Myself To Blame (on hold)

-Jake’s POV-

I curled up on the bed, humming a tune softly to myself. My heart was heavy. I played with the ring that Lucas gave me. The gold shimmered dully in the soft morning light. It has been weeks since I crashed the wedding.

“I wonder when I can see him again.” I muttered softly to myself. I tried to call out to my wolf but my voice simply echoed in my empty headspace. Of course, he would be angry at me. I didn’t give Lucas any explanation and ran away. I didn’t know the reality of mating and the various things that came with it. I didn’t know of the problems that come with the existence of demonic wolves.

Lucas also seemed to have unintentionally blocked me off. My act of betrayal has caused him to feel responsible. I had hoped he got a hint as to why I didn’t break my bond with him. I had no intention to. I felt tears welling up in my eyes and I let them fall. But not for long. The clicking of heels told me that Mother was coming near. I quickly wiped my tears on the blanket and lay still. The door clicked open and someone stepped in.

“Jake dearie, are you up? Breakfast is ready,” she said in a sickly sweet voice.

“Mother?” I groaned, faking a body stretch.

“Come on now, an Alpha can’t be lazy, quickly get up and head down. I followed her instructions and went to the toilet to brush my teeth and quickly got changed. I was the first to reach the table as always. Mother says that an Alpha needs to be at the table before anyone else.

“First at the table again eh? Good to have a dedicated wolf at the top.” A strong, muscular-looking man chuckled. I got goosebumps looking at his mischievous-looking, neatly-shaven face. Unlike the usual rough look that rogues tend to have, this man was well-kempt and nicely dressed. I don’t like this guy and he seems to always be currying favour with Mother. Although what are the contents, I am not sure. But he gives me bad vibes.

“It’s only proper,” I commented in the most unwavering voice I can muster. It was impossible to figure out this man’s species, try as I might. Slowly, the pack members filled up the seat and the dining room was slowly filled with life. The omegas quickly laid down the food and scurried off before anyone could stop or thank them. Not that they would.

“Jake, you have training today.” Mother started to inform me about today’s schedule. “You need to go to the lab today as well, the witch mother wants to see you.’

“Yes Mother, I’ll go to the lab first.”

“Let the boy live eh! No need to control him. He’s old enough eh.” The burly man said with a hearty laugh.

“Oh shut it.” Mother snapped before leaving the dining table. I quickly finished up my plate and followed suit. I got on a pair of sweatpants and a plain tee before heading to the lab. The ‘lab’ was simply just a cave. The witch’s mother was simply an exiled wizard for toying around with forbidden magic and human experiment. The dreadful surroundings gave me goosebumps whenever I stepped into the cave, her nasty witch brew that wafts out from deep within the cave kept all animals away from it. Her cackle could be heard from outside the cave. All the other ‘pack members’ call it the haunted cave.

“Ah, you’re here, boy.” Her raspy voice sent shivers down my spine. She is exactly what you would expect of a witch. Long unkempt hair, a black robe and a nasty smile on her face that just screams danger. She stood by the metal table, carefully drawing some red liquid into a needle syringe.

“Yes, Mother told me you were looking for me.” I voiced out, trying to sound unfazed even though I’m shaking in my boots.

“Ah yes, that wrench.” she spat. “If it weren’t for the two samples she provided me, I never would have agreed to her terms. Not to mention…”

With a flick of her wrist, I was slammed into the wall by some unknown force. I struggled to get away but against her magic, there was nothing I could do. She walked closer to me and studied my arms. Without warning, she plunged the needle syringe into my veins and started to inject the content. I muffled a cry of pain as I felt the needle impale my skin. When she emptied the content in the syringe, the witch yanked it out before casting a quick heal on the wound.

I hissed in pain when the needle tore out of my skin but nothing could be compared to what I felt afterwards. The temperature dipped. My body instantly became cold as the red liquid she injected started flowing through my system. My body temperature kept dropping, and the muscles in my body twitched fiercely as I was unable to control myself. It felt as if I was naked in winter.

I breathe out quickly, trying to force my lungs to take in more air. It felt as if my body was on the verge of shutting down. My teeth started chattering uncontrollably. I screamed out Lucas’ name in my head, almost begging him to save me. Not that he can ever hear me now.

Then, a single drop of sweat dripped down my face. Heat blossomed from within my head. Starting slowly, becoming warm, until it started becoming uncomfortably hot. I heaved, pulling hard at the restraint with all my might. Surprisingly, the restraint broke. I collapsed hard onto the ground. My head hurts so bad but the numbing heat in my head rendered me immobile. I just writhed on the floor, muscles spasming causing me to twitch weirdly.

Soon, it felt as if boiling water was running through my veins. I screamed blindly as my muscles ached and my eyes went white from the pain. ‘It hurts!’ Was all I could think of from the hot blood running through my veins. It raced all over my body, making me struggle helplessly on the floor. Something was happening to my body. I could hear something popping, accompanied by excruciating pain coursing through my body. I let out a blood-curdling scream, unable to hold it back any longer. A piercing pain tore through my body, rippling across my muscles.

Heat travelled through my body as if snaking through, in search of prey up in my chest, to its final destination. My heart. A small stroke of fear touched me but it was soon forgotten. Heat erupted from my chest. It felt as if I was set on fire. I opened my mouth to scream but a loud dangerous howl escaped my throat. The voice was deeper and manlier and it felt more guttural.

Every heave sounded like a deep growl of a wolf, threatening. I could barely hear the claps of the witch beside me. The heat started subsiding, clearing my mind a bit. But my body felt weak, it felt strange. It didn’t feel like mine. I was conscious, just barely.

And then I heard it again, the dreadful clicking of heels.

“Tch.” The witch’s clicking of tongue told me all that I needed to know.

“How was the experiment?” Mother said in her annoying shrilling voice. Deep guttural hate I never felt before erupted from deep within my heart. But I swallowed down my growl. I couldn’t let them know I’m awake.

“As you can see.” The witch replied sharply.

“Perfect.” My mother mused, sliding her hand on my forearms. “You did your job well.”

“You are so sure he wouldn’t use that against you?” The witch asked in genuine curiosity. What the hell was inside that syringe?

“Of course not, I’m threatening him using his mate. Of course, making minor adjustments to the fight to make it seem like Nathan killed that pregnant bitch…” She started to drift off.

‘Minor adjustments? Nathan’s fight? Wait… No… I need to hear more…’ I struggled hard but against my will, I slipped into darkness. Does that mean that Nathan had never tried to kill Rose?