Chapter 21: A Matter of Trust
Chapter 21: A Matter of Trust
Arda seemed frozen under his perusal until her phone vibrated as it began to ring. Then her eyes
dropped to the ground, focusing on her phone. She saw Jacob’s name flashing across the screen.
She was eager to speak with Jacob. At the same time, she was frightened, considering what the Alpha
had said about him. She was still trying to wrap her head around the information that Jacob was a
werewolf and the son of an Alpha who was out for her life.
A sudden movement had her looking back up and she found Gillow standing right before her.
As her breath continued to rise and fall shortly, he let his eyes drop to the phone. Then in an instant, he
had retrieved the towel from the bag, unwrapped it and was handing it over to her. She was afraid but
managed to receive it.
Arda went from being scared to being shocked as he turned his back on her. Without his words, just by
his action, she understood that he was giving her some privacy. Coming from him, she was astonished.
There seemed to be some gentility in him. Gingerly, she wrapped the towel around her body.
“You’re perfect.” She heard him say quietly without turning to face her. It took Arda a few seconds to
understand him. Her fear of him affected her so much.
“What?” she almost mumbled but he heard her.
“Your body, the whole of you is perfect.” He said gently.
Arda appreciated the compliment. Still, she knew he was unpredictable. And it was that trait of his that
kept her nervous and still afraid. Her phone stopped ringing.
“Thanks.” She murmured.
“You’re welcome.”
Her phone started ringing again.
“Jacob Cain, I imagine.”
“Yes.”
“You can speak with him…freely.”
Arda didn’t gasp as she found him back at the door of the bathroom where he stood, facing her once
more. She guessed she was getting used to his supernatural moves.
He opened the door, stepped back and with a soft smile and an exaggerated bow of courtesy, exited
the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
Arda breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, she wondered at the possibility that he could be nice
and playful if he wanted to be. She didn’t know how to feel about that. Perhaps she liked that part of
him. No, she appreciated it. She needed every show of kindness she could get at this point in her life.
Arda quickly picked up her phone which was still vibrating as it rang. Then she received Jacob’s call
and brought the phone up to her ear.
“Jacob?”
“Arda is that really you?” he seemed to be speaking quietly like he didn’t want anyone around him to
hear him.
“Yeah. What’s going on? Someone tried to kill me and you left me confused.” Arda didn’t really know
what to say to him. She had thought she would ask him about his werewolf ties and all the moment she
came into contact with him but upon hearing his voice, she couldn’t help but still see him as Jacob, her
friend and flat mate.
“I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“What is really going on?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at…” Arda paused. Somehow, she wasn’t sure about telling him exactly where she was. She felt
like she had just woken up to the reality about him. It was time to stop living in denial. She had to try.
“Where are you Arda?”
“I’m safe.” Arda wasn’t sure about that but she felt quite at peace, saying the words.
“Listen, you can trust me. I need to know where you are.”
“Maybe I need to know who you really are.”
There was a slight pause at his end.
“Jacob?” This content is © NôvelDrama.Org.
“I can’t tell you.”
“Maybe I already have an idea about who you really are.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you think the pretense has gone on for too long?”
He sighed.
“Are you really safe?”
“I am safe. Maybe I’m safe.”
“That’s good enough for me.”
“So who are you, Jacob?”
“Remember the morning I made you breakfast before you went out to see your project supervisor?”
“Yes?”
“I was reading the newspaper and my attention was really focused on a particular story.”
“Yes, the one about wolf howls increasing around the forests at night.”
“Well, it is not the howling of wolves entirely. It’s actually the howling of werewolves and… I am a
werewolf.”
Arda didn’t know she would still be shocked, despite having prior information about his identity. She
guessed, hearing him admit it was the real shocker.
“Arda? Did you hear me?”
Arda cleared her throat so that she could find her voice. “I heard you.”
Jacob sighed. He was speechless at the moment. Arda was also speechless and the silence between
them, stretched for a bit.
