Chapter 9

Lola's POV
Someone nudged me. Once, twice, three times growing impatient but I stayed still. I was too tired from the ball last night, and my mind was against waking up. Directly after the ball ended, I went straight to bed, not wasting any time in plopping down on the mattress and drifting off into undisturbed sleep. Until now.
I sighed blissfully when the nudging stopped, thinking that whoever was doing so gave up. But to my dismay, the person was far from finished. The dimness of my room got replaced by bright sun rays knocking out any sleep I had left.
I groaned rolling onto my back. Why is it that every time I tend to sleep peacefully, I get woken up? It's so unfair. Opening my eyes, I directly squeezed them shut for the light was too strong for my sleepy eyes. What a nice way to wake up, I said to myself.
"Get up lazy ass." A deep masculine voice I'm too fond of yelled. Peering my eyes open, I saw Jake standing right beside the curtains with his hands crossed. Even though he looked extremely hot with his tight black shirt hugging his bulging muscles, but I was in no good mood to talk to him.
"Go away." I grumbled tightly gripping my pillow covering my face with it. I wanted to throw him out of the window but I knew doing so would involve getting out of bed. Not happening. He sighed and I could imagine him running a hand through his hair.
"Then you left me no choice." It was one of those moments when his voice held wickedness hindered in a tone of fake apology. I yelped as I felt his hands grip my waist finding my sensitive spots, no. I burst into fits of laughter as his fingers started tickling me.
"Sto – stop it – Ja – Jake!" I gasped tears trickling down my face and squirmed beneath him. He laughed watching me fiddle between his grasp, giggling like a little girl.
"I'll stop if you get up." He said, eyes shimmering in laughter.
"Okay, okay I'll get up just stop tickling me." I couldn't but admire the boyish grin on his face, reminding me of his younger self. He used to tickle me whenever I tease him knowing exactly my tickle spots.
He nodded getting off the bed, the smile never leaving his face. I calmed my breathing down watching as he straightened up fixing his tussled shirt.
I knew I looked like crap but I didn't give a damn. He's the one that barged into my room so he shouldn't have a problem seeing my morning face, even it means having a bird nest on top of my head.
I grabbed my phone checking what time it was and my eyes widened at what I read on the screen. What the hell it still was eight in the morning!
"Why did you wake me up this early?" I screeched. What was he thinking waking me up this early! He shrugged nonchalantly making it seem very normal. It was for him, but not for me. Knowing Jake, he wakes up every morning to take a run in his wolf form.
"We're having breakfast together. Mark and Mia are already up and knowing you, you'll not wake up before ten." He shot me a meaningful stare and I blushed realizing the rightfulness of his words.
"Okay but I need to change first." I explained looking down at myself seeing I was only in my dark violet silk pajamas. His eyes trailed down taking in my appearance. A sly smirk played on his face making the redness of my cheeks turn into a darker shade.
"Uh – Can you leave?" I pointed to the door. He nodded understanding where I'm coming from but he still held the same smirk on his face. Gosh, I feel so embarrassed.
He put his hand on the door handle about to leave, but as if remembering something, he stopped and reset his gaze on me.
"If you even think of sleeping again, I will carry you down myself. Be there in ten." I took the nearest pillow and flung it at him but he was too fast, darting out and shutting the door close. The pillow hit the floor with a light thud and I could hear his chuckle from the other side.
"Ugh!" I groaned in frustration as I got out of bed. I better hurry up because joking or not, I knew he would literally carry me down.
Breakfast was – something. Mia and Mark kept on bickering like little kids, not to mention the daggers Mia kept on shooting him. Mark drummed his fingers on the table but his coffee brown eyes were glued on Mia and by the looks of it, he was trying to figure out what was wrong with her.
Jake was looking back and forth between them noticing the awkwardness of the situation. He sat directly in front of me with Mark on his side. The way he arched his brow questioningly made me bite my inner cheek to keep myself from chuckling. If only he knew.
'Later' I mouthed. It wasn't the best timing to tell him what happened since Mia would be at Mark's throat. Boy, he's in big trouble.
"Uh, you want to go outside?" My voice sliced through the silence catching their attention. If we stayed any longer, they're going to have a staring contest which wouldn't end well. So, going outside might help Mia calm herself. I'm definitely going to talk to her. That's not the way to deal with a problem, but even so I didn't expect her to confront Mark. Her pride won't let her.
Jake was the first one to get up followed by Mark and lastly Mia. I let the guys take the lead so I can stay behind and talk to my stubborn best friend. Her arms were crossed and a grim expression covered her face.
"Why are you being like this?" I hissed trying to keep my voice down.
"Why shouldn't I be?" She retorted avoiding my gaze.
"Because you're acting like kids." I sighed rolling my eyes. I guess I should talk to Mark later about this matter, because I'm not going anywhere with Mia's irrational thinking.
"What's up with those two?" Currently, Jake and I were sitting in the garden. Mark had to leave since his commander ordered him to train junior warriors. Mia on the other hand didn't want to be a third wheel so she went to explore the castle. Hopefully, she won't get lost.
"They like each other but can't admit it. It's way too obvious if you ask me, but they're too gutless to accept it." As soon as realization hit me, my breath got caught up in my lungs. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Jake staring ahead of him looking deep in thought.
Thinking about it, we were no better than Mark and Mia. Both of us waited for the other to take the first step. Clearing my throat, I changed the topic.
"So – what did you want to talk about?" I hesitantly asked. His eyes shot up in surprise not expecting that I would actually want to talk about yesterday. But I did. I wanted to know what was going on between him and Ava.
"Who was that man you were dancing with?" His face was neutral but his eyes held a flame of anger. He wanted to talk about Luke? I resisted the urge to smirk.
"What about him?" Honestly, I enjoyed seeing him jealous. Same as I was when I saw him with Ava.
"Don't fool around Lola. Who was that man?" He repeated, but this time lowering his voice, almost in a threatening tone.
"His name is Luke and from what he told me he's a noble from the north. When you walked out he came and asked me to dance. It was inappropriate to turn him down so I accepted." I explained noting the change of expression on his face.
He nodded seeming convinced.
"What was Ava doing with you yesterday?"
"She tried to lure me into her bed until you came." He sighed slumping his shoulders. Honestly laced his words and I believed him but nonetheless continued.
"And why didn't you push her away?"
"Because my wolf was getting angrier by the second. I would've ended up hurting her." My mouth turned into an O. I felt a slight guilt pierce through me knowing that I accused him of something nonexistent.
Not knowing what I say, I remained silent. Even though guilt was eating me up, but a burden was lifted off my shoulders. He didn't want anything to do with Ava and that made me happy.
Jake stood up and straightened his shoulders. I didn't understand why he suddenly looked so nervous. The corners of his mouth twitched up in a small smile but it didn't cover the uneasiness of his eyes.
"C'mon, I want to show you something." He offered his hand in which I gladly accepted and lifted me onto my feet. The next thing I knew; we were walking into the woods.