A Luna's Duty

Chapter Four

-Claire’s P.O.V.-

I feel Jake breathe in my scent. “You came.”

I pull away, pushing the loose hairs of my ponytail behind my ear. Allison had offered to do my hair before I came here, but I had brushed her off since I was already late enough.

“Yeah, of course, I did.”

My wolf pushes herself to the forefront of my mind. He looks bad.

I can’t help but agree.

Jake, despite everything, was my mate, and he would always be a bit above every other male for me regarding looks. It was just natural. But even I couldn’t overlook the shagginess of his hair or the deeply marked bags under his eyes. That, and the fact that no amount of perfume could conceal the underlying smell of alcohol that still clung to him.

His lips lifted upward slightly. “I missed you.”

I let the silence linger for longer than needed. His smile flickers a little, but he keeps it on his face regardless. “Zack is this way if you want to sit with us.”

I nod. It’s not like I could sit next to anyone else. There weren’t a lot of people that liked me here if I was being honest. Partly my fault, as I specialized in isolating myself after the loss of my parents. Partly the fault of the person that was standing in front of me, holding my hand.

“Claire,” Zack greets, a tired smile on his face. A funeral wasn’t exactly the setting I pictured for our reunion, but Zack and I were never the luckiest bunch.

“Hi.” I think about leaning forward to hug him but restrain myself. Too many people were staring at us. Some scoot to the side so that there is more space for me. I sit next to Zack and Jake sits next to me.

The elder at the front looks at us, a downturn to his lips that indicates disapproval at my interruption. I squirm a bit under his gaze. One look from Jake has him looking straight ahead again.

“Guess no one is too happy about my arrival, huh?” I whisper to Zack.

He grimaces. “The pack is a mess right now. Be happy they didn’t growl you out.” He drapes an arm over my shoulder. “I am happy you are here.”

I smile a little, leaning into his shoulder. “It’s awful, isn’t it?” I feel Zack nod. “It reminds me too much of…”

“I know,” he says, a hint of pain in his voice, “me too.”

The elder glances at Jake again, a question in his eyes. Jake nods.

“As I was saying. I am sure most of us can come up with a memory…”

I notice Jake looking at my hand throughout the ceremony, his own hand shaking with anticipation. I don’t move my hand from its spot, wondering if he’ll talk himself into taking it at some point. At some point, I consider making the move myself. Not exactly as a mate but as a friend providing comfort. Jake looks too alone in his spot with so many people looking up to him. It reminds me of my own loneliness and something in me aches at seeing him go through it.

By the end of the ceremony, neither of us make a move.

-------

“I see my popularity hasn’t changed,” I comment to Zack, sensing the stares from our packmates as I walk into the packhouse. The place hasn’t changed much, which was expected as a year isn’t really long enough to ensure a renovation.

“You did make a noteworthy impression of everyone.” I raise an eyebrow at him. “Last year, I mean.”

“Ah, that’s a bit embarrassing.” A girl who was glaring at me looks away when I meet her eyes. I cringe. “Infamy would be best suited to describe it, wouldn’t it?”

Zack notices the direction I am looking in. His expression darkens. “Don’t mind them. A lot of girls were hoping Jake would take interest in them for the Luna position with you gone.”

“I see.” I giggle into my hand. “I guess it’s good that I am not staying in the packhouse.”

Zack freezes. “You are not?”

I shake my head. “I came here with some friends. We rented a place at the edge of town.”

“Oh,” Zack says. “You didn’t invite them here?”

“They are from a different pack,” I explain. “Thought it would be inappropriate with all of the panic.”

“You would be right about that.” We both grab a plate to serve ourselves food. “This place has become a bit hostile even for those who belong here after what happened.”

“I’ve noticed.” I see Jake sitting at the top of the dining table where his father used to sit. He looks on edge, in a way I’ve never seen him before. An older pack member holds Jake’s gaze just long enough to border on disrespect. “They are doubting him.”

Zack nods. “Is it that obvious?”

“Somewhat.” I sigh. “It is to be expected. Jake is still too young.”

