Forty Two

Chapter Forty Two

Lucianna's POV

"I think this pots are fine, right, Lucianna?" Anabel asked with a smile after she checked all the pots we bought in a local store.

I nodded with a smile. "We got everything on the list."

She teasingly poked my sided. "Ohh. Wanted to go home that fast, huh?"

I flushed.

Anabel become our alarm this morning, she woke Jacob and I while we cuddled sleeping. Having breakfast with her and went to shop for Jacob's backyard that we will turn into a garden.

"N-No, of course not." I denied but yes, Jacob kept calling in my head saying he went home early. He was home too early, to be honest.

Anabel laughed and snaked her arm over my shoulder as we walk.

"You know, he will be like that, missing you too much. Every single day."

"H-How-"

"Come on, it smells fresh that you two had just completed the process of mating. It's fine, its totally normal."

"Until when… will he act like this?"

Ana chuckled. "Oh, darling, until your last breath. Alejandro was still the same, more now even, since he passed his responsibilities to Jacob. But you'll get the hang of it soon, both of you."

I smiled shyly. "I think he's skipping work though."

"Oh! His father did that, too. And don't worry, you'll know how to handle your mate in your own way. There's a magic given to us females after the mating and you'll notice it soon."

I frowned. "Magic?"

"Just a metaphor, darling. You wanna know what the magic is?"

"Y-yes."

"They do what you told them to." she grinned. "Try it, you'll be shocked." then she laughed hard. I just shook my head while grinning with her.

"I'll depart here. Your gamma will escort you back and we'll fix the garden some other day." she leaned and whispers. "Or else, my son will ban me out of your house." then she laughed.

We parted ways and Harley popped out of nowhere once Anabel was gone.

"Ready to go home?"

I nodded at him. "Yes, let's load this in the truck and go."

"Good heavens. Jacob is bombarding my head nonstop to take you home."

I laughed with him, shaking my head in disbelief.

**

Jacob was standing at the house porch when we arrived. His arms are crossed in his chest and started to walk towards us when the truck halted.

"You can go home for now, Harley." he said, glancing my way and turning to grab the things we bought.

"Alright. I'll help unload this stuff and go."

"I'll help, too." I volunteered.

Jacob turned his head to me and I saw how he quickly roamed his eyes from my head to foot before licking his lip. This guy! Can't he keep it to himself, at least? I can read his mind crystal clear.

"We got this, baby. Wait for me inside."

I rolled my eyes and sigh slowly before grabbing my bag and heading inside. Even with my back turned to him, I know his eyes are still on me.

"I think you're drooling over there, Jake!" Harley teased him that I heard. I chuckled but didn't turn to look back because I can hear Harley's whining after. Maybe Jacob beats him or something.

I went to the backyard instead of staying inside the house. Sitting on the hammock, I felt safe and away from another seduction that Jacob might be planning to do to me.

When I'm not with him, I feel fine and not even being aroused at all but when I saw him, gazing at his eyes, watching him gawk at me, my switches are automatically turning on.

Suddenly, the thought of going away, of running away from him, passed my mind.

If I'm going to be like that whenever I'm away, I know I will succeed in being free. But looking at him, and the way he was when I'm away… oh my, can he take it?

Should I care?

Sighing, I decided to think of other things as my head creates chaos in my system whenever that topic crossed my mind.

I never heard anything about his brother, Roscoe, again. I wonder if Anabel was right about her son, and I hope he doesn't have any odd and vengeful thoughts towards Jacob.

My phone rang that I stopped thinking deep any further. Dylan was the caller so I answered it with a dry tone.

"Yes, Dy?"

"You didn't attend yesterday, Luce." was his intro.

My eyes widened when I remembered the tournament! Fuck! I completely forgot!

"Shit! Sorry! I'm really sorry, was I disqualified?"

What am I thinking to forget such important event!

He sighed over the line. "You got lucky,"

I heard footsteps coming from inside the house to where I am, it was Jacob. I looked at him as he walk closer and motioned for him to keep quiet.

'I'm talking with Dylan. Just a moment.' I told him our mind.

He frowned but I took my eyes off him so I wouldn't see more if his birthing irritation look.

"What do you mean?" I asked Dy.

"Something happened yesterday, contenders from the South had trouble in arriving on time so the game will resume tomorrow."

"Can I still participate then?"

"Well, if you'll come. I expected you yesterday, you know."

I sighed and bit my lip. I know Jacob was listening but I also do not intend of keeping this from him so I let it. He's already standing behind me while I sat here at the hammock.

"Something came up, I'm really sorry. I'll be there tomorrow."

"Sure?"

"Yes, Dy. I promise."

I can imagine this wolf smiling by now. "Cool! Do you want me to pick you up at the border?"

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "I perfectly know the way, mister. But thank you."

"Whatever. I'll still see you there."

"Okay. I'll hang up."

"See you."

I quickly turned off the call and turned to Jacob. His expression was grim and dark as he looked down at me.

