In that case”, I said, and made my way over to sit beside her on a bench. “I will have a slice”.

She stood to get another plate and dished a smaller pice of pie onto it before coming back to take her place on the bench.

“I will leave the two of you to eat in piece”, Mari said with a smile which I returned, before leaving us alone in the kitchen.

“What is it you wish to ask me about?” Nana asked, already knowing my purpose.

“Did something happen today?” I asked her, not bothering to go around in circles.

“Whatever could you mean?” She asked, but her eyes were focused on one of the fire torches that lit up the room.

“I believe you know exactly what I mean”, I told her, not in the mood for games.

“Oh very well”, she said and ate a slice of pie.

I watched impatiently as she took her time chewing it slowly, knowing she was doing it on purpose to irritate me.

I bit my tongue and waited patiently.

“If you must know”, she said after she had swallowed. “Something did happen earlier tonight”, she said. “But I will handle it”.

“What happened?” I asked bluntly, tired of being patient.

She took another bite of her pie but chewed easily and swallowed.

“A foolish She-wolf had the audacity to disrespect her”, she finally told me.

“What?!” I stood abruptly, anger rushing through me and Rage already snarling. “Who would dare?!” I asked.

In my subconscious, I registered that Nana had rescued my pie as I stood in the fit of anger. It would have been a waste of a perfectly good pie, especially one made by my future mate. So the rational part of me was grateful.

“Calm yourself”, Nana said and took another bite of her pie. “I will handle it”, she said calmly after swallowing. “Leave it to me”, she said.

To those who did not know Nana well, they would think her behavior was nonchalant and believe she was unbothered or cared less about the cause of my anger.

But knowing Nana meant remembering things that others were not aware of.

Things that we tended to forget since they hardly ever happened.

One of those things was that Nana hardly ever ate sweets.

Whenever she did, it meant she was about doing something that would normally leave a bitter taste in one’s mouth.

Another of those things was that her calmness in such situations often spelled trouble for those involved. Her most creative ideas at torture and punishments often came when she was calmly eating sweets.

Realizing this, my anger instantly dissipated and I made my way back to resume my seat beside her on the bench.

She simply handed me my plate of pie and continued to eat hers.

“I would have enjoyed teaching a lesson to whoever it was”, I told her, finally taking a bite of the delicious blueberry pie.

“I know”, she said. “But let me enjoy this one on your behalf”, she told me. “Besides, Jasmine did not want you to know”, she informed me, causing me to frown. “You must understand her need to want to cause you less concern considering the circumstances”, she said.

I thought about it, and once again, Nana was right.

“I will feign ignorance”, I finally said, taking another bite of the pie.

“Good”, Nana said. “You should return to the celebration”, she advised. “She will be looking for you”.

Nodding my head in acceptance, I shoved the last pice of pie into my mouth and stood to my feet and made my way towards the door.

I paused briefly and turned back to see Nana still seated and slowly eating her pie.

The only difference was the smile on her face that caused a shiver of fear to roll down my spine.

For a brief moment, I felt sorry for whoever had disrespected Jasmine.

Then I turned and walked away.