Leaving the lodge, Frank saw Jacob walking into the woods and decided to follow him. Maybe they could walk and talk.
Jacob hadno specific direction when he set out for his walk. He did think to change into his wolf, but decided against it. Reminding himself that if he was to live outside of a pack, he had to get used to not shifting. But out here now, he could just breathe in the trees and find his calm centre, something he hadn’t had for a while now.
He shook his head, thinking over everything that had happened since his mother died. His father had never been violent until after she died, but any softness he had, which admittedly wasn’t much, vanished and in its place was a violent, angry man. Even before his mother died, his father had ruled the pack with an iron fist, and taught him to do the same. It was all Jacob had ever known, and now to find out all that teaching had been wrong, was really messing with his head.
Why would his father have lied to him all these years and taught him that his alpha way was the only way if it wasn’t? Sure, he had thought this before, and he was pretty sure he would keep thinking about this until he had some answers.
He had tried to rebel against his father’s teaching a few times, but after a couple of beatings from his father, he shoved those thoughts aside and tried to be someone his father could be proud of, even if it went against his nature.
And then, there were the secret phone calls and meetings his father had had, on numerous occasions.
Jacob had walked into his father’s office once when he had been on the phone. His father jumped up, forcefully pushed him out of the office, and slammed the door in his face. When he wasfinished with the phone call, he had searched for Jacob and beat him until he promised to never interrupt again.
So Jacob didn’t, but he did watch and listen. He noticed that when his father had these strange phone calls, he used a different mobile, not his normal one. One day when his father was out, he searched for the phone, and for anything that would tell him what was going on, but was confused when he couldn’t find anything, until overhearing another phone conversation. He found out that his father has a secret cupboard in his office where he kept anything he didn’t want people to find. He just didn’t know where it was.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard voices in front of him, getting closer. For some reason, he wasn’t expecting to encounter anyone on his walk.
Frank walked behind Jacob,making sure he was downwind, so Jacob didn’t pick up his scent. He took notice of the sad slump to his shoulders and his slow steps. If Jacob had come out here to find some peace and clear his head, it didn’t seem to be working.
He saw Jacob slow down and, listening carefully, he heard voices ahead.
Before Jacob could turnround and go the other way, three men came into view. The middleman was the largest, in both height and width. He had short close-cropped hair and mean eyes. His two friends looked the same: short, cropped hair, mean eyes, and calculating. Giving a discreet sniff, Jacob could smell wolf on them.
The men stopped and looked at Jacob.
“Well, would you look at that boys, looks like we have a lone wolf out for a walk,” the middleman said.
“Not only that but judging by his scent, he’s an outcast as well,” the man on the left added.
That was news to Jacob, he didn’t realise that as an outcast he would have a different scent. He always wondered how other wolves could tell an outcast, now he knew.
“Looks like our day just got better,” the middleman said.
Hearing the conversation,Frank moved quickly, coming to stand by Jacob’s side. Frank sized them up quickly. The three of them were strong wolves, but not as strong as his wolf. If he had to guess, he would say they were below enforcers.
“Is there a problem here, gentlemen?” he asked them.
The man in the middle smiled. “Not from our side. Anyway, you can sod off. He’s a lone wolf and an outcast, he’s not connected to your pack. This is your only warning, leave now and we’ll let you live.”
Frank laughed. “I’m Frank Pullman, Beta of the Pullman pack. This man is under my protection.”
Two of the men paled on hearing this. The middleman, however, smiled. “Shame you’re not on Pullman pack lands now, isn’t it.” And quick as a flash, he shifted into a light brown wolf. His two friends quickly followed.
“Jacob, leave now. Hurry back to your lodge and stay there,” Frank ordered, stepping in front of him.
“I’m not leaving you to fight these three, they’re after me, not you,” Jacob protested.
Before Frank could answer, the three wolves rushed them.
Frank and Jacob shifted as quickly as they could and met the wolves head on.
Two wolves went for Jacob and one for Frank.
Jacob was momentarily stunned, he had never shifted so fast, but before he could think any more on that, the two wolvesattacked him. He might not have a pack any longer or ever be an Alpha of his own pack, but he was still Alpha born, something neither of these two wolves were. Unfortunately, what they lacked in strength they made up for with meanness and fighting skills.
Jacob tried his best, and if he had been fighting one-on-one he would have been fine, but he wasn’t, plus he was still injured from his fight with Cresswell. The only way he could win was to fight dirty, too, but he had to protect the Beta from the Pullman pack.
Frank was having fun.He loved a good fight and the wolf he was fighting sure knew how to fight, but he wasn’t really a match for Frank. He let the fight go on for a few moments, slashing and biting into the other wolf, who howled in pain while taking no direct hits himself until finally he had had enough and jumped on the back of the attacking wolf. He got the wolf onto his stomach and bit into his neck. The wolf tried to fight, but Frank bit down harder and soon the wolf below him submitted.
