Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
J acob was bored. He had watched a couple of films and searched the web for places with no packs that he could move to. But now it was early evening and he needed a walk. He wasn’t used to just sitting around and doing nothing. He had no idea how people did this day in and day out.
He could research colleges. What he needed to do was find a college somewhere, maybe online, where he could finish his studies. No matter what, he would keep his promise to his mother. He had no idea what he could do, except go back and challenge for the pack, but maybe if he finished his education it would give him the time he needed to formulate a proper plan.
Blowing out a breath, Jacob stood up. He would go for a walk. Woods always helped to clear his head and the trees around the lodges were calling to him.
Fran was watching TV and Frank was bored, while Robbie and Finn still weren’t back from their shopping trip.
“Franny, I’m going to see Jacob and have a walk,” Frank said, standing up.
Fran looked at him. “Do you want me to come with you?”
Frank shook his head. “Nope, I won’t be long.”
Leaving the lodge, Frank saw Jacob walking into the woods and decided to follow him. Maybe they could walk and talk.
Jacob had no specific direction when he set out for his walk. He did think to change into his wolf, but decided against it. Reminding himself that if he was to live outside of a pack, he had to get used to not shifting. But out here now, he could just breathe in the trees and find his calm centre, something he hadn’t had for a while now.
He shook his head, thinking over everything that had happened since his mother died. His father had never been violent until after she died, but any softness he had, which admittedly wasn’t much, vanished and in its place was a violent, angry man. Even before his mother died, his father had ruled the pack with an iron fist, and taught him to do the same. It was all Jacob had ever known, and now to find out all that teaching had been wrong, was really messing with his head.
Why would his father have lied to him all these years and taught him that his alpha way was the only way if it wasn’t? Sure, he had thought this before, and he was pretty sure he would keep thinking about this until he had some answers.
He had tried to rebel against his father’s teaching a few times, but after a couple of beatings from his father, he shoved those thoughts aside and tried to be someone his father could be proud of, even if it went against his nature.
And then, there were the secret phone calls and meetings his father had had, on numerous occasions.
Jacob had walked into his father’s office once when he had been on the phone. His father jumped up, forcefully pushed him out of the office, and slammed the door in his face. When he was finished with the phone call, he had searched for Jacob and beat him until he promised to never interrupt again.
So Jacob didn’t, but he did watch and listen. He noticed that when his father had these strange phone calls, he used a different mobile, not his normal one. One day when his father was out, he searched for the phone, and for anything that would tell him what was going on, but was confused when he couldn’t find anything, until overhearing another phone conversation. He found out that his father has a secret cupboard in his office where he kept anything he didn’t want people to find. He just didn’t know where it was.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard voices in front of him, getting closer. For some reason, he wasn’t expecting to encounter anyone on his walk.
Frank walked behind Jacob, making sure he was downwind, so Jacob didn’t pick up his scent. He took notice of the sad slump to his shoulders and his slow steps. If Jacob had come out here to find some peace and clear his head, it didn’t seem to be working.
He saw Jacob slow down and, listening carefully, he heard voices ahead.
Before Jacob could turn round and go the other way, three men came into view. The middleman was the largest, in both height and width. He had short close-cropped hair and mean eyes. His two friends looked the same: short, cropped hair, mean eyes, and calculating. Giving a discreet sniff, Jacob could smell wolf on them.
The men stopped and looked at Jacob.
“Well, would you look at that boys, looks like we have a lone wolf out for a walk,” the middleman said.
“Not only that but judging by his scent, he’s an outcast as well,” the man on the left added.
That was news to Jacob, he didn’t realise that as an outcast he would have a different scent. He always wondered how other wolves could tell an outcast, now he knew.
“Looks like our day just got better,” the middleman said.
Hearing the conversation, Frank moved quickly, coming to stand by Jacob’s side. Frank sized them up quickly. The three of them were strong wolves, but not as strong as his wolf. If he had to guess, he would say they were below enforcers.
“Is there a problem here, gentlemen?” he asked them.
