Chapter 4 - Caught between the Alphas

“You’re Jessica Granger,” Elias spoke the redhead’s name, low and smooth, and she could feel the sensation of his tone reverberate around her entire body.

“Yes,” Jessica said with a smile, “Unfortunately, you have caught me on a bad day. I usually look hotter than this,” She didn’t understand why she decided to make this comment, maybe Jessica was attempting to be overly confident.

Elias’ mouth curved up into a wickedly sexy smile. “You’re the damn hottest woman I’ve ever seen.”

Jessica felt her pulse racing within her chest. Elias’s blue eyes stared at her as though he was trying to undress her body. “You must not have seen many women then,” Jessica said as a nervous laugh escaped her lips, “Or you need your eyes testing.”

“Well…” Elias paused, “I know one thing for sure. You are all mine.”

Without warning, Elias touched Jessica’s cheek with his finger, and she felt the electricity ignite within her. It was the same sensation when Jack touched her, a sensation Jessica didn’t realise existed; she had now experienced twice.

It was then that Jessica realised who this was, and she found herself relaxing somewhat as she took a step backwards. “Oh, so you’re one of them I was warned about.”

Jessica pointed an accusing finger toward Elias. “You’ve got some nerve crashing my grandmother’s funeral like this and…”

“Your grandmother was murdered,” Elias said, his voice serious as he never broke his gaze from Jessica. “I’m sorry to be the one to bring the bad news, but it’s true.”

Elias’ words hit Jessica hard, like a ton of bricks landing on her. “What? How can you even know that?”

Elias’ expression never changed, but he carried on. “I tracked the scent myself.” He paused. “Jessica, your grandmother’s tea was poisoned, masked with cinnamon and spices. Whoever did this knew exactly how and what they were doing.”

Jessica’s fingers grasped the beads around her throat, unable to believe what she was hearing from Elias. It was then, as Jessica touched the beads, that she felt the same sensation once more. The electricity searing through her, followed by the wild, heated burning sensation.

“Why are you telling me this?” Jessica asked, her voice trembling as she spoke.

“We are all connected, you and I,” Elias paused, “And the others. We are all involved in this; the prophecy has made it so.”

Jessica felt her stomach knot and twist at his words, “Others? You mean….”

Elias interrupted Jessica’s words as he stepped closer to the she-wolf, closing the gap between them. He lowered his voice to a whisper, so only he and Jessica could hear it. “The prophecy doesn’t bind you to one alpha; you have four Jessica. Jack, myself and two more who are yet to appear to you. Together we are to rebuild the shattered ones.”

“And if I refuse?” Jessica asked, standing her ground confidently, “What if I don’t want to repair your silly, shattered pack? I am done with pack life now. I’m going back to the City after this. Back to my normal job and my normal home.”

Elias’s eyes gleamed as a smirk formed on his seductive lips. “You won’t refuse, I assure you.”

The tension between Jessica and Elias was building and rising. She could feel the heat form between them, and had this irresistible urge to kiss Elias at that moment. Jessica felt her wolf stir once again and pace restlessly inside her mind, torn between starting a fight or lying on her back submissively to the alphas.

It was then that the sound of Jack’s familiar voice cut the tension between them, “Elias Leo”

Elias’ attention shifted from Jessica, toward the voice sounding his name, “Jack Hansen,” He returned by speaking his name.

The heat between the two men circled each other viciously. Jessica could feel the anger simmer between them, and it was then that she realised the crowd had become suddenly silent. Tension prickled on her skin as Jessica heard growls simmering from both of their throats. She could sense a fight was imminent.

“You’re early,” Jack grunted at Elias. “I told you to hang on a bit longer.”

Elias shrugged carelessly. “I couldn’t wait any longer.” His eyes switched to Jessica. “What you told me about Jess, I was so thirsty to meet her.”

Jack’s eyes flickered towards Jessica and then back to Elias. “She isn’t yours! I have already claimed her.”

Elias’s gaze turned to Jessica, and she felt as though he was taking up Jack’s threat as a challenge. Now “We’ll see.” He paused, taking his eyes back to Jack, “I will fight for what I want.”

After Elias spoke these words, he disappeared into the shadows. Jessica was expecting something heated after those threats, but he was gone as quickly as he arrived. With a sigh of relief, Jessica figured that the encounters with these men wouldn’t be so terrible after all.

The remaining time of the funeral seemed to pass by in a blur. Jessica’s mind wandered through the events that had occurred today, realising she had missed the Eulogy. Her head was whirling with so many unanswered questions. Who were these mysterious alphas who were so keen to be near her? And why did they seem eerily informative about what happened to her grandmother? After the service, the crowd paid their respects and then began to disperse back to their day. Jessica slipped away, not in the mood to face any more of their judgmental stares. Her lungs began to struggle as she felt the need to gasp for air, and her head grew dizzy. Possibly a panic attack.

“Jessica, I’m sorry to say that you can’t run from this. It’s your destiny, this is why you were born,” Jack said. Already hearing his footsteps treading lightly on the rough ground, but not light enough, she knew he was following her.

“I’m not running,” She said, “I just needed some air. I need time alone to think right now,” Jessica hoped Jack would get the hint to leave her alone.

Jack grew closer to her, and she felt his hand grasp her wrist. “Elias is already trying to claim you, and the other two won’t be far behind.” He stopped Jessica in her tracks, “You need to choose. You have to let one of us claim you as our own.”

Jessica turned to face Jack as the anger began to fill her. “Excuse me?” She asked loudly, tearing her hand away from him, “I am not going to act like a puppy dog and let four men fight over me. I am not a prize to be won!”

Watching as Jack took a step back, a smile formed on his lips. “Of course, you’re not a prize to win. You’re a gift. A Queen. You are our Queen Jessica.”

As smooth as Jack’s response was, Jessica wasn’t willing to back down. Before she could reply with a witty comment, her words were stopped by the sound of a haunting howl in the air. It echoed around the trees and came from an animal she had never heard before. Especially not a wolf.

Jack’s expression shifted instantly, sharp and alert. His body language and stance shifted immediately. He was on high alert, and he leaned toward Jessica, protecting her with his own body. “Jessica, they are here,” he said, terror in his voice as he spoke.