Jolene
Silver Fang Pack’s Dungeons,
“Do I feel in a story-teller mood today?” He smirked and stared at me as if challenging me.
I squeezed my brows together as if I was thinking “I’ll have you sent to the Mountain Oasis Pack. There, you won’t be tortured.”
“Nice try, love. But, I already know I am being transferred there today.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “It was worth a shot. What do you want?”
“Break me out of here?”
Now, it was my turn to laugh. I wailed clutching my stomach until tears rolled down my cheeks. I suddenly went quiet and gave him a bored look. If he knows how to manipulate people, I do too.
“I guess this is it. I thought you were my friend, but you seem like an empty monster all along.” I walked toward the door.
“Are you really leaving, princess?”
“Why do you care?” I kept my gaze on the door.
“I am bored.”
I opened the door to leave not bothering answering.
The chains cackled. “I know very well the three men who killed your parents!”
“So?” I left the cell still not looking at him.
“I will tell you everything. I want to ask you something simple that only you can do.”
I closed the door behind me. “Something simple? Yeah, right.” I began walking away, my fingers slightly brushing the cold metal of the cell bars. Yuck, this is disgusting, but it adds to the dramatic effect.
“When I was eleven, my father took me to New York. There he met two other men, one I had never seen before and the other a member of the neighboring pack.”
I halted. Three men, just like in my dream.
He kept talking. “They took me to an apartment building and said to wait in the car. I heard a loud crash so I got out to see what had happened. A woman carrying a baby was running away from the building, while a man, your father, killed the guy from the neighboring pack. The man was about to fight my dad but suddenly froze. The guy I didn’t know was pointing a gun to-”
My breath hitched and I moved my hand to cover muffle a sob. I closed my eyes, begging the images in my head to stop. “I already know all that. I do not need to hear that part!”
He snickered. “What do you want to know, then?”
I took a deep breath and immediately regretted it. Ugh, the stench. I spat on the floor trying to get rid of the disgusting aftertaste in my mouth. “I want to know what happened after my parents’ death and who the other two men were.”
He laughed. “Sorry, love. You get used to the aroma after a while. Come back here. Talking to you like this is awkward.”
I turned around and walked back to his cell, but this time I stayed outside.
“Aw, princess. Come in; Make me company.”
“Tell me something good and I will.”
“You basically want to know three things. I will tell you about one of those three today.”
“Okay tell me about-”
“First ask me what happens to the other two secrets, love.”
I sighed. “What about the other ones?” “I will gladly tell you those, once you visit me to the Mountain Oasis Pack.”
“Nope.” I turned away.
“The mother of the baby I saved that day was carrying a photo album and a bracelet with a golden charm. The bracelet had a half moon engraved on one side and many girls’ names and dates on the other. The last one said Jolene Lobo.”
I halted. This bastard. I will not look at him now. Otherwise, I would wipe that smirk off his face with my fists. Calm down. Don’t react. My hands were shaking as the rage consumed me. “What happened to the bracelet?”
“I kept it. It is hidden somewhere in the Alpha house, in a place only the Hunter family has access to. But, I will gladly give it to you if you agree to our little deal. Just visit me, whenever you want to and I will tell you everything.”
I didn’t think I could ever feel betrayed by Alexander Hunter again. Not after what he had done. But, the tears welling up in my eyes tell me otherwise. We talked about that. I told him I didn’t know my birthday and he acted like he didn’t know anything. I sighed. How could I have fallen into this monster’s lies once? Keeping a blank face, I turned around. “I will visit you.”
“Good. So, now that we are in the same page, tell me what you want to know today.”
“Tell me about the guy you didn’t know.”
“That is surprising. I thought you would ask me something else. That guy was a rogue. I didn’t get to talk to him, but later I discovered that he was your uncle and something like the Alpha of the rogues. He was somehow close to my father. They worked together for over a year.”
I narrowed my eyes to him. “Keep talking.”
He chuckled. “So, after helping my father and the third in command of the Wild Moon Pack kill the Alpha and Beta of that pack, your uncle was planning to kill his brother, your father. However, your father caught up with what had happened with the Alpha and Beta. He killed the third in command and ran away with his mate from the pack. Then…”
I extended my hand in front of him and doubled over squeezing my eyes shut. Too much to process right now.
I straightened up trying to keep a calm tone of voice. “Let me get this straight. My uncle helped kill the Alpha and the Beta of the Wild Moon Pack. My father found out about third in command’s betrayal and killed him. Then, he left the Wild Moon Pack with my mother and I-”
“You had not been born yet when that happened. I think that your mom was pregnant at that time.”
“He left with my mom. Then?”
“One year and a few months later, your uncle, my dad and the other guy found your family and stuff happened. Your uncle assumed you were dead and went back to his rogues. When did you met him?”
“I didn’t meet him.”
“Yeah right.” His eyes flashed with realization and he growled. “Was he the guy who hurt you and almost killed you?”
“No, that-”
Someone clapped once making my head snap toward the cell door. Those are footsteps coming closer and closer. Five men walked toward the cell. Oh, that is Anthony.
“That is enough. I came to take you to a very happy place.” He smiled darkly and signaled the four men beside him to go to Alexander.
I opened the cell door and got out.