"Uh…" I was lost for words for a moment. My, I never saw him like this for days and I am not used to it anymore.

"You'll go to Trivian pack tomorrow." he didn't ask, that's what I'm sure of.

I nodded and tapped the space beside me. There's no way I'll let this conversation turn into an argument.

"Please sit first. I want to talk to you about it."

I thought Jacob will be hardheaded since he didn't move for a moment. My heart was pounding hard and loud but I sighed it away.

Jacob sighed, too, and silently sat on the hammock. He sat opposed to my position so now his eyes are looking at me and I have no choice but to look back to him.

"So," I cleared my throat. "There's a she-wolf fighter competition at Trivian pack and I participated to it. It started yesterday but it slipped off my head but it will be continued tomorrow."

"You already planned it." again, he was not asking. He's just stating it like something in his head, like an idea, was already there.

"Yes. And I'm telling you I'm going… so you know about it."

The way he sounds seems like he don't want what was happening or my decision and that was why I answered holding my full resolve.

Jacob studied my face and I can only imagine what he was thinking while wearing that blank expression.

"It seems to me that I have no say in this. Am I correct, Lucianna?"

His words surprised me. Uh, first of all, yes? When I decided about joining the competition, we're not in good terms so… well, should that change now?

He speak again when I remained silent.

"Have you decided to… leave me?"

My eyes widened. "No!"

Jacob was shocked with my answer and I realized I might have given the wrong impression. Fuck.

"I mean, not yet. Jacob, I haven't thought of it, to be honest. I just wanted you to know I'll join the game because I already made up my mind."

Jacob seems to be dismayed by my explanation.

"And I can't say 'no', right?"

I shrugged and looked away. "Well…"

"Alright. I'm fine with it, but I'll go with you."

"What?!"

No. The thought of me, fighting in the arena with his eyes watching my moves, sends shivers down my spine.

"No!"

He frowned. "I'd like to cheer for my mate, too."

I shook my head hastily. "No. No. I'll go alone, okay?"

"But why?" he hissed. "I'll support and protect you in every way possible-"

"Exactly! What if you jumped in while I'm in the middle of the fight? That will be a minus point for me, and I don't think I could fight freely when you're around. I'll get conscious when you watch!"

"Then I won't jumped in, and I promise you won't see even my shadow so you-"

I wonder where the 'magic' Anabel was talking about earlier. It does not seem to work!

"Jacob." I hissed and screwed my eyes shut. "You have a lot of work here, and you've been skipping since we came back-"

"I am not. I finished early."

"You rush things so you're early. That is not good."

"What is wrong with that? I finished my task for the day, it wouldn't be a problem."

I don't think this conversation will end fine when he's so stubborn like this!

"You're slacking in your work--"

"I'm not, Lucianna. I'm an Alpha and my responsibilities for the pack is my priority."

"Then don't come with me and just work here! I'll be back that same day, I won't stay long there!

"Baby, don't forget that you're also my responsibility. You're the mother of this pack, their Luna, and your protection and safety is my priority, too."

"I can be with Harley, he won't disappoint you in that part. I just… don't want you to be there. Please."

His jaw clenched and I know he was not done yet.

I sighed, feeling tired arguing.

Leaning in, I placed my forehead with his while my palm came in contact with his nape. He sighed, closed his eyes and parted his lips.

"I thought you'll support me…" I whispered, pursing my lips a bit.

His eyes shot up to mine as if shocked from my words. "I do, that's why I wanted to--"

"I'll be honest, baby, I won't be able to perform well while you watch… do you want that do happen to me? Losing, shamed, and crying just because I was conscious by your presence?"

Jacob hissed and shook his head. He wanted to pull away but I hugged him, rubbing my nose on his neck so he won't go away.

"Of course not, I wouldn't want that but--"

"Jacob, even if you're in the shadows, I would know you're there. I can smell you from mile away… do you know how that affects me?"

His hand gripped on my hips and I know he feels the same way I feel right now. Being drawn to each other…

"You'll drive me insane… when you're gone."

And if I ran away for real, what will happen to you… I wanted to say but then I stopped myself from saying things I'm not sure if I could do yet.

"I'll be back whole. Back to you…"

He hissed and buried his head on my chest. "Fine. Don't come back scratched or bruised or else--"

"Baby, it's a competition. I'll fight, I'll use my fist, and I'm sure my opponent will do, too." I chuckled. "But I'll go home unscratched, because I'm the best in that field."

Jacob chuckled and groaned on my chest. "Damn, that's too sexy in my ears, Lucianna."

I laughed and pulled away.

"It's a deal, then? I'll join the fight and you will do your work here, okay?" I said excitedly with a wide grin.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I think I'm fooled."

I laughed hard from that. Oh, baby, you are.

"One of these days, I'll watch you fight. Maybe we should spar sometimes."

I grinned at him. "That's a great idea. I'll make sure to drop your knees."

"Ohh." he squinted his eyes haughtily. "I'll make sure not to have any audience, then."