It's Dark Within

Jack's Center of Attention

        For the next hour, Jack and I did our best to avoid everyone. Most of the older Wulfkin were respectful, only because they didn’t see either Jack or I as threats. The younger adults on the other hand were not taking Jack’s arrival very well. He had already gotten threatened several times, and I was doing my best to keep the males calm. I didn’t know what it was about Jack that was riling all them up, but I was sure it was a dominance thing going on.  

        After another half hour, we were heading to the lawn chairs to relax. And again, we were ambushed, but this time it wasn’t a male trying to pick a fight with Jack.

        While Jack and I walked, Lexana Flour, winked at me before reaching out and grabbing a handful of Jack’s lower region. He turned halfway in confusion, halfway trying to not punch the woman right in the throat, but I wasn’t so shocked. I twisted my body to land a solid kick to the back of Lexana’s knee, getting her to release Jack so he could take a step away from her.

        “Are you okay, Jack?” I asked, watching him uncomfortably readjust himself.

        He nodded. “I’m good, rain.”

        I then turned my attention to his assailant. “What the hell is wrong with you, Lexana? You could have actually hurt him.”

        Lexana rolled her eyes as she straightened after rubbing the spot where she was kicked. “Calm down, Christelle. I just barely grabbed him, but I will say I don’t regret it. I didn’t think he was going to be like that. I’m all hot and bothered now.”  

        “What is wrong with you?” I put a hand to my head, hoping I wasn’t going to get a headache from Lexana.

        “What? Come on, Ell.” Lexana said as she shot me a wink. “I only wanted to know how big he was. It’s not that big of a deal. Didn’t you want to know? Or do you already?”

        Both me and Jack were at a loss of what to say for a minute, then I shook my head. “I don’t care what you were doing. If you touch him like that again, I’m not going to be the complacent little pup all of you think I am. He is not some commodity for all of you to mess with, and if you were a respectable female you wouldn’t go around grabbing the c**k’s of men to get their attention. Don’t touch him again like that without his permission, got it?”

        Jack was speechless to see how fierce I had become in a flash, and so was everyone else. I was usually nervous and hid in the corner, but now I was like a lioness confronting my rival in the Savanna. He smirked as his arm slid around my waist, proudly kissing me on the side of my head before leading me away. Lexana watched us leave and swallowed hard, not wanting for everyone to see how beaten she was.

        When we got to the chairs, Jack laid back and gestured for me to come sit down. So, I sat between his legs and leaned back against his chest with my knees up. I glanced back at him and raised an eyebrow.

        “What is it? You look like your wanting to say something.”

        Jack smiled and leaned his head back. “I can’t believe you defended my manhood like that. It was pretty awesome, love. I knew you had a vicious side, like the other day when I fought your brothers.”

        I rolled my eyes. “I can’t believe she grabbed you like that! I mean, who does that? Did it hurt?”

        “Nah, I’m fine.” He said laughing a little. “It’s strange that she was even curious about my…size. Odd woman that one is.”

        I tried my best to keep from laughing. “Lexana has always got the man she wanted. It must have been killing her that you didn’t notice her right away, and it’s not that strange. Like men wonder what a woman looks like undressed, women wonder the same about men you know. Especially when they are attractive.”

        Jack shook his head, not missing the opportunity to tease me. “Yeah? Are you talking from experience, rain? Wait, did you just say that you think I’m attractive? Have you imagined me naked before then?”

        “Jack!” I cried out as I blushed a deep shade of red and sat up. “I…someone would have to blind to not see that your attractive, and no I haven’t.”

        He smiled as he saw my bite down on my bottom lip with cherry red cheeks. “Ah sad, got my hopes up, rain.”

        Shocked I glanced over at him and let out a quick breath, but before I could say anything something broke us out of our world.

        “You two look pretty cozy.”

        Callum’s voice caused me to jump a little as I looked up to see him with a curious expression over his face. “Hello, brother. How’s it going?”

        He rolled his eyes. “Horribly. I’ve been constantly harassed about Jack, and then on top of it, that brat Malcom came over to badger me about you. How about you two?”

        I shrugged, leaning back against Jack to get comfortable again. “The guys have been threatening Jack all night, and Lexana just grabbed his lower piece to “size” him up for herself. So, about the same as you.”

        “What did Malcom want?” Jack asked Callum as he rested his arm on the top of his knee.

        Callum sighed. “He has always wanted to get Ell to pay him attention. Malcom is a spoiled rich kid who think he can get whatever he wants.”

        Jack shrugged. “Callum. What does he want?”

        Knowing Jack wasn’t going to let this go he broke down. “He’s going to challenge you tomorrow, Jack. Ell has done a good job of ignoring the other guys here for years, but now there is this strange new guy that has what they all wanted. Everyone here thinks you and her are together, and they are going to give you backlash for it. Malcom, Adrien, and Elliot said they are all going to challenge you tomorrow. In the result that you lose, you will be forced to leave our Pack and never to speak or see Ell again. They feel really threatened by you.”

