Chapter 80 80

Chapter 80 80
I was asked to lay down on a stone table. The coldness touched the bare skin of my back and arms, making my eyes shut hard.
“No need to be scared,” the enchantress said, standing on my side while rummaging into a box of small bottles. A potion, maybe?
Harley and Roscoe are on the other side of the cave, or the enchantress’s home, as she calls it. There’s no way they would hear our conversation.
“Will it hurt?” I asked in a low, trembling voice.
The enchantress looked straight into my eyes and there was something in the way she look at me. She was saying something, her eyes were saying something. She doubted my resolve in continuing with this procedure, I know that was what she think.
“It will sting.” she smiles but arched a brow, as if testing if I will back down.
But I closed my eyes and relaxed.
“You’re not scared.” she stated, not asked. It was as if a question in her head was answered.
I sighed, long and painful. “No.”
“I want to know why,” she demanded with a tone that she wouldn’t proceed with the extraction as long as I indulge her request. I opened my eyes and it was my turn to raise a brow. “Most client come here either in tears or cheers. None made that kind of reaction: Relieved. So, why?”
It took me a trainwreck to digest what she said. I do feel relieved to know I will get hurt, but not because of any masochistic tendencies.
“Its harder to breathe if things we want will be gone without any fight or pain.” I said in a weak whisper. My eyes watered but I closed my eyes and think of anything good and happy.
It’s okay, you’re doing this for Jacob. You’re doing this to buy time, so he will live.
The woman’s hand stopped moving as she look for the right potion in her box. She stared blankly somewhere in the grounf as if she was in deep thoughts, drowning.
Then she cleared her throat. “To ease the guilt? No one will punish you from doing what you think is right.” she said, trying to counter what I believed in.
“There was nothing in this world that would ease guilt, even forgiveness. I simply don’t want my pup to experience the pain alone.” I placed my palm on my belly. “I bet its as hurt as I am.” then I looked at the enchantress. “I am my own punisher, despite whatever I believe.”
The enchantress looked into my soul, though I feel like she has her own feelings and emotions that was being poked by our conversation.
As if woken up from her daze, she cleared her throat and begin looking for the bottle of potions, holding one up with a green liquid inside.
“My name is Karina,” she suddenly said. My eyes widened from her introduction. It was vital for enchantresses to give their name because they believe for it to be sacred. For them, no one should know their name in order to avoid being put in harm. Whatever that means. “I respect your conviction. I believe you are worthy of knowing my name.” then she gave me a very small smile.
She also meant I will not harm her, that she trusts me. The feeling was unfamiliar to me. Even my friendship with Ashira took a while before I gained her full trust. Karina… she was different.
I giggled and bit my lip. “Let’s get this over with, Karina.”
She smiled and handed the small bottle to me. I looked at the green liquid inside and wondered what it was.
“Drink this,” she instructed.
I took the bottle and sighed as I look at it. “What is this for? If its okay to know.” I asked carefully with the reason I wasn’t sure myself.
“That will help loosen the pup in your womb. So it will be easier to pull it out, something like that.” she explained in a lack of emotion kind of way. “Go on, bottoms up.”
Looking at the bottle in my hand, I gulped multiple times. This is real. This is it. My mind repeatedly played but it sounded as if I was convincing myself.
I know that I came here with a set mind of saving Jacob but now that I’m in front of it, this feels different. Maybe there is another way, right? Am I willing to risk it? What if Jacob is right? Maybe there really is another way…
My decisions came in a blurry and I shook my head. I can do this, but I won’t.
“I’m sorry--”
My words were cut when there’s a loud sound and followed by a hand came from nowhere, speed as fast as lightning, my normal visual didn’t catch the move. The hand held mine that has the bottle in it. Its grip was pure strength, I wouldn’t be shock if the bones in my knuckles break and crack from it.
“Don’t even dare, Lucianna.” his voice woke me up from my shock. Its only then that I realized the owner of the hand was none other than him. He’s here.
“Jacob…”
“What the fuck?” Roscoe’s voice came from the door, which is now laying flat in the door. “Jacob?” he paled though he quickly regained himself and turned to Karina. “I thought no one can come inside without your permission? So much for protecting yourself and the extraction.” Roscoe continued, voice full of disdain and sarcasm.
Karina took a step back, her eyes were not leaving Jacob who’s eyes were piercing right at me without even blinking.
“W-Well, n-no mate of a-an alpha has ever came f-for the e-extraction,” she gulped. Fear was evident in her eyes. “Now I know the b-barrier is not working against a-alpha’s.” then she bowed her head, slowly bending her body, showing inferiority.
“What a scam.” Roscoe muttered.
“I’m starting to despise you more everytime your mouth works.” Harley said to Roscoe, he was standing behind him.
“Whatever.”
“Brother,” Jacob’s voice was stern, hard, frightening. He was still looking at me, intense and hurt but anger won all other emotions he have. “This will be the last time I tolerate your insolent actions.” then he turned to Roscoe. I exhaled, realizing I wasn’t breathing at all. “Mind your fucking business.” was his last warning before snatching the bottle on my hand and throwing it somewhere beside Karina.
I thought he will do something to the enchantress but he gripped my wrist and pulled me by his side. His arm snaked on my waist and I gasped from the warmth I didn’t know I missed all this time.
“I’m getting you out of here.” he said before using his speed again, almost carrying my weight.
Once out of the cave, the guilt and shame came crashing into me. I bit my lip and tears threathened to form in my eyes. I didn’t know what to say or if there was any right thing to say at all.
Jacob set me down and I quickly turned my back to him. I didn’t believed him, I go on with this decision he go against so hard. He must’ve despised me a lot by now.
“I’m not...” he sighed. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, I can feel it, and you’re wrong.” the thuds of his steps coming near me made my eyes shut close.
“I-I’m sorry,” my voice croaked. “I should have believed more.”
He didn’t say anything but I can feel his body on my back. He was so close. His breath fanned on my neck and I let out a shuddered breathe.
The silence lingered longer than what I thought would be a moment of bickering and painful words. Jacob didn’t snapped the way I expect he would be and I was not sure if this is better. I feel so bad that I’d rather get screamed at.
“Let’s go home, baby.” was what Jacob said, making me tear up loud and shameless. My cries echoed the forest like a haunted lady crying and begging for help. He hugged me tight and I turned to bury my face in his chest. “Shh. It’s alright. I understand.”
But that’s the thing about being understood even when you do something bad. It makes you hurt a thousand more before relief could come.
The moment my tears died down and I finally relaxed, I could feel the exhaustion finally seeping through my bones. Harley and Roscoe came out of the cave, as well.
Harley sighed in relief and I looked at him. He was the only one who could tell Jacob about our plan and where we were going.
“Thank you,” I whispered, looking at him.
He smiled. “Had a feeling that you wanted me to do just that, mi Luna.” then his smile turned to a smug smirk. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t ask me to come.” he bowed to Jacob then he went on his way running down the hill.
Maybe Harley was right.  I’m deeply grateful to him.