Chapter 80
I sat in the pack house living room, my hands clenched tightly together, knuckles white. The twins were finally asleep in their crib upstairs, blissfully unaware of the chaos brewing around them. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread sitting heavy in my chest. Fatima was pacing in front of me, her expression a mix of anger and concern.
"How could this happen, Pris?" she said, her voice thick with frustration. "We were right there, and we didn’t even see who attacked us. I can't believe it."
I looked up at her, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I don’t know. It was like… like they weren’t even there. One second, everything was fine, and then—" I broke off, squeezing my eyes shut as the memory of the hateful words carved into the ground flashed in my mind. *We will never accept those abominations.* I shivered.
Fatima stopped pacing and came to sit beside me. She took my hands in hers, squeezing them gently. "Hey, it's going to be okay. We’ll figure this out."
I wanted to believe her, but the fear was too overwhelming. "What if we don’t? What if this is just the beginning, Fatima?" I whispered. "What if our babies will never be safe?"
Before she could answer, the door swung open, and Jake stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury. Chris followed close behind, his expression equally grim.
"What happened?" Jake demanded, his gaze flicking between me and Fatima. "Are you both okay? Did anyone follow you?"
Fatima stood up, stepping in front of me protectively. "We’re fine, but it was a close call, Jake. Whoever attacked us—they knew what they were doing. They didn’t leave a trace, except…" She hesitated, glancing at me for permission.
I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Except for the message they left behind. Carved into the ground. It said, *We will never accept those abominations.*" My voice broke on the last word, the reality of the situation hitting me all over again.
Jake’s face contorted with a mixture of rage and pain. He knelt down in front of me, taking my hands in his. "Pris, I’m so sorry. This shouldn’t have happened. I swear I’ll make sure whoever did this pays for it."
I shook my head, blinking back tears. "Jake, what if this is what our life is going to be like? Constant threats, looking over our shoulders every moment, wondering if someone is out there plotting against us—against our babies." My voice wavered as the tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over. "I never imagined it would be like this. I thought once they were born, everything would calm down, but now… now I know how my mother must have felt."
Jake’s expression softened, and he pulled me into his arms, cradling me against his chest. "Shh, it’s okay, love. It’s okay. I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to you or our babies. I promise you that."
I clung to him, feeling the weight of my emotions pour out. "How could anyone hate them, Jake? They’re just babies. They haven’t done anything to anyone. How can people be so cruel?"
His arms tightened around me, his voice a low, comforting rumble. "Because people fear what they don’t understand. And sometimes, fear turns into hatred. But we’re stronger than that. We’ll protect them, Pris. I’ll protect them, no matter what."
Chris cleared his throat, stepping forward. His face was a mask of barely restrained anger. "Jake, this isn’t just an isolated incident. Whoever did this isn’t acting alone. There’s a sickness spreading through the pack, whispers and rumors. I’ve heard them myself, people questioning your choices, questioning your mate and your children."
Jake pulled back slightly, his jaw clenching. "Is that so?" he said, his voice dangerously calm.
Chris nodded. "Yes. I’ve kept it quiet because I thought it would pass, but clearly, it hasn’t. It’s only getting worse."
Jake stood up, his eyes hardening. He looked like a storm ready to break, the Alpha in him rising to the surface. "Then it’s time I put a stop to it. Chris, gather the pack. I want everyone in the main hall in fifteen minutes."
"Are you sure?" Chris asked, his eyes flicking toward me and Fatima.
Jake’s gaze softened when he looked at me, but there was a steely resolve behind his tenderness. "Yes. It’s time we remind them who leads this pack and what the consequences are for threatening my family."
Chris nodded and left the room, moving with the urgency of a man on a mission.
Fatima touched my arm gently. "You okay? Do you want me to stay with you?"
I shook my head, standing up and wiping away the remnants of my tears. "No, I need to be there. They need to see that I’m not afraid. If they see weakness, it’ll only make things worse."
She nodded, her expression fierce. "You’re stronger than you know, Priscilla. Let’s go."
***
The main hall was packed when we arrived. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy, as whispers rippled through the crowd. Jake stood at the front of the room, his presence commanding, even in silence. Chris was by his side, his face set in a grim line. Fatima and I stood a few steps behind them, and I could feel the eyes of the pack on me, their gazes sharp and judgmental.
Jake raised his hand, and the room fell into a tense silence.
"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice carrying through the hall with the weight of authority. "I’ve called this meeting because something happened today that cannot be ignored. My mate, Priscilla, and her friend, Fatima, were attacked while on a simple walk with our children. This was not an accident. It was a deliberate, cowardly act meant to intimidate and threaten my family."
A murmur spread through the crowd, but Jake’s next words cut through it like a knife.
"I know that not everyone in this room is happy about my choices," he continued, his eyes scanning the faces before him. "I know some of you have whispered behind my back, questioning the legitimacy of my children because they are hybrids. But let me make one thing very clear: My mate, Priscilla, and our children are the heart of this pack. Anyone who threatens them, directly or indirectly, will face consequences. Severe consequences."
There was a collective intake of breath, and I could see the ripple of shock spread through the pack. Jake’s voice grew colder, more dangerous. "From this moment forward, anyone caught making threats or spreading hateful rumors about my family will be dealt with swiftly and without mercy. If you are found guilty of attempting to harm them in any way, you will be executed. This is not a warning; it’s a promise."
The room fell into an icy silence. I held my breath, waiting for a response, but instead of the support I’d expected, I saw fear and uncertainty in their eyes. No one spoke. No one cheered. It was as if they were all holding their breath, afraid to say anything at all.
Fatima leaned closer to me, her voice a whisper. "Why aren’t they saying anything? I thought they’d be on our side."
I swallowed hard, feeling a sick twist in my stomach. "I don’t know," I admitted. "It’s like… it’s like they’re afraid. Or worse, like they agree with whoever attacked us."
Jake’s eyes flicked to me, and I knew he felt it too. He turned back to the pack, his expression softening for just a moment. "I didn’t make this decision lightly," he said. "But as your Alpha, it’s my job to protect every member of this pack, and that includes my family. If you cannot accept that, then you are free to leave. But know this: If you stay, you follow my rules."
He paused, letting his words sink in. Still, there was no response from the crowd, just a tense, oppressive silence.
Chris stepped forward, his face a mask of barely controlled anger. "Did you all hear your Alpha?" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. "This isn’t a request. It’s an order."
A few people nodded, some murmuring their agreement, but it was half-hearted at best. I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me, stronger than before. The fear in their eyes wasn’t just for Jake’s threat—it was something deeper, something rooted in their very perception of us.
Jake’s shoulders sagged ever so slightly, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He turned back to me, his eyes filled with a sadness that broke my heart. He stepped closer, pulling me into his arms once more.
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