Fifty Three

Chapter Fifty Three

Jacob's POV

I eyed two she-wolves standing right in front of me. One is tall, I guess she's the same height as I am. The other is a bit small but muscular than the former.

"Just two?" I asked Brent who's fidgeting beside me. He cleared his throat and I took my eyes off the two woman with bowed head.

"Yes, Alpha Jacob. These two are volunteers."

"Hmm." I nodded. "Lift your heads up, please, ladies."

The two females looked sideways and I can tell from their shadows of how nervous they were.

I sighed that made them stood straight immediately. Oh.

"Names?"

"Kiara." The tall female said.

"Chew." said the other.

"The both of you wants to join the tournament? Is this willing?" I asked and eyed Brent who scratched the back of his head.

I have to make sure that Brent didn't force them in this. The face of our pack is also at stake, but first it is important to ensure their safety.

The two of them nodded fast.

"Okay. Then I expect that you were sent instructions as to prepare for the battle. Have you been into a fight?"

"Uh," the tall woman cleared her throat. "Yes, Alpha Jacob. Grappling and sparring is one of our hobbies."

Oh, that was rare.

"Were you two originally from the Shadows pack?"

The both of them nodded and an idea popped in my mind. Now, I wonder how many females wanted to fight alongside their males.

"Alright. You can take the car."

Kiara and Chew headed to the car with two of my experienced fighter. I turned to Brent and he almost jumped when my eyes found his.

"What?" I asked in suspicion.

He nodded and I become more dubious with how he moved his head, rather too fast than normal.

I frowned.

"Uh," Brent avoided my squinting eyes and pointed the hummer. "We'll take the car, right? I'll just do a check-up."

He was about to turn around when I finally realizes what was wrong.

"Where's Harley?" He should be here, right? I bet he's the first one to be too engrossed with the news that we're meeting up with Lucianna.

Brent froze.

"He'll come, right?"

Brent made a quick turn and pointed at the car where Kiara and Chew was loaded.

"He wants to be there!"

I frowned and scoffed. "That's a four-seater car, you idiot."

Brent paled and I can feel a bad news coming.

"Don't tell me…" I paused and hissed hard. "He went to her?!"

Brent slouched and sighed after screwing his eyes shut. "He was excited…"

I hissed. "You let him! When did he depart?" I walked towards the hummer and went straight to the driver's seat.

"Well, he probably arrived y-yesterday…"

"Goddammit!" I opened the car door and Brent followed, trying to stop me.

"Wait! I'll drive, Jake!"

I hissed and turned to him. "Did Harley knew we were coming?"

Brent made an idiotic face and I cursed. That other idiot didn't know we were coming! He might ruin this for me!

"I tried to call him but I can't reach his phone…" Brent explained.

"You should have mind-linked him!"

"Uh, my portal is not as wide as yours?"

"Then you should have told me sooner!" I pushed him inside the car. "Drive fast or I'll make you fucking run."

"Yes, Alpha!"

I sighed and tries to relax myself as Brent started to drive in full speed.

"Are you contacting him already?" Brent asked as we headed out of the pack land.

I growled inwardly. "Shut up."

I closed my eyes and tries to widen my portal as to reach far.

'Harley.' I called with a growl.

'A-Alpha Jacob?! I-I-I'm just out hunting--'

'Brent told me, stop with the lies.'

'Oh. You're angry, aren't you?'

This damned dog managed to get cocky with me, huh? Instead of letting the conversation to divert into nonsense topics, I focused on finding out how much of a sabotage he might have done.

'Did you met her?'

'Luna? Ah, yes. She's cooking… now.'

The image of Lucianna cooking softened my facial expression but the thought of him cooking for another man annoyed me. It's a mixed emotion.

'Listen. Brent and I are headed to Chequer pack right now as guests. We have two other females who will join the tournament so don't your tongue dare to slip any information that may oppose this. Act like you knew I'm coming and the plan.'

Silence followed and my face is crinkled so bad from being dubious and irritated. This fucker must have said something wrong!

'Harley! Answer me, you fucker!'

'Ah! Of course! Yes, Alpha! Uh, Lucianna was saying something, please be patient.'

I sighed.

'Don't you dare ruin this. Remember: We come as guests.'

