Chapter 3: 3. Bittersweet

Esme watched the De Wit girl. She seemed sweet and caring on the outside and displayed such manners when anyone of authority was around. When Alexa thought no one was watching the girl was an entirely different creature.

It had been a long time since Esme had seen such bitterness and anger in someone so young. It worried her. Esme was certain that when Jerome left his mate and went for warrior training in preparation for his becoming Alpha the peace Gaby had come to know would change.

It warmed Esme's heart that Jacob had started training with Gaby. The Alpha had led by example. After a while, he passed on the training to Jerome who was a gentle and patient instructor. The Alpha had also made it mandatory for all girls to train at least 4 times a week.

In the last two months of the school year, Esme had seen her son learn to care for someone else and it scared her as much as it thrilled her. Gaby had been assigned to cleaning Jerome's wing. The girl did her work diligently.

Jerome's study was spotless, his bedroom and bathroom much the same. What Esme loved most was the fact that Gaby had no airs. Not even a little pride.

This was even though the privilege of cleaning the future Alpha's room held a prestige few non-warrior posts held. She turned her attention back to the de Wit girl who looked longingly at Jerome. Esme was jolted by the fact that she'd seen a similar look of longing when she'd caught Jerome looking at a picture of Gabriella that Esme had in her study.

The thought shook her a little. It wasn't right for Jerome to want Gaby as a mate. And yet, Gaby was the only one he should want.

Esme wondered why the Goddess would let such a situation occur. She opened the door she was outside of and walked in. Jacob looked up surprised to see her.

Esme smiled at her husband. He was still the gorgeous man she had fallen in love with over 30 years ago. He was still as trim and fit as he had been then.

He raised an eyebrow at her when she continued to remain silent. She grinned sheepishly at him. She had sought him out without being conscious of it.

"If you want me to yourself lock the door," Jacob told her, his island accent was thick. He watched his wife place her hand behind her and he heard the lock click in place. His eyes darkened with desire.

"You know that you won't get what you want. I'll do what I can to ensure she's safe, no more than any other pack member." His voice was clear and unwavering even as his wife brushed her hands very close to where he wanted them to be.

Her eyes twinkled. "You know me well."

A knock on the door had Jacob sigh. "Siren, unlock the door. Much as I adore you; what I had in mind is not for here."

Esme walked to the door and unlocked it. She opened the door to find Jacob's right hand in front of her. He greeted her with a bow of his head.

He looked above her head and greeted Jacob. He paused before saying his next words. Esme knew that the next few words could change a lot of things.

"Sir, the Rogues have started kidnapping young girls. We are uncertain as to what type of girls they're taking at the moment. However, many of them are aged between the ages of 14 and 18."

Jacob noted. He took the envelope and went back to his desk. He was not prepared for what he saw.

Young girls were being auctioned off. It was like the slave trade only now the flesh for sale was of any color. Jacob's stomach turned.

Image after image of girls and young women being subjected to humiliation and torture. Then it clicked, some of these girls were unmated femmes. The recent spate of kidnappings in the State had included young unmated werewolves.

There was the remote danger of any one of these young werewolves suddenly going into True Nature and shifting. That thought made Jacob uncomfortable. While it was an accepted fact that werewolves existed some individuals were keen to prove the dangers of co-existence.

One of the things the children of his pack were taught early was how to control True Nature. He honestly hoped that if any of his girls were kidnapped they would do anything including allow True Nature to take over in full. He was willing to take responsibility for the full extent of the damages if any.

He'd rather have that than lose a pack member to slavery. He sighed. These pictures proved that something was about to be done about the problem.

He flipped past the last picture and found a request from The Council of Councils requesting specific warriors and trackers. He rapidly went through the names knowing Jerome's name would be amongst them. He found his son's name second to last on the list of 15 from his pack.

Jacob looked up at Esme, his wife of nearly 30 years. She had been silently watching him and reading his thoughts. She smiled sadly.

Jacob sighed. Much as she denied it; Jerome was Esme's favorite child. Jerome was also her last born.

