Chapter 108 Chapter 108
It was finally time to attack Dark Stone pack again.
They had all gathered around, even the members in cloaks were ready because they were among the strongest members with magical powers so they could exert dominance with their power.
"We all have to be prepared. We're going there with the only aim to succeed and conquer them." Dad announced and I was nodding like the other members, acting like I was paying close attention.
"Vladimir, have you done what needs to be done?" Mom asked him. Wait, what did Vladimir have to do? I had no idea Vladimir was doing anything. Why didn't they let me know?
"Yes, I already gave them a false prediction that there'll be an attack on Desmond's pack, so they're preparing for an attack against Diamond pack. What the heck? I had no idea about that. I really hoped Keegan didn't go there instead. I should've known Vladimir's predictions were wrong. What kind of terrible person is this?
"That's great. Are we all ready?" Freya asked and we all echoed, " Ready!"
"Now everyone, switch."
"That's the only good part about this.' Vera said as I pictured her before switching into her.
We all gathered whatever might be needed then headed down while my heart was beating in fear.
I was wondering if they were prepared well enough. I knew they were but I also knew my family members were very powerful and unpredictable.
KEEGAN -
"They'd be here anytime soon. Ensure everything is arranged accordingly." I ordered the guards and they nodded.
"Mason, be on the lookout, ensure no one comes to the town center." I said and he nodded.
"Scarlett, be in guard to attack anyone when necessary, protect the pack members." I said and she nodded as well. "Shane, put the guards to order and ensure everything is well spread."
"Okay, Alpha." He also took his leave.
'Kate and Mrs. Bea, spread the herbs around and keep charge of the children, especially Rylee and those at the orphanage room.' I mind linked them.
I had sent a few guards to Diamond pack, knowing fully well that Vladimir's prediction was going to be false.
I didn't want to mind link Jane to prevent any suspicions over there. Because they could find out she was mind linking me with their crazy strange tactics?
I tried to strain my ears in the direction Jane had said they'd be coming from and I could thumping of wolfs' feet against the ground not quite far away.
"They'll be here soon. Everyone that's expected to fight should switch to their wolves now! If not, stay in position.' I mind linked the entire pack members.
Mason, Scarlett, Shane, a few other members, and I switched to our wolf form as the Ardolfs and their town members began to storm to us then they suddenly froze, definitely not expecting to see us fully prepared.
'Launch the shots!' I said to the guards and there were lots of shots as the herbs fell in front of them.
They immediately started coughing and scattered around, clearly choking and wheezing for air. Some of them bumped into woods and hurt themselves while some of them tried to assist others to get up.
I watched Jane's wolf as she choked as well and her gasping for her triggered fear in me. I wasn't certain if she was actually choking or it was an act.
'Alpha, please don't go to her and create any suspicion. Like she said, it won't kill anyone 'Mason linked it.
A few of them were able to bypass it and started attacking the guards though they still coughed so much.
More of the herbs were shot as we all decided to attack them back, scratching and thumping any wolf she could attack.
Their suffocation increased as more of the herbs were short around them, then it seemed like they were ordered to withdraw from the scene as they started running back.
There were so many that it made me wonder how great they were at hiding so many rogues. Jane's extremely beautiful silver wolf glanced back at me and I could read the internal victory in her dark blue eyes.
When they had finally left, I called everyone back to get the pack in order again.
~ JANE ~
"How the heck did they find out about it?" Vladimir groaned.
"I'm still so furious. How could they?" I decided to add furiously to not draw any suspicions to me.
"I knew Keegan had always been so sneaky but not till this extent. They just messed up our full blown plan." Dad's face had reddened.
It turned out Mom was allergic to the herbs so it made her fall ill and she was sleeping in her bedroom while receiving natural treatments.
"How else would they know if one of our town members didn't feed them with the information?" Freya said with a frown. Though she wasn't pointing fingers at me, I assumed that she might be suspecting me.
So I continued grumbling about how terrible Keegan and Dark Stone pack were to others complaining rogues beside me.
