Jacob’s POV
“Well, aren’t you cold to your mother…” Anabel’s usual singing voice has bitterness mixed into it.
I stood up to kiss her cheeks but the pout in my mother’s lips didn’t fade.
“I’m visiting you now, mother.” I remind her. “Where’s dad?”
A small ‘hmp’ came out of her lips and motioned for me to sit on the couch which I did.
“He’s out for a run, says he’s getting too old for it. And I’m not talking about your seldom visitation schedule to your mama, I’m talking about the luna ceremony that I only heard from Brent! How could you do that to me?”
My jaw clenches upon hearing her say that. I came here to tell my mother about the ceremony and my freaking nosy-ass beta already do the job for me. Here I am, thinking that she’s pissed that I haven’t come to visit for two full weeks and yet…
I sighed.
“Brent did? Is he on your payroll or something?”
“He is just a concerned man, that’s all.” she rolled her eyes.
I bit my lip to suppress a smile. “I don’t buy that, mother.” she always have her claws on my business since I took over the pack. “Anyway, I came here to inform you and dad about the ceremony. Just so happens that my beta did the job for me.”
Her eyes twinkled in euphoria but quickly faded after she cleared her throat. “Does Lucianna know?”
I shrugged. “Not yet, mom.”
“I love her, you know!”
I chuckled when she can’t hide how happy she feels right now. “I know, mother. I love her, too.”
“Does she know? Have you told her how you feel?”
I looked back to the moments I’ve said the words and slowly nodded. “Few times, yes. I try to show her instead of putting it to words, though.”
Another ‘hmp’ came from her. “You took a lot from your father, it was cute when you were young but I can’t say the same now.” she sighed and arched both her brows up. “Us women need to hear it from time to time, actions can be interpreted differently.”
“What happens to my mother who always have ‘Action is louder than words’ mantra?” I said with a knotted forehead.
“She’s gone.” she waved her hand. “Well, gone when your father started to say the words too seldom. Aging, I guess.” she rolled her eyes.
I laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind for future preference.”
Anabel smiled. Her gaze lingered to mine with pure admiration that I felt proud without her saying a word. She could be talkative but she conveys more words when she don’t. I know the look, and I know what she’s thinking.
She blinked twice and clapped her hand once as if waking up from her deep thoughts.
“I’ll help with the preparation with the ceremony. Don’t you dare stop me.”
Both my hands went up in the air. “Not gonna. I’m here to ask for your help to manage and organize the whole thing in the first place.”
Her eyes twinkled again. “Well, if you insist.” then she grinned wide.
I laughed hard. I know how much she wanted to get involve and she’s trying to keep it in but I’ll let her and won’t tease her about it.
My mother is the epitome of perfect motherhood. She made our house a home, and all of the great character I have comes from her. She know how to raise a King, he made my father a great leader and shaped myself to one.
Regardless of what happened with Roscoe and I, she remained-- or tried-- to be in-between. She was not successful to do so but I appreciate her trying.
“Mom, I will start a family with Lucianna.” I exhaled slowly after the words came out of nowhere and then, I figure I already opened the conversation so I’ll just head on to it.. “My mate has lost her family at a young age, and I know you love her, I can see that but I hope you can treat her as your own daughter, too.”
“Oh, son. Am I treating her wrong?” she gasped, confusion started to linger in her expression and I was quick to shook my head.
“No, no, of course not. I just wanted to… say that. I guess.” I scraped my nape. “Our family is not in its best shape and when the time comes that she will be… uh, confusing, I hope you read her through.”
Anabel studied my face for a long moment before a small smile formed in her lips. It was a warm and loving and from there, I knew she got what I meant.
I have a feeling, but there’s yet evidence to back it up. Lucianna is involve into something that pushes her to do reckless, half-hearted things. And in all of those, I can’t turn off something in my head.
I keep on thinking that my brother, Roscoe, is a part of this involvement.
So I was asking my mother to treat my mate as if she came from her womb, too. Because if Anabel won’t play fair, and my brother started a ruckus then I’m afraid my mate will get hurt.
And girl’s damn fights are scary.
“You can count on me, son.”
I smiled. “I know.”
“Let’s go back to the ‘starting a family’ thing-y. Is she finally pregnant, Jake?”
I almost choke from the question. Not because it surprised me, but I was reminded of Lucianna’s issue with sharing the room. Ugh, I’ll fight her hard over that.
