Chapter 20

Jasmine's POV

Its 2pm in the afternoon and I just finished my training.

I didn't train with Dwayne today though I guess he's still somewhat mad for beating his mate or Natasha didn't allow him leave their house.

It has been a week since the incident with Natasha I mean training with my wolf.

Today I trained with some guy in my wolf form. I beat him good because he thought I wasn't strong at all. I smile to myself as I remember the way his wolf whimpered.

Mind you I'm not some sadistic bitch or anything like that I'm just happy that I'm improving in my training in both of my forms.

Everything around our little underground city is okay but why can't I brush this feeling that's been nagging my mind.

Me and my wolf have been restless, even though we don't talk much we share the same feelings. I have grown the feeling of paranoia, I can't help but look over my shoulder like as if something more like someone is going to jump out of nowhere and cause a whole lot of trouble.

My feelings were confirmed on Wednesday when everyone was on edge. I heard from my parents that Alpha Alexander has been restless.

All our past Alpha's have that gift of sensing oncoming danger. It is a gift given to them by the Moon Goddess in order for them to see to the protection of their pack.

In the olden days when things like this happen the Alpha usually gives an offering to the Moon Goddess in form of an animal. But now all we can do is to pray for Her to protect us since the idea of sacrifice was dropped centuries ago.

I might not be a pup anymore but the thought of my family taken away from me makes me want to cry like a baby denied of food but I've realized that I have to be strong even though its okay to shed a few tears.

We were all huddled in the living room, even Jacques, Gillian and the baby were here. The Alpha relieved everyone from their duties well except the pack guards and patrols. The house was silent except from the Television that was playing that I'm sure we were not watching at all.

Nicole's giggles hadn't stopped and guess what she adopted her Daddy's laughter. Jacques laughter is a sound you would hear and start laughing because of how funny and contagious his laughter was. So baby Nicole decided she wanted to imitate her Dad.

I looked around me and instantly I wanted to put everyone out of the deep thoughts we all seem to be in well except for Nicole who didn't know the weight of the matter. At that instant she giggled and I couldn't help the smile that broke out on my face.

"Guys" I say loud enough for everyone to hear. I don't get any response so I decided to try something else.

Glancing at Nicole who was now interested in the bottle of milk Gillian just stuffed in her mouth I grin as an idea pops up in my head.

I run up the stairs to the store room to bring a loudspeaker that Dad used to use during his Gamma days. I change the batteries before heading downstairs. I carry Nicole from the baby seater she was in and we both head to the kitchen.

Nicole looks at me like I am crazy for carrying her away from her mother. One can only imagine what a baby thinks about.

I just pinched her tiny chubby cheeks, she tried to slap my hand away but I continued my assault on her cheeks. Glancing at the loudspeaker beside me on the counter I suddenly remembered why I brought it down here.

"Checking 1-2-3-4..." I said into the loudspeaker checking to see if it was actually working. It worked just fine because I immediately put my hands over my sensitive ears even Nicole let out a little whine at the sound.

"Damn that was loud" I complain while Nicole giggles. I roll my eyes at the cute baby. I look towards the kitchen door expecting someone to burst through it to ask what the noise was about but no one comes in. I release a breathy sigh then I look at Nicole who I've managed to put on the counter.

"It's just you and me Nic" I say looking at the green eyed baby similar to mine. The baby does nothing but wiggle her chubby legs, her milk bottle firmly her in her hands.

"I have a plan"

I know I know I seem crazy right talking to a baby who is not even up to a month old yet.

Either ways were the only ones who will help our family realize that just because the Alpha sensed danger doesn't mean we are all dying in the next two days or something.

I have to make them remember that we are not just ordinary wolves we are Lycans that supernatural creatures feared and will continue to fear.

We are not going to be caught unprepared when the time to fight comes, we do not go down easily. This is---

The sound of Nicole's bottle hitting the floor causes me to snap out of my thoughts. The baby just looks at me with her innocent face. I raise a brow at her suspecting that she threw it to the floor intentionally. I bend to pick the bottle and put it on the counter.

I try to make her sit on the counter but she can't yet that will take a few more weeks.

"As I was saying we have to snap everyone out of their thoughts". She looks at me like as if she understands me I take that as a good sign and I continue.

"You are going to giggle and laugh into the loudspeaker when I tickle you." With that said she laughs, this causes a smile to erupt on my face.

I think she actually gets it.

She looks a little bit uncomfortable and I remember that I have to pat her back so that the milk can go down well and she can release that burp.

I get to my feet putting her over my shoulder; I walk around the kitchen patting her back until she lets out a loud and long burp that gets me laughing.

"That was some burp Nic" I praise her walking over to the stool to go over our little plan.

"Remember you have to laugh when I tickle you" I say to her.

Her green eyes are looking elsewhere.

"Alright then" I mutter balancing the baby in my arms, carrying the loudspeaker as we head over to the living room where everyone else is sulking.

I stand in the arc way of the living room from the kitchen area.

I position the loudspeaker to Nicole's mouth and I start to tickle her. For the first few seconds she doesn't do anything but try to push the loudspeaker from my hand. I try harder and this time she burst into an endless fit of giggles.

The loudspeaker making it more enhanced. The whole pack will definitely hear it I think to myself.

The first person to stand up is Jacques, probably wondering why his baby is not in the room and is giggling. Then Gillian follows suit and then the rest of my family until they are all standing looking for Nicole. I drop the loudspeaker to the floor as I step out of my hiding spot to meet the frantic looks of my family.