“And he has no one by his side.”

Zack looks as if he regrets this comment as soon as it’s out of his mouth. I don’t fault him for pointing out the obvious.

“Yeah.” I let a small smile cross my face as I look at him. “But he has you, right?”

Zack chuckles. “Yeah, he does.”

“I meant to let Jake meet my friends, actually,” I say, remembering Allison’s suggestion. “Two of them are alpha heirs and want to see if they could provide some support in name of their pack in this moment of loss.”

“That’s nice of them.” Zack grabs two pieces of bread and places one on my plate. “You should bring that up to Jake.”

“I will.”

Zack looks at the dining table. “If you are done grabbing food, let’s go sit on the dining table next to Jake before the vultures take our spot.”

“Okay.”

When we reach the dining table, Zack and I sit at either side of Jake, even though I wanted to sit next to my brother instead of in front of him. It just seemed better to form a safe space around Jake, at least during this time that was meant for mourning. The pack was irritating me at this point, and I hadn’t been here that long. I knew that the loss of the alpha pair was bigger than just Jake losing his parents, but his pain still mattered. I could try justifying their panic due to the war if it wasn’t for the fact that it was too much like the time when my parents had died. Seems as if time hadn’t done anything to improve anything.

“So, Claire,” Zack says. “Where have you been for the past year?”

I ignore the looks our way. “At first, I was in a lot of places. I wanted to have fun, I guess. Then, I realized summer was over and I settled in a town to attend school. Not very far from here, actually. Maybe three or four hours away.”

“Did-did you enjoy your studies?” Jake asks, seeming a bit nervous to butt into our conversation. “I remember you liked studying.”

I blinked at him, surprised he remembered, or even noticed that about me. “Yes, I did. I did quite well, too.”

“Good, good.”

Zack looks as if he wants to laugh at him. I find the expression funny, but it didn’t seem like the appropriate place to laugh in. “Have you been studying? I heard you started attending the local college with Zack.”

Jake clears his throat. “Yes, of course.”

Zack snorts. “You barely passed.”

“Barely implies that I did, indeed, pass.” Zack rolls his eyes. “I was a bit busy. My father- “

He stops speaking, the light that had started sparking in his eyes flickering out as easily as it had appeared.

I allow a moment of silence. “So,” I begin, hesitant. Jake and Zack turn to me. “Sorry for asking, but how exactly did it happen?”

Jake begins moving his food around the plate. “We hadn’t had an attack in a while, so we let our guard down. When the attack came, we weren’t exactly ready.”

My brows furrow. “Were they the only casualties?” Jake nods. “Do you think that was their purpose?”

“Claire.” There is a warning in Zack’s tone. I meet his eyes. “Not here.”

I feel my eyes widen. “Of course.”

 -------

It feels kind of like déjà vu, watching different faces approach Jake to offer their condolences. Jake is diplomatic about it, offering them stiff nods and the occasional ‘thank you for coming’. Some girls approach him with intentions other than that, looking my way with hateful glares. I pay them as much attention as Jake does.

Jake doesn’t wait for everyone to leave before gesturing for Zack and me to follow him to another room. Zack and I don’t hesitate to leave.

“Oh goddess,” I breathe out when Jake locks the door after us, “It felt like high school out there. Just so much worse.”

Jake seems amused by the way I am fanning myself with a napkin. “They were surprisingly nice today, actually.”

“Nice?” I look at Zack. He nods. “That’s not good.”

“Definitely,” Jake agrees. He looks tired now, even more so than when I first saw him. As if he had been hiding just how tired he was in front of everyone. “My parent’s death left a considerable hole in our walls. Everyone is just waiting for the water to come rushing in at this point.”

“Their faith in you is moving.”

Jake’s chuckle is self-deprecating. “Very.”

“Has anyone challenged you?”

Jake’s eyes flash black. “No one has dared.”

“Good.” I look at Zack. “So, do you think the Alpha and Luna were the targets of that attack?”