"Let's forget about that for now and get medical attention. Some of us were affected even more. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that crazy Kate and getting information and help from unknown sources." Dad said, clenching his fists.
"Oh, that's right. That crazy woman, how could I forget her?" Freya said and I internally sighed that that could at least draw her off suspecting me.
I stepped out of the shower. They had done a general cleansing for the town members and an activity to increase immunity against such herbs so that couldn't affect them next time.
"Jane," I heard Freya's voice as she knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"
"Hang on." I quickly hid my phone before she snuck it out without notice then wore a dress before I opened the door, still drying my hair with a towel. "Hi." I smiled at her.
"Please head out." She smiled.
With curled eyebrows, I stepped out, wondering what was going on. She started walking away and I followed her lead. We left outside and she stopped me on a platform.
I noticed Grandmother walking out from a passage with a smile then when she spotted us, she started heading towards us, but Freya hadn't seen her since her back faced her.
"Jane, I'm starting to think your focus is washing off. You seem to be forgetting what Keegan has done to you and you both seem like your chemistry is coming back. I have to perform something to sustain the vow you made."
"Freya, what's that?" Grandmother asked.
She flinched and turned to her. "Mom, why are you here?" A line formed between her brows.
"What are you trying to do? Stop trying to get into her head. I don't feel comfortable with it."
"What do you mean?" her lips formed a tight grin as she glanced at me then walked grandmother quite far away from me. "Mom, what is wrong with you?! Why are you trying to stop it? What if she still likes Keegan? You know we still need her and her wolf for now." "Are you out of your mind? I don't appreciate you trying to make my granddaughter do things against her will. Why would you want to control her if you're on the right path? If you're on the right path-"
"-then you'll surely win. Blah blah blah." She cut her off. "Mom, it doesn't work that way. Stay out of this and let us do what we think is right. We're not trying to harm her. Why'd we place her in trouble after finally finding her after fifteen years? We all care about her, I do too. No one is causing harm to her."
"you're causing harm to her brain. Let her make her own choices."
"Oh, and if her choice is Keegan?"
"Then we leave it. Let her do what she thinks is right for her."
She scoffed. "You're too old to understand anything."
"If you do anything that makes her not trust us and we lose her forever, I'll never forgive you."
"It wont. Once we achieve the victory and she finally belongs to Darion, she'll see the worth and appreciate us even more. It's for her own good. Stop trying to make me seem evil. We all want her to be happy again and we want a better family and we all know that can't happen as long as Keegan, Kate, and Dark Stone still exist. Stay out of this, okay?" She said then walked back to me after a while.
It was strange that she had walked far away yet I could hear her. Was Keegan's hearing sensitivity rubbing off on me now?
I pretended like I hadn't heard anything as she stopped in front of me while Grandmother's brows were curled upwards and drawn together with her lips turned upside down.
"Jane, this might sound strange, but we just need you to be still. I'm doing this because they've tampered with your choices before and we don't want that to happen again, okay? It won't cause any harm, I promise,"
I gulped, unsure of what to do. If I agreed, then it could affect my mind again. If not, it could create suspicions and could place my life in danger as well as Dark Stone.
'Do it. Let's just keep our mate in our head. We've got this.' Vera encouraged.
'Are you sure about that?'
'Yes, just do it. I've got this.' She smirked.
"Of course, I have no problem with it."
"Are you certain, sweetheart?" Grandmother asked, her voice lower than usual.
"Yes, Mom, she just said it with her own mouth, by her choice. Jeez." She glared at her.
She stepped closer to me and dug her hand into her coat pocket to slip out a dark ball-like thing and started hovering it over my head.
It suddenly felt like a familiar great force was overtaking me but I was thinking of Keegan like Vera had suggested and the terrible things that could happen if hating him again, reminding myself that it could be a misunderstanding of him again.
The force was stronger as something washed over my eyes then she returned the ball-like thing to her coat pocket. "How do you feel now?" she asked.
"Way better and stronger." I replied and let thoughts of Keegan cloud my mind, then it felt like the force was suddenly washed off.
"See Mom? Nothing happened."
Grandmother sighed. "Jane, let's head inside. I made a meal for you." She was clearly very sad from what had just happened.
