The Mate He Couldn’t Control (complete)

Chapter 22

Jaylon let out a frustrated growl as his hands shook into fists. “What are you doing here?” I questioned.

“I wanted to see what you were doing today. I’ll wait downstairs,” Jacob smirked before closing the door. I looked up into Jaylon’s eyes to see they were dark and filled with rage as his skin began to radiate.

“The one time I get you to agree to mate. . .” Jaylon growled through his teeth.

“Don’t. You. Dare.” I warned before he tried to wolf out.

“Why? It’s not like you're in the mood for it now.”

“It’s okay. It will happen when the time's right. Now isn’t right,” I reasoned, placing soft kisses on his cheeks. Jaylon protested by staying stiff and glaring down at my pillow, but I know he liked it.

“So I’m guessing s*x is off the table too?”

“It’s off all of the surfaces.” With my words, he breathed out frustratedly before rolling off of me and heading towards the door. I sped over and tackled him to the ground. “No!”

“Yes!” he argued, trying to push me off so I held his arms over his head.

“Hurting him is just going to make the process take longer. Do you want to wait another two months?”

“Two months? We are mating within the next two weeks.”

“No. We aren’t doing anything until you deal with Loren and open up to me!”

“You know I don’t need your permission to mate with you, right?” he threatened.

I held both of his arms down with one hand and wrapped the other around his neck as I glared into his cold eyes. “If you ever take that option from me, I will never forgive you.” Immediately, I got up and went to my closet to change out of what was left of my clothes. It didn’t take long before Jaylon was wrapping his arms around me and apologizing. His hormones shouldn’t be an excuse for everything. “Maybe you should just go to the packhouse.”

“No, please? Let me stay! I’ll behave,” He pleaded, now on his knees in front of me and placing kisses on my stomach. He does this every time he’s in trouble.

“Fine.” As you can see, it works. While I got dressed, Jaylon changed the subject to put me in a better mood. I learned that my jewelry was the reason he stayed on his phone and disappeared at the mall. It was a beautiful necklace and ring from Tiffany’s. Both of them looked perfect with my locket. I guess I shouldn’t be mad. How many girls wake up wearing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry? “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. You’re my mate. I want to take care of you.”

“Then why do you make me share? I’m all yours. None of this is fair to me.”

“A few days. Tops.” This is getting ridiculous. They aren’t even a real couple.

I decided to behave for the moment as we made our way to the kitchen. In it I found Jacob questioning Dimitry while looking through the refrigerator. “Why is everything in your house sorted by color?” He questioned, turning his attention to me. I sat at the island and Jaylon gently wrapped his arms around my neck.

“It just makes me happy.” Dimitry took the opportunity to escape out of the room. He doesn’t like to talk to people, but he also doesn’t want to be rude. “You aren’t going to tell, are you?”

“About your obsessive cleaning habits?” I gave Jacob a look before he remembered what I was talking about. “Oh, no. I’ve known since you started wearing your locket again. You know that I can keep a secret. The others. . . well thankfully I came alone.”

“Why did you come?” Jaylon asked curiously.

“Just wanted to come over,” Jacob smiled at me. On the outside, he seems like a horny teenager that’s always the life of the party. But, like everyone else, that’s not all of him. Sometimes the packhouse drains his social battery and he comes over. He doesn’t go home because his parents keep hounding him about things that are out of his control. Jacob is one of the future Omega’s. Yes, he is titled, but he’s one of the lowest ranks, which means he doesn’t truly get any control. Hell, Dalton’s a Zeta and all he does is work as a personal assistant. His parents are frustrated because they believe he isn’t doing enough for the pack, but with them being Omega’s themselves, I’m not sure what they’re expecting of him. His family owns a winery and though he’d never say it, I’m sure that had something to do with their thought process.

At first, he never said anything, he’d just show up and watch a movie with me or something. But, one day he sat on the roof with me, and it all, or a lot of it, came out. He never came when Jaylon was here and I think the only reason he’s comfortable doing it now is that he had no choice.

“So, you just came over?” Jaylon questioned again. I realized from his tone that he thought something was going on so I mindlinked him to behave.

“Yes.”

“It’s okay, Jaylon and I were just about to watch a movie in the living room,” I smirked, unwrapping Jaylon’s arms.