The man in the middle smiled. “Not from our side. Anyway, you can sod off. He’s a lone wolf and an outcast, he’s not connected to your pack. This is your only warning, leave now and we’ll let you live.”
Frank laughed. “I’m Frank Pullman, Beta of the Pullman pack. This man is under my protection.”
Two of the men paled on hearing this. The middleman, however, smiled. “Shame you’re not on Pullman pack lands now, isn’t it.” And quick as a flash, he shifted into a light brown wolf. His two friends quickly followed.
“Jacob, leave now. Hurry back to your lodge and stay there,” Frank ordered, stepping in front of him.
“I’m not leaving you to fight these three, they’re after me, not you,” Jacob protested.
Before Frank could answer, the three wolves rushed them.
Frank and Jacob shifted as quickly as they could and met the wolves head on.
Two wolves went for Jacob and one for Frank.
Jacob was momentarily stunned, he had never shifted so fast, but before he could think any more on that, the two wolves attacked him. He might not have a pack any longer or ever be an Alpha of his own pack, but he was still Alpha born, something neither of these two wolves were. Unfortunately, what they lacked in strength they made up for with meanness and fighting skills.
Jacob tried his best, and if he had been fighting one-on-one he would have been fine, but he wasn’t, plus he was still injured from his fight with Cresswell. The only way he could win was to fight dirty, too, but he had to protect the Beta from the Pullman pack.
Frank was having fun. He loved a good fight and the wolf he was fighting sure knew how to fight, but he wasn’t really a match for Frank. He let the fight go on for a few moments, slashing and biting into the other wolf, who howled in pain while taking no direct hits himself until finally he had had enough and jumped on the back of the attacking wolf. He got the wolf onto his stomach and bit into his neck. The wolf tried to fight, but Frank bit down harder and soon the wolf below him submitted.
Frank jumped off his back and, with a low dangerous growl, turned to see how Jacob was doing.
Jacob was still fighting the other two wolves, but on hearing the low growl, the larger of the wolves stopped attacking Jacob. He turned to look at his fallen friend before charging at Frank.
Jacob was struggling to fight the two wolves and had several cuts and slashes from their claws, but nothing serious. He heard Frank give a low dangerous growl and was glad when the larger wolf broke off and ran towards Frank. Now Jacob could just focus on this one.
Fighting one-on-one was much easier and soon Jacob has this one on his stomach submitting, like his fallen friend. The wolf just lay there defeated.
Jacob turned to see how Frank was doing.
Frank was panting. This wolf was a scrappy, mean fighter, unlike his friend who was easy to defeat, this one was making Frank work. Frank managed to throw the wolf off of him and rolled to his feet. He glanced over to see how Jacob was doing and saw that he had the other wolf on the ground. His lack of concentration cost him and the last wolf came for him, biting into his leg. Frank let out a howl of pain.
Jacob heard the howl and, leaving the downed wolf, rushed to Frank’s aid. Jacob ran at the attacking wolf full tilt and crashed into him, pushing him away from Frank. Both wolves went tumbling, biting and slashing at each other. The unknown wolf used his claws and sunk them into Jacob’s stomach, slashing down it.
Jacob refused to howl in pain and emitted only a small grunt before he got himself back onto his feet.
Frank ran over to join them, but Jacob kept himself between Frank and the other wolf.
He was Alpha-born: he needed to protect the Beta, and it was time to end this before he lost his strength and his stomach fell out. With a growl he lunged at the wolf and hit with his paws, slashing the wolf across the face and catching his eye. The wolf let out a howl of pain and shook his head.
Using the distraction, Jacob jumped on his back, and with what little strength he had left, he latched onto the wolf’s neck and bit down. The wolf struggled for a moment, but Jacob bit down harder, growling low and deadly. Finally, the wolf submitted.
Jacob climbed off the downed wolf’s back and stumbled to the side. It felt even more like his stomach was falling out, but he had had to protect the Beta. He glanced at Frank making sure he was alright before he fell to the side, struggling for breath.