“What’s the whole story J?”
He let out a chuckle. It sounded weary. “I can’t believe you just called me that.”
“I still see you as my friend, Jacob. If that’s how you still want it.”
“I’m still your friend, Arda. I’m sorry about all the lies and pretense. It was for a purpose. You deserve a
normal life. At least, for as long as you can get it.”
“Thanks. What’s the whole story anyway?”
“It’s too complicated to discuss on the phone. We need to see.”
“That won’t be possible.”
“Where are you?”
“I thought you would know.”
“I can only guess. And I guess you’re with the Alpha of the South.”
Arda refused to confirm it.
“Don’t worry.” He went on. “The other packs know nothing about your whereabouts. It has not been
easy for me, but they believe I have no idea.”
“Thanks. And can it stay that way?”
“Yes. Where is K?”
“She’s fine.” Arda responded, reluctant to explain Karina’s current situation.
“Can I speak to her?”
“Not right now.”
“Why?”
“She’s…she’s busy right now.”
“You were never a good liar, Arda.”
Arda swallowed hard and cleared her throat as she searched for what to say.
“I know how things work in our world, if you know what I mean. Tell me, Gillow knows about us?”
“Yes.”
“Then I know she’s not okay.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“I guess she’s locked up somewhere in that castle? I know she’s not okay and I’m worried. Karina is my
mate.”
“I already figured that out.”
“Please use your power to help free her.”
“I have no power to do that.”
“Yes you do.”
“I don’t.”
“Maybe you don’t understand it now but you have the Alpha’s love. Learn to use it.”
“Hmn. I’ll try. And then what next?”
“You and Karina should find a way to escape the castle. I will keep you both safe. I tell you, the Alpha
can’t handle what’s coming. It’s three Alphas against one. All I can do is protect you and Karina and
your human family.”
“I thought you said you’re the only one who knows where I am.”
“True. But it is only a matter of time before they figure it out. Hunters from the three packs are already
looking. They won’t stop until they find you.”
“Oh my god.” Arda said, fearfully.
“Relax. Just do as I say and don’t tell the Alpha anything. You don’t like him do you?”
“No.” Arda denied hotly although, she did like him a little and for no concrete reason except for his
handsome looks and carriage but she knew that she feared him more.
“Good. So do what I’ve said, please. War is coming. Gillow cannot stand it.”
“War?”
“That’s all you need to know for now. Talk to you later and when you and karina are finally free.”
Arda sighed heavily as he ended the call. She stood there, unmoving for a while. Then she put herself
together and completed her morning ablutions. Afterwards, she walked out of the bathroom and back
into the dressing room in the black dress the Alpha had bought for her.
There, she briefly studied her reflection in the mirror. The dress was fitting. It was a simple canoe neck,
knee length dress with short sleeves.
She combed her fingers through her short hair, allowing the side fringe to rest properly on her forehead.
Then she stepped out of the dressing room and into the bedroom where she found the Alpha seated on
the huge bed. His beautiful gray eyes were fixed on her and He looked like a king dominating his
throne. Arda was intimidated as always by his presence. Jacob had said she had power over him. Arda
didn’t think so as she stood, rooted to the spot, just a few feet away from the bed.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
“I love the dress on you.”
“Thanks.”
“I want to know what Cain’s son said.”
“What?”
“Jacob Cain.” He reiterated. “I want to know what he said.”
Arda tried not to lose her composure. “Nothing.” She answered.
Gillow really hated the fact that he could not read her mind. He also hated that he would have to rely on
other means to try and keep himself informed about her dealings around the house. He had no choice.
With a finger, he beckoned her forward and Arda stepped closer to him. He could easily tell from her
nervous expression that she was a terrible liar. Karina’s report about that aspect of her was absolutely
correct.
Gillow rose to his feet, towering over her and her breathing became fast paced with increased anxiety.
“I want to hear exactly what Jacob said.”