Part 21. Jacob Bruno

On the way to the packhouse, Ava couldn’t stop thinking about Dante’s words. It rang in her ears and created even more queries than she already had. The three brothers had different mothers. How did that work out between them? What about their stepmother? Did they share a good bond with her?




With those questions swirling in her mind, the omega didn’t pay much attention to her surroundings, stopping outside the main door. It was wide open.



“Wait!” A brisk, feminine voice rang through the packhouse the moment she stepped inside, followed by the clicking noise of heeled boots in her direction. The omega stood by the door as a tall, curvy woman walked quickly towards, drying up her wet hands with the apron that’s tightly tied around her waist. Lines marred her face; the pale white complexion of her skin looked patchy under the heavy light. Ava straightened up and licked her lips, quickly pushing the stray strands of hair behind her ear and soothing out the hopeless wrinkles.





Grace. She’s the housekeeper of the packhouse, managing a dozen people. Rayly told her to be cautious around her, especially with manners and etiquette. The beta housekeeper used to look after Rayly and Janet when they were young.




Grace wasn’t quite smiling, but somehow, as the beta crept closer and her nostrils flare, her expressionless face shifted into one of incredibility. The small sounds all wrapped the silence around them in a ball of uneasiness, and Ava felt oddly trapped as the tension in the air closed in on the omega.





“The Senior Alpha wants to talk to you.”




Ava’s lips parted at that. She guessed Grace was referring to the brother’s father. Why did he want to see her? The thought of meeting Senior Alpha made her hands clammy, nervously gripping at the material of her dress. She shifted on her feet, mouth dry all of a sudden as the housekeeper narrowed her eyes.




“N-Now?”




“Yes. Anytime this day, please.”




The sharpness in her voice was enough to jerk the omega out of her thoughts. She dumbly nodded her head, fumbling her fingers as the housekeeper turned towards the flight of stairs. She followed her up the steps, her heels clicking against the wood while Ava’s flat slippers barely made a single sound.





Grace knocked on the door when they heard a rough voice from the other side.




“Come in.”



Upon entering the dimly lit room, Ava spotted a significantly tall man facing the window, but not quite as sturdy and broad as his sons. His shoulders were simultaneously neat and muscular, and his hands were carefully grasping a glass of neat whiskey. The notably unmodern hairdo he wore made him look younger than his actual age.




The Senior Alpha turned around; a slight, upward curve of the corner of his mouth had something, almost playfulness, in his eyes.



“You must be the new beta my daughters cannot stop talking about.”




When he opened his mouth to speak, Ava felt it. Dark energy lurking behind him, followed by a distinct stench that made her nose scrunch. He was cursed. She knew that piece of information courtesy of Janet but seeing it so up close was another experience.





She tried to muster a weak smile, ignoring the pheromones he radiated. Ava cannot help him alone but think of taking some of his pain away. Why was he not getting any help? The Alpha was deteriorating slowly; the dark bags under his bag, sunken cheeks and pale lips were to go by.





The curse was killing him at an insanely slow pace as if wanting the Alpha to feel every bit of it. He winced, taking a step in her direction when she quickly bowed down to him. “Hello, Alpha. It's an honour to meet you.”





Ava, without thinking, took his hand in pretence of shaking it. His mouth parted slightly when she tried to take a tiny bit of his anguish, her toes curling into the carpet. The omega wanted to scream, pain shooting in her palms, and she’s forced to drop the hand, almost scalding her in the process.





Jacob dim eyes brightened even more, the lines disappearing from his forehead. “I…” He shook his head, turning to Grace and giving her a nod, a smile tugging on his lips. “Thank you, Grace. That will be all.”




As the door was softly clicked behind her, Ava neglected the pinch in her stomach procured by his heavy gaze. She should not have done that. The omega perused the room of the Senior Alpha, eyes widening as she nothing but pictures of his children. They all had giant funny grins on their faces; even Ares managed to crack a smile except Zach.





