Chapter Thirty Seven
Jacob's POV
'Stop right there, Roscoe!' I said to him thru our mind link. He's been playing games, running around like a mad wolf. Brent and I can't catch up to him, his moves differ from way back and the fact that he has the alpha blood in him means he was fast, too.
Yes, I can communicate with him through the mind-link. Being gone for nine months, his loyalty remained in the pack, which means Roscoe doesn't go rogue or joined another pack.
'What? Can't catch up to me? Still a weakling, brother.' his roar of laughter echoed in my head.
My teeth gritted hard. Fueled by anger, I sped up fast, ignoring all the restraint and peace Brent tried to plant in my head.
Roscoe jumped to the tree to maneuver his direction of running when I was about to grab him with my jaw. Instead of going after him, I circled away and dive to where he was headed.
Roscoe's paws dug on the ground, causes the soil and grass to flew from the impact. My wolf was larger than his even when I'm the second child, my fur was midnight black and his has changed to a lighter color of black.
I tried to see through his shadow given there was light from the moon.
Red. Green. Anger and envious. It hasn't change all these years.
Roscoe took a step back and shifted in his human form, now he stands fully naked in front of us. Brent was huffing beside me.
'That's it? Damn, he moves too much than before.' Brent said to me.
I did not bother to response and kept my focus on my brother's movement. I snarled when his face shows sarcasm, like he enjoys this a lot.
"Dear brother," he chuckled. "Stop giving me the cold treatment and welcome me in embrace, would you please?"
I growled loud and took a step closer to him. Roscoe chuckled and took a step back.
"So heartless. I remember you being cute and sweet to your older brother, well, years back. Did maturity changed you this way?"
'What are you planning this time?' I growled.
"Plan? I don't have one. Oh, maybe enjoy the atmosphere of being in a pack. I've been denied of it." he placed his hands on his chest. "Such heartbreak."
I always find him funny and full of sense before. Laughing at each of his words, but right now it sounds fake and sarcasm.
'Why did you run?'
"You're running towards me, I only run to save myself." he laughed. "And play a little with my little brother." he smirked next.
Technically, I'm not running to him but running home. To Lucianna. Though he did not need to hear that truth.
'Stay away from me from now on.' I said and turned to head back. I have wasted my time here. Roscoe won't admit any of his evil plans anyway, so why did I bother to know?
"Icy." he chuckled. I continued walking. "Won't you let me stay in your house, at least? Come on, I'm family."
Low growls escaped my chest but I did not turn to look back or speak to him more. I just want to go home now. Right now.
"Oh, there lives your mate. My bad to forget, brother."
My paws stopped and I turned to him again. No. Not Lucianna, you bastard!
'Jake, don't. He'll play with her more if he sees how Lucianna affects you.' Brent said, stopping me.
I gritted my teeth.
'Come now, he can't do anything to you or Lucianna.'
Roscoe always finds a way. He always find his way.
In the end, I let it go, turned around and run fast home. Brent was right. Though I don't think I need to hide how important Lucianna was to me. She was my mate. And losing her meant my demise.
**
Lucianna's POV
"What?"
He… Jacob's brother? He tried to kill my mate?!
"It was long ago, but that won't change the fact that he is danger. If Roscoe, indeed, wants to be the alpha of Shadow pack then he might scheme something to have it."
I paled at the thought that he will try and kill Jacob. Damn it! I know I wanted to be away from him but not that way!
Back in our schooling, losing a mate was like losing a soul. Living but empty inside, something inside that will always be lacking. A hole that slowly getting bigger and bigger, enough for us to be swallowed and drown in sadness.
"He can't hurt Jacob!"
"Listen, and do not forget what I'm about to say." Harley said in a serious tone, leaning forward. I nodded furiously. "Jake is strong, he's an Alpha now. Roscoe won't have the chance to leave a scratch to our alpha. But. Lucianna, but! If Roscoe went to you, if he tries and harm you, if he kills you, then Roscoe might succeed in whatever he plans to do to Jake."
This was the first time I got scared with my own safety, not for me, but for Jacob. Harley was right. Losing a mate will lose the mind of the other. It's… it shouldn't happen. I can't let it happen.
"Do you understand, Lucy?"
I nodded. Slow and distracted. "I'll… take care of myself."
Harley sighed in relief. "Yes. Please stay away from Roscoe."
"But… what is… how, I mean, how did Jacob inherit the alpha title when he is not a first born?"
Harley squinted his eyes, thinking. "I really don't know about it but they say 'fate' has something to do about it. I'm a Gamma, I think Brent knew about it more but you can ask Jacob. He'll tell you if he wants to. If not, go to Brent. That guy won't hide it from you."
I nodded and started to wonder if Jacob will share something as confidential as that. Even the Gamma of the pack don't know about it, huh?
"If that happened nine years ago, then Jacob was… fifteen?"
Thinking of a teenage Jacob, experiencing something like that in such a young age, sounds painful. The most infuriating part was that his brother was the one who wants him gone.
I always yearned for a family and I think the pain inflicted by family was too much to bear. Someone you trust, hurting you. It must devastated him.
"He is. If its not for Aiden, he might be dead by now."
"Aiden?" Ashira's mate?
"Yes, Alpha Aiden was turning eighteen that time when he went here for a renewal of treaty. Roscoe took that time to plot that the Prime pack killed Jacob, taking advantage of the situation."
