Chapter 115
1517words
“What’s got your knickers in a twist?” Axel asked the next morning while I paced around the kitchen.
I only looked at him in acknowledgment before I went back to considering the things that burdened my mind.
“Em?” He asked and placed a hand on my shoulder,
“It’s Jean,” I said rubbing at my forehead,
“What about Jean?” He asked, suddenly looking very cold and very ready to fight,
“He hasn’t done anything that requires you raining terror on him… it’s just…”
“Go on… you can tell me.” Axel said when I hesitated,
“He was in a hurry last night after dropping me off.”
He looked at me like he was disappointed and I fought the urge to laugh.
“Don’t look like that, this is serious.”
“Is it really, Ember? Are you giving yourself stress and worry knots simply because Jean came over and left in a bit of a hurry after dropping you off? Have you considered the fact that he had something he needed to deal with and that’s why he left like that?”
“I have. But he would have told me, ‘ I’m in a bit of a hurry to deal with this.’ He even told me ‘Catch you later’”
He rose a brow again, clearly not seeing a problem,
“I don’t see-“
“Jean never uses such words! He speaks like he is in the 19th century!”
My brother howled in laughter and I looked at him through narrowed eyes,
“So because he finally said something that proves he is from this century, there is suddenly a problem?”
“No… I mean yes. I think he is hiding something. And hiding something from me at that.”
“I’m sure whatever it is if at all there is indeed anything, he’ll talk to you when he is ready,” Axle said, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder,
“And should he not?”
“Then you’re just going to have to accept it.”
But I didn’t think I could. Because what If it had to do with me?
PARIS's POV
"Well, that's quite a lot," Jean said, looking at the brooch, as though he memorized everything about it, then looked up at me,
"Does each of those people have something different in their brooch that can be recognized to stand out as theirs alone?"
I shook my head, "these are heirlooms that are passed down from one generation to another. There's never been a need to mark it as belonging to one particular person or another."
"That means this brooch can belong to anyone. and until we know who exactly, anyone is exactly no one. That's really not enough."
"Tell me about it."
"doesn't matter though. We will search every nook and every cranny until we find who we are looking for. I'm taking into consideration that this may have been stolen and dumped here for a mistake, or perhaps to mislead, but let's begin with who has a missing heirloom." Jean said and Jackson looked like he agreed,
"It's not a bad idea. But it's not going to be a day's job, much less a week's. but then again, I could easily call for a meeting with every woman who is supposed to be in possession of this brooch. Whoever doesn't have theirs can be considered a culprit or knowing something very important."
"We may start there then."
"yeah." I concurred, covered my hand over the brooch, and tucked it in my pocket, "but all of this feels like a whiplash. Most of the women who I'm beginning to doubt are very respected women. Now, I'm supposed to put all of their loyalties to the test, because one…one little witch could not keep her spite and anger in check."
"it's that way sometimes," Jean said thoughtfully,
"except it's never been heard of in this pack. A little bit of squabble here and there over land and what not. But nothing so destructive and morbid like this. Nothing that makes me question my safety. It's frustrating just having to think about it sometimes."
"Hmm." Jean said and looked around before he sighed, " I served in the army before I took my position as Alpha. When you're in the army you either trust a few or you trust none. But most of all, you must trust your instincts. Werewolves are creatures of instincts. I suppose what I'm driving at is that, as much as I try my best to treat every pack member with equity and fairness, I trust none of them. I take everything with a pinch of salt, and when it seems too sketchy, I get my beta to look into it. he's had to look into a whole lot, to be honest."
"Tell me about it." Vincent, my beta said wearily, and I gave a ghost of a smile,
"I've always had the title of ruthless, even among my pack, but when push comes to shove, they know that they can depend on me. They know they can come to me if they need help, and that is really all that matters to me at this point. I try not to get overly sentimental to the point of trusting in them, or feeling weary when I must doubt their loyalties, as at the moment I only put my trust in Vincent or myself." he said and turned to Vincent, "So, should something crazy happen around me, and I must doubt someone's loyalty, I know how to turn to. It should be the craziest and wildest thing ever, but I know who to trust."
"Now I don't know if to feel honored, or weary," Vincent commented.
"both." Jean said dryly and turned to face me, "But every Alpha has how he rules, and you are so set in your way, and it would be madness to expect you to take mine, but at the very least, I have a method that I believe will help. We can try this way as well."
I nodded briefly,
"For some reason, I've always taken the sentimental route. Even when my relationship with Ember was failing, I would still put them first. So much so that I put them before her most times. It has served me this long, and it's good you don't expect me to change, however after this, something must change. But it is the fact that I've always put them first, that makes this betrayal even more worse." I said,
"That's fine and good. It can be a case of a good cop, a bad cop. You can hold on to your sentiments, and I'll be the cruelest version of myself. In any case, I think it's a good mix, and you ought to be grateful that I'm here to help."
I smiled despite myself and wondered if we would hate each other as much as we did if Ember was not at the center.
"Speaking of Ember.." I began slowly, knowing this was a conversation that I had to approach carefully. Ideally, she was not supposed to be brought up in an emotional way during the course of this little partnership, but this was something that ate at me. But I suppose Jean was thinking something just like that because he raised a brow,
"What about her?"
"What did she say when you told her you would be doing this with me?"
"I didn't," he said plainly, and I was confused for a moment,
"Excuse me?"
"I said I didn't do it. I mean, I asked her, but she was not in support of you and working together. It was a situation that made her uncomfortable and uncertain I suppose. I was willing to give in to her, but I gave it some thought and decided that if I didn't do this, I had no actual lead. I would be outside looking in, meanwhile, I've needed to be here." he said, looking around him, his eyes narrowed. I'm doing this behind her back." he said, and leveled a gaze at me, "I'm hoping she will remain ignorant of this, at least…. Until this is over."
"Until this is over." I parroted and tilted my head at him, "But you are aware that should she find out you went behind her she might be upset?… regardless of the fact that you are doing this for her."
He nodded slowly, "I am aware. But you see, regardless of the fact that she is so hell-bent on playing that attack down, there is someone in this pack, there is someone who really wishes to do her harm, I can't sleep knowing that person has not been found, and might have the chance to try again."
"That makes two of us."
"It is for that reason that I am here, should she, by some cruel stroke of luck, realize what I'm doing here with you and hate me for it. I'll be much better at ease knowing that that piece of vermin has been found, locked away and will never be able to reach her. That alone will make up for any amount of hate she throws my way."
