The Wolf's Prey (24 page)

"And we have
second and fourth period together." Marta adds, just as excited as
Jessica.

"That's good.
Now, we better get going. I hate being the last to class and
introducing myself."

Jessica takes me
to English and I wave bye as I walk into the room. There are a few
students sitting in their seats but the class isn't full. I leave
the slip of paper telling the teacher I am a new student and sit in
the first row furthest from the door. I take out a notebook and ink
pen, doodling absentmindedly until class starts.

After an
uneventful hour in English I make my way to home-mech happy that
Marta will be in the class with me. I sit down at a work table and
watch for Marta. When she finally shows up with a group of friends
I realize I wont be able to be invisible with Marta in class with
me. She smiles and comes over to my table I'm at and sits down.
"Hey, how was English?"

"Boring. I need a
favor." I whisper to her.

"What?"

"Can I borrow
your cell phone? I need to talk to Lennox and my dad wont let me.
He even took my phone."

"Why cant you
talk to him?" She questions, outranged for me.

"My dad thinks he
needs to, 'calm down' first." I answer.

She rolls her
eyes. "Like that's going to work. Keeping you from him is bad
enough, but to forbid you to call is asking for a
fight."

"I know." I
agree, as she hands me her phone. "Where's the nearest
restroom?"

"Down the hall to
the right. I'll tell Mrs. Spencer you'll be right back."

"Thanks." I
respond, getting up and walking out of the classroom and down the
hall. I open the bathroom door. There's no one but me, so I lock
the door behind me and dial Lennox's number.

It rings once.
"Alpha Hall." Lennox's deep voice answers.

"Its me." I say,
breathless from hearing his voice.

"I'm coming to
get you soon." He replies, instantly attentive.

I figured he has
been planning something. "What do you have planned?"

"Calling your
father out for holding my mate prisoner on his land. I have several
other packs willing to join me."

"So, your
planning of fighting my father? Lennox you can't do that, its my
dad." I remind him, upset that he'd even think of
fighting.

"What should I
do? He's not giving me many options."

"I know, but you
can't hurt him. I think I can get away. I'll get Jessica and Marta
to help me. If you can meet me somewhere I can convince Marta and
Jessica to take me, I know it."

"Where?"

"I'll ask them.
It won't be far from here, the nearest big city. Maybe Jessica can
convince my dad to let us go shopping and I can slip away with you.
If he doesn't go for that I'm sure Jessica will think of something.
I'll call you tomorrow, same time. I have to go, now. I have
class."

"If I don't hear
from you tomorrow, I'm coming anyway."

"Okay." I reply,
knowing he's not bluffing.

"I miss
you."

"Miss you too." I
reply, smiling to myself. "Bye."

"Bye,
baby."

I sigh. I have to
get away from here. If Lennox is recruiting other alphas hoping to
gain their support he's definitely preparing for a big
fight.

********

Truce

Alpha Lennox
Hall

I look at the
phone in my hand, it’s been minutes since the phone call with
Jocelyn ended. Yet, I can't stop staring at my phone. I toss it on
my desk, I'm getting her back soon, that's all that matters. If she
can plan to get away without involving a fight with her father the
better it'll be. I need her here with me it’s not sitting well with
my wolf that she's away. We're restless and agitated, I haven't
slept longer than a few hours a day. I achieved the numbers I need
to pressure Travis on handing Jocelyn over, almost anyone can be
bought and wolf packs are no exception.

Those with the
capital have the means of raising an army, so why am I hesitating
to go after her? The same reason she is thinking of an alternative
way out. It’s her family. I've known Travis a very long time and to
attack him seems wrong, but him holding my mate against me is wrong
too. He's being hypocritical, he mated with Jenna when he learned
about his mark being rejected. I understand why he did, it's a knee
jerk reaction.

I don't want to
force Jocelyn to have pups and I don't plan too, but I can’t
promise my instincts won’t take over. I can’t agree to Travis's
demand to wait until his daughter is ready, it’s not any of his
business anyway. He's been her father her whole life, but her dad
for only weeks.

Realizing the
mating was rejected while Jocelyn was out of my territory made me
panic. The need to have her back on my land was overwhelming. Then
Travis's refusal to let her leave incited a war. I am ready to take
him out at any time, but I can’t hurt Jocelyn and this
would.

The phone on my
desk rings and I pick it up quickly, "Alpha Hall."

"Lennox, are you
ready to talk civilly?" Travis asks, his voice serious. He has
called every four days wanting to talk, yet my anger has always
taken over. After talking to Jocelyn and having a plan worked out
to get her back, I can listen.

"Explain exactly
what it is you think you're accomplishing." I demand to
know.

"My daughter’s
safety and your conscience."

"My conscience?"
I ask, baffled.

"I forced the
women I love, my mate to bare my pups even though she wasn't ready.
I live with that thought every day. That and my failure to protect
my first born baby. Tell me that you would feel no remorse for
those things."

"I can’t." I
admit.

"Jenna, has never
punished me for how I acted. She doesn't have to I do, I do a fine
job of it myself. I can’t take back what I did and I can guarantee
you'll never forgive yourself. It’s something you'll never be able
to make right. Now I have Jocelyn, I can redeem myself and one of
my biggest errors in my life. I can finally protect
her."

