Deep

Jake's P.O.V



My feet kept moving nonstop going back and forth over and over again across the old wooden floorboards in my room. The air around me felt thick and heavy filled with a sense of tension that I just couldn’t get rid of.


It all centered around Becky—her presence had a certain power a kind of magnetic pull that drew people in much like moths that are attracted to bright flames.


But the eyes that were focused on her were not filled with admiration or awe. Instead they saw Becky as a weapon or a tool that they could use.


It felt like she was being treated as a bargaining chip in some strange and twisted game of power that I didn’t fully understand but I could feel its unsettling weight deep in my gut.


As I moved back and forth in the room feeling restless and unable to relax I suddenly heard a gentle knock at the door. It interrupted my thoughts and made me pause for a moment.


“Master Jake?” I recognized Penny's voice which was usually like a soft song that helped me feel at ease. However today it did not have the usual calming effect and it did not help with my frayed nerves at all. She added “Dinner is served.”


“Yes I am coming Penny.” I said in response although my voice came out a little more gruff than I had meant it to be.


I took a big deep breath trying to calm myself and gather my thoughts before I had to confront my father.


I felt it was really important for me to understand what was going on especially what this unexpected increase of focus on Becky meant.


The dining hall was not very bright it had a soft low light that made everything look a little shadowy. The long table made of oak wood shone softly as the flickering flames from the candles danced upon its surface.


My father was already sitting at the table and in this dim light he looked even larger and more intimidating than usual. He was eating his meal just like he always did but there was something unsettling about the way he did it. He sat in complete silence and his strong jaw moved in a steady careful rhythm as he chewed.


His eyes which are normally sharp and focused looked cloudy and distant tonight as if there was a storm brewing deep inside him.


I reached over grabbed a chair and sat down in it. As I settled in there was a quietness that stretched out between us feeling tight like a string that was pulled very taut.


This silence was not just empty it communicated so much without any words at all.


It was filled with unspoken worries and concerns that seemed to linger heavily around us making the atmosphere feel thick and tense.


At last I decided to speak up and break the quiet moment. I turned to my father and asked him “Dad can you please tell me what is going on with Alpha Alex?”


He took a moment to stop eating holding his fork in the air just halfway to his mouth.


Then he turned his eyes toward me finally looking my way after a period of silence.


When he looked at me his stare felt very distant and harsh almost like that of a wild animal staring intently at something it might want to hunt down.


After a brief moment he spoke saying “He'll get better Jake.”


“But?” I pressed on my voice rising slightly. The word 'but' lingered in the air between us feeling heavy and threatening as if it carried an unspoken warning or challenge that needed to be addressed.


He put his fork down on the table with a loud noise that bounced around the room breaking the quiet that had just fallen over everyone.


He took a deep breath before speaking his words coming out slowly and carefully. Each part of what he said felt heavy with the importance of what was about to happen.


“There is a problem that we need to talk about” he said.


“There is going to be a meeting where the Alphas who are the leaders from every pack in our community are all coming to a place called Ravensong.”


The words struck me with such force that it felt as if I had been hit.


My heart was racing inside my chest beating quickly and loudly like a drum against my ribs.


I was in shock and confusion thinking to myself “What just happened? Why is this happening?”


“They are very interested in meeting Becky Jake.” His voice was low and sounded almost like a growl.


“They want to learn more about her abilities and strengths. They want to evaluate what she can do.”


“Assess?” I said with a scoff a harsh and bitter laugh slipping out from my lips. “She’s not a weapon Father. She’s… she’s simply Becky.”


The words I spoke felt weak insufficient and delicate especially in the face of the huge danger we were up against. I could see it reflected in his eyes—the fear that he didn't say out loud and the deep understanding that hit me hard.


It was clear that we were no longer just trying to keep Becky safe now we had the much bigger responsibility of protecting Ravensong itself.


“Jake we really need to be practical and understand the situation.” Father said his voice strong but with a touch of tiredness.


“Her abilities are… truly exceptional. They are different from anything we have ever witnessed before. And because of this she is drawing attention that we don’t want. It's not only Alpha Alex’s pack that has taken notice of her. The news about a Whitewolf with such incredible powers is spreading very quickly like a fire in dry grass. Everyone is hearing about it. Information moves fast especially when it involves a legend about a Whitewolf.”


“But why did you choose the name Ravensong?” I asked my curiosity intense and difficult to contain almost like it was on fire in my throat.


“There are important reasons for this Jake.” he said looking straight at me with a serious expression.


“They are aware that she was discovered in this location and now she is part of our group our pack. They will likely view this situation as a chance to gain insight into her abilities. They may even consider trying to manipulate or dominate what they perceive as a powerful tool or weapon.”


“Control?” I whispered softly barely able to get the word out. The idea of it was so terrible and so frightening that it made my stomach feel sick…