Chasing Forever: Jacob's Story

"I Promise."

 Mike and I flip from tree to tree gathering branches to build a fire. The whole pack, besides the elderly and the children, is in the clearing below us, setting up camp as we wait for Julien and his fighters to reach us. Nichola and my mother, the only Seer's in our pack, witnessed that they would be coming for us at daybreak so in an effort to protect our home are setting up camp at the only entrance to the pack village.

 "Scary isn't it..?" Mike whispers as he lands on a branch next to mine. "Tomorrow we go to war."

 I nod, ripping off another branch and dropping it to Sae who catches it and tosses it onto the burn pile. "Very."  

"What's war like, J?" He asks, his voice barely above a whisper. "You were in some while you were away, right?"

 Clenching my jaw I look away, remembering the amount of death I'd witnessed and inflicted while with the Legion. "It's something I never wanted to be a part of again." I say quietly.

  I can feel Mike's eyes on me as I break off another branch and then drop from the tree, landing without a sound at the base. "Here," I say to Saemus, handing over the branch. "That should last us the night. Light it."  He nods, turning and walking without a sound over to the pile and after a moment I turn and walk over to my father. "Is it alright if I go check on Alison? Nich is probably having trouble keeping her in the house."

 Father decided to keep Nichola out of the direct fight, unless we desperately needed her help. She instead was placed in the village to watch over the young, including our little sister. A decision Nichola was none too happy with.

 He nods. "Make it quick, Jacob. We need you here, should they attack sooner."

"Yes sir." I say, turning and walking quickly toward where Chyenne is sitting next to my mother. "I'll be right back, love." I say when she looks up. 

 "Where are you going?" Mother asks and Chyenne nods, both looking at me with equal looks of unease on their faces. "You don't plan on running ahead to watch for them, do you?"

  "No ma'am." I say. "I'm just running back to the village to make sure everything is under control and to make sure Ali listens to Nich."  

 Chyenne nods. "Stop at our house on the way back, would you?" She says. "I'm cold." I glance over my shoulder at my father, who meets my eye and nods once before turning back to watch a few younger beta's sparring in the corner.

"Come with me, you can grab a blanket." I say, holding out my hand to help her up. "You can take it back to the house tomorrow during the battle."

 She smiles as we head out of the clearing and I place my arm around her shoulders. "I love you," She whispers quietly as we near the village. "God I do."

 "I love you too, angel." I say, kissing her forehead before turning back toward the path, keeping my eyes on the ground.

 We walk in silence for a few more moments, and we are in our room before Chyenne pulls me to a stop and forces me to look at her again. "Promise me something."

 "Anything, love." I say quickly, wondering why there are tears in her eyes and why her face is suddenly flushed and fearful. "What's wrong?"

 "Promise me that you'll live through the battle tomorrow, please." She says, her voice cracking and the tears spilling. And now I understand. Why she'd been avoiding me these past few weeks as I trained, why she'd been around my mother so often. Why she always seemed reluctant when I walked out our front door. She's terrified.

 "Angel," I say, stepping closer to her in our small bedroom and placing my hands on her neck, leaning down so she has to look into my eyes. "Where is this coming from?"

 "Just promise me.." She begs, her voice hoarse from her tears and her heart beating extremely fast in her chest. "Please, promise me you're coming home tomorrow."

 I nod, my heartbeat almost painful in my chest. I hate seeing her cry, I hate seeing her upset. And its even worse knowing that I am the root of her pain. "I promise love, I'll come home to you tomorrow."

 Chyenne isn't allowed to fight because she is currently carrying my unborn son, the heir to the kingdom and the future grandson of the Alpha. Instead, she is going to be kept under protection with the elders and children in the Packhouse tomorrow., under protection from six she-wolves who are better fighters than most males in our pack, and fiercely protective of children and mothers.

 She nods, and I touch my forehead to hers, closing my eyes. "I'll always come back to you my love." I whisper to her. "No matter what."

 "Good.." She says, touching her hands to the small bump in her stomach. Our son. "We need you here."

 I smile, opening my eyes and kneeling in front of her laying my ear against her stomach. After a moment I can make the tiny thu-thumps  of our boys heartbeat as he rests, warm and protected, inside her. 

 "Can you hear it?" She whispers, her hands in my hair as I remain there for a few moments, letting the sound of his heartbeat be committed to my memory so that I may use it as strength for tomorrow. "His heartbeat?"

 I nod, remaining there for a second longer before standing. "Yes." I say, kissing her softly. "And I swear, I will listen to it again tomorrow."
 

 "And every day after?"

 I smile, placing my hands on top of hers on her stomach. "Every day."