“Not yet, mother but we talked about it and we’ll start trying to conceive.”
“I can help you with that, I knew some tricks.” she grinned.
I laughed. “I won’t say ‘no’ to what’s under your sleeves, mother.”
As soon as I answered, the hair on my nape rose upon the presence of someone I wished to see the least.
Roscoe is around, of course he will be. He lives here, too. And I bet he was listening to the conversation.
Good.
Listen.
Let me catch you and whatever it is you’ve been plotting against me, brother.
My mother also noticed the presence and she was kind enough to point it out.
“Ros, come here!” she called. “What are you doing there lurking around.” she mumbled.
I heard footsteps and upon turning my head, I saw Roscoe going down the stairs.
Scoffing he said, “You made it sound so suspicious, mother.” he grumbles and nodded on my way before heading to the kitchen.
I watched his shadow. For all I know, this is the only thing that I could trust right now.
And I frowned. His shadow was… its not…
He was scared.
For fucking what?
**
The next stop I made was at the Hall, going straight to my office. The moment Roscoe and I started to breath the same air, it made me feel suffocated. My lungs clenched on its own, and the feeling is never comfortable.
So I left before my brother could join the conversation.
I sat in the swivel chair behind my desk and let out a deep sigh. Good thing that Brent is out of the office, I can’t deal with any of his questions right now.
Roscoe was scared, that was what I saw in his shadow. It has a blend of nervousness and concern but the fear is too big that I barely noticed the small shims.
The question of what he was scared of kept on knocking in the back of my skull. I’ve been thinking that Roscoe is behind Lucianna’s behavior but my gift never fails me. And my shadow eye didn’t saw a glint of motive in Roscoe’s shadow.
Instead of bursting my head for answers, I decided to do my own way of finding out what my brother has been doing.
Grabbing my phone, I dialed the number which I know would help me execute a plan.
“Hello?” said over the line.
“Hey, Zeke. It’s me, Jacob.”
“Of the Shadow pack? Why’d you call, man?”
I frown from the exhausted sound of his voice. “Who, you good? You sound, well, lifeless.”
A loud sigh came from Zeke. “This pack stuff are taking my life away, that’s why.” he sighed again. “Enough with my miseries, what’s up?”
My fingers started tapping on the wooden desk as I talk. “I’ve heard about this potion that can conceal one’s presence and, uh, I have something going on right now.”
“Rumors.” Zeke scoffed and I groaned, frustrated.
“Come on, man. I already know about it, also the fact that your mother is one of the enchantress who know how to make the potion.”
“I’d still say, ‘rumors’.”
I sighed. Why did I forget that Zeke is a hard-headed rogue and why did I even hoped he changed?
“I’m not gonna steal the ‘secret’ ingredient, dammit.” I hissed.
“Oh yeah? What will you use it for?”
A grumbling sound came out of my throat. “I’m planning to tail someone suspicious and I need to conceal my presence to do that. There was no other way, man.”
Zeke was silent for a few seconds, I had my hopes up again because he is finally considering it. But then, he spoke.
“So you’re spying who?” he asked.
I groaned, louder than I supposed to. “You’re being nosy.” I accused.
Zeke’s laughter thundered over the phone. “It’s a package deal, Jacob. I’ll give you the recipe in exchange of little details.”
“There’s no little in what you were asking, Zeke. It’s private.”
“Hmm. Upon revising what I mean, yes, I’m being nosy.”
I can’t help but grin. “Fine, I’m spying on my brother.”
“Ohhh. The brother.” he said in a knowing voice.
“Don’t tell me you knew about my brother.”
“You mean, the feud between you two?” he chuckled. “I’m a rogue once, man. We feed on rumors about pack issues and laugh at it.” Zeke cleared his throat. “No offense.”
“None taken. I bet the rest of the rogues are having a full about your life now.”
“Ha! I can agree with that. Hey, I’ll send you the recipe after the call. Just make sure that your enchantress won’t sell it to others, make them swear their life or something. This potion can be a dangerous weapon.”
“Thanks, man. You can count on me.”
I’ll be the one making the potion, anyway.
**
I had to control myself as I followed Roscoe into the Prime pack. His moves are flawless, a given skill he already had. Not even a guard noticed him trespassing the Prime land. And the thought that he was here because of my mate boils my blood.
