Twenty Nine

Chapter Twenty Nine

Lucianna's POV

Our mates went to the Prime pack building to do their thing. Ashira invites me to her room and I figured that Ash must be sleeping with Aiden on another room. Her scent was so faint inside it.

"My God! Your mate is so sweet! Scary but sweet." I sighed dreamily. "I'm envious!"

Ashira continued to look at me the same way she does when I'm hiding something. This person was the only one who can read me clear.

"I hate that Jacob, Luce. What did he do to you? The last time you called, you're crying your lungs out!"

My mind was quickly reminded of what has happened before and the way I looked so distressed, hopeless.

"Just like I said, he cheated on me…"

I continued telling my 'unfortunate' becoming and Ashira listened attentively. I can see the hate plastering in her expression and from her side comments.

Somehow, having someone to talk about what I experienced lightened my chest but also added fuel to the fire upon remembering all of it.

"Last time we talked, you said you will give him a fair fight."

Oh.

I did mention that, huh?

Justin flashed on my mind and I smiled wryly. I forgot to always pray for him at the top of the hill…

I nodded slowly.

"I almost had sex with Justin."

"You--what? Who's Justin?"

I told her about my almost infidelity and her mouth kept hanging. I understand that she'll react that way since… between us two, I'm the one who was so hell-bent in this mate bond.

"Damn, Lucianna. What happened then?"

"Jacob felt the same pain he'd been giving me and tracked me down. He caught the both of us."

"What?!

"He caught us! Half-naked! Inside Justin's house, kissing!"

Ashira cursed and closed her eyes shut.

"And then? Will you please finish?"

"Jacob. He…" the images of Jacob, holding Justin up and taking his life flashes on my mind again. "He killed Justin."

We continued arguing about it and Ashira cannot believe what had happened. I know I made a huge trouble, and I know I will forever bring it beyond my coffin.

"Ash…" I looked at her in the eyes, grabbing her hands and gripping on it tight. "I want to escape him. I figured that this treaty will be my chance."

Ashira took back her hand and I slouched. This won't be easy.

"Are you serious?!"

I bit my lip and think.

Am I?

The bruises, the images of Jacob with another woman, having someone killed because of me and Jacob trying to make me submit to him by driving me insane but kept me hanging…

I don't have anything else to think of that can make me stay…

"Will you help me?"

"Help you escape?!"

"Yes, Please." I held her hand again. "Ashi. I want to be far from him. Help me be free."

There was a moment of silence. My eyes are starting to water, I'm sinking deep in my emotions right now but I made sure none of it might slip and reach my mate.

"You're crazy, Luce."

I eyed her, not speaking and holding back my tears. Ashira looked at me as if analyzing my expression, my emotion, my everything. I know she's thinking, too.

Before I came here, I already knew that I might not get what I want. Ashira was a bit too good to be true, an idealist. But I know, she won't let me suffer more. I know she's on my side and selfishly as it may sound, I am taking advantage of it.

"How do you plan this exactly? I'm not agreeing with your idea but I'm curious how you'll pull this off."

"You're not agreeing. Yet." I corrected. I need to trap her somehow, make her agree to this because even if I can't believe it, I am trying to rely to someone other than myself right now.

"Come on, Ash! This is the first time I've ever set foot outside his land. I can't stay with him! I needed some space between us."

"That space will also torture you, Luce. One way or the other, you'll suffer. And he will find you."

I know.

Fuck, I know. And he will succeed, but the idea of breathing fresh air without any burden in my chest was a different story. I'll trade a lifetime for that one moment.

Or maybe if I got lucky, I might trade a moment for that lifetime of freedom.

"At least he'll suffer, too. Please, Ashi. I have no one in his pack and now I have you here. You're my only hope."

I can't sense anyone from our pack with us in this house. Maybe even Harley went to the pack building, I can only sense the presence of Ashira's gamma I met earlier.

"I assure you that this plan is smooth and you won't be in danger. Promise." I persuaded more.

"What is your plan?"

"I need to be with you. Alone. And--"

"I can't be alone. Aiden won't let me be alone. Seth always comes with me." she cut me off.

I frowned. "Who's Seth?"

"Aiden's third in command."

Oh, the guy from earlier.

"Well, if there's no way we can be alone, I guess we could try talking with your protector. Though he needed to agree."

"And? What if he agrees? What's your plan?"

 I grinned.

"If he agreed, then we need to lie to our mates. Something like we'll bond tonight or girl's night out, that sorts."

Ash squinted her eyes. "That sounds easy. Where's the tough part?"

"That's the thing. There will be no tough part. Once they let us go, you'll escort me at the border and poof!" I grinned again. "I'll be far away before that jerk finds out."

