Jacob

I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do, but I decide that it is time to send Ana back to school. When she leaves, I watch her go with a heart that is heavier than I expected.

Her musk still lingers throughout the house, but it has become slightly easier to deal with. I wish that Derek would have listened to me when I told him to break the bond. Not because I am jealous, or because I think that Ana is one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen.

No, I wanted him to do it so that she wouldn't have to suffer like this. I've been avoiding her for days, passing by only to touch her shoulder or give her a short hug. I hope that it helps her, but I don't know what else to do.

I still feel guilty about that night in the shower.

There is a knock at the door. I realize that I am late for training, and it's probably Kimon coming to look for me.

"Are you taking a day off?" He asks as soon as I open for him. "Shit, you look like death."

"I think I might." I walk back into the house, waiting for him to follow. "You hungry?"

"Yeah, but…" I hear the hesitation hidden in that word. "We're already late."

"Didn't I just say I'm taking the day off?" I grumble as we enter the kitchen. I rummage through the fridge and grab a bottle of orange juice.

"I don't think alphas get vacation," Kimon answers with a shrug. "What's going on, man? You've been off all week. What's that smell, actually?"

"It's a long story," I don't feel like explaining the whole situation with Ana to him. Most people probably know, but I don't want to rehash it anyway. "Will you at least eat breakfast with me? We can get started later."

"Fine, but you make it." Kimon has a cheek when he speaks to me that nobody else would dare to attempt. I know that, as my Delta, he probably is braver when it comes to confronting me than the rest of the pack.

"You're right, though, I'm not feeling that great." I gather eggs and bacon and dump it all into a pan to fry it. "Not sick, or anything, just not myself."

I don't mention the guilt that I have been feeling over Gisele. Or the confusion that has filled me about Ana.

"You're not getting weak on me, are you?" There is a slight challenge in Kimon's words. I know that there are a few wolves who would love to stage a mutiny and overthrow my throne.

Kimon, as far as I am aware, is not one of them.

"Don't worry about that." I wave him off as I stir the mess that I am cooking up. "You just keep beating up the dummies in the training center. I'm sure people can see you're not to be screwed with."

"That's right." Kimon grins, leaning back against the counter.

Suddenly, there is another knock at the door. This one is urgent and desperate, but Kimon looks to the front door curiously.

"Are you hosting a party?"

"No." I turn towards the front of the house before I raise the volume of my voice. "It's open."

I hear the door being thrown wide, and hurried feet scurrying down the hallway.

"Alpha Jacob, there's an altercation at the school."

It's one of the teachers, Summer, who rushes into the kitchen as she speaks. She is pale, and looks more worried than I would expect if this fight was just a disagreement between students.

"Between who?" I ask calmly, but my tone doesn't serve to simmer her down.

"Medeia and a girl named Ana," Summer says. "I don't think I can stop them from hurting each other, and nobody else is there yet. At least, I was alone when I saw. I need your help."

I sigh. This is the last thing that I need. "Alright, I'll come. Kimon, can you finish this for me?"

"I'm a warrior, not a cook," Kimon grumbles, but he takes over from me anyway. "At least let Summer stay to help me."

"She's a teacher," I roll my eyes and walk ahead of her down the hallway. "She has to be at school."

Halfway there, I can smell trouble on the wind myself. I wonder who it is, but considering Ana has gone back today, I am sure I can guess.

I finally walk over the last hill, Summer close behind, and spot a group of students at the entrance to the school. Derek and Ana are on the ground, making inhuman noises. Medeia is standing and staring at them in shock, as is the rest of the crowd surrounding them.

I move faster. It is clear that something terrible has happened. The usual scent of Ana's heat has died down so much that I barely sense it in the air.

Ana falls from her knees onto her side and she and Derek groan ever softer.

"What's happening?" I thunder as soon as I reach Ana, fury building up in me. Medeia seems to be shaken from her daze.

She instantly points at Ana, who is curled up now at my feet. "It's her! They'll all tell you!"

Some of the crowd nods, while most seem uncertain of whether they want to side with Medeia or not. After what I saw of her at dinner, and when I had to intervene before, I'm not sure I believe her.

Even so, I let her keep talking. "She's still jealous of my relationship with Derek. I got here, and she decided to attack me! Jacob, you have to get her out of here. She's completely insane."

"That's true," says one of the students standing slightly behind Medeia. "She wants Derek to herself."

"Shut up, Jessica," Medeia hisses in response.

I cross my arms over my chest. My instincts are telling me to get Ana out of there as quickly as I can. However, as the Alpha, it is my duty to investigate what's really going on.

"She…" Derek finally groans from where he lays, rolling himself onto his stomach. "She rejected me."

"What?" I feel the shock settle in the pit of my stomach, alongside a more surprising feeling – relief. "Is that true, Ana?"

"Mm," she moans, trying to sit up and struggling to find the strength. "But I did not attack Medeia."

"She's lying!" Medeia insists, with a stomp of her foot. "Who are you going to believe, Alpha? Everyone here will agree with me. She's insane!"

"You mean everyone here will lie, because they are terrified of you." My words explode into the morning air, making the crowd shift their gazes between Medeia and I.

Medeia herself is gaping at me, opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water.

"Medeia, this is the third time that I have witnessed you antagonizing Ana in the space of a few weeks," I continue. "I know that you are in love with Derek, but this behavior is unacceptable. If I ever -"

With gall that must be supernatural, Medeia interrupts me. "But Jacob, she's been clawing at him the whole time. She - "

"You will address me as Alpha or Sir," I break her sentence off before it can begin properly. Again, she seems flabbergasted that I am speaking to her like this. She must not be used to being reprimanded.

My wolf asserts itself over hers, and she has no choice but to submit.

"Yes, Sir." This time, her tone is meek and apologetic.

"This will not happen again." The threat is clear. "If this kind of behavior continues, you are in danger of being banished from this pack. Do you understand me?"

"I do, Alpha." Medeia is forced to bow before me, even though I can see it pains her greatly. "I will honor your request."

"It is not a request, it is an order," I hiss. "Is that clear?"

The gathered group of students is completely stunned at this point. I know that Medeia has been completely humiliated, which might have lowered her ranking in their eyes. It doesn't matter. If she wanted to be respected, she would have to offer it to others.

"Yes. I promise." Medeia kneels beside Derek, who is now quietly clutching at his stomach.

"Get him out of here. I will deal with Ana personally."

I kneel down and pick Ana up. Weakly, she puts her arms around my neck and buries her head in my chest. It stirs butterflies in my stomach, but I shove them aside violently.

I will not develop feelings for her.

"Let's go," I say, immediately marching away.

I know that Medeia will take care of Derek. Whether she will heed my order is a different story. If she breaks it, however, I will force her to leave. As an Alpha, I must keep to my word, no matter what.