Forty Three

Chapter Forty Three

Lucianna's POV

"I'm ready." Jacob announced as he came out of his room.

I rolled my eyes at him while Harley chuckled beside me. "Jacob…" Oh my, I don't want to start with this again but he's too cute!

His shoulder dropped as he sighed. "I am… ready to go to the hall and work."

Harley laughed loud and I think he wasn't able to contain it anymore. Jacob grinned at him but only for a second because his expression turned serious as he watch his third in command. "Fun's done, get out." he snapped.

I stick my tongue out to a smiling Harley and he just shrugged at me before walking out of the house.

Jacob's arms was quick to wrap on my waist. He groaned in my ears as his grip tightened. "I don't want to let you go." he murmured.

"Nope. I'm gonna be late." I tiptoed and planted a kiss on his cheeks, grinning after.

Jacob frowned. "That is not how you should kiss your mate goodbye."

My lips parted from that. Ugh, he's starting to emit his desires again, I can feel it!

"Let me show you--"

I cut his words with a quick land of my lips on his. "Give me that as a reward."

He groaned again, and there's a hint of frustration this time. He pressed his forehead on mine and I can't stop my grins.

"Only champions can earn the reward."

I laughed at that. I know Jacob just agreed to my participation in the contest because I said so, and hearing him say that now seems to be his type of support.

But I will let him have his share of pride and keep silent about it.

"I'll take that as a challenge." I smiled as I flush a bit.

"Lucy, you're gonna be late!" Harley screamed from outside.

Jacob urged me to walk as he followed behind me and his hands are placed on my shoulders.

"Do we have to ride a car? It's just beyond that hill." I asked Jacob.

I think if we'll take the route up the hill, it will be what, half an hour run? Riding a car will make it forty-five minutes to an hour!

"Baby, you're not alone. Do you want Harley killed for trespassing the borders?"

"I don't want that! Just saying!" Harley said in a loud voice that made my eyes roll. Why does it seems to me that Harley--somehow--changed his attitude?

"I think there's something wrong with Harley." I whispered to Jacob.

He chuckled behind me. "Nah, you're just starting to see the real him. Believe me, he's annoying if he'll want to."

"Oh, I was annoyed with him a lot of times before." I said, remembering his rudeness and strict interaction during my first days. "I think I want him dead, yes."

"Hey!" Harley was quick to complain. "Let's set aside personal matters now, eh?"

I grinned at him. Jacob turned me so I could face him now, his hands are still on my shoulders. "Take care, please."

"I'll be back tonight, Jacob." I reminded.

"Doesn't mean that time will stop. Okay, go and stop being stubborn or else I'll come with you to the Trivian pack."

"Fine. We'll go now!"

**

Jacob's POV

I watched their car drove away and my smile has faded while my jaw clenches.

"You can come out, Roscoe." I said in a monotone.

I felt his presence few minutes ago and I know he's watching us. I expected this from him, I know he won't stop bothering me once he's back.

Roscoe jumped from nowhere and landed in front of me. A smile was plastered in his face when I looked at him.

In a swift second, his expression went from welcoming to a fake surprised one.

"Ohh. You're not going to chase me out? Is it because your female is not in the house?"

Getting to my mate just to shake my nerves? What an old tactic.

I remained a calm and unmoved face when I answered him.

"What do you want?"

Ignoring my question, he looked away and held his chin as if he was drowned in thoughts. It saddened me that not only did he stopped improving, it seems he has grown backward as well.

"She's pretty hot, huh." he continued to tease.

I hated the thought of him drooling over my mate. I won't get used to that even from some other guys. But I know this man too well despite being away for nine years.

I just shrugged and his brow arched from my expression.

"Well, how are you, brother?" now he sounded hesitant but only a bit. Seeing him having this smug look in his face makes me think that he won't stop bothering me anytime soon.

Ah. I got work to do or my Lucianna will think I'm slacking off again.

"I don't have time to fool around." And I'm getting bored with this childish games.

I turned around and ready to leave, leave him do whatever he wanted and I won't care because Lucianna was somewhere safe.

"Ha!" Roscoe laughed. "I am not fooling around, Jake. I'm years away, of course I'll be curious about my little brother. In fact, a particular image of you kept on flashing in my head all these years… your bloodshot eyes, gasping for air, your blood all ovee...the hole in your chest… oh, wait, did I left a scar?"

