Her Best Friend’s Alpha Father

Chapter 16 The Wolf Reaction

Everything felt completely wrong. Elara was able to notice this the moment she stepped into the training grounds of the pack. At first, it wasn't much, just a little discomfort, and she thought within her... Maybe it's her guts to environment filled to people lately. But no, it was more like someone somewhere was watching her... waiting.

Her wolf felt unease, stirring to inform her of the new development. Selene walked beside her all chatty to keep her company and occupied. Her way of deliberately taking her mind off what she was going through.

The chats were mostly about random class experiences, gossip, who is dating who, anything worth discussing to keep things going normally.

But in all of this, Elara wasn't listening. Her senses had sharpened, alert and of course, searching...

Then, she saw him.

Ronan.

He was standing at the far end of the field, and with him were a few pack members whom he was discussing something with owing from his posture, and gestures. He appeared relaxed, but his presence never failed to do that which it knows how best to do; command attention.

On sighting him, her wolf reacted instantly, more like a pull, very strong and unrelenting, that she didn't know what to do again.

"Elara?" Selene nudged her gently. "You succeeded in zoning out again."

"I'm fine," Elara managed to murmur, and breaking her gaze from his direction. But it was rather too late, as he had seen her, smelled her presence, and he had located her.

Within seconds, everything changed, the noise gradually faded away, and the only thing still in existence was only their moment together.

"Elara!" The voice interrupted their moment together. It was no other but Jax. He jogged toward her, and plastered on his face was a wide grin. He was all smiles like she was his favorite person in the world. Like he had never humiliated her, or that everything suddenly became fine between them.

"Hey," he said, casually reaching to hold her waist. Elara became stiff, even her wolf recoiled inside. But, she could not stop him herself, a low growl was heard across the field, very deep and dangerous.

It was so strong that the entire space went still. Elara's breath caught, and at this point, she didn't need to look to see what was happening. She knew it was Ronan. At this point, Jax froze, but he didn't move, still hovering near Elara's waist.

"What the he...ll?" He muttered, forcing the words literally from his mouth. Selene's eyes widened in shock, her gaze immediately darting to her father. Ronan had left his discussion, leaving his pack members staring in shock. He was now walking toward Elara and Jax, and Selene.

His eyes was locked on Jax's hand. It was still close, and too familiar to neglect.

"Elara," Jax called again, trying his best to ignore the increasing tension he noticed, as he finally got the guts to place his hand on her waist. And that was it. Ronan's wolf snapped, a loud growl heard, louder this time.

It was the kind that wastes no time in sending a warning straight through the bones. Elara's heart pounded wildly on noticing what was happening. Her wolf her recognized him, not in fear, but in possession.

For some reason, Jax pulled back slightly, now frowning.

"What is really his problem?" He muttered, asking no one in particular.

Selene stepped forward quickly, trying to understand what was going on. "What's happening?"

Ronan stopped, but just a few feet away from where they stood. His gaze landed on Elara briefly, before it went back to Jax in a cold unforgiving manner.

"Take your hand off her now," he said. The command was quiet, but still absolute. Jax blinked, confused on what was happening.

"What?"

"I said," Ronan repeated, his voice kind of lower now, but more dangerous "take your hand off her."

This made everywhere to become quiet. It was very thick, heavy and uncomfortable.

Jax straightened, and at this point, his expression became hardened.

"She's my mate," he said, trying to defend his reason for holding her. "Or did you suddenly forget about that, Alpha?"

At this point, Elara was no longer breathing well. She could see how darkened Ronan's eyes had become.

"Then, you should act like it," he replied him too harshly. "Don't behave like a careless boy, who has no understanding of boundaries." Jax scoffed, still not understanding why the Alpha was meddling in his affairs.

"And what boundaries ate you talking about, if I may ask." He shot back at him. "The last time I checked, you were clearly not involved in this ."

His statement, kind of spiked the tension, increasing it every second. Selene noticed that the environment wasn't safe anymore, then, she stepped in between them, so that her father won't harm Jax with his Alpha aura. She knew that Jax was senseless, but she didn't know he could go as far as challenging the Alpha.

"Okay, I think that's enough already," she said. "Both of you should get hold of yourselves."

By now, Ronan's gaze, wasn't on Jax anymore. It had landed on Elara, very intense and claiming.

"Elara," he called her in a soft and gentle manner, almost exposing his emotions.

"Yes...Alpha?" She replied, and of course, she forced the title out. And that made him angry, as he wanted her to call his name. But he still made no effort to correct her. He knew he can't do that at that place.

"You should be resting at this moment," he said. "You have no business standing around here, with his likes."

Jax let out a laugh, a short one that he wasn't feeling.

"Oh, now, you sudden care about her?" He asked in a mocking tone. "Don't bother yourself about that, I've got her covered, Alpha."

This made Ronan to turn slowly, until his eyes met with Jax's. This time, there was no restraint so far.

"Do you, as you claimed?" He asked, his tone dangerous and calm at the same time.

This made Jax's smirk to gradually disappear. "What is this supposed to mean anyway?"

Ronan took a step forward, the space between them gradually shrinking away, while pressure is building up.

"It means," he started slowly. "If you're ever going to claim responsibility, which clearly isn't, then, this is the point where you start acting like someone worthy of it!"