Forty One

Chapter Forty-One

Lucianna's POV

"Finally!"

A beautiful woman went to me with widened arms. Her eyes joined her wide smiles. I found out where Jacob got his lips and smile.

This must be her mother.

"Uh, hello, g-good morning--ooft!"

My words are muffled when the woman embraced me tight and warm. I smiled at her after. She seems to be a jolly person and behind her stands a man smiling to me, as well. Jacob was there, too and I saw how much he resembles his father.

The parents…

This was Jacob's parents.

"You are so beautiful!" the lady praised and I just gave her a tiny smile. I never been nervous like this before! "How can you hurt such a beautiful girl, Jacob!" she turned to her son.

"Mom…" Jacob hissed.

I gulped as I figured what she meant. Oh, she knew. Suddenly, the air turned sour as Jacob's mother narrows her eyes at him. At least she didn't like what her son did, huh?

Jacob's father laughed, a laugh made just to break the tension that his spouse created.

"Come on, honey. They just made up." he said that earned a snort from Jacob's mother. "Why don't we introduce ourselves first?"

"Oh!" his mother exclaimed.

I was amazed how her mood turned from boiling hot to serene and sweet. Wow. I think I know why Jacob got me confuse with his emotions all the time.

"Darling, I'm Anabel, Jacob's mother. It was nice meeting you. I really wanted to get out of our vacation so that I can meet you already! But you know, Alejandro kept on--"

"Honey." The man who seems to be Alejandro chuckled as he cut his mate's words. He looked at me quickly before Anabel's eyes met his. Well, that looked cute. "Lucianna, my name is Alejandro, the father of this jerk here."

"I don't even know who raised him anymore." Anabel butted in.

Jacob sighed and shook his head from what his parents were saying but he kept his mouth shut.

Meanwhile, my smiles are turning awkward already.

"I-I am--"

"Oh, darling, we know who you are!" Anabel pulled me again in a warm embrace. Never have I ever met a woman who's so sweet and touchy like her! Even Ashira was kind of aloof with this girly thing.

And I like it. I like Anabel and her warmth.

She pulled away again and looked at me with glistening eyes. Her smile was so real and serene.

"We have a lot to talk about." she said with excitement and squealed after. "You have to tell me how rotten my boy has become so I could--"

"Mom."

 I almost jumped when Jacob was suddenly beside me. His arms went to my waist and he pulled me to him, away from her mother.

Anabel's brow raised as she look at him.

"Let's eat breakfast first." Jacob said. His voice was almost cold as he talked to her mother.

Anabel's eyes widened like an idea popped in her head. "Oh! Of course! Lucianna must be famished!" she grinned and that intrigued me.

She turned to her Alejandro and giggled before walking to the kitchen.

Something in her tone seems to mean something. Aren't they the ones who just got home from a long travel? They must be the one who--

Oh fucking hell.

They knew!

Jacob's parents know we did it!

 "Oh my!" I exclaimed upon realizing it.

It's all over Jacob! The scent of power and us completing the mating process! His parents knew about it and I turned red all over.

Jacob seems to know my thoughts and he pulled me to him more, planting a kiss in my forehead.

"It's alright. That's normal."

"Normal? Its embarrassing!"

Jacob chuckled then held my hand. "Let's stop talking about it and have breakfast. Or else, I might--"

"Sshhh!" I closed his mouth because I know something vulgar will come out of it and his parents might hear! "You shut up, Jacob."

He grinned and nodded like a puppy. I sighed and tried to calm myself to be prepared having breakfast with his family.

"Are you nervous? I can hear your heartbeat clear and loud, baby." he whispered as we walk.

"Y-Yeah. This is my first time, uh, eating with your family so... of course."

Actually, I don't know how to eat in a table with a family. I did once, when I was with Ashira and her family but I felt out of place then.

And now, I'm scared that I might feel the same.

Jacob stopped and faced me that made my brow furrowed from his sudden move.

His hands held on my arms and locking my gaze to his.

"Lucianna, they are your family now, too. I am your family. Mother can be… intimidating and a nuisance at times but she's kind so don't feel odd when she's around."

"And your father?" I said in a whisper. It will be great to be briefed about them before 'actually' facing them, right?

Jacob gave me a relieving smile. "He's cool. Relax, baby, okay? They won't bite, I told you."

"Yeah, but they still get me nervous."

"I'm here with you. Can that ease you?"