"You can't keep
her from me. Jocelyn and I will discuss this ourselves, but
refusing to let my mate leave your land is unacceptable. This has
nothing to do with you, you're just making me angry. I could end
you with one order. Is that what you want?"

"Why haven't
you?"

"Because unlike
you I don't want to hurt the woman I love. I can't fathom how you
could've and I hope I can avoid the same fate. I don't plan on
forcing her to have pups, but the longer she is away the stronger
my urge to claim her becomes. If you don't have her on my land in
24 hours I can’t promise your safety or sparing my mate the pain of
losing her father."

"What would you
do if it was your daughter?" He asks, tiredly.

"I'd give her
what she wants. What does your daughter want?"

"They don't
always know what's best for them." He grumbles.

"You don't know
her well enough to make that distinction, Travis." I point
out.

He doesn't reply,
he knows I am right. I know Jocelyn better than he does. I
understand he thinks he's righting a wrong that happened long ago,
but he’s not. He's keeping his daughter from her mate and it’s as
self-serving as forcing Jenna to have his pups.

"Come get her."
He says, giving in.

"I'm on my way."
I reply, hanging up. I stand up feeling anxious but not lighter.
I'm still angry with him, but it makes sense. His actions were his
desperate attempt to redeem himself. His heart was in the right
place, just not his brain.

I call ahead for
the plane to be readied and drive to Liam's house. I pull up to his
house and honk my horn once. He comes out immediately and to the
driver’s side door, I roll down the window. "Travis is allowing me
to come get Jocelyn." I state.

"Finally." He
mutters, distastefully. Liam is still a little sore that he was
forced to leave his Alpha's mate unguarded. I doubt he's going to
forgive himself anytime soon.

I nod. "Stay and
watch the pack."

"When will you be
back?" He asks, curiously.

"I'll call." I
answer, pulling away. I head toward the airstrip as quickly as
possible. I don't want to wait another minute to hold her. I feel
myself stir and shift in my seat, I don't know how I'll be able to
refrain from taking her as soon as I see her.

Jocelyn's
POV

I walk back to
class feeling better now that I talked to Lennox. I was surprised
he built an army, but even more surprised he hasn't attacked yet.
He must care about me if he waited this long to avoid fighting my
father. I walk into class apologizing to the teacher and take my
seat next to Marta. I slip her phone back to her and smile at her
stupidly.

"It went well?" I
nod smiling wider. "Please, tell me you didn't have phone sex using
my cell." She begs, looking horrified.

"Gross, no. I was
in a public bathroom." I remind her.

She shrugs. "It
wouldn't have stopped me."

"Well, you're
disgusting." I tease.

"Oh, yeah." She
says, pretending to remember suddenly. I giggle and the teacher
narrows her eyes our way. We pretend to pay attention until she
looks away. "By the way, your wish to stay invisible has
failed."

I wince. "What
are they saying?"

"Everyone in
Andrew's pack has been ordered to be nice to you. Making his
intention towards you obvious. His pack is naturally curious and
asking Jessica all kinds of questions. Naturally she's loving the
attention and she is telling everyone that you are mated to Alpha
Hall."

"Remind me to
thank her for that."

She smiles. "I'm
sure she'll remind you herself."

If Andrew
challenges Lennox and loses, Beta Hightower would take over the
pack. He would run the pack for a full year before any other
challenges for the position could be made.

"I hope Beta
Hightower is ready to run a pack." I whisper.

Marta gives me a
leveled look and I am shocked by her seriousness. She takes out a
piece of paper writing. He was planning on challenging Andrew
anyway. "Really" I whisper, stunned. Even knowing how intimidating
Beta Hightower looks, I am still surprised he'd challenge his
Alpha. He already has power as a Beta, why would he want to risk
his life for the Alpha position?

"Now, get started
class." I look up at the teacher and round the room. Everyone is
getting supplies to bake homemade cookies. Marta walks away to get
the supplies and I snap out of it. I follow and help with the
ingredients, carrying them awkwardly because of my cast.

When its
lunch time Jessica finds me and pulls me towards the commons to
eat. "Please, no announcements involving me. I beg you."

“
What do you mean?" She asks, completely perplexed.

"Please
don't do what you did this morning." I remind her.

"Oh." She
laughs. "Sorry, I wanted to be part of the gossip."

"Really,
Jess?"

"What? No
one cares about me, you've made me popular. All the seniors are
talking to me and the juniors are wishing they were me. You're a
god send." She gushes.

I roll my
eyes, I can't see Jessica as someone anyone could ignore but I
don't say anything. Just a few more hours and I can get out of
here. "I was thinking I really need some new clothes. Do you think
you could talk dad into letting us go to the nearest
mall?"

"No, way.
He's on lock down waiting for Lennox to show up."

"He is?"
I ask, surprised.

"Oh,
yeah. Since Lennox won’t talk without yelling at him dad is sure
he's going to attack."

"Why
would he risk the pack like that?" I question, thinking out
loud.

"Dude,
you're his daughter. He already failed to protect you after you
were born. He's trying to make it up to you I guess."

I stop
walking. Here I am hating my father, when he's only trying to
assure I get a choice. I'm such a bitch, instead of hating him I
should try talking to him. I need to tell him that I don't blame
him for Alpha Rhys Sr. kidnapping me. He needs to know that I can
make decisions for myself. That I want to be with
Lennox.