Chapter 65

Jennifer agreed to me visiting Jacob the next day. I had sent the message with Michelle saying that if I were to ever consider her proposal, I would have to speak with the Alpha first. I worried that she would want to test my blood, but she said nothing about it.

Dylan was walking with me to the Alpha's lair. His prancing gait loped beside mine, he was beaming at me as if I'd invited him to a dance. "This is a strange meeting, isn't it?" He said.

"Yes, thank you for escorting me. I feel so nervous meeting the Alpha, and as you know, Ryan could not come."

"Oh, he's not so bad," Dylan said. "I've never had any problem with Jacob the few times that we've met."

Happy for him, I thought sarcastically. I also felt a little bad that I could not share more with Dylan, but I wanted his witness to occur naturally without any bias. It would serve everyone better that way.

Jennifer received us at the front door. She was glancing wearily at Dylan since with his presence, she might not be able to ask as much or pounce on me as aggressively as she'd like.

"Welcome," she said in that false friendliness she evoked so well at times. "This way to the Alpha, we're happy for your visit." But her severe eyes fell on me, and there was a lot of suspicion and anger.

My nerves were on edge already from the first moment my sister was in the room. I was still haunted by the last time we'd met and the way she'd really looked at me as if she saw me.

She led us back to a darkened bedroom. She opened the curtain a little to allow some light to flood in one beam towards Jacob. It hit him, and his skin looked ashy gray and his dark eyes bloodshot and swollen.

"Alpha Jacob!" Dylan exclaimed. "I knew you were ill, but…" His concern was evident as he lurched forward near his bed. He turned to the Luna. "Has he been taking the Blood's Bane?"

Even as he said it, I smelt the herb. There was a mostly empty cup on his bed stand.

"Of course," Jennifer gestured at it.

Jacob groaned, but them his attention locked on me. He sniffed the air in my direction becoming a little more awake.

I stepped back slightly. His eyes were growing hungry. "Have we met before?" he asked before answering his own question, "Oh yes, on the road that one day. I didn't know you smelt so good then."

My insides trembled. I looked at Jennifer who stared at her mate with a blank expression.

Despite Dylan being beside him, it was as if Jacob had eyes only for me. He tilted his head towards Jennifer without breaking his stare. "Did you bring her for me? A new blood provider."

Dylan said, "What? Alyson? That's Alyson, my trade associate, Alpha Jacob."

But it was as if Dylan had said nothing at all.

"Hush, my love," Jennifer said, coming to his side, she placed her hand on his shoulder as if it might calm him. She spoke to Dylan, "He's been a little delirious. I don't think he knows what he says."

"I know exactly what I say," he growled and threw her hand away from him. "That girl there has good blood, and I want it now. I can smell it. It's better than Diana's. That stupid girl, you should do better for your mate."

Dylan was backing away from him, and drawing closer to me, clearly to place himself between me and Jacob, although the Alpha of Crowalt had a strange way to look around him no matter where he stood.

"What is he saying?" Dylan asked Jennifer. "Aren't you his blood provider?"

"He's speaking nonsense," Jennifer said softly

Her mate interrupted her. She was close enough he even slapped her across her face for speaking so. "Shut up, bitch. I never should've married you. You're worthless, and you bring me only blood of one other. I thought you'd be able to find me many blood providers. Not just Diana. I want that one." He pointed at me with a shaking finger. Even his hands looked gray and hairy. His wolf was strong inside him, although he was too weak to shift.

It was the first time I saw Jennifer look wounded. She brushed it off in a moment, and said to him, "My love, we have Dylan Harris here with us too. You're speaking nonsense."

"AM I?" He yelled as he threw the tea at her. "Or are you not giving me what I need?"

Dylan interjected, "Alpha Jacob, I'm not sure if it's right of you to treat your mate…."

Jacob turned his bloodshot eyes on Dylan with a murderous look as if he were only in the way, and then his attention fell back to me.

He licked his lips, and I cringed. Ariana was recoiling inside me. I was ready to shift and either fight or flee.

"I think we've seen enough," I said, needing to retreat out of there. I tucked my arm in Dylan's for extra support.

"Yes, thank you for the visit," Dylan said promptly, although it was all polite and not genuine at all.

We spun away to leave. We'd only just left their bedroom when Jennifer ran after us. She surprised me as her vice grip latched onto my upper arm. I whirled ready to fight her, but her ghostly expression was not aggressive. It was desperate.

"Please, ignore the Alpha. But as you see, he really does need help." I did not believe she would have this tone except that Dylan was there.

"I won't help," I said firmly. "I don't want any part of this." I turned back to Dylan, and we practically bolted out of the lair.

The whole time we exited, I felt my skin crawling, ready to shift if Jennifer came after us, but she did not.

As soon as we were several paces from the front door, Dylan exclaimed, "What in the world was that?"

"It sounds as if Jacob is using Diana as a blood provider and he wants more."

"I'm not from around here, but I was sure that was against the rules."

"You're right about that." I said, still clinging to his arm, so happy that he was there with me. "I think we need to tell someone."

Dylan patted my arm. "That could cause a lot of problems here."

"They're causing the problems. Jennifer has asked me twice if I would test my blood and provide to Jacob."

"What?" Dylan sounded angrier now.

"Yes, she offered me whatever I might want, but I refused." I said. "They have been breaking the pact, and I think we should tell the elders."

"That's tricky," he said at first. "But it is right. Jacob seems in no condition to lead anyway."

"So will you come with me and make a complaint to the elders?"

"Of course," he said. "I agree that something must be done, and it should be up to them. But what are you hoping for?"

"Jacob should not be the Alpha." I said surely. "He's violating their ways, and using she-wolves for blood outside the pact."

"Let us go straight away." Dylan said. We veered towards the elder's mansions. "I think this is best if we tell them as soon as possible."

"My thoughts exactly," I agreed. "I do not trust them, and they know that we know."