Anthony pulled me aside. We walked toward the other end of the hallway until we were out of hearing range. “I am glad to see you are doing well. I have something to propose to you.” He winked at me. What the hell? What is this guy up too? The other guys were already taking Alexander out of the cell and I began panicking. Not another crazy Alpha male please.
I tried to walk away as soon as I found myself alone with him.
“Wait!” Anthony grabbed my arm.
I could no control my trembling body. No… Not again. My voice came out in stutters. “P-please don’t hurt me.” Spending the whole afternoon negotiating with a psycho had made me vulnerable.
His eyebrows shot up and he opened and closed his mouth. He pulled his arm away as if I was in fire. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to. This is a business proposal.”
His eyes seemed sincere. However, putting some distance between us wouldn’t hurt. I took a few steps back. “Tell me.”
“I want to mentor and train you until you get back in shape.”
The fuck? “Why would you want that?”
“I have been following your case closely and I also did some research in your life. Since the beginning your cards weren’t good, you still played your hand and became a legend in this pack. It is impressive.”
I took some more steps toward the door. If I run for it would I make it? I looked at the male in front of me – almost two meters tall, buff as fuck. Yeah right, no way I can outrun him. In this life, nobody is nice just because.
“Look, pal. I have already dealt with enough craziness in my life so if you want to take advantage of me, I warn you: I bite!”
For a moment Anthony looked as if he was holding back an immense need to laugh, but then gave me just a warm and sardonic smile. How could he do that? I have no clue. He looked like a parent about to scold a kid who did hilarious mischief.
“Jolene Amores Lobos. The World-Wide Werewolf Council has noticed you outstanding work as the Beta and Chief warrior of the Silver Fang Pack. It would gladly accept you as a permanent member of the council.”
“Wait, what?” I stumbled back and almost fell but somehow managed to regain my composure.
He spoke excitedly with a bright smile on his face. “I want to train you to your maximum potential so you can join the council. No weird intentions. Just so you know, I have a mate. His name is Kevin.”
He pulled out his wallet and showed me a small picture. The picture showed him kissing the cheek of another ridiculously hot man.
“Cute, isn’t he?”
More like unfairly to human race hot but whatever floats your boat pal. “Yes…”
That explains the sudden change of rules in the Mountain Oasis Pack. Anthony’s father used to force mates of the same gender to reject each other. What a disgusting filthy man is he. I am glad that things are different over there now.
Anthony leaned down to peek at my face. The height difference between us was hilarious. “Well, what is your answer?”
“I will think about it.” I cannot decide something like this on the spur of the moment. This is something serious.
“No pressure. Here is the official invitation letter. It has my contact information as well.”
I put the letter in the inner pocket of my coat and walked toward the exit, Anthony hot on my heels.
As soon as I walked out of the door warm arms enveloped me. His gentle voice delighted my ears. “I was so worried.” I rested my cheek against Oliver’s chest taking in his scent. He smells like new books.
Anthony snickered. “Oh, I understand now. It must be difficult to leave your second chance mate, after everything you have gone through.” He strolled to his car.
I tensed up and looked up, meeting Oliver’s wide eyes. I was speechless. I knew this was happening, but hearing it from someone else was difficult. It makes it real.
I pulled away from Oliver and ran behind Anthony passing my shocked son and brother. No, I cannot do that. I cannot take someone else.
I tugged at Anthony’s coat. “I accept your proposal, with one condition.”
“I am listening.”
“We start from today.” I know I am being a selfish blind unfair idiot, but even if another bond is being formed, it is not the same as fate.
Mate bonds are given by the Moon Goddess to two halves of the same soul. Second chance mate bonds are created by proximity between werewolves rejected by their mates or between a rejected werewolf and a human. I was never planning on running to Lancelot and take him back just like that. However, I cannot keep on betraying him like this. It is not fair.
“Good. We will visit my pack and then we will begin training. Go say your goodbyes.”
I nodded and walked back to say goodbye. Both Aiden and Alex were worried but excited at the same time- exactly like I was feeling. Being invited to the werewolf council is consider by some the greatest honor and achievement in a life after all.
I turned to Oliver who had glassy eyes, full of unshed tears. He gave me a sad smile. “I guess this is it. I am glad you were given that honor and I know you will do great.” He wrapped his arms around me. “Even if you are doing it to run away from what we could have.” He pulled away and looked me in the eye. “I know you are feeling this too.”
My wolf was pleased at the situation. He was right, my whole body was burning with desire from him. He leaned down. Too close. Pull away! My body would not move.
“Please,” he whispered.
His lips were almost brushing mine. “N-No.” My voice came cracked and in almost a mumble, but he stopped and pulled away.
My eyes met his for a second before he turned away but it was enough. I could clearly see the hurt in them. This is what I had trying to avoid all along.
“Goodbye, Jolene.” He walked away to his car.
I watched as his back and then his car became smaller and smaller in the distance. I promised myself I would never cry for him again, but why does he have to be so perfect? I stifled my sobs and walked toward Anthony’s car.
We were right behind the truck transporting Alexander. I spent the whole trip spilling out my love life story to Anthony while I bawled my eyes out. He was kind enough to not mention my waterworks. Jolene Amores, always discreet and poised. I should add that to my curriculum.