Chapter 49

Vic smirked, sending waves of anger through Hunter as his pack started slowing down, realising there was an enemy in the court.

When he started walking towards Hunter, Jacob who was still in his pup form squeezed between his legs and watched with concern. He was too distracted to focus on changing back. He watched the light reflect off the rim of his trainers with each step.

Vic's eyes examined the puppy and of course, he didn't know it was Jacob.

"Why is that with you? Are you babysitting?" He had a terribly sarcastic grin and Hunter wanted to punch it off his face. "And why does it have freaky marks on its fur?"

Hunter's pack had changed into their human forms and were standing behind their alpha.

"You have no idea who you're insulting," He growled.

"What?" Vic frowned. "Don't tell me this is a relative? And that wasn't an insult."

Hunter's blood was boiling.

"You come into this building and disrupt our training session, then you think you have the right to question me like this? Who do you think you are?"

"Come on Hunter, you're just the big dog's son, you can't act like you are royalty."

Sniggers were shared among the pack as they realised that Hunter was so much more than just a high ranked alpha.

"Well actually, I can," Now it was Hunter's turn to smirk. "Jacob," He thought. "Can you change back?"

The pup between his legs backed up and moved to his side. Jacob relaxed and tried thinking about his human form. Hunter watched him, knowing he could do it.

Jacob closed his eyes and imagined transforming. He has done it once, he can do it again.

It took him a few seconds to settle but when he felt different, he opened his eyes to find himself kneeling on the ground. He stood up and shuffled a little closer to Hunter while Vic watched with wide eyes.

"How? He's-"

"He's what?" Hunter was being patronising and his pack loved it. "He's human? Well, you're wrong." He turned to Jacob and took his hand. "Would you like to show him some magic?"

Jacob very nearly smiled. He didn't like Vic because he hurt Hunter and that just wasn't acceptable.

Everyone watched him hold out his hand and just like someone flicked a switch, that familiar yellow glow of electricity shot out of his palm and started to circle his fingers.

Vic jumped back with fright.

"What the hell?"

"You made the biggest mistake of your life to underestimate me," Hunter crossed his arms and allowed his stance to fill with pride. "My mate is Jacota. I know your family believe in the gods and look who you just talked down to."

Vic's eyes examined Jacob with caution. He was bigger and powerful.

"The... The god of lightning?" He whispered. His family pray to the gods every Sunday after the city meeting. He always pretended like he didn't believe. However, he did.

He started taking steps back, why has this not been announced.

"Where do you think you're going?" Hunter walked after him. "You came in here, why?"

Vic stopped but his eyes were glued to Jacob.

"I came here to apologise." His words were surprising and Hunter found himself questioning his own hearing. He didn't expect that.

"Why?"

"Because of Alisha. I had no idea she was manipulating your mate's brother like that. After our pack was split up, I told her to distance herself from Jacob and his family. Obviously, she didn't take orders from me because I was no longer her Alpha but she was too angry and I feared she might do something drastic."

"Why didn't you warn me?" Hunter questioned.

"Because I was too ashamed to face you. We took it too far and in all honesty, I was influenced by Alisha. Her drive and her passion for things were inspiring but I didn't see how demonic she was becoming. I was thinking about chucking her out of the pack after what happened to Jacob. And also, I got harsh punishment from my family. They are still ashamed of what I've done and I don't want to keep fighting." Vic had used all of his strengths to walk in here today to admit this but it needed to be done. He was eighteen and it was about time he started acting like it.

Hunter turned back to his pack. They were watching with caution yet the atmosphere was not tense.

"Are you going to forgive him?" Jacob asked in his head.

"No, not until he can prove that he is saying the truth. I don't know if he'll turn on me."

"Why don't you invite him to train today? He must be feeling lonely with no pack."

Hunter stared hard at his mate.

"I can't just forgive and forget Jacob."

"Be the better person. He apologised and that took a lot of guts. You need to show him that his apology was respected. You don't need to forgive him, just try to be on better terms because I think that's what he wants."

Jacob gave Hunter a tiny smile who wasn't used to being told what to do but this was his mate and he had to listen to him.

"Are you sure you're not the god of Wisdom too?" Hunter's eyes expressed a cheeky sparkle before he turned back to Vic. Having another Alpha here was altering his ego. However, his mate was right. No more holding grudges, this needed to be sorted out like adults.

"I don't accept your apology, yet," Hunter said and crossed his arms. "But I don't want to fight either," He sighed and did his best not to cringe. "Would you like to train with my pack today?"

Jacob heard the guys begin to murmur. They didn't know how they felt about that.

"Oh," Vic frowned. "Thanks but I can't. I'm going to Alisha's court hearing. She may be a deluded freak but we were friends for a very long time. It's only respectful if I show some support."

"Alright," Hunter shrugged, happy that he declined. "But if you're really saying the truth, we should no longer be rival packs. It's up to you to change that status."