My feet stopped walking as his words drawn image in my head, as well. Suddenly, the wrath I'm controlling inside started to boil. I trembled, I was agitated.

How dare he made fun of… Fucking bastard!

Roscoe's laugh made halted the supposedly outburst I felt in my chest. I was about to explode, I was about to lose my cool and control.

No. I should not.

Roscoe walked to me, peaking on my shirt to find signs of his betrayal. My eyes slowly drifted to him. Deadly, ready and angry.

My brother took a step back when a low growl came out of my chest.

"I guess not." he grinned.

My mother was wrong all along. This bastard must be poisoning my mother and taking advantage of her love for her child because Roscoe hasn't changed a bit.

I wonder what he gains from bringing up the past so lightly. This should not happen again, I shouldn't let him affect me or that will be used against me over and over.

I straightened my back and cleared my throat. My brother smiles so wide that I know he probably think he has gained a victory.

But who's in this battle? I'd gladly leave him fight himself alone.

"I'm glad of your concern, Roscoe. To be honest, I have an image of you that I treasure in my head, as well." I sincerely said.

"Oh! I bet it's fantastic." he chuckled and I licked my lower lip, enjoying the sight of him smiling because it won't be for too long.

"You… at the Hall, sitting on the Alpha's chair and giving orders to the people of the pack."

As I predicted, his smile faded slowly and his eyes shown the same expression I saw when he tried to kill me down the dungeons.

I hissed, pretending that I remembered something I shouldn't have. I enjoyed how my brother's teeth continue to grit as no words came out of his mouth.

Ironic. Isn't he the one who wanted to have a ghost of the past? The difference between us was that my past stopped haunting me but his remained up until now.

"Oh, right. I think that doesn't count in this reminiscing little party of yours since that didn't happen." I turned to him and smirked. "It's just your petty fantasy, wasn't it?"

"You--" I cut his trembling words when I held a hand up. His face looked as if it will explode any minute.

"I'll leave you here to wander around. You understand how busy man I am, right?"

Because I have the role you will never have.

**

 Harley's POV

Lucianna and I are walking sideways and I'm whistling nonstop. The place has girls all over and I'm loving it!

"My, my, I didn't know you have that side." she said while I was busy looking at… oh well, my business.

"I'm not made of stone, mi Luna." I said in a grin. "Why does most participants are dressed that way?" I pointed my finger to a girl who seems to be doing her warm-ups.

"It's easier to move? Or lesser fabric the opponent might hold on to? I don't know,"

"You don't wear like that before?"

She shook her head. Whoa, okay. I bet Jacob will be furious if she did. Knowing how mess up that one towards his mate, heh.

"I noticed Shadow pack has less female warriors." she said once we are seated in the arena.

Looking around and seeing all of the female fighters prepare, I start to admire Lucianna, our pack's Luna, for sitting here like she's just gonna watch.

"Actually, we have none."

"None?!" she was shocked, huh? "Why?"

I shrugged. "It's that way even before Alpha Jacob's governing."

"That's weird."

What's weird for me now was why are we just sitting here like you won't fight down there later.

"You're not preparing for the fight?" I asked to feed my curiosity. She looked at me like I said something funny. "What?"

"I'm not a beginner." she shrugged.

I laughed. "Well, aren't you cocky? When was your last practice?"

"Back at Regal, I did one last training. Don't worry, gamma, I'll win this one." she grinned.

I shook my head in disbelief with this woman's confidence, its almost boastful but her resolve was just too much that I believe she will.

"Luce!" someone called and I saw Dylan, the Trivian pack's Beta. "Hey, Harley." he greeted with a smile when he saw me.

Nah, that huge smile was directed to our Luna. I understand now why Jacob thinks this man was a threat. He likes her.

"Dy!"

They were about to hug in front of me but I stepped in-between them.

"Not cool, man." the beta complained. Lucianna laughed behind me as if this was nothing.

"I don't think Alpha Jacob will be pleased if you do that, Dylan."

Dylan laughed and shook his head. "Alright." he peaked to look at Lucianna and I think he won't try anything funny so I went back to my seat.