"What the h--- fudge were you doing" Jerry speaks up correcting himself from swearing in front of Nicole.

"Geez calm down" I say still cradling Nicole in my arms as her new interest is in my hair. I take a glance at everyone noticing that my Mom looks shaken like as if someone dumped a shit load of ice on her.

Gillian looks the same but more worried. The men have no expressions on their face but as far as I can tell their rigid posture says it all.

"You know just because the Alpha sensed something doesn't mean we are going to die tomorrow" I start hoping to lift everyone out of this moodiness.

"I know the Alpha's senses never fail but let's face the fact that this danger might just be next year, next month or something I don't know I'm just guessing. Are we all going to mop around till then? Are we really going to let power hungry people erase us from the face of the Earth?" I ask rhetorically.

"Thank the Moon Goddess for this gift she granted us unless we might just be caught unaware. I see this time as a time to be strong, brave and fearless I know its easier said than done but at least let's give it a try. I don't know about you but I want to make such wonderful memories if we don't make it but I also know that I'm not going down without a fight." I finish a few tears escaping my eyes.

I clean my eyes with the sleeve of the long sleeved shirt I am putting on. Nicole helps me to wipe them but I chuckle when she puts that finger in her mouth. She scrunches her face in distaste due to the saltiness of my tears.

I look up to see everyone still deep in thought processing all the word I just uttered.

"She's right" Jacques breaks the thick ice of silence and uneasiness around us. "We aren't supposed to mop around like lost puppies, we are lycans for a reason"

"I don't know about you guys but I know that I'm also not going down without a brutal fight" Jacques growls lowly. The next few minutes everyone agrees and the next thing I know I'm in the middle of a family group hug.

"That was some speech kiddo" Jacques pats my head and gives me a hug.

"I don't even know where it came from" I respond which causes everyone to laugh.

"It was some nerve wrecking speech" Jerry says pulling me for a hug too. "And at the end of it all we WILL make it" he whispers in my ear. I look into his eyes to see hope shining in it. I hope we all do I think to myself.

"You did not have to use the loudspeaker you know" he adds.

"My ears are still ringing" Jeremy adds putting a finger in his right ear.

"Well in my defense it was the only way to get your attention".

They respond by giving me looks that told me that they didn't believe me. "And I couldn't have done it without Nic" I beam looking at the baby that was already trying to catch some z's.

After that episode we try to cheer each other up and watch a comedy. The movie makes everyone to laugh at one point. The previous mood slightly forgotten.

We have dinner in the dining room and this time everyone was in a lighter mood, we laughed and joked with each other reminiscing about old memories.

Jacques said he was going to talk to the Alpha the next day about the issue on ground. He said he was going to advise him to call everyone together and to encourage them to be careful and train more blah blah blah.

Later that night in my room I was about to hit the hay when Hannah mind linked me.

"Jasmine I don't know what to do"she cried into our link.

"Whoa calm down what's wrong?"

"Its Will he just stormed out of the house"

"What happened?" I ask her

She doesn't reply instead she cries harder.

" Stay put okay I'm coming"

"Okay " she whispers into our link before she cuts it off.

I put on a cardigan over my tank top heading out of the house but not before I tell my parents that I will be back in an hour.

I get to Hannah's house to see her sitting on the steps to their house her arms around her knees and her head resting on them.

At the sound of my footsteps she looks up at me to stand up and throw herself at me. She cries into my shoulder while I pat her back telling her to calm down. After what feels like five minutes she stops crying . I lead her to the steps so she can sit down. Silence engulfs us as we sit only her constant sniffing disrupts it.

"Do you want to talk about it" I ask gently.

She shakes her head sideways indicating that she doesn't want to talk about it.

"I'm sorry for making you come out here if I wasn't going to say anything" she sniffles.

"Hey its fine" I say giving her shoulder a little rub

"Thanks" she says pulling me in for a hug.

When we release each order her stomach lets out a loud grumble indicating that she's hungry. Even in the dim lighting a blush creeps up to her neck.

"Hungry huh" I tease.

"Lets go get pizza" I suggest

"I can't leave the house what if Will comes back"

"Send him a text and let's get going". I cross my arms over my chest and give her my most imposing look. Realizing that I won't take no for an answer she releases a sigh and brings out her phone to text her mate.

"Done" she says getting to her feet.

"Good" I say. "Nothing like good old Mrs. D's pizza to cheer someone up on a chilly evening"

She laughs in response. Together we walk down to Mrs. D pizzeria making small talk on the way.

Mrs. D's pizzeria is full but we manage to find a booth to squeeze ourselves in.

"Well look who decided to drop by" Mrs. D says as she takes a stop by our table. We both laugh and me and Hannah stand to our feet to give her a side hug to which she returns.

"Good evening Mrs. D" I greet her as I plop down back in my seat.

"Evening to you too my child" she replies.

"How is Hannah doing?" She says as she looks over at Hannah

Hannah laughs before replying that she's fine.

Mrs. D talks with us for a bit before returning to the kitchen to satisfy the hungry costumers.

Me and Hannah walk out of the pizzeria after sharing a whole box of pizza. Before we part ways to our separate houses she speaks up

"Thank you Jasmine" she says

"Oh its nothing you know that"

"I know. I just needed someone to let out all those tears on" she rambles on

"It's okay whenever you need me I'm one call away or a mind link away" I wink at her.

We hug each other one more time before parting hoping that tomorrow will bring us something much more better than today.