"That's crazy. They'll ask me where you are." she rolled her eyes.

"Who said you knew?" I smirked. "That's where I'll need you as a cover. You can say I had taken off when you're at the bathroom or you thought I was at the bathroom. Then I'm gone."

Ashira sighed and I know I had convinced her though she hasn't said it, I already knew.

I smiled. "Well, do you think we can talk with this Seth?"

**

"That won't happen! Nah-uh!"

Seth, Ashira's protector and Prime pack's gamma was a pain in the ass.

I rolled my eyes and the guy snapped his eyes back at me, angry.

"Come on, Gamma. Follow your Luna's command." I smirked.

"The name is Seth, Luna." Ugh, even here, I can hear the honorifics was not for me. "And your Gamma won't back you up so what made you think I will?"

This one was feisty and hard-headed. I could see it well.

I looked at Ashira after rolling my eyes, I don't want to argue more with her protector. She knew him more than I do.

"Talk to him, Ash. I need to peak on the dessert."

I excused myself and let the two of them talk. I can hear them still, though.

I'm preparing dinner for everyone since Ash was not a good cook.

The two continued whispering words and arguing about helping me. I sighed. I don't want to cause any more trouble but who will I run to in this situation? It's not like I still have family of my own.

Ashira was the only one left to me.

I need her.

And I will gamble this. One. Last. Chance.

"If you want me in, take a different route. I don't care what harm your friend wants for herself, Ash. My sole role is to protect you and keep you away from harm."

It's envious how I can sense the loyalty of my friend's protector to her. Harley was always… I don't know, his loyalty was not towards me, that's what I'm sure of.

I decided to butt in and yelled, "She won't be in danger, puppy!" I giggled when I heard Seth's low growl.

"Eavesdropping is bad, Luna!"

I laughed and shook my head as I took the pie off the oven.

'What are you doing?'

I almost jumped when Jacob contacted me in our mind-link. Damn, I'm not getting used of him in my head, sometimes.

'Cooking…'

'I'm on my way back.' he paused. I pursed my lips as I wait for more because I can still sense our portal was open on his side. Was he waiting for my response?

I didn't, though.

'Make sure you're not on anyone's lap, b-- whatever.'

My eyes widened.

Was he about to say the word 'bitch'?!

Fuming, I decided to let it go and walked to where Ashira and Seth are, still arguing.

"They're on their way back." I announced to inform them. It's not good that they will arrive and we're all hot and heated with this argument.

"How'd you know?" Ashira asked. Oh, maybe Aiden didn't tell her.

I simply pointed on my temple. "Jacob."

Seth shifted on his seat and faced me before looking to Ashira. "If I'm on your shoes, I'll think twice before helping your friend."

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened as I look at him. Frantic, I look at Ashira. I can't let her change her mind now!

"Why would you say that?!" I yelled.

The gamma looked at me tiredly, as If I'm a waste of time. "If Jacob is as bad as you claim, why would he update his whereabouts to you?"

This fuck--!

My nose flared from what he said. Clearly, this fucker doesn't know a thing about me and what I've been through!

"He said, 'I'm on my way back, make sure you're not on anyone's lap, bitch.' And if that include on your vocabulary as update, puppy, then its not on mine."

My chest was heaving as I said those. Damn! I'm not sure about the bitch part but hell, I can't think of anything that he was about to say other than that and with the tone he used.

There were silence on Seth's part but I don't see him taken aback or something.

"Why would he say that, Luce?" Ash asked, pity was on her eyes and for the first time, I didn't find it comforting.

"He's a jerk, that's why." I rolled my eyes. "I keep asking myself the same question."

Seth snorted. I knew he was not yet done with it!

"I won't be shocked. You cheated on him--"

"I almost." I cut him with emphasis on every word. "And don't you dare do there, pup! You have no idea who cheated who between us!"

The tension between us arises and I never dared take my eyes off him. If this guy speak another word that will make a vein in my head pop, I won't care who's territory I'm in.

Ashira was looking at us, one by one and repeatedly before clearing her throat and standing between us. My vision of that annoying pup was blocked and I looked at my side to calm myself.

"Enough of this. Both of you can't be seen with those killer gazes or else Aiden will figure we're up to something."

Hmp!

I wanted to say her pup needed a leash but in the end I sighed.

"They're here." Seth said and I looked outside. I heard the engines of their cars so I breathe more to calm myself.

"Act cool." Ashira reminded me and I nodded before heading back to the kitchen.

**

I ate dinner in silence with Jacob beside me and Ashira with her mate in front of us. Our men were already bonding outside, trying to digest the food they ate. The four of us were the one that was left.