"You said there will be some challenge in this fight, Dylan." Lucianna said in a bored voice and rolled her eyes to Dylan. "I don't see any,"

Dylan laughed and Lucianna strike him once in his stomach, making him flinched. Ohh, I think that hurts alright.

"I just know you'll be challenge and join so…" he shrugged, chuckling.

I think our Luna was fooled, huh?

"I'll forgive you this once since I missed being in the fight but the next time…" she don't need to add more to her words, Dylan was quick to pick the message.

"There won't be a next time, got it."

"Damn! That was a good land!" Lucianna exclaimed when one contestant was thrown in the air but swiftly landed on her feet.

Dylan excused himself and we were left again. We watched the fights one after another and I was entertained… so much entertained.

I never knew that female fighters can really fight like this. It's awesome. The strength might be less in comparison to males but the techniques are beyond our way of fighting. Their lightweight also helped to move fast and jump higher than us males.

"So what's the rules in tournaments like this?" I asked when the thrill was gone after the fifth match.

"Only one: shifting into the wolf form is prohibited."

"Just that?"

"Just? It was hard to control, you know. And once you fight down there, your temper will rise like crazy. I remember being punched once and I was ready to shift. It's irritating to get hurt down there."

Oh. I see.

Well, females are born hot-blooded, its understandable that rule must exist.

"So killing or being killed in the middle of the fight is fine?"

She nodded but her eyes are busy watching below the arena. She must love this things that I see her enthusiasm to every fight.

"That hasn't happened before but yes, its not against the rules. We're females, once the opponent has been knocked-out, we have no heart to kill them straight."

"So how to win this game?"

She looked at me with squinted eyes.

"Knocking out the opponent--are you bored?"

"What?"

Oh, she found out.

"You keep on distracting me here. I'm trying to watch the fight, Harley."

I snorted and shrugged.

She can't blame me, I think most of the females just have repeated techniques by now, it's not entertaining anymore.

A man suddenly sat on the vacant chair beside Lucianna and the familiar presence made me stood up.

"Harley, I told you--"

"Hello, Lucianna." Roscoe greeted and Lucianna snapped her head to look at him.

Damn, why was he here?

I quickly stood in between them, keeping a protective stance and keeping my guards up.

"Let's sit somewhere else, Lucianna." I said through gritted teeth without taking my eyes off the traitor.

Roscoe was smiling gently and his eyes never once looked at mine but to Lucianna. My instincts tells me he was up to something bad and I know he has every means to do so.

"No." Lucianna said through gritted teeth.

With jaw dropped, I snapped my head to look at her only to see her eyes burning in flames of anger.

She finally knew about it, huh?

"Harley, the lady has speak. What did I do to deserve such cold treatment from my pack's third-in-command?" Roscoe said.

Lucianna went to sit on her previous chair and I saw how delighted Roscoe was from what happened.

'Calm down. Just stay still and sit.' Lucianna said in my mind. I sighed, and after a moment, I went back to my seat and not taking my eyes off him now.

'Keep your walls up, that's a snake sitting beside you.'

'I know.'

"Are you gonna fight, Lucianna? You know I've watched you once on your West Female Fighter's match. You are good."

Roscoe hasn't change the way I remember him. The sweet talker, the charmer. But knowing him now and what he has done, all I could see was a psychopath. A crazy wolf dog.

"Oh, really? Thank you but…"

Lucianna looked at Roscoe who's brow raised.

"...I'm not giving you the right to call me by my name."

I wanted to give Lucy a standing ovation right there.

Roscoe laughed hard that caught some of the attention of the audiences.

"Forgive me, my Luna. I promise not to make another mistake in your presence."

The both of them fell silent.

I frowned as I watched them. Lucianna's breathing slowly risen, as if her hold of own control was slipping away.

Roscoe's eyes are glistening as he looks at her, almost smiling and there's no humor in it anymore.

I have an idea but I'm not sure if I am right.

Roscoe was still a part of the Shadow pack and right now I fear he must be communicating with Lucianna's mind.

'Are you two talking in your head?' I can't stop and ask her.

Lucianna sighed, looking down and slowly turning to me. Her face shows… was it fear?

She stood up with her chin up high and I saw Roscoe smirked when her eyes are off him.

Lucianna looked at me with cold eyes and I shiver from her expression. What has happened?

Damn it, Jacob was going to kill me!

"Let's go down. I'm fighting next."