        “They should.” Jack said lightly as he shook his head.

        “This isn’t right. What the hell is wrong with everyone? Do I not get a say in anything?” I felt my anger rising.

        Callum shook his head. “Not in this, dear sister. This male dominance thing is as old as time itself. So, can you handle this, Jack? I won’t lose her to anyone trying to force her.”

        Jack nodded. “Neither will I, Callum. I got this.”

        “Jack…” I pleaded, leaning my head back against him. “Why can’t people just leave you alone?”

        He shrugged. “I got this, Ell. You two need to stop worrying. If it’s for you, I can do it.”

        Callum nodded before rolling his eyes. “Good. Now all you have to do is ask her out. This suspense is getting on my nerves. You two should just get it over with.”

        With that he left, while Jack and I laughed.

        It was late into the night, around two in the morning. Jack was getting tired while I was already asleep in his arms. He gently stood up with me to carry my back to our room, laying me down as lightly as he could in the massive bed before slipping off my shoes and tucking me under the covers. After a deep sigh, he leaned down to place a light kiss onto my cheek before going over to the couch and pulling his shirt over his head. He kicked off his shoes when a noise outside the door caught his attention. Stopping before opening it to look back to me sleeping peacefully, then went out into the dark hallway.

        I shot up in bed as my heart pounded in my chest. My hand went to touch the base of my throat as I tried to catch my breath. As I calmed myself I glanced around the dark room to see that Jack was nowhere present, and I knew something was wrong. My bare feet touched the rough wood as I slid out of bed and headed to the door. The moment I opened it my heart was in my throat. The special black wood made it impossible for noise to carry far, leaving the lodge extremely quiet and eerie. After letting out a deep breath I exited the room and began my search for Jack. Not finding him anywhere in the lodge itself, I wandered outside into the pitch black. 

        The moment I was outside I could smell the familiar fire scent mixed with rust, and my heart was pounding hard against my chest as I knew exactly what it was.

        “Jack!” I screamed. Running towards the scent, following the trail I knew was his. “Jack!”

        My eyes searched the dark until I found a mass slumped over in the grass. Tears streamed down my face as I slid down into the dirt next to Jack. “Hey, look at me! Jack!”

        He lifted his head and smirked at me. “Hey, rain. I figured you would come get me.”

        “What happened, Jack? Where are you hurt?” I asked as I searched him, and then I saw it. Two massive stab wounds to his lower back. “No, no, no. Your bleeding so much…”

        Jack groaned when I slung his arm over my shoulder. “I was jumped, rain. I didn’t see who it was, but I know their scent. One of them was that Malcom guy.”

        I growled, my eyes began to glow, turning helped me become strong enough to carry his weight. “I should go rip his throat out.”

        “You won’t do a damn thing, love.” Jack said, grunting when he lost his footing in the mud. “If he were to do something malicious to you…”

        I sighed. “I will not sit around and have people hurt you, Jack.”

        “Let’s get inside and maybe keep me alive before we continue this arguing, yeah?” He asked as I rolled my yellow eyes.

        “Fine, but I’m not letting this go.” I stopped in front of the doors to spartan-kick one open for us.

        I finally got Jack upstairs and into our room, setting him down gently on the floor to run over to the bathroom. I got out towels to clean him up with and then my mother’s special balm for wounds. Without another word, I went to work on getting him patched up and clean. Jack watched me like I was the only thing in the world that shined, while thinking to himself how lucky he was that I came when I did. If he would have been left out there for another hour or two he would be dead. This was now the second time Ell Carter had saved his life, and he was sure that there was nothing in the world that would keep us away from each other.

        When I was all done I sat back and let out a deep breath. I got Jack’s bleeding completely stopped, and thanks to my balm, he was healing faster than usual. Without even realizing it, tears started streaming down my face. Jack looked over and let out a sigh. His hand touched the side of my face gently, wiping away some of my tears with his thumb. When my blueish-grey eyes met his olive colored one’s I felt like my whole world was about to shatter. I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if I would have lost him, and this was the second time I could have. Almost knowing where my mind was going, Jack pulled me close to him and touched my forehead to his. He could feel my cry a little harder before settling down. He knew going through all of this was hard, but he was desperate to let me know that I was not alone and that he was there.

        After my tears dried, I climbed to my feet and helped Jack up off the floor. I limped him over to the bed and got him to gently crawl in. When I got him settled in, I got in on the other side and draped the blanket over us.

        “Goodnight, Jack.” I whispered while I laid on my side to face him.

        He smiled and gave me a wink. “Sleep good, love.”

        Not being able to help it, my eyes slowly closed and I drifted off to sleep, leaving Jack laying there still watching me. He let out a deep breath and swallowed hard, before whispering. “I love you, Ell.”