One thing I noticed with Aiden was the way he look at my friend. His eyes are deep and dark but everytime he looks at Ashira, there was something… sparkling.

I wondered if I ever saw that with Jacob…

I looked at Jacob and I caught him looking at me, no, glaring.

Ugh. No, I don't see the same look with him.

'Aren't you too close with that gamma?' I blinked when he mind-linked me again. Arching a brow, I leaned on my seat as I continue exchanging glare with him.

'Jealous on the first day? Not healthy.'

I almost smirked when his lips turned to a flat line.

'Try to stay away from trouble.'

'I'm behaving well here, Jacob. And Seth has a mate, sure you knew that.'

'I don't care. I hate it.'

I scoffed. 'What's there for you to like.' I said sarcastically and decided to shut down our portal so he can't connect with me more.

I looked at Ash and then to his mate, Aiden.

"Can I share a room with Ash tonight, Aiden?" I asked with a smile. I tried my best to smile not the way I used to, why? Because I figured Jacob calling that a 'flirtatious smile', or so he thought.

Aiden growled a whine.

I watched as he looked at Ash, as if his heart was broken.

Oh.

He don't want a night without her by his side, huh?

"Of course." he said at last.

I grinned. Yes!

"I'm not allowing it."

My neck almost snapped when I looked at Jacob who firmly disagree with what I proposed.

The f?

Jacob looked at me lazily. "You'll sleep with me tonight." he said in a growl.

The way he said that seems like I have no choice but to succumb to it.

Ha!

"I don't want to. Why are you always depriving me of my happiness?!" I said in a low but emphasizing voice.

Jacob's lips formed a flat line and I know it didn't pleasured him that I denied him in front of another alpha.

"We need not to sleepover but will you let us bond some more?" Ashira said that broke the lightning forming between Jacob and I.

Jacob turned to Ashira with his annoying expression that I'm used to.

"Just inside the ancestral and it's okay. Otherwise-"

"Come on, Jacob! Don't tell me you wanna join our girl talk!"

The ancestral he meant was Aiden's mansion.

"No one leaved the house." Aiden said in a firm voice that my jaw dropped.

The way he looked at me, was much more intense than how Jacob when he was angered. This alpha surely was the strongest of the North that I felt little as his eyes stabbed on me.

"How about you lend us your spot?" Ashira asked, breaking her mate's stare at me.

"What spot?"

I frowned at Ashira and trying to send her a message using my widening eyes. We talked to be in a tavern or something!

"If that's where you'll go then it won't be a problem." Aiden replied.

What the hell was this spot?!

Well, as long as I can escape from there, I won't mind! But please not an isolated place or something!

As if Ash heard my thoughts, she spoke.

"It's a safe place. No one dare to step on his spot. I'm sure Jacob won't… disagree. Considering that, uh, no one would be there but us."

I turned to look at Jacob and I saw how his jaw clenched. Nothing pleases this jerk! It's making me agitated!

Jacob looked at me for a second before he sighed.

Oh.

"Fine. But bring Harley with you."

Tsk! No way!

"Your Gamma is no fun! I suggest for him to stay." I was quick to disagree.

"He don't need fun to guard you." his voice was hard and with finality that made my teeth grit.

With all the frustration I have, I kicked his feet under the table. Jacob didn't even flinched and at most, he just smirked at me!

Argh!

"Well, I need fun! And if you insist on letting him join us, then I want the sleepover!"

"Then have that sleepover." he said.

I don't get this guy! Damn him! What was it that I can do against his word?! I hate being mated with an alpha!

"I hate you." I whispered but my voice was hard and positive. Hastily, I stood up and walked out of that place.

Fuck!

Fuck!

Whatever! I will do this even if he try and make a disaster of all my plans!

**

Jacob's POV

I watched Lucy as she walked out of the dining room.

Damn it.

Why can't I tame this woman!?

I sighed, shaking my head as I looked at my mate's friend.

She looked worthy to be trusted. I just can't… take it that Lucianna will be far from me. I can't take it. We're not home, we're not at my land, I don't trust every wolf in this pack, what if…

Damn it.

She hates me…

Not like it's new but still, hearing it from her with the voice I always longed to hear, with the eyes that I yearned to look at me, was difficult to swallow.

"Will Seth be with her?" I asked Aiden, sighing after.

He smirked. "Yeah."

I pursed my lips and nodded slowly.

Looking down, I played with the glass in my hand.

Maybe I should loosen… some more.

"Tell her I'll be here when she comes back." I said and then looked at Ashira.

She gave me a knowing smile and nod. "I will."