Chasing Forever: Jacob's Story

A Declaration of War

 I come to a few hours later. My mother and Chyenne are busily cleaning the blood off my face and Julius works on patching up my side, I've got more than a few broken ribs from the beating I took from my father.

 "Oh thank god, he's awake." Chyenne murmurs to my mother when I groan softly at Julius's touch.

 My mother leans over me and I open my eyes a little wider. "How do you feel?" She asks me, her face strained. Her eyes are red from crying and I can tell she's distraught.

 I manage a weak grin. "Never better."

 Julius snorts and smiles start on both my mother's and mates faces. "You're an idiot." Chyenne whispers kissing my forehead. "Stop being so reckless."

 I look at her, my smile widening. "I'll try."

 After a moment I look back at my mother, reaching over to wipe a tear from her face. "Are you okay?"

 She nods, trying to be strong for my sake. "I'm fine, Jacob. Why wouldn't I be?"

 "Because dad's a prick?" I suggest.

 "Jacob Francis!" She says although I can see how difficult it is for her not to smile. "Watch your mouth."

 "Yes ma'am." I smile lightly. "But seriously, mum. You shouldn't have hit him because of me. If he punishes you.."

 "Your father wouldn't lay a finger on your mother," Julius says without looking up. "He's a lot of things, but he would never. She has and always will be his weakness."

 Mum smiles at me. "Besides." She winks. "I had a lot more than one reason to hit him."

        ***************************************************************************

 Chyenne reaches up to push my hair out of my eyes and I smile at her. "Are you sure you're strong enough to stand for so long?"

 "Angel, I'm alright." I promise, kissing her forehead. "I swear."

 She nods and together we walk into my father's study, where he'd called a few of the stronger fighters in the pack together for an important meeting.

 My father looks up when we walk in and he locks eyes with me, probably trying to communicate with me through the link. Too bad I cut ours off after he beat me. After a second he nods to me and then stands and turns to everyone.

 "As I'm sure you all know, I received word from the Council that I was needed to attend an urgent meeting last week." He says, as strong and poised as he has ever been in all his years as Alpha. "When I arrived there I was given some rather grave news."

 "About?" Marcus says from where he leans next to Saemus, who winks at me over his shoulder. "Not another food shortage."

 Father shakes his head. "I'm afraid this is much worse."

 I cross my arms, ignore the slight twinge of pain at the base of my spine. "What can be worse than our pack starving?"

 Father looks directly at me as he reaches into the pocket of his trousers and pulls out a piece of parchment with an official seal on it. "The Nightingale Pack has declared war on us."

 Everyone in the room starts to talk at once and Chyenne steps closer to me. It's no secret that our packs have been feuding for decades over the size difference in our territory's but none of us had expected a declaration of war. It seems almost childish to go to war over something so petty.

 I glance at Chyenne before making my way over to my father. "What's Uncle Julien's angle father?" I whisper to him. "Why declare war on us now?"

 "My brother is greedy Jacob." He says quietly. "And power hungry. He will do anything he can to ensure that he gets as much power as he possibly can. Targeting our pack is a great way to gain some."

 "But he won't win." I say solemnly. "Never."

 Without another word I turn and walk back over to Chyenne. I take her hand as my father clears his throat gathering the attention of everyone again. "Each of you are now in charge of training all betas over the age of eleven in hand to hand combat. I want border patrols doubled and there must be at least six of you in every group. We expect word from my brother's pack soon now that we have let them know we won't surrender land or anything else to them. I want everyone prepared at a moments notice. We will not break."

 We nod and slowly everyone files out of the room leaving just me, Chyenne and my father. "Go on, love." I whisper to her. "I'll be right there."

 She glances at my father before nodding and leaving, shutting the door silently behind her. I turn to my father. It's the first time we've been alone in the same room since he beat me four months ago and neither of us are completely sure how to break the tension.

 "Yes, son?" He asks, leaning against his desk. "What is it?"

 "I'm 19 now, in human years," I start quietly. "Chyenne is 17."

 He nods. "Yes?"

 I take a deep breath, standing up straighter. I've been preparing for this moment for three years but now that its finally here I feel no fear at the thought of rejection. He cannot control me forever. "I'm a man now, father." I say. "And I would like to do things traditionally."

 "Meaning?"

 I look him straight in his eyes as I speak. "I want your blessing to ask Chyenne to marry me."

 He stares at me. "What?"

 "She's my mate, you know that as well as I do." I say seriously. "And I love her, more than anything in this entire world. And I am ready to marry her and provide for our child."

 "A child?" He stands up straight then, his eyes wide. "Is she with child?"

 I nod. "Yes."

 "How far along is she?"

 I blink. "Several weeks." I say. "We found out last month, but I hadn't figured out how to tell you. Now seemed like the perfect time."

 "We are about to go to war and you want to be married and have a child?" My father says incredulously. "Are you mad?"

 "Do we have your blessing or not?" I say sharply, running out of patience. "Just so you know, I will marry her whether you give me permission or not. I would just rather have it."

 He blinks twice before turning away. "If she makes you happy and you are sure you're ready for this commitment I have no reason to say no."

 "So you approve?" I venture out on a limb, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

 "No." He sits at his desk. "Not in the least. But she is what you want and you are a man. You must make your own decisions."

 How did I know it would be the worst?  I think bitterly, turning and heading for the door. "Okay."

 "Jacob," He calls before I close the door. "Once you are married you must move out. In order to be a man, you need to act like one."

 "I already bought the house at the edge of the village." I say over my shoulder before I close the door and head back to my room.

 Chyenne is laying in our bed reading when I walk in but she sits up when she sees me. "Hey," I say walking over and kissing her before I pull off my clothes and climb into bed next to her.

 "Is everything okay?" She asks. "You were gone a while."

 I smile at her. "Everything's fine love." I promise. "I just had a question."

 She nods, leaning into me. "Alright well I'm tired.."

 "Sleep love." I whisper, kissing her head. "It's going to be a big day tomorrow."

 She nods. "I love you so much."

 "I love you too."