She was my favorite person here and if I could prevent the attack like I just did, we could have a higher chance at victory and I knew it was only a few more attempts before the misunderstanding between these families were resolved.
SCARLETT -
Everyone had been and was still excited about our little victory against the Ardolfs and we're preparing even more for future attacks.
Keegan was alone with that Rylee child, playing board games while mentioning how much they missed Jane.
I wasn't even interested in going to him, he'll just act mad and make me feel terrible about myself. Instead, I was interested in seeing Shane again. I hadn't really had the time to speak to him again after our last occurrence and I was so nervous to speak to him.
I decided to apply makeup and wear a cute dress that stopped a few inches above my knee then I left for the very short drive to his house.
My chest was beating really fast in its cage and my palms were so sweaty as I rang the doorbell.
'What the heck is wrong with me? Why do I feel this way?' I asked Kayla.
'I have no idea. I can also feel the tension of meeting Shane again.'
Her anxiety wasn't helping me either.
The door flung open and Shane was shirtless. That made my anxiety worse and it made him look more attractive.
"Hi Scarlett. Please come in," he said with a nervous smile.
I followed his lead and got in, taking my seat on the sofa while he awkwardly sat beside me.
"Uh... wh-what brings you here?"
"I was just bothered and since there's nothing to do, I thought I'd stop by to pay you a visit."
"That's very nice. Do you care for a snack?"
"No" I shook my head.
I was trying to think of what to say to him but I couldn't bring myself to talk. He was also just gazing at me without any word, raising the awkwardness.
I was fiddling with the hem of my dress and my palms were so much more sweaty as my heart throbbed fast.
"Are we just going to remain quiet and act like nothing happened?" He asked, then heaved a sigh. "It might seem strange to you and I know how much you're crazy about Keegan, but I've always felt a strange attraction towards you and when you offered to have a one- night stand with me, I just felt too excited and couldn't control myself. I know you said you just wanted it to be once but after that, I feel even more attracted and have been thinking about you since then. You're the only thing on my mind, I'm not able to focus on anything."
"You like me?" I blinked multiple times, completely taken aback. That was so strange.
"Well... yes, I guess so. No pressure-"
"I'm glad I'm not alone in this. I feel so crazy since then. I've not felt stable, it doesn't make me feel as attracted to Keegan as before, which is so unbelievable. I know I mentioned that it just had to be once, but I'm fueling with more desire. Can it just be once more?"
"Scarlett, you don't "
"Please, I need to enjoy the moment again. I need confirmation." I leaned closer and placed a kiss on his lips. He was hesitant at first but returned the kiss.
His lips felt like soft pillows as we drew each other's breath in.
He stopped the kiss. "Let's head to the bedroom. I don't want Ariella walking into us. She won't be back home until tomorrow, but I don't want to take any risk with her innocence." "Of course, no problem." I replied, exhilaration danced in my stomach at the possibility of what was happening next.
He led me to his bedroom and when we sat on his bed, he resumed kissing me.
The passion flew from his kiss till we got rid of our clothes and swan into the new adventure.
I had my head on Shane's chest, not wanting to leave there. I felt calm in his embrace, and I felt much happier. "What if this works out?" I wondered. What if he was meant for me?
"It can work out if we make it work out." He was caressing my bare back as he spoke.
"I don't want to take the risk of missing any opportunities again like I did with Evan. I don't think Keegan would ever be interested in me."
"Me neither. He doesn't understand what he's missing out on, he doesn't realize your worth. We can explore the attraction and see where it'll lead us to
"I've heard Mae mention about chosen mates. If it works out... do you think we can be chosen mates?" I raised my head to him, waiting hear his answer with high hopes.
"Absolutely!" A wide grin spread his lips apart. "Ariella likes you, so there's no issue."
I was literally grinning from ear to ear, glad that there was a ray of hope shining in the darkness of my life.
The door was suddenly kicked open and made both of us flinch from each other.
An unfamiliar woman painted in so much makeup glared at me then Shane. "You fucking idiot. How dare you cheat on me?!"