I don't know when my trust was born to the man standing in front of me but upon hearing that, I did felt at ease.

**

"You know, Lucianna. I, taught Jacob how to cook." she smiled proudly. "He clings to me every time when he was young and when his brother is busy so," she shrugged. "…we often had cooking lessons during those times."

I smiled and nodded. We're at the middle of eating and I was right when I said she's jolly. She's talkative, too, which made our breakfast light and easy than I had expected.

"He's a very good cook, uh, ma'am."

I saw Jacob glanced at me and then smirk. Oh, he sure was boastful, huh?

"Oh, please. Call me 'Ana', you can even call me 'mom', it's fine."

The word ma'am was hard to utter already, how much more to call her 'mom'? I only nodded in response.

"Have you met my other son? We bumped into him before coming here and--"

"Ana…" Alejandro shook his head but didn't looked up to Anabel. Its as if he's talking to her in his mind. And I understand why Alejandro don't want to talk about Roscoe right now.

If I could choose, I'd rather not have this conversation.

"What, Alejandro? Roscoe is family." she turned to me next. "Lucianna, I don't know if you've heard of my son but he's a changed man. You--"

Jacob's spoon and fork clanged to his plate which caught all of our attention. His eyes are directed to his mother and I can say he was not pleasant to hear her say those.

"Roscoe should stay away from my mate and I think that's just right. Don't you think so, mother?" his words coiled to his tongue like a burnt bread.

Anabel straightened her back as she shifted on her seat. She looked at Alejandro, almost begging for help but the man just shrugged.

"W-Well, if you think so…" she said in defeat and changed the subject in the table.

The breakfast ended quiet but well in the end. Anabel urged me to look around Jacob's house while Jacob and Alejandro went to his office to talk about something.

"This is my first time to come here. It's quite nice…" she said referring to Jacob's house.

I frowned.

"Your first time?"

How come his own mother didn't had the chance to visit his house? That's just absurd, I think.

"Oh, he didn't tell you?" she chuckled. "Oh, Jacob…" she shook her head as if something was weird with her son.

"Tell me what?" I asked slowly.

"Jacob started to build this house the same year he felt the bond calling. He knew its the year when he'll meet you, Lucianna, and he wanted out of our house fast. I'm out of town when this has been fully furnished so this is my first time to see it." she smiled.

Oh. I didn't know about that…

Well, I don't know anything about him yet, anyway.

"He's excited." she added and gave me a sweet grin. "I never saw that side of him ever since…" she paused, hesitant to add more what she wanted to say but I know. I already know.

Anabel sighed and smiled again. Her eyes are now looking at the forest as if that helps her to have happy thoughts.

"You know, I thought he will be just like his father. Sweet, gentle and loving. That is how he is to me even now. So when I found out about…" she leaned to me and whispered. "…is it okay to talk about the 'cheating' part?"

I almost laughed hard from how cute she was when she did that! She was like a gossip girl, sly type, right there for a second!

"Uh, I-it's okay…"

It's not entirely okay but I learned to get used to it. Jacob and I shared numerous fight about it and it doesn't hurt the same like of the past. But it doesn't mean my chest doesn't ache.

"Did you forgive him?"

I bit my lip and shook my head. That was the truth. I never forgive him, never told him he was forgiven, nor entertained forgiveness between us when it comes to that part.

Still, I'm talking to her mother. I don't know if it was right to say I don't forgive him yet but what's there to hide?

It's the truth and I'm still studying and analyzing my feelings for him.

"Good." Anabel said as she nods which surprised me.

"Good?" it was late before I realized I asked that.

She smiled at me. "If Alejandro did that to me, I will do the same thing you did. Maybe even more, actually. I'm a woman, and it's not a good idea to hurt a woman because we don't forget and we ought to get back for the aches given to us in… different ways."

What she said was true and I was glad that she understand. It also seems to me that she know what happened to us, to Justin and I. So I continued to listen than answer.

"Some might succumb to the bond, and personally speaking I think I will succumb so I admire your courage. Do you have any alpha blood running in your veins?"

"Uh, I don't think so…

"I think you do, darling. It's impossible to be claimed by our mate and try to cheat if you're not an Alpha or if you don't have that blood in your veins."

An alpha blood? My parents are quite… normal. I think. They are best fighters of Regal pack before they died but I never heard of them having an alpha blood.