A large desk identical to one Zach had in his cabin pressed in one corner of the room. Two french windows adorned the west side of the room, giving a view of the fencing and training ground. One oversized settee couch was placed in the corner, followed by two loveseats.





“Ava, is it?” The Alpha asked, walking to the bar in the corner. “Can I make you a drink?”




The omega flustered. “No, thank you, Alpha. I don’t drink.”



A laugh escaped his throat as Jacob motioned her to take a seat. Her body immediately sunk on the soft cushions, arms gripping the side as she faced him.




“That’s a good quality to have.” The Alpha sighed before plopping down on the settee. “So I heard a lot about you. From all of my children, actually.”




“Good things, I hope.” Ava blushed.




“Someone said something I won’t name who but yes, mostly good things.”




“Must be Alpha Zach”, She scoffed without thinking, only to bite her tongue a second later. Did she disrespect his son, her Pack Alpha, to his face? Ava wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. “Uhh…I am sorry, Alpha.”





Jacob’s eyes were wide before a soft sigh escaping his lips. “All in good fun, am I right? Besides, I know him. He doesn’t trust anyone easily, but don’t let that fool you.” The Alpha cradled the glass to his cheek. “His life hasn’t exactly been easy, so don’t judge him too harshly.”




The question was at the tip of her tongue. What happened to Zach? Something made him that way.




At the sudden silence blanketing the room, he cleared his throat. “Congratulations on your victory! That’s an amazing feat. My wife would have appreciated it too, but she’s swamped these days. It’s a surprise I get to see her for dinner at least. Busy bee, your Luna. Have you met her?”




Ava hummed. “Briefly. She’s making arrangements for some guests.”




After that first time, the omega barely saw her twice in the passing. Rayly complained about her mother taking too much effort as well. The Luna was a perfectionist in both her daughters' opinion, always going the extra mile.




Jacob hummed. “Mhm, she’s doing all that for her future daughter in law.”





Ava’s eyebrows knitted at that, lips curling in a twist as those words sank in. Before she could question Jacob about it, he clarified it for the omega.




“Oh right! You are new around here. My friend’s daughter will be your Luna now. She will be bonding with my sons” His eyes crinkled by his side. “If everything goes well, that is.”




The omega froze in her seat. The Alphas were arranged to someone else. Did they know? Why didn’t Dante tell her anything? He didn’t even mention it this morning while they were together. Then again, she’s just a new member to him. Why would they be sharing any information with her? Ava swallowed the lump in her throat, putting on a weak smile.
***
She threw up twice. Black bile. It was disgusting, and Ava knew it had something to do with her trying to help Jacob Bruno. They had to end their talk abruptly because someone called the Senior Alpha on his cell. So she had no option but to leave. The omega curled in a ball and retired to her bed for the rest of the day.





Ava was almost asleep that night when her ears perked at the sound of a door creaking open and then shut once again. Her eyes cracked open to the dim moonlight trickling through the window in soft squares, her initial thought being that Rayly might have returned from her late-night shift. Her lids were beginning to clench shut again when someone popped up right in front of her face in close proximity.




“Hi!” The beta whispered enthusiastically, making her jerk back in surprise. She watched in shock as her friend quickly climbed into the single bed next to her. “Why are you so quiet?” Rayly asked her boldly, cutting right to the point.




Ava shrugged a bit and pulled the edge of her lip between her teeth. She didn’t want to scare the beta by telling the truth about her father. The omega had to confide in someone. Maybe Jade.




“I am tired.” was the most straightforward explanation she could come up with. Avacould tell it wasn’t believable instantly. Her friend’s eyes were intense, interrogating the omega with just a look piercing through her.





“Alright. I have some news for you.”




Ava blinked again, adjusting to the brightness. “What?”




“I’m leaving for medical camp tomorrow. So you’ll have this room all to yourself for two weeks. Fun, right?”




“Right.”
***

So what will happen with Rayly gone? So many things planned for this book. Also who do you think cursed Jacob. Any fun theories?
***