He dare, oh he did.
The moment he started to talk nonsense and urged Lucianna to leave snapped my patience. I came out of the hiding and there both of them stood shocked and bewildered.
Lucianna left me because of Roscoe and this whoever Fhoxia is. The agony I felt, the pain, all the blame I gave myself before is now directed at Roscoe.
“What can’t you tell me?” I asked. I feel my teeth vibrating from the intensity of my words and voice. I am fucking seeing blood.
Lucianna sighed and my eyes scanned her whole. She’s naked behind that coat that Roscoe gave her. The moment my brother asked her to shift back to her human form almost made me jump forward and punch him in the face.
But I held it in.
I can’t let the opportunity pass by, not when I’m this close to knowing the fucking truth. Or if its even the truth, to begin with.
I watched my mate’s lips as it parted and I was dying as I waited for words to come out of her full plump lips. But before she could say anything, Roscoe stepped forward, covering Lucianna’s figure from my sight.
“Jake, listen. I know this will be hard to believe but Lucianna and I are having an affair.”
My jaw dropped.
“What?!” Lucianna stepped sideways and then forward to face Roscoe. Her face says it all and she didn’t have to explain. I know my brother is lying.
I smirked, taking my eyes off Lucianna and planting a blank stare at Roscoe.
“You got to train lying to yourself first, before saying the lie straight to my face. That,” I pointed at him from top to toe. “That fear made you forget about my shadow eye, brother.”
And I can clearly see him lying from the color of his shadow, a tangerine hue mixed with his fear.
“The gift you ever wished but never had.” I smirked more when Roscoe’s jaw clenches.
“This is no longer about the throne or the gift or the title, Jacob!” he burst in gritted teeth. And true enough, I didn’t saw lie in that nor insecurity.
“My mate will never cheat on me with you, brother. She loathes you more than I do, so if this is not about you trying to sabotage my life or my throne then why do you insist on parting us?”
Roscoe looked as if he was having a hard time to answer the question. I waited, and I grew tired waiting. But its not just me who lost the patience because when my eyes caught Lucianna’s figure, I saw her hand flew and a punch landed on Roscoe’s jaw.
I could tell it was a hard strike, too strong that Roscoe fell to the ground, his back flat on the grassed surface.
“You’ve gone too far, you fucker.” Lucianna burst, straightening her back while looking down at my brother. “Affair? Really? Are you out of excuses to opt with such petty reason?”
I fought hard not to chuckle, but man, my mate is such a badass.
Roscoe sighed and let his weigh lay on the grass. “Fuck. I’m sorry.” he answered in defeat.
I hissed when I realized that they are really hiding something from me.
Lucianna looked at me, her eyes are tired and her gaze screams guilt and apology but I need not to hear those kind of words.
“I want the truth.” I voiced out, looking at her intently even though I feel like giving in and just wrap my arms around her.
She slowly nod her head, bit her lips and inhaled sharply. “You’ll get it, Jacob. I’ll tell you the truth.” then she looked down at Roscoe. “I will tell him the truth.”
Roscoe remained staring at the sky, his body lifeless and maybe his jaw started to heal itself from the impact of my mate’s punch.
“If you’re asking for my opinion, I’d still say ‘no’.” Roscoe mumbled.
“Good that I’m not, then.” Lucianna looked at me again. “Can we do this somewhere else? I need to change into something decent.”
My jaw clenches when she clutched tightly to my brother’s coat. I can’t believe I’m being jealous to that piece of crap wrapped around her.
Shoving the distracting thoughts away, I nodded my head and looked away. I should divert my attention because if I ain’t, that coat will be teared off her body because of the stench of my brother lingering her nakedness.
Lucianna seems to read the rumbling emotions happening inside my head that she scurried away.
I, on the other hand, looked down at my brother and caught him sigh again. The anger inside my chest rises once we’re alone again.
“Don’t you dare run away, brother.”
He chuckled, helpless.
“That will be pointless, you’ll catch me anyway. This is dangerous, brother.” he shook his head and slowly sat up, his butt not leaving the ground.
I frowned. “What exactly is ‘this’?”
Roscoe stared at nothingness for a while, a while that felt like a long time.
I hissed. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter, I’ll know about this, Roscoe.”
He met my eyes. “Knowing less is better in some occasions.”
I growled inside that vibrates through my throat. “Not in this occasion.”