“We were?”

“Yes. All three of us,” I beamed, pulling Jaylon behind me. I let Jacob pick as I talked about classes. All of our classes serve to teach werewolves how to prevent or reverse harm from witches. Basically, they’re Alison repellant classes, which only a few knew about. From what I’ve been learning from the books though, they’re learning very simple things.

Jacob left after dinner and Dimitry waved me from tonight’s practice so Jaylon took me upstairs. When he tried to pull me to the shower, I stopped him and made us both sit on the couch. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s something we need to talk about,” I worked up the nerve to say. “It’s nothing bad, just a respect thing.”

“What do you mean? Did I do something?”

“It’s just, I’ve been thinking. You know I want to take care of you and I want things to work. I’m so happy that you’re sober and starting to open up to me.” Slightly. He doesn’t even let me hear his thoughts. Oh, and don’t get me started on the pictures. Every time I bring that up he stops talking.

“You’re leaving me?” Jaylon questioned slowly as his face paled.

“No. It’s just this isn’t fair to me. Our relationship isn’t fair. You keep me, your mate, off in the dark and I have to watch you makeout with Loren in front of everyone.”

“Baby, I told-”

“I’m not doing it anymore, Jaylon. You aren’t even in a real relationship. How hard is it to just leave? You’ve been “trying to break up with her” for two months. Today we almost mated. I can’t be mated to a secret. So, we can’t do this until you end it. No more cuddling, kissing, dates, gifts, sweet nothings, or anything,” I cut him off to continue.

“Nothing?”

“Nothing. Someone has to take care of me, Jaylon.”

“But I have been taking care of you!”

“Not emotionally.”

“I’m sorry. Please. You can’t just cut me off like this. You opened yourself to me and you're going to take it all away now that I can’t live without it?” Jaylon began to cry in front of me as he clung to my waist. I held my tears back because the thought of hurting him breaks my heart, but this needed to be done. I have no other way of pushing him.

“I’m sorry, my love, but there’s no other way.” I caved and let him have a goodbye kiss to slightly ease his nerves but it didn’t help much. He sent me a glare that spawned from his heartbreak before leaving. I couldn’t get the image out of my mind. It made all of it twice as hard. This will be good for us though. He has encouragement to end things and I have time to work on magic and explore the packhouse more.

As I sat in Malachi’s office with both groups surrounding me, I remained in my own mind as I fidgeted with my necklace. I know that Nick said we found the wolfsbane in Loren’s room, but I have no idea what to do about it. Yes, that means she was trying to kill me, but she didn’t. Should I tell Jaylon? Or my parents? Ingrid or Malachi maybe? Jaylon won’t believe me. My parents will think I just want her gone. Ingrid and Malachi would have her sent away in a heart beat though. Two people will hate me if I do that. So for now. . . I needed to stay quiet until the time was right. But trust me, I’m watching my back a lot more carefully now. I still can’t bring myself to read her diary though. . . I feel bad every time I look at it. The wolfsbane was what my grandmother was talking about when she sent me there, so her diary is useless to me. I’m considering taking it back.

They wanted to see both groups. All of both groups. Why Loren was here, I had no idea, but I was curious about the reasoning behind it. Maybe Nick told. Maybe another wolf was poisoned. Or maybe they were just tired of the petty drama. In that case, I couldn’t agree more.

“I thought you made new friends so I can have mine back now,” Loren started as we waited for Malachi and Ingrid's arrival.

“What friends?” I questioned annoyedly. Julia and Jacob were bent over laughing and the others bit their tongues behind smiles.

“Alright, we would like to discuss something with you all,” Malachi started, closing the doors behind Ingrid. See, now I think they made us wait so long on purpose. He sat at his desk then continued, “You need to train together once a week, it will be Dalton’s job as Zeta to pair you all off fairly and make sure you are all trained to your full potential.”

“Loren, you are here because you are human, and given the unfortunate circumstances, we don’t want to force you to leave. With that being said, most of the pack strongly encourages your removal seeing as though you are a distraction and bad example,” Ingrid started, making Loren inhale in disbelief. Oh please don’t tell me she’s surprised. “I love my son, which means you need to learn to protect yourself in case someone loses their temper. So, