The Rise of an Alpha Were-Jaguar

Chapter 14

I could not believe my ears. “Did you say a Centaur?” 

“Y-yes" 

I tried to gather my thoughts... what have I read about centaurs?

Yes, they can be violent when provoked. They don’t speak much but when they do, they speak in riddles. They move in herds. But I can’t hear any other sound of hoofs. 

“Jake" I whispered to my trembling cousin beside me. “do you hear any other hoof beat?” 

“Other hoof beats? Are there supposed to be others?” 

“Just try and listen.” I whispered back. 

He kept quiet for a while and then said, “No. Nothing else.” 

That’s strange. Now, I couldn’t even hear the one coming any longer. Where was it? 

I stretched my neck around the trunk and saw that it had stopped moving. It was standing about 8 feet from where we hid. It’s tail swayed lightly from left to right. And occasionally it stamped its left hind leg. 

It’s upper body, the part that was man-like twisted and turned, as if it knew we were there but just couldn’t find us. 

“We are doomed! I heard they can kick your brain straight out of your head with their hoofs...” Jake groaned silently beside me.

“Keep shhh" I clamped my hand over his mouth and shoved his head down. 

I heard the hoofs coming closer slowly. It stood beside the tree we were hiding. It’s fore limb were very close to my back, but it had not looked down to show that it had seen us. 

“A Feline has not been born in over a century... and now here you are. A war is brewing and its because of you.” It suddenly said. 

I looked up. Jake looked up and I noticed Jake had tears in his eyes. 

“Get up, child.” 

We both scrambled to our feet Jake gripped the back of my shirt tightly.  

“You should hide but not from me. You shall be scared but now is not the right time. Now, you have to be strong because dark clouds are ahead. Death is looming on the horizon.” 

With that, it trotted off. All the times it spoke it didn’t even glance at us once. 

“Oh my god!” Jake said in an awed tone. “What was that all about?” 

“I don’t know.” I replied and pulled him down. “Remember, it said we should hide.” 

“He also spoke of a war... do you think that’s true?” Jake whispered. 

“Of course. He knew I was a Feline and he didn’t even look at us.” 

“How do you think he knew that?” 

“Jake, I have no idea. Now, I really need this sleep.” I yawned and laid down at the foot of the tree. Before I fell asleep I heard the light snoring of Jake’s slumber. 

I thought he was going to be keeping watch. I mentally face palmed myself and settled myself to sleep too. I had no idea when slept off.

“HOME SWEET HOME.” Claude said as their private Jet touched down. “The fresh air of London.” 

The were escorted to the limo as soon as they stepped down from the airplane. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in London.” Jaja said while sipping on the glass of champagne provided.

“Why, Jaja, you didn’t tell me. How is Alaska these days?” Jamie asked. 

“You know, cold as usual. We’ve been getting bears attack but we manage to wade them off without them doing harm. As I said before, my wife runs the whole show. I’m so proud of her, that woman.” 

Jamie poked Claude, who sat at the front seat and said, “Jaja’s wolf and his pack are all massive bears. They have more furs than we, the normal lot. It has something to do with evolution, don’t you think?” 

“More like adaptation, sir.” Claude replied. 

“Oh yes yes. Adaptation. They’re quite intimidating you know. Huge hairy wolfs.” 

Claude made an appropriate sound for a reply. He was having an irritable itch in his mind, like something was wrong but he just couldn’t place his finger on it. And all the talk about a war all because of his son was keeping his mind on an edge. 

They arrived at the pack without any hitch and got out of the limo into the Alpha’s house.

“Now let me see my godson...” Jaja said as soon as they stepped in from the porch. 

“JAKE MORTON!!” Jamie bellowed. 

“It would do you so much good if you didn’t shout like that... the whole pack probably heard your voice.” Charlotte, Jamie’s wife said, coming down the stairs. 

“And it would do me so much good if you come to me right now.” Jamie said, walking forward and opening his arms. 

After hugging and kissing to the immense embarrassment of Jaja and Claude who were also in the room, Charlotte stepped away from Jamie and embraced Jaja too. “Jaja... its been so long. How How up there at Alaska? How’s Mel?” 

“We’re all fine Charlie. You should come over some time.” 

“Oh I will...”

“Now, where’s my godson?” Jaja asked, looking around like he expected Jake to come bounding at him from behind a curtain. 

Just then, the door opened and a man came in. He was the one left I charge of security after Gibson. He looked tough but slim. His hair was a bit longer than usual and he packed it in a ponytail above his head. 

“Alpha.” 

Jaja and Claude both turned at the same time. 

“Wilson.” Jamie greeted. “What’s the hurry?” 

“It might be nothing sir. But I thought you should hear this. A young lady came to me yesterday evening, just before the curfew Gibson told me you had imposed from Salem.” 

“Which lady is that?” 

“Lily Harfield. She’s a classmate of your boys, Jake and Jason.” 

“What did she tell you?” Claude asked. 

“Well, She was confused and didn’t know who else to talk to. You see, she was supposed to meet with Jason last night. But he was nowhere to be found. It might be nothing but she said she had a bad feeling about it that she came to me.” 

“And where is this young lady?” 

“Here sir.” He stepped aside and Lily came forward and curtsied before the men. 

“Come my dear.” Jamie said, taking the girl by her shoulders. “What gave you the bad feeling?”

“Um... there were these drawings on the sand. That showed that someone had been there and I could catch a very slight whiff of Jason’s scent. But he had not been alone.” 

Jamie turned to his wife. “Have you seen Jake or his cousin since yesterday?” 

“No. He came back from school, eat hurriedly and disappeared out again.” 

“May I go and check on my family, Alpha.” Claude asked and waited for a nod of affirmation from Jamie before he walked out briskly.