Making the journey to Jacob’s house twice in the expansion of a week was not a positive thing, nor was it something that I took any enjoyment in doing. It had been less than one day and yet I was having to go out of my way in order to reaffirm a rule that should have been followed instantly.

I wasn’t used to having to repeat myself.

Hitting the door sharply with the back of my knuckles I rolled my eyes at the “now coming!” from Jacobs mother, arranging my features into a blank expression as to give nothing away. I wasn’t in the mood to get into an argument, but what his father did was not something that I accepted nor would let go without resolving the matter. 

I saw the exact moment when the door opened that his mother’s eyes widened, “C-Chase…”

“I need to speak to your husband and son, now.”

Her face paled. “Is this about-“

“Are they home or are they out?” I could scent Jacob inside the house, it wasn’t as if I wouldn’t know if she attempted to lie to me and make the already bad situation worse.

I saw her think about it. “He’s inside,” she sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Do I need to call Mike?”

“Yes.”

Hearing her swallow loudly I followed her into the house while she went in search of Jacob, the fact I was having to do this twice in the space of a few days only serving to annoy me the more I thought about it. I shouldn’t have to deal with one wolf as much as I was; none of my guard had stirred as much trouble.

I decided against taking a seat.

“I told him not to call!” I looked to my right, hands stuffed in my pockets as Jacobs panicked form flashed around the counter as he rushed into the room. I didn’t need this right now. “I would have come and apologised and explained but you told me to stay away and I didn’t want to make things worse.”

I stared at him, admittedly slightly impressed. “Good.”

Jacob stared at me, shocked. “Good what? Good that my father called or good that I didn’t come and tell you.”

I snorted, shoulders relaxing. “Sticking to my orders despite the situation.”

Jacob nodded solemnly. “Mum tried to tell him not to, that it would only make things worse and I should just sit it out, but he was worried and-“

He was telling the truth. Admittedly it was a relief that he hadn’t gone behind my back because not only was he already on thin ice but going to my alpha, my superior just because he wasn’t happy with an order would not be something I could simply turn a blind eye to.

“When will your father be home?” I had other things I wanted to get done which didn’t involve having to go to one of my guards houses to speak to their parents. They were not children. As far as I was concerned they were young adults who needed to take more control over their lives.

No wonder Michael was sick of talking to them on the phone.

“If mums calling him he should be back in like ten minutes I think. His contracts only a few blocks down the road; he’s putting in a conservatory.”

Nodding I waited.

It turned out to be fifteen minutes later that Mike walked through the door in his work clothes, the scent of building materials wafting through my nose. My nostrils flared as I inhaled the scent.

“Chase,” he nodded respectively.

I couldn’t help but think it was a little too late for that. “I am under the knowledge that you put in a phone call to my alpha,” I quirked a brow.

He swallowed but nodded. At least he wasn’t attempting to lie to me when he answered without hesitation.

“Do you want to tell me why?”

“You tried to kick my son out-“

I cut him off. “I suspended him! I had no intention of kicking him out of the guard and you should know better than to get involved. He is eighteen, legally old enough to make his own decisions and yours are reflecting bad on him!”

“How am I reflecting bad on him?” he demanded, his voice raised in a manner that my wolf did not appreciate. “I was protecting my son!”

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to hold back my temper and not lunge for the man. I tried to explain in a calm and matter-of-fact manner so he could explain so I wasn’t forced to repeat myself more than one. “Do you think the other guard members will respect him when they find out that his father has a habit of making phone calls about the actions of others to the alpha?”

Jacob released a low whine. I knew where he was coming from. He had admittedly fitted in well with the guard, make a fair amount of friends and was already gaining the respect of others. If this got out the other wolves wouldn’t exactly stick around if they were under the impression that if they put a foot wrong they would be snitched on.

A look of recognition flashed across mikes face, “That was not my intention.”

“And what exactly was your intention?” I quirked a brow, “Did you want me to get me reprehended, for me to lose my position, the alpha to scold me, what exactly where you trying to accomplish?”

“I just wanted my son back on the guard!”

He was an idiot.

“You interfere again he’s out. He may be legally responsible for his own actions but you need to understand that you chose to take a different path, you do not have the understanding required to tell me what and when I need to do something. Do you understand me?” I raised my voice.

He flinched. “Yes.”

“Good.” Making a move to leave I turned to face Jacob before I reached the front door, taking in his embarrassment over his father’s actions. Mike was lucky. If my father had gotten involved in my life in such a negative way I wouldn’t be so forgiving. “Training tomorrow; do not be late.”

“Yes Sir!” He nodded, relieved that I was going to kick him out.

I shook my head as I left, never having had the intention to take away his still new positon. He was a good wolf, a quickly improving fighter and got along with the majority of the rest of the guard. It was never a question of his skills or attitude, but I didn’t doubt that he would hide something so important from me again.

Nothing would save him if he did.

Following day…

If the schedule sheet Harry had given him was correct than Annabelle should be spending the day in the library rather than volunteering at the hospital, her volunteer placement only covering a few days a week.

Having spent the later hours of last night and early this morning running through my head what I could say to her as a way of apology I ran a hand through my hair when I finally reached the building, for once having actually made an effort with my appearance as I had chosen a light green shirt and a clean pair of jeans that had no marks nor holes in the fabric.