I know Alpha Aiden became an alpha in such a young age since his father passed away early.
But wow. That explains the closeness between them.
"D-Do you know what he did to--"
My words were cut when paws coming from the forest are nearing us. Harley and I was quick to stood up and went outside to check. I can sense Brent and Jacob, only them. What happened to his brother?
Jacob's midnight black wolf jumped out from the woods and followed by Brent's reddish brown wolf.
"I'll get some clothes." Harley said but I stopped him before he could.
"I'll get it!" I was quick to run inside, almost using my enhanced speed. I ransacked Jacob's closet for his clothes and taking some for Brent, too.
When I had the clothes in my hand, Jacob's scent lingered my nose, which means he's too close.
I turned around and found him standing by the door of our bedroom. He was naked, fully exposed in my eyes.
He looked at me with… Was he sad? Scared? I can't define it by the way his expression darkens.
"I-I…" Instead of saying anything, I extended my hand with his clothes. My eyes kept looking on his face, though his lower body screams attention, his bothered face worries me more.
Jacob took steps forward, not breaking eye contact with my eyes.
My eyes rounded when he disregarded my extending hand. I gasped when he locked me in his embrace, he hugged me tight that I almost can't breathe.
"J-Jacob, you sh-should get dress…" my words are muffled by his chest as my face was squished in his body.
He was trembling. Badly. I don't know what to do. Should I ask him what's wrong? Comfort him? What was he thinking to act like this?
"Jac--"
"I don't want to lose you, baby…" he whispered, inhaling my scent and slowly loosening his embrace but not letting me go.
I bit my lip. Did he said that because of the involvement of his brother in this situation or did he changed his mind to let me go and set me free?
Deciding to not say a word, I let myself to be in his arms for a minute before he finally let me go. He looked at my face, finding my eyes. Both his hands are cupping my cheeks as he looked at me with utmost intensity.
"Are you okay? Did he do something to you?"
The worry in his voice made me shook my head furiously.
"N-No. He didn't went close to… me." I looked away. His manhood has started to bump on my body and I know its coming to life! "Can you… wear something?"
Jacob chuckled before planting a soft kiss on my forehead. "Here I am, worrying my ass for you and you worry about my naked body." he said in an amused voice.
He followed me though, he grabbed the clothes in my hand, taking the cotton shorts and tossing the shirt on the bed.
"You're naked. H-How will we talk if… if I went on heat… or something."
He laughed, throwing his head back. He didn't even turn around or went to the bathroom! He dressed in front of me!
Is he that liberated to proudly show off his body to me?! Doesn't he know how hard it was to focus my mind seeing how… huge… that is?!
"We can talk while on it, though." he said once done.
I snorted.
Jacob reached for my hand and squeezed it lightly. He sat on the bed and I stand in front of him. Looking down to his smiling eyes, I bit my lip to avoid getting drown. I have questions to ask, and its better to get to know him more now that the curiosity of him kills me.
"You're like a chamomile, or even better, calming my nerves so fast like this." he said and pulled me close to bury his head on my chest.
My face flushed from how he moves his head.
"Ah-huh. It seems to me that you're enjoying my breasts."
Jacob chuckled. "That, too." then he sighed.
A moment of silence passed and I almost thought Jacob has fallen to sleep.
"Uh, Jacob?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you… wanna rest?"
He shook his head and that moved made me almost moan. His nose stroked on my nipple that I had to bit my lip to stop being affected by it.
"I already am." he murmured.
This--! I think he's just coveting my boobs!
"My feet is getting numb." I reasoned. Why can't I just push him away?
But… I don't know, I kind of… pity him right now.
"Then come sit in me."
"What?!" I blushed. Jacob laughed hard, shaking his head as he scooped my legs and made me sat on his lap.
"I meant this. Tss."
He got the nerve to hiss!?
"I think you're just taking advantage of my breasts!" I tried getting off his lap because of that poking huge thing! He's on commando, didn't even bother to wear something under that shorts!
He dramatically moved away to look at me. "Why would I do that?"
This bastard! I can see his act clearly on that face!
"You're face is all over my chest!" I'm starting to lose the 'pity' I had for him and placed by irritation now!
Jacob bit his lip to suppress his smile and I frowned more. His eyes went down to my chest and even though it was fully covered, I feel too exposed by the way his eyes gawk at it!
"I'm not…" he said, chuckling.
"You are!"
"Fine." he pursed his lips and looked away. "Your heartbeat comforts me, you know." he admits and I gasped. "The bounce and softness are just bonus… something like that."
This--!
"Ow!" he complained. My palm landed on the back of his head! "Violent mate."
"That's for squishing your face in my… argh! Let me go, now!" I struggled and come off from his hug.
There was a ghost of laughter in his face as he shook his head while I'm busy crawling in the bed away from him.
Once seated on my part of the bed, I narrowed my eyes and looked at him.
"How can you be like this when your brother just…" I feel like my words came out wrong that I just rolled my eyes and stop finishing it. "Whatever."
Jacob licked his lips and looked away.
I wonder if he wants to talk about it with me or if there's a boundary I shouldn't be into…
"Harley told you?" he asked. His voice sounds… light. Like, he was not bothered or irritated about it.
I nodded and tries catching his eyes but he continue to look away.
"You can ask me about it…" he said, finally looking at my eyes with a small smile.