CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 216

Jacob’s Perspective Finally, the injury had fully healed. I could feel the strength surging back into my muscles—no longer that useless wreck who worried about tearing open his wounds with a brisk walk. All those days confined to bed, one thought kept circling in my head: I had to get Brett’s stolen body back. Not for redemption—hell, I knew some things could never be made right. This was for Celena. I could feel it, that incident festering like a poisoned thorn in her heart, wedged between us. Unless I yanked it out, she’d never truly look at me without seeing her dead brother staring back. I drew a deep breath and went to find her. She was sitting on the yard swing, rocking gently back and forth. Sunlight spilled over her hair, casting a golden halo around her. God, she was stunning. "Hey, Celena," I said as I walked over, my throat tight and dry. She lifted her head, her brown eyes meeting mine with little emotion. "Yeah?" I opened my mouth, but the words clogged in my throat. How could I just blurt out, "I’m going after the thieves who took your brother’s body"? Wouldn’t that be like pouring salt straight into her wounds? Forcing her to relive all that pain? I stood there like a fool, my insides twisting like a wolf caught by the tail. She waited a moment, then frowned slightly when I stayed silent. I could sense the wolf spirit inside her beginning to stir—that faint, familiar ripple that always quickened my pulse. But her own gaze turned icy. "If there’s nothing else, I’m meeting the princess of the Bloodfang Clan," she said, rising and brushing off her skirt. "We made plans." She probably thought I was here to ask her out. She’d picked up on my hesitation and the restless energy of my wolf spirit, so she shut me down. Clean and simple. "I—" I tried again. "I said I don’t have time right now," she cut me off, her tone flat but sharp as an ice pick to the heart. Then she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there alone like some abandoned guard dog. So damn frustrating! I was boiling over with frustration. Spinning around, I headed straight for Xavier and the others. They were behind the barn, sorting through newly delivered supplies. "Man, you look like you need a drink," Xavier said, spotting my gloom right away. He tossed me an ice-cold beer. I chugged a long swallow and spilled everything—how I wanted to do something for her, but didn’t know how to say it, got misunderstood, and ended up rejected. The guys clapped me on the shoulder, offering the usual comforts: "Women are hard to read," "Take it slow," that kind of thing. But that was all. Ethan had to get back to Lily and Ailo, and the others had their own partners, families, or were swamped with tasks around the new territory. No one had time to keep a lovesick idiot company over drinks. After a quick beer, everyone scattered. I trudged back, even more dejected. Then, in the hallway near my room, I bumped right into Celena and that young Alpha from the Bloodfang Clan standing together, chatting. Both were smiling, looking perfectly at ease. The way he looked at her—full of open admiration—made my blood boil. A raw, hot anger flared in my chest, fueled by all the pent-up frustration and jealousy. It scorched away whatever was left of my common sense. To hell with taking it slow! To hell with finding the right words! I stormed back to my room, grabbed paper and pen, and scrawled a few lines: Heading out to handle something—tracking down the body thieves. Don’t worry. I’ll be back. I folded the note and slipped it under Celena’s door. Without another second’s hesitation, I returned to my room, shoved some clothes and essentials into a backpack, and climbed out the back window. I plunged into the gathering dusk beyond the territory, not once glancing back. Let the cold wind slap some sense into my overheated brain. Maybe action was better than sitting around overthinking. Celena’s Perspective Jacob was acting really odd today. He sought me out, then clammed up like a locked box, stammering without saying a single useful thing. That hesitant, almost hopeful look in his eyes... Was he trying to ask me out? I could feel my wolf spirit instantly perk up, whining softly, eager to leap at him, breathe in his comforting scent, and wrap myself in his arms. Go on, go for it! it whispered in my mind. But I didn’t want to. I hadn’t forgiven him yet. Brett’s face flickered before my eyes. So I hardened my heart and turned him down. Luckily, the little princess of the Bloodfang Clan had invited me over earlier, so I used that as my excuse to leave. The Bloodfang princess, Sophia, was such a sweet girl. She’d taken a real liking to our territory and decided to stay awhile. Her room was beautifully arranged, filled with glittering little trinkets brought from her homeland—I adored them. She’d asked for me specifically because she loved the floral arrangements I’d made for the ball, and she wanted my help decorating the small courtyard of her temporary quarters. When I arrived, her brother, the young Alpha, happened to be there too. He greeted me politely, praised my work, and we had a pleasant chat about flowers and decor. His smile was warm and unpretentious. Then Sophia and I threw ourselves into sprucing up the courtyard. Working with plants always soothed me. Later, she invited me to stay for dinner. She was quite the talker, sharing all sorts of amusing stories about life in her territory. By the time I returned to my room, night had fallen. To my surprise, Lily was waiting there, arms crossed, leaning against my doorframe. Her expression... looked stern. "Celena," she said, her tone unsettling. "Have you seen Jacob?"