"You're strong. The first time I saw you, I thought you're familiar and yes, you are. I've watched your fight in one of your match at Trivian pack, you're young then but you won." she gave me a proud smile.

I was touched. A warm hand caress my heart from the way she smiled at me. It was like I was praised by my own mother and damn, I'm about to cry.

"T-Thank you…"

I looked away, I don't… I can't cry in front of her after saying such words.

"Have you heard of the shadow eye?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"Y-Yes, Jacob told me about it."

"You know, I curse that ability so much." she said in a sad and low voice. I watched her getting lost in her own thoughts for a while before she chuckled and shook her head. "That gift broke my family apart. Did he told you about his brother?"

I slowly nodded. "Y-Yes…"

"What my son did was not right but he is my son. He came from me, I took him out to live in this world and I will always dreamed to have my family whole again."

I can understand what she meant, even I yearned to have my family back together. But I'm being a bit biased about it since Roscoe hurt Jacob, there was no reason in my head that can justify his action. So I decided to keep my silence.

"If… ever that Roscoe will come and talk to you. I hope you give him a chance. He's different now, and our communication stays the same even when he was banned from the pack. He regrets it, you know. He does."

"Anabel… Jacob wouldn't like it if I talk to his brother…"

"I know. I know." she chuckled. "But Roscoe won't come to you with him around, anyway. He's a kind child, he respects Jacob to the point that he won't let him see his face."

Didn't she know that Roscoe came here last night? They kinda saw each other… I guess.

"Ros is living with us right now. If ever there's a change of heart in your part, pay him a visit. He told me he wanted to talk to you and ask for your help, Lucianna. He wanted to talk to Jacob. Maybe, you can be my son's key to peace…"

Anabel gave me a small smile and I can only return a tad smaller than hers. I know I haven't met this Roscoe and I shouldn't judge him... but there's a voice inside my head that screams danger when I think of him.

"Well!" Anabel walked to the garden and I followed behind her. "Oh, good lord! This backyard is a mess…"

She goes on and on about having a garden and all which I also think was a good idea. I agreed to all of her suggestions and most of our talks revolve to that.

**

"I hope mother didn't brought any trouble." Jacob said as he climbed up the bed. His parents stayed until after dinner and now we're all alone.

I feel tired. Not just physically but mentally. I had Anabel's words in my head all day and I kept thinking about it.

"Nope." I sighed and closed my eyes. "She's fun to be with, actually."

"That's fun for you? I think she's too nosy and talkative." he snorted. I laughed hard from that.

He laid beside me and I felt his arm on mine. Heat quickly flowed from him to my body that I quivered.

All day, whenever I lay my eyes to him, I keep on remembering the night we shared together and it's damn frustrating. I imagined it, still feel it on my skin, everything was fresh in my mind that it bothers me all day.

Jacob seems to noticed how I tensed and he arched his brow to me.

"You keep inviting me. All day." he said in a low voice.

I turned to him with widened eyes, and I'm not taking his accusation well!

"Inviting?!" I moved away from him.

Shit. Did I? Unconsciously, perhaps?

Jacob groaned when I was an inch away and it seems he hated that so he placed his arm to my waist, pulling me closer to him that made me gasped.

"It's hard to resist when there's an audience around but your arousal is all over the house all day, baby."

I flushed!

My scent of arousal is--fuck! His parents are around!

"Both of them kept on teasing me so they stayed long, aren't they evil?" he's now kissing my neck as he complains and I stiffened, embarrassed of the thought that his parents--oh my god!

I'm shameful!

It never occur to me that I can give off such scent! I forgot about that! I thought I'm only imagining and thinking about our mating but the fact that my body reacts slipped my mind!

"What would your parents think of me!?" I covered my face with my palms.

Jacob chuckled. He was now kissing my jawline and I'm preoccupied!

"That you're crazy over me like I do?" he chuckled.

"No way!" I pushed him away because his hands are starting to go under my clothes. "And what are you doing?"

He groaned and laid his back flat to the bed.

"Seems it is true, huh."

I frowned when I didn't followed what he meant.

"What?"

"I never believed it at first. But she-wolves does have better control after the mating, and you, my love, is driving me insane."

My jaw dropped.

Jacob gazes at me with such intensity, it was inviting and arousing but what turned me on more was how frustrated he looks right now.

I bit my lip and his eyes went to look at it. He groaned like a hurt animal before leaning in and locking my lips to his.