“Yes. Not only that, but the reason we couldn’t discuss it in the dining table is that we suspect there is a traitor in our midst.”

My blood runs cold. “A traitor?”

“They knew when to attack the alpha pair. They were alone and unguarded. Also,” Zack pauses, glancing in Jake’s direction, who seems to be searching his drawers for something.

“What?”

“We think they were poisoned. Not to the point of killing them, but enough to weaken them. Lucia found traces of wolfsbane in their bodies.”

Jake finally finds what he is looking for. A bottle of amber liquid. I watch him pour himself a glass. I take his glass from him. Jake looks annoyed until I down the glass. Surprise appears on his face as the warm liquid runs down my throat. I smile at him guiltily. “Sorry, I needed that.”

A spark of amusement lights up his eyes and the ghost of a smile appears on his face. “That’s okay.”

Zack snatches the glass from me. “No, it’s not. You are underage.”

I roll my eyes. “I am seventeen and emancipated.” Jake takes the glass from Zack forcefully. “And my underage drinking isn’t our concern here. What are you two going to do about the traitor?”

“Find him, for one,” Jake says, serving himself another glass, “then we’ll figure out the rest as we go.”

“Oh goddess,” Zack takes Jake’s glass from him and downs it. Jake doesn’t look as amused this time. “Is that really the best you can come up with?”

Jake takes the glass from him again with an irritated frown. “Sorry, I am at a funeral and stuff, I didn’t realize I would have to audition for best alpha strategist while I am at it.”

“Sorry, man.” Jake flips him off.

My phone vibrates. I look down. It’s Aaron. ‘It’s late, are you going to sleep over there?’

I unlock my phone and write a text back ‘I don’t think so, will confirm after I am done with something here.’

Aaron texts back immediately ‘Alright :)’.

Jake and Zack are both looking at me when I look up. “Sorry, one of my friends. He simply wanted to know whether I was going to come back tonight.”

“He?” Jake asks. Zack elbows him. He coughs and rubs the back of his head. “Oh, yeah. Are you staying over tonight?”

I look behind him. The sun is setting already. I might have stayed for longer than planned. “Not sure.”

“Didn’t you say you rented a place at the edge of town?” I nod. “It might be a little too late to drive yourself there alone, given the circumstances and all.”

“You are right.” I stare at my tiny purse. “I didn’t bring anything with me, though.”

“One of the girls might be willing to lend you something.” I make a face. Zack laughs. “I’ll find one that likes you.”

I make a worse face. Jake joins in the laughter this time. “Lucia might have something.”

“Alright.”

“I think it’s best we leave this room before the elders deem this moment appropriate to corner me,” Jake suggests, frowning at the lack of liquid in his bottle. Oops.

Zack cringes. “I agree. They have been up my ass too.”

“Ok. Let’s not give them any opportunities while we are out there, either. Sound like a plan?”

Jake and Zack nod. “Deal.”

 -------

Returning to my room after a year feels a bit…odd. The last time I stood at this door felt so final, like I was heading towards new things in life. Guess expectations aren’t as well met when facing reality.

“Not much has changed,” Jake comments from behind me, making me jump.

“Not much time has passed,” I counter. I lift a bottle from the ground and show it to him. “This is new.”

Jake’s face goes red. “I must have left it here.”

I grin before narrowing my eyes suspiciously. “What were you doing here anyway?”

“Umm…” he trails off, “looking for a pillow?”

I give him a blank stare. “You are the alpha’s son; you must have like ten pillows.”

His face goes redder. “Yeah, really felt in need of an eleventh one, though.”

I laugh but drop the subject. “Do you need anything?”

“Oh, Lucia gave me this.” He hands me a bundle of folded clothes. “She said they’d probably fit. Um, Ashley offered to give you anything if you needed it.”

I nod. “Sure. See you tomorrow.”

A small smile appears on his face. “Yeah, see you tomorrow. Good night.”

“Jake,” I call out as he begins leaving.

He turns. “Yeah?”

I hesitate for a minute, then say it anyway, “I missed you too.”