No Matter What: A Chasing Forever Novel

Traitor.

 *Chyenne's POV*  

  From the second we caught up to Jake he was already walking into his grandfather's castle, and the doors were already closing behind him. I sigh, slowing and turning to the others as they too, stop and stare at the guards in front of the entrance. Without Jake with us none of us are granted permission to step inside.

 "What now?" Jayden grumbles, slightly out of breath, but his blue eyes sparkling. He's still full of energy. "Do we go back to the village?" 

 I shake my head immediately. "No. I'm not leaving him to deal with his anger alone." 

 "Okay, well you see Chyenne, not all of us are unafraid of Jacob." Mike mutters, scratching the back of his head and squinting past the sunlight at the castle. He's never even been here before, and having been born a human he's probably in awe at everything he's seeing. "He wouldn't hurt you, but he'd hurt any of us if we made him angry." 

 "That's not true and you know it, Mike." I say annoyed. "Jake wouldn't hurt any of us." 

 Carlos scoffs but doesn't say anything as Jaimie steps closer to me. "How do you think he's gonna react when he sees the cells actually empty?" 

 I'm quiet for a second. Jake isn't scary, at least I've never had any real reason to be afraid of him. But I know that bringing Iridisia in alive was a big deal to him, he wanted to prove to himself that he isn't just a killer. Now that she's gotten out.. "I think the Pack's gonna see a side of Jake they aren't ready for." 

 Immediately after the words leave my life the doors open, and Jake emerges carrying a body in his arms. His face is red, and there are tears on his cheeks, but the look of anger in his eyes is one I've never seen in all the years I've been with him. 

 "Who is that?" Mike whispers as Jake starts slowly down the steps, his grandfather staggering out slowly behind him, looking so broken I can physically feel his pain. 

 "Oh no.." I whisper. 

 "What?" Jayden whispers, straining his neck to see better. "Who is it..?" 

 "His grandmother.." 

 Carlos and Jaimie both make strained noises in the back of their throats, stepping forward quickly. Mike and Jayden grab them, keeping them a respectful distance from Jake as he walks slowly towards us. 

 "Get off me!" Carlos spits, livid. Jaimie just cries silently, staring at her body in shock. She was their grandmother too. "Let me go!" 

 "Guys.." I say quietly. "Let them go." 

 As soon as their grip loosens, the twins run towards Jake, who stops and lets them say their goodbyes. His face is impassive, and if it wasn't for the anger in his eyes you'd think he had no emotional response to the death, but I know he's destroyed. 

 "J.." I whisper, once he starts walking again. 

 He just shakes his head and keeps going, his head bowed and his strides slower than normal. After a quick glance at the other's before following close behind him. He may not want to talk to me now, but I'm not going to leave him alone until he's ready. Especially since he was extraordinarily close with both of his grandparents. Her death is going to be hard for him to handle, more so since it hasn't been that long since he lost his sister. 

 What's J gonna do now..? Roxy whispers through our link. She's worried about his anger getting out of control. 

 Honestly, I'm not sure Rox.. But I'd be surprised if he doesn't do something..

 Well let's hope he doesn't go on a murder spree again. She's referring to the things Jake did when he was under Iridisia's influence. She refuses to let go of them, convinced that he may do them again. 

 You know as well as I do that he wasn't himself when he did those things. 

 And you know my priority is keeping you safe, Chy. You trust him because he's you're mate, but its my job to worry that he might hurt you. She says, not for the first time. 

 You know, he is your mate too. 

 She rolls her eyes. A technicality. Jayden is my mate, Jacob is yours. 

 Jayden and Jacob are technically the same person, I point out dully. Her and I hae this same argument every couple of days. I understood Rox's apprehensiveness towards me being alone with Jake when he was angry while he had no memory, but now it's becoming more and more frustrating. He's still the same Jake I fell in love with all those years ago at the lake. 

 Yeah, well Jayden never murdered innocent people. Just be careful okay? 

 When am I not? Now I'm the one rolling my eyes. Sometimes Roxy acts more like my mother than my wolf. 

 Everytime you're alone with loverboy. 

 Goodbye Rox. 

 We're nearing the village and I can see the muscles in Jake's shoulders tensing. He's becoming angrier with every step, theres probably a million and one thoughts going through his mind about what he should do to find out who let out Iridisia.. A fact that worries even me, too much stress might make him shut off his emotions out of habit. 

 Jogging a few steps to catch up, I touch his arm immediately bringing him to a stop. "J, maybe let Jayden bring her to the Healer to find out if she was killed by magick.." I whisper, seeing the hurt buried behind the anger in his eyes. "We can just stand here alone for a moment.." 

 His shoulders sag gratefully and he nods, his heartbreak finally breaking through the mask he hides behind. "Okay.." 

 Jayden stops in front of him, reaching for J's grandmother. "I promise you I won't let anybody near her body besides your family. And I'll make sure nobody leaves the village without your approval." He promises, looking into Jake's eyes. "You've got my word."

 Jake nods, closing his eyes as Jayden lifts her out of his arms. The others look at me in silence, turning at my nod and following behind Jay quickly. I turn to Jake. "Baby.." He crumples, immediately falling to his knees in front of me, his head in his hands. I get down next to him, pulling him against me and running my fingers through his hair as he cries. "Shh.. It's okay baby, I've got you.." 

 He doesn't say anything, but grabs my hand, holding it tight. His whole body is shaking with his sobs, and I adjust my body slightly so he can lay his head in my lap. Frantically, he pulls me closer to him, his breaths speeding up. "No.. Please don't let go.." 

 "Never love, I swear." I say, quietly. "Come here." 

 He lays back down, still refusing to let go of my hand. We stay like that for a while before he calms enough to open his eyes again. "I'm not ready to call the Pack together for questioning.." 

 "That's okay," I say. "We can just stay here until you are." 

 Nodding, he snuggles into me. "I couldn't do this if I didn't have you." 

 "You'll never have to do this without me, love."

 "Promise?" There's a desperate light in his eyes, and I feel my heart clench in guilt. He really think's I'd leave him? 

 I shake my head. "No, I swear." 

   Neither of us say anything for a while after that, I just play with his hair as he struggles to be okay again before he has to be an Alpha. The sun's already started sinking by the time he sits up, his eyes puffy and red from crying. "I guess it's time.."

 "Time for what?" I stand with him, he still won't let go of my hand. 

 He looks into my eyes then, and I can see why The Council was so certain he could handle being Alpha in his fathers absence. Where before there was sheer heartbreak and anger, now his face and eyes are composed. He looks so much like his father, for a second I'm breathless. "There's a traitor in this pack," He says, seriously. "And I'm going to find out who he is. And he's going to pay for what he did."