Jacob held his arms open for her and enjoyed the added calm of having her in his arms and on his lap. It was a feeling that never grew old. Her silence meant she was deep in thought.

Jacob looked at the letter from The Council of Councils yet again. Their logo was simple; a circle with a balanced scale at its center. Both the circle and scale were gilded as well as embossed.

The simplicity of the logo hid the power of the council. The Council of Councils comprised of the wise ones of all kinds. Every kind was represented in the council, even humankind.

It was a revered membership and it was rumored that the Gods and Goddesses of each kind personally chose the representatives. Some members were very well known and others only suspected. Of course, the Council of Councils only acted when there was a matter that threatened all kinds.

For other matters, each council was allowed to adjudicate the appropriate action or actions needed. That's what made this letter hard to refuse. What he didn't understand was why Jerome, as untrained as he was, would be on the list. Especially when he was set to go for training very shortly.

Certainly, Jerome was the future Alpha. That had been evident from his birth. Even that had surprised Jacob.

He'd held the baby in his arms and felt a rise in his own power. Unlike many other Alphas, there was no tug of war, just a gentle surge. The boy's eyes had held his and when Jacob had smiled and said, "Welcome Alpha," the boy had closed his eyes and placed his head over his father's heart.

Since that day Jacob had experienced more power and energy despite the challenges that had been thrown his way. And there had been many. Jacob had been careful to keep his increase in power to himself.

Jacob's thoughts went back to his son. Jerome, though very well trained for his age despite his academic accomplishments, had more training to do. Every year, for two months of his summer vacation Jerome attended a warrior camp.

Jacob recalled the first time he had sent a 7-year-old Jerome to camp. Esme had been in tears. Jerome was nervous. Until that moment Jerome had only trained under his father's supervision and the boy had told his father he did not want to be an embarrassment.

When his boy came back he was quieter and put more time to train every week no matter his academic schedule. Esme had mourned the loss of her baby. Jacob had spent more time with him, even if all they did was sit in silence as each did his own work.

Eventually, the boy talked. Jacob cradled his wife a little closer. She'd fallen asleep in his arms. His mind went back to the memory.

Jerome had been mocked and ridiculed at the camp. He hadn't done well at all in his first fight. He'd gotten stellar marks for his tactical planning which had won his team's victory but that had been it. When Jacob asked why Jerome lost, Jerome's answer had brought a smile to his father's face, "I fight to gain skill. I won't improve if I'm beating everyone. If I lose, I can learn more."

Jacob signed off on the request from the Council of Councils. He wondered how this would all work out. He knew Jerome wanted to protect Gaby more than anything.

Smiling he recalled how his boy had marked Gaby as if it were not a big deal. To his credit, the marking was virtually painless and lustless. This had two major benefits: they did not have to complete the mating bond until she came of age and both of them had no lust to battle.

To say that he was proud of his son was an understatement. Jacob had watched with interest as Jerome had trained with Gaby over the past few weeks. When Gaby had brought one of the runts to train with them Jerome had been proud of her. Jacob had felt the boy's power increase.

Initially, Jerome had scowled, and then Gaby had spoken to the runt telling him what a privilege it was to be trained by the future Alpha. She'd also told the runt that it was up to them to prove his investment of time was indeed worth it. At that very moment, power radiated from Jerome like never before. Jacob had watched fascinated and had felt unthreatened.

It was fabled in the books of old that true mates gave one an increase of power and that unlocked greater ability. Jacob had felt it after mating with his wife and whenever she had stood by him before and after then. The fact that both Jerome and Gaby were pure at heart and in body probably contributed to the fact that they could flow power to one another so easily.

Bringing his attention back to the present Jacob put the request from the Council of Councils into a new envelope that had his seal and called for a trusted runner to deliver the communication. The importance of the matter required a prompt and direct response. He called in his Beta.

His Beta strode into the office with the unassuming power of Second-in-Command. He smiled seeing his Luna fast asleep in his Alpha's arms before nodding to his Alpha. He cleared his throat.

"You called, Sir?"

Jacob nodded, "I want this list of young men called before me before tomorrow's training session." He handed the list of names over.