Reyna’s POV
As I stood there watching Jake walk away, his words kept ringing in my ears, but I couldn’t help feeling grateful that he had saved me. He was harsh, but maybe he had a point-what would have happened if he hadn’t shown up?
John approached with concern in his eyes. “What happened here, Reyna? You look shaken.”
I hesitated, unsure how to explain the events. “There was a Lycan, and Jake… he saved me.”
John’s eyes darkened at the mention of a Lycan. “A Lycan? Here, within the pack’s grounds?”
I nodded. “It looked hungry, and it was about to attack. I didn’t know what to do. I-I thought you’d be here sooner.”
He stepped closer and gently placed his hand on my shoulder, his touch calming my nerves instantly. “I’m sorry, Reyna. Something urgent came up.”
“What’s that?” I asked, seeing the looks of seriousness in his eyes.
“Let’s not talk about it. Hope you weren’t hurt in any way?” The way he showed concern was just so different. It was nothing like how Jake did.
“Jake arrived just in time. He scared it off.” I tried to sound casual, but the truth was, I had been terrified.
“Thank goodness. I’m glad nothing bad happened to you,”
I forced out a smile, the encounter still fresh in my mind. “Why are they here, John? I thought the pack’s territory was safe.”
He hesitated, his eyes darting away for a moment before locking back onto mine. “There’s something happening, something we’ve been trying to figure out. The Lycans are growing bolder, and it’s not just here. They’ve been sighted in other territories too.”
That revelation only deepened my confusion. Why was everything escalating now? Lycans were forbidden to roam free. Why are they now on the loose?”
Before I could ask more, John’s voice softened. “There’s alot happening within the wolf clan. It’s the reason Lord Bernard left very early.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What is it, John? You can tell me.”
He looked hesitant, as if weighing his next words. “I wish I could tell you Rey, but I can’t, especially not now,”
I held my breath, fearing where this conversation was headed. John’s eyes softened as he continued, “I know you’ve struggled with your training, and now with everything happening, I don’t want you to feel unsafe. But I also don’t want you to be left in the dark. Things are changing, and I want you to be prepared.”
I blinked, unsure what he meant. “Prepared for what?”
John gave me a small smile, though his eyes still held worry. “For what’s to come. We’ll talk more soon, but for now, stay close. Stay safe.”
“Are you going somewhere?” I was tempted to ask him. The way he was sounding, it was like he was leaving to somewhere important and wouldn’t be back any time soon.
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Jacob’s POV
“What’s the news concerning our spies? I want good news.” I said, pushing the table in front of Marcus
“No news yet, they’re on it, that’s the news coming from them,” He sat up, furrowing his brows.
Standing on my feet, I walked over to the window overlooking his city. The view was beautiful and it reminded me of how much time had passed since I came into the city for the first time.
My phone ringed right there in my pocket. “He’s calling,” I said as I swiped the phone screen to the side to answer the call.
Marcus’ eyes bore into me, knowing who the “He” I was refering to was.
“How long do you have to keep me waiting?” The voice at the other end asked. It was cold and quite commanding.
“Just a few more days. My men are doing everything they can to find Reyna.”
“I give you three days, Jacob. If the marriage doesn’t push through by then, you can look for some other pack to work with.” With that, the call came to an end.
“Did you hear that?” I turned to face Marcus.
“What did he say?” Marcus asked, seeing how troubled I was.
“Three days Marcus. Three days,” I sighed.
Marcus’s face tensed as he absorbed the weight of the situation. “Three days? That’s cutting it close, Jacob. What if we don’t find her by then?”
I walked back toward the table, my mind racing with possibilities. “You must find her, Marcus. The alliance depends on this marriage, and if we fail, there’s no telling what he’ll do. He has powerful allies. We need Reyna back, no matter the cost.”
Marcus exhaled, shaking his head. “We’ve been searching for days now, and it’s like she’s vanished. Are you sure she hasn’t…you know,” Marcus gave a throat slicing gesture.
I shot him a sharp look. “Reyna is more than you can give her credit for. She can’t be dead. I know Reyna too well.”
“Then how come we haven’t found her yet? I’ve sent the best of my sentinels out and yet no news” Marcus pressed. “Three days is not a guarantee that we’ll find her.”
I clenched my fists, anger evident in my eyes. “You’ll have to find her Marcus. We had an agreement, and you can’t back out of it now,”
Marcus stood up, pacing the room, clearly feeling the pressure. “And if we don’t find her in time? What then? You seem to be forgetting something here. I’m my own Alpha as much as you are yours.”
“You’re a Lycan, Marcus! An outcast!” I shot at him. “If we don’t find her, Marcus…then we lose everything.”
The silence between us hung thick in the air. Marcus finally stopped pacing and turned to me. “I’ll send more men to scour the outer territories. If Reyna’s out there, we’ll find her. But Jacob, if we don’t…”
I nodded grimly, understanding the unspoken threat. “Three days, Marcus. That’s all the time we have.”