'Y-Yes! Yes, Alpha Jacob!'

I cut the expansion for Harley's part and the stressed-out feelings feels like I've been drained.

"Did you reach him?" Brent asked.

"Yeah."

"And?"

"Something must have slipped out of his mouth. He stutters a lot. Drive faster, Brent."

**

Lucianna's POV

A few knocks on the door caught my attention. Placing down the old book I found at the living room and walked towards the door. Only to pause when I sensed the familiar presence of the visitor.

"Lucy?" Mual called.

The visitor is with Mual… he must've found me through him.

I opened the door and a grinning face of Harley made my breath hitched.

"Lun--"

"Harley!" I stopped him from mentioning my title, I don't want Mual to know. I grabbed him in his elbow and pinching hard on his skin. "What are you doing here?"

"Aw! Hey!"

"You really knew him, Lucy?" Mual smiled.

I nodded. "Ah, yes. We're from the same pack."

He nodded and looked at us both before taking a step back. "Well, I have some matters to attend. I just send this man to you."

"Oh! Alright. It's alright, Mual. He's harmless."

Mual nodded and started to walk away from the house. Of course he must be suspicious of why a Gamma is out here, looking for his dear old friend.

"Don't tell me that guy likes you." Harley whistles as he watches Mual departing.

"Harley!" I slapped the back of his shoulder. "What are you doing here?!"

I have asked this guy to not follow me and he did, for two weeks, he did. So why is he here now?

"You have to come back, Luna!"

I hissed and slumped my body to the sofa. There's still dust on it even after my thorough cleaning and I coughed from it.

"You're here alone?"

"Not anymore. You're here."

Harley grinned proudly. "Aren't I the best?"

"I'm fine alone, you dimwit! What are you doing here? Did Jacob sent you?"

His jaw dropped. "What? No! I came on my own, you know! He didn't even know I'm here."

I wanted to ask how Jacob is but… I stopped myself before I could do something that I would regret after.

My silence made Harley's lip pursed and he sat on a chair in front of me.

"Lucianna, Jacob needs you. The pack needs you. He's not in his usual self, neither did he goes to work. When you left, he forgot how to function. You have to come back…"

The thought of Jacob, being the workaholic man that he is and now stopped doing all of that… makes me feel sick.

"Harley. If Jacob is not doing his work, the more the pack needs you right now. You should head back and help Brent." I sighed and walked to where I left the book I was reading.

"I can't! Even if Brent and I poured our joined forces, we are not enough. We need our leader."

"And he is there, isn't he? You know Jacob and I has made a pact, you can't just barge here and ask me to come back. Jacob won't even dare and try, yet you…" I sighed to stop myself from talking because I feel like I'm about to say something wrong. "Stop pursuing me to come back for him. I won't change my mind."

Harley watched me for a while and I didn't bother to look at him. I don't care what I look like now, whether I'm evil in their eyes or what. This is just for a month, I only had to endure that duration.

"But you're wrong there, Luna. You didn't left Jacob in his pack, you brought him with you."

My hand stopped from putting the book back to the shelves because of what he said. A familiar sting hits my chest and I bit my lip to suppress the pain from taking over my hard-barred emotions.

But then, I couldn't utter a word.

"Alpha Jacob might be trying to do his end of the promise but he is not okay with it. This year's ranking, the Shadow pack may fall one rank below. Jacob did his best, do his all just to be the second strongest pack of the Northern region. Now, all his efforts will be of waste."

I was taken aback. I know the span of time is too short to be considering such loss but I in basis of the leader's strength, Jacob might've been downgraded in hundreds.

But I still think it is better to rank down than to lose the leader for real.

I couldn't, no. I wouldn't. I wouldn't let myself watch as I grow a child in my body knowing that it will break my mate. Knowing that it will ruin our pack. Knowing that I might be getting birth with a… monster.

I couldn't afford watching the scenes in my head, my nightmares hunts me every damned night, and I can't stand a day knowing all of it may come true.

"I'm not a political fanatic, I'm sorry. Maybe we should continue talking tomorrow… once our heads are cooled down."

With that said, I went straight to my room.

'You can use the attic for now. That's the only place that is cleaned and with something decent to lay on.' I told Harley through our portal and forced myself to have a sleep.

I still have a match to fight for tomorrow.