I was used to running around in the woods all day, there had been no need for me to wear nice clothes when the likelihood of them being ripped and ruined was high.

It was just before lunch that I caught sight of her, soft blonde hair pulled away from her face in a low bun tied at the base of her neck as she made herself comfortable before pulling out a pad and paper, making notes on whatever she had chosen as reading material for the day.

I was curious.

Sucking up mu courage, my wolf practically prancing at the idea of being friendly to her, I slowly made my way over as not to startle her. It was soon clear that she must have been on higher alert as I witnessed her back stiffen when I got close, her fingers tightening around her pencil as she hunched over her book.

I hated the fact she was so uncomfortable in my presence.

“Annabelle?”

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” were the first words out of her mouth much to my sadness.

Did she think I was here to accuse her of something? Though when I thought about it, it wasn’t as if I hadn’t given her a good enough reason to expect as much from me. Hopefully that would change soon if I didn’t overstep my mark and end up insulting her again. She didn’t deserve that.

“I know,” I admitted. “I came to apologise.”

Now that did get her attention, her head slowly rising as she stared at me confused. Her soft honey brown eyes swirled with caution, her hands shaking just slightly with her nerves.

“Why?”

“Why am I apologising?” I asked. She nodded. “I was rude to you a few days ago which I shouldn’t have been. That was wrong of me. I was taking out my frustration for another wolf on you when I should have gone for a run instead.”

Annabelle simply stared at me, an expression of confusion on her pale face. I couldn’t help but take in her soft angel-like features. She was pretty, more than pretty when I thought about it.

“Ok,” she murmured after a while.

“Does that mean I’m forgiven? You look confused.” Adorably confused, but confused all the same.

Watching her chew her bottom lip in thoughtfulness I couldn’t help but feel a flare of attraction I felt towards her, my wolf purring as I eagerly breathed in her sweet scent. I wanted to groan, wanted to eagerly breathe it in and roll around in it.

I had never felt more like an animal than right at that moment.

“I am a little. Why are you apologising to me when you had every right to question my motives towards your pack?”

“It’s your pack as well.”

Annabelle snorted, “We are separated from your pack both physically and socially, we are restricted in everything we can and cannot do. We are still considered a different pack,” she shrugged, “on some level we most likely always will be.”

“We didn’t have to let you live” was out of my mouth before I could stop myself. Why couldn’t I just be nice when I was with her? She had both me and my wolf on edge.

I didn’t know what was worse, Annabelle not looking at all surprised by my comment or the fact it didn’t seem to bother her in the slightest. Shouldn’t she at least be offended?

“And you will always make sure that we are clear of that fact,” she pointed out.

“That isn’t my fault.”

A small smile curled at the corner of her lips and I wanted to do nothing more than kiss her, to take that lower lip between mine. She was attractive; it was hard not to imagine her in a more intimate setting.

It was a shame she most likely hated my guts.

“I know,” she glanced towards the clock before seemingly remembering that it was only the afternoon. She looked relieved. “It’s not your fault, you follow orders.”

I frowned. “I do have a mind of my own you know. Can I sit?” I gestured to the seat in front of her. She made it seem as if I just did as I was told without thinking it through like a lap dog. I wasn’t stupid or naïve, I was careful of the consequences of my actions.

Annabelle shrugged, “Sure.”

“It may not have been my idea to take over your pack but I don’t regret my actions. I agree I dislike the boundaries, time restraints and restrictions but that isn’t my area within the pack.”

I watched as she leaned forward, resting her chin against her hands as her elbows rested against the desk. She blinked, “why did you attack?”

“What?”

“What did you want to gain, territory?”

I shrugged. “That was part of the reason.”

“And the other reasons?”

“Your alpha and betas in charge were breaking the rules. They were trespassing on other packs territories.”

Annabelle nodded. “I know, that was mainly down to Blaze.”

“Blaze?”

Her lips quirked, “the beta we were talking about the other day.”

I watched a smack myself for forgetting about Blaze, the wolf she had taken down in order to save Jacob from getting seriously hurt or worse killed. The kid needed to say thank you I reminded myself.

“What was he doing?”

Neighbouring packs hadn’t complained about him causing any damage when it came about that the pack was trespassing on other territories as well, but it clear unsettled them enough to inform Peter who was known for coming to the rescue, especially if it meant increasing his own territory.

Didn’t mean he wasn’t an ass sometimes.

Annabelle cringed slightly at that, “he had already bedded the majority of female wolves within our pack, he was out scouting.”

“Scouting for what?”

He risked trespassing simply to try and get laid? What kind of pack was his alpha running to allow that?

Annabelle’s raised brow told me all I needed to know.

“And your alpha allowed that?”

She shrugged, “he allowed it. Blaze did not enjoy the company of humans; felt that they were beneath him.”

“And you?” I asked quietly, not understanding the sheer amount of jealousy I felt at the thought of a man even so much as touching her, nor the sharp relief I felt when she admitted that she had no interest in him before his death. I frowned. Since the first moment I had caught sight of her my wolf had developed a fondness despite me only having spoken to her the other day.

I needed to speak to my dad.