Jake’s POV
I woke up the following morning, feeling much better. For some reason I wasn’t feeling the pian from my wounds any more, and all of that happened after Reyna and I kissed again.
“Hello bro,” John walked into my room. I buttoned up quickly, just before he could notice I was hurt.
“Hey,” I raised my brow wondering what it was he wanted from me again.
“I know we’ve not really been seeing each other in the eye lately.” John was beginning to sound like the big brother he was, and for some reasons I had missed this version of him.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I pulled the curtains open, and I could see some of the omegas having their training. A few changelings were there too and I just waved them.
“I’m talking to you bro…”
“Of course I’m listening,” I turned to face him. “What exactly do you want?”
“It’s Reyna.”
I looked at him, almost surprised. “Did something happen to Reyna?” I imagined. I had probably forgotten what Seth told me regarding the request to have Reyna returned to her pack.
“I think her father wants her back,”
“Then she should go,” I didn’t even wait for John to complete what he had to say. “We really don’t need her here, do we?”
“But her father gave her away, right? At least that was what she told us.” John’s eyes were filled with so much concern for Reyna. I could see the love in them, that concern.
“Love is for the weak,” I said within me.
“Do you think we should allow her go?”
“You’re the Alpha bro. You’re free to decide.” I managed not to be too hard on him. I was beginning to over react, and I knew I was.
“This is not about being the Alpha. This is about Reyna.” John took few stepa toward. He picked up my dagger, and I looked at him with surprise.
“What if she is not who we think she is? What if she’s some spy?” I wished I hadn’t said that. I was the one who rescued her and brought her to the pack. But I already said it, and even if I did regret it, I shrugged it off.
“That’s not true. Reyna is a nice lady. She’s not the type who would allow herself to be used as a spy, and moreover, who would want to spy on us?” We’re just a small pack.”
A sly smile tugged at the corners of my lips after John said what he just said. He had no idea what was going on? If only he knew I had fought a group of Lycans just to make sure they don’t get to him.
“I think you’re forgetting so soon, or maybe I should remind you. Father didn’t die a natural death. He was attacked and killed. And you call us a small pack.”
“Don’t bring up the past,” John scoffed, and I understood why. Our father, Alpha Williams died because of him, and yet he still became the Alpha.
“And why shouldn’t I? If it weren’t for you, father would still be alive by now,” I shot at John, ready to unleash my deep seated anger on him.
“What happened was an accident. No one wanted him to die. Or what do you think? That I was happy when father died?”
“No, you weren’t! You mourned him, probably even wept more than I did,” I laughed.
“That’s enough, Jake! Enough of what happened to our father.” John’s own anger was already building up within him. His patience was wearing thin, and I could see it in his eyes.
“You have no right to accuse of father’s death. You and I know it was some kind of conspiracy. It only happened I was the bait they used, and till this day I still live bearing that guilt.
I scoffed, and moved backwards. Everyone thinks I’m angry at John for taking my position as the Alpha of the pack. But it was more than that. Yes, he had robbed me of what was rightfully mine, but his act of cowardice was what led to the death of our father, and I resented him for that, even if I still took him as my brother.
He left and shut the door behind him. I knew I had opened up old wounds with what I had said to him that morning. But I had to. I was getting tired of living in pretence that everything was fine, when infact it wasn’t.
____________________________________
“You shouldn’t have said that,” I heard voices speaking in my head.
“What happened between you and your brother?” Seth asked walking towards me in the training ground.
“Nothing, why’d you ask?” I took my attack stance, trying to master the few new moves I’ve been working on.
“That’s not the right way to pose. You can easily be knocked out that,” Seth helped me with getting the positioning right.
Sometimes, I wonder why Seth was so loyal to myself and John even if he was more powerful than any of us in the pack. He used to be father’s closest Beta and the strongest after father. His loyalty to the pack even after father’s death was one I never believed existed, especially not amongst us werewolves.”
“Why do I feel like you’ve not yet forgive your brother for the death of your father?” Seth asked.
The question got to me, and I stopped. “I don’t want to talk about it,”
“You should, Jake. It’s for your own good.”
“There’s nothing good about my life, Seth. Nothing!” I bluffed.
“That’s not true Jake,” Seth wouldn’t let me be. Sometimes I feel irritated by his behaviour, but I knew I stood no chance against him in combat. I’ve tried it a couple of times in training and it hadn’t gone well. The ease at which he overpowered me was still a mystery to me, and I had come to accept that as his student, I would never be able to beat him.
“Are you here to lecture me or help me get stronger?” I launched on Seth, but he was too quick, that I saw myself on the ground.
“Nice try,” he laughed.