Vic nodded and started walking back towards the door.

"I will fix this," When he pulled the door open, he turned like he was remembering something. "By the way, you know that pack member of yours that you kicked out, he's sitting outside."

Hunter watched Vic leave as thoughts of Brad popped into his head. Why was he outside?

He turned and Sam understood what needed to be done.

"Stop slacking boys," He yelled. "Start running again." The pack quickly got up and ran on command. Their minds were on Vic and rather shocked that he stepped up like a decent wolf and said he was sorry.

Sam then turned to Jacob and started talking as Hunter left the court.

He walked down the dark corridor that smelt like bleach, indicating that the floors were mopped this morning. It was still early and the day was yet to start for some people. He looked through the window and spotted Brad sitting on the ground.

Hunter pushed the door open and watched how he turned.

"What are you doing here?"

Brad quickly scrambled to his feet.

"Um, well I've been meaning to tell you something for a few days. I just didn't know when the right time was to say it."

Hunter looked him up and down.

"Go on."

"I've found a new pack."

The bird's squawk became noticeable in the cool morning air as Hunter stepped away from the door and allowed it to shut behind him.

"You have?"

"Yes," He nodded with proud eyes. "They offered me a Beta position and I took it. Obviously, it was a hard choice because I was hoping to talk you into letting me back into this pack. You're the highest ranked pack in the north and I was proud but not happy, I guess. Even though I was the Delta, I started feeling less involved and you started relying on Sam more than both of us. When you got a mate, I was jealous. You didn't pay me attention and clearly, I'm made to be in a Beta position but in your pack, I didn't deserve it."

Hunter nodded. What was up with people telling him the truth today?

"Now that you're in a new pack, do you feel happier with that role?"

"I do. I deserve it in a pack without the big status and my family are happy too."

"Good," Hunter smiled. "It was sad to make you leave on bad terms but clearly the connection wasn't there. This worked out better for all of us."

Brad nodded and bit his lower lip.

"I think I need to apologise to Jacob."

"I think you do." Hunter then tilted his head. "Why haven't your family been visiting the city meetings?"

"Oh," Brad sighed. "They're embarrassed that I was kicked out of your pack so they're nervous to bump into your dad in case he makes a scene."

"You know my dad won't do that," Hunter chuckled. "Tell them it's fine, everything between us is sorted."

Brad nodded, looking noticeably at ease.

"Also, I wanted to say thanks for everything. I was a pain most of the time and you put up with me for far too long. You're an amazing alpha and I've learned so much."

Hunter's ego was building back up again.

"Don't thank me, you were a good Delta wolf when you listened to me." They both chuckled as the sun rays shined down on them. "Right, now go away, my training session has been interrupted too many times this morning."

"Alright, I'll come by sometime this week to apologise to Jacob."

"You better."

Brad gave him one last smile before turning and walking away. Hunter allowed a big sigh to escape his lungs. He was feeling less heavy and didn't realise how good it felt to hear people's honesty.

* * * * *

Loud thuds of paws hit the cold woodland floor as they pounded over branches and crushed leaves with their weight. The heavy breathing of a wolf echoed and bounced off the bark of the trees.

Hunter and Jacob ran through the woods in their wolf forms. It was half three in the afternoon and Jacob was very used to being a pup. He loved being able to run fast. Even though he was much slower than Hunter and couldn't leap over fallen tree trunks and got caught within branches often, he still felt the wind flow through his fur.

If anyone of the wolf community spotted them, they'd be utterly shocked to see two wolves with identical markings on their fur. They would most likely run to Anthony to say what they had seen. Grey was a more natural colour but purple stood out for all to see.

"How're your little legs doing?" Hunter questioned and slowed down his jog when Jacob scrambled over a big branch.

"They're okay," He was out of breath in his head. "I feel a bit tired though."

"We can walk for a bit, the house is not too far."  Hunter watched Jacob walk next to him. He leant down to lick his head before stepping over another tree trunk. Jacob jogged around it, noticing that a lot had fallen. It might have been due to the thunderstorm yesterday.

Just then, they both heard voices and froze. Hunter looked through the trees to see a woman in the distance. She looked rather familiar-

"Mum?" Jacob thought with surprise. She was sitting on a tree trunk.

"What is she doing in the woods?" Hunter questioned. They both watched to see her talking with someone else but that person was out of view.

"I just couldn't tell him." A deep voice said which also sounded familiar.

"Can you see?" Hunter asked. Jacob moved his head and his chin almost touched the ground but he saw how the light reflected off the rim of the shoes he spotted which reminded him of someone.

"Well, you need to tell him soon," Grace said and crossed her arms.

The wolves looked at one another, both sharing the same confused expression.

"I don't know how to word it."

"You're thinking too much about it. You just need to say it."

"How can I?" The deep voice sighed. "I can't just walk up to Jacob and tell him we're related."