Chapter 23 Chapter 23.
Alpha Jacob's POV.
Home sweet home, I heaved a sigh and strolled straight to the shower to freshen up after a long tiresome day, leaving Bella standing outside in marvel I presumed.
I just saved an Omega who turned out to be my second chance mate, what are the crazy odds of that happening?…moon goddess, what else do you have in store for me?
I strolled straight to my bed after a five-minute bath and slowly sat down, next to it was a side wooden table with Avery's picture set on it. I lifted it and grazed my finger on it."Hey love, hope you are doing fine wherever you are…I just want to tell you that the moon goddess blessed me with a second mate and I'm trying so much to ignore her but I can't. Please forgive me." I pushed the picture frame to my lips with my eyes shut and kissed it.
I felt so bad and guilty for accepting Bella to be my mate but I knew what would have followed her should I have rejected her… DEATH.
You ask how?
Okay, I will spare a few seconds and answer the question… When a wolf has been rejected more than twice by its fated mate, the symptoms of death are heartache and depression. It is one of the most painful deaths a wolf can face as it is a slow gradual process. So you see why I was forced to accept Bella wood as my Luna.
A few minutes later
The clock ticked.
Tick. Tock.
I turned over and groaned, pulling the sheet up to my shoulders.
Tick. Tock. Tick.
Why did I have insomnia this early in the morning of all nights?
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
I groaned and sat up. My room was dark. My eyes adjusted fairly quickly though. I turned on the lampshade next to my bed and looked at the clock on the wall. Usually, it helped me to fall asleep, but not tonight.
I really needed to get some sleep, because I was introducing Bella to the elders as my Luna today at the meeting of elders...
I sat up on my bed confused about what to do next.
Jacob, get some rest, tomorrow is a busy day. I groaned for a few minutes before laying back down to sleep…. After tossing and turning for twenty more minutes, I got back up. Maybe I needed some water or something to eat. I served myself some grapes and a glass of whiskey.
After eating and drinking, I tried again to sleep. No such luck.
I tried tea.
Nothing.
Finally, I made up my mind to please myself and go see Bella in her room.
But which bedroom was she placed in?
I hesitantly stepped out of my room with a towel wrapped around my waist to go and look for her, because the mate bond tension was too intense to ignore…but instead, I met Gamma Nick, my house manager roaming the halls of the mansion.
"Nick, you are still awake? Have you taken our new guest to her room?"
"Yes Alpha, I have shown lady Bella to her room as instructed."
"Okay, that's good." I glanced at the hallway as I tried to avoid Nick's inquisitive stare, "which bedroom is she in?" I hesitantly inquired while Scratching the back of his neck.
Nick's curious stare changed to a bright smile before he answered my question. "I have shown her to room 108 Alpha."
My castle is so big hence the numbered doors for easy access to all the other rooms.
"Oh, okay thanks. You may return to your room now." I quickly walked passed him straight to Bella's room.
I got there and lurked in the sides of the hallway before slowly twisting open the door knob. I peeked into the room and Bella was peacefully snoozing on the bed still wrapped in her robe.
Without making a lot of noise, I sneaked inside the room to get a better view of my second chance mate.
Standing next to her, I could see her slowly breathing in and out…her gorgeous but pale skin gave her a distinct feature from all the overly tanned women in my pack…
She is beautiful. My inner wolf howled merrily.
Kiss her, mark her. She is yours now.
The deep desire to be with her lurched within me.
No, Jacob. Not like this. She is your mate but what about Avery?
I quickly ran out of the room and quietly shut the door behind me.
Never did I aspire to cheat on my Avery, because that's exactly how it felt when those thoughts about Bella crept into my mind.
Hours later, I got up earlier than Bella and instructed that new clothes be taken to her before she joined me and the elders in the meeting chamber.
"Alpha, lady Bella has arrived. Would you like me to let her in?" Gamma Nick raised a question with unblinking focused eye contact with me.
"Yes."
"Okay Alpha."
He hurriedly walked towards the door and peeked outside before walking in with her closely behind him with her sulky dark brunette hair, hanging loosely as the wind slowly flapped it away from her face.
"Lady Bella wood, please stand in the center of the room." Epsilon Emilio's words echoed at a distance as Bella sultry sauntered into the center of the room in a floral green dress and nude five-inch heels, I picked out for her earlier.
Damn, this girl is beautiful, even without any makeup. a cocky smirk curled on the corner of my lips without breaking my gaze off her.
Her eyes were grey as a thick prowling cloud in a thunderstorm…and that's when I sensed her unique aura.
Could she be a…??? Naa. I raised my eyebrow in doubt.
"Alpha, alpha…" one of the elders called out to me but I was too mesmerized by her beauty while she fidgeted with crimson cheeks.
"Alpha, lady Bella is here." Epsilon Damon gently tugged me on the shoulder causing me out snap out of the trance.
"Did you say anything?" I broke off my stare and looked at epsilon Damon who was seated next to me
"Yes, Alpha, lady Bella wood is here with us. You may introduce her." He answered back.
"Oh, okay, this is Bella wood from the moonstone pack and she is my fated mate," I said while sneaking a little glance when I could at Bella who avoided my stare and looked at the floor.
"At last, the long wait is over."
"This is good news, Alpha."
"Congratulations Alpha."
"You are welcome, Luna Bella."
The elders shouted in unison with splitting grins on their faces, and I immediately guessed that they were all happy because the pack finally got the Luna it wished for.
Meanwhile, I thumped my fingers rapidly on the table as the elder's words seemed to blend together. I couldn't help it as I felt like my breath was stolen from my lungs when she smiled and all her eyes looked up when she spoke.
I hardly knew this girl as I did with my former mate Avery but her beauty and charm pulled me to her while I admired her from my seat.
"She is a beautiful lady Alpha and will give you strong beautiful pups." One of the elders spoke.
Mark her already…I tensed, holding myself from jumping on her and kissing her plump luscious lips.
Bella in response, curved her lips, sandwiching them between her canines, before speaking her mind.
"Thank you, elders, I'm flattered by your kind words." She answered back in a soft voice.
I gawked at her tone of voice while she oozed pride and grace.
She will make a good Luna, I wonder why Zach rejected her. Anyway, his loss. A genuine smile radiated on my face.