No Matter What: A Chasing Forever Novel

"She's Gone."

*Jacob's POV*  

 It's noon by the time I return back to the village with the hunting party behind me. I drop my catch, a few rabbits and ducks, and turn around to address the others. "Take everything to the cellar beneath the PackHouse and make sure that Felicity places her charms around them so nothing is stolen. It's going to be a harsh winter, we need to start stocking up before the snow comes." 

 "It's September," Kailent murmurs, keeping his eyes lowered to the ground. "Your father doesn't have us stock the cellar until the end of October." 

 I blink, swallowing my distaste at his comment. I refuse to have them believe I'm abusing my power just because my father isn't here. "We lost eight pack members to fever and hunger last winter. This year I don't want to lose any. So we stock up now. Understood?" 

 He nods, glancing up at me before looking back at the ground. "Y-yes sir." 

 "Jake," I correct him quietly. Looking around at the group, I realize many of them look apprehensive now, when just months ago we all would've been laughing among ourselves. "I'm still Jake, I want you all to know. I'm still your friend. I've just got a few more things I have to take care of now." 

 Mike walks over, nodding at the hunting party before turning to me. "I need to speak with you." 

 "Alright," Turning back to the others I smile, tossing my catch at Jude and nodding at everyone else. "What is it?" Mike leads me back up the path I came from, walking slightly faster than normal. 

 "I just want to get away from everyone before I say anything." He says, his voice shaking. "And also, I don't think it's a good idea for you to be around anybody else when I tell you." 

 Alright, now he's being weird. "Mike what the hell are you talking about?" I'm both confused and slightly worried, the only times Mike was afraid to tell me things something really bad had happened. 

 We reach the clearing before the lake and I'm surprised to see Chyenne, Jayden (who Felicity had figured out how to keep in his own body), and both Carlos and Jaimie. "Listen, J. Before I tell you anything you need to promise you won't flip out." 

 I look between them all. "Um, okay?"

 "No, J promise."  Chyenne says, walking over. "Promise me you won't flip out." 

 "No." I say. "Just tell me." 

 "Please," 

 "Chyenne, no!" I say, backing away from her as she reaches to touch my face. "Because I don't want to break a promise to you. So just tell me." 

 She takes a deep breath, looking over her shoulder at Jayden and the others before taking a deep breath. "Who from our pack did you have guarding Iridisia last night?" 

 I blink. "Christopher, why?" Nobody answers, I turn to my best friend. "Mike, why are you asking?" 

 He's silent still, all of them are, exchanging matching looks of fear. "I'm not going to hurt any of you, just tell me." 

 Jayden's the first to break the silence. "She asked because he did a pretty shitty job at it." 

 "What's that supposed to mean?" My heart sinks into my stomach, I'm almost positive this conversation is going the direction I think it is, but I want one of them to admit it. I need one of them to admit it.

 "She's gone." Chyenne whispers. "Iridisia's gone J, she got out. The rest of the guards were killed and Christopher went missing." 

 I turn before the last words leave her mouth and take off, running full speed towards the center of the Kingdom. The castle where my grandfather, The King, rules above all packs. "Jake, no!" I hear Mike scream after me, chasing me, but I ignore him. I need to see for myself before I can decide anything. I need to. 

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

 The dungeons where Iridisia was locked up are under the castle. It's the most secure place in our entire kingdom. You can't get in or out of here without having authority, or written permission from either an Alpha or, in extremely rare occasions, from the King himself. I blow past the gates without a second thought, running straight up to the doors. 

 Two of the Legions Guard are standing outside, both step in front of me. "What is your business here, Prince Jacob?" One asks. "Your grandfather hasn't told anybody he was expecting you." 

 "Get out of my way." I say, my patience quickly running out. I can hear Mike and the others chasing after me through the link. It'll only take them a few more moments to catch up and I need to be inside before that happens. 

 "I'm sorry, sir. That isn't a possibilty-" My patience runs out just then. Grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, I slam him against the wall. My claws are out and I see a pool of blood begin to spread across the perfect white of his shirt by his collar bone, I must have nicked him when I slammed him but I ignore the guilt and flash my eyes at him. 

 "I am an Alpha of a pack of this Kingdom. Grant me entrance to speak with my grandfather or so help me God, I will take it." I threaten him, my voice is hard and menacing, evidently convincing enough for him, because he nods and opens the door the second I let him go. "Thank you." 

 Once inside I follow the path towards my grandfather's study, walking slow so as not to attract the attention of any other Guards. It's empty, but his scent is still fairly fresh. Following it, I realize after a moment its leading me to the door for the dungeons. I brace myself for another argument with a guard, instead shocked when I see the door wide open without any of my grandfathers men keeping watch. 

 A pit of unease opens up in my stomach as I realize there's an overwhelming scent of blood coming from downstairs and I take off running down the twisted halls and staircases, following my grandfathers scent until I find him, hunched over a body sobbing. "Grandfather..? It's Jacob." 

 "She thought she heard a movement down here this morning and she insisted on checking what it was personally.." He manages to get out through his sobs. "I turned my back to close the door to the last cellar and something grabbed her.." 

 I walk closer slowly, unsure who he's talking about, and fall to my knees when I see my grandmother, her eyes and mouth wide open in a silent scream, in his arms. "Oh no.. Oh god.." 

 "I tried to fight it off but it was moving so fast and it was so dark.." He tries to explain, his voice full of grief and pain. "And the screaming, oh god.. The screaming was everywhere." 

 I can barely breathe, my heart feels as though its been stabbed a thousand times and is now being pulled apart with claws. My grandmother was murdered.. She was murdered in her own home by something that was too fast for even my grandfather to kill. 

 I stand, numb. My legs feel impossibly light beneath me and there's a ringing in my ears that gradually gets louder with every step I take. I feel like I'm underwater fighting to swim to the surface, as I turn the corner to face the last cell, the one Iridisia was locked inside of. The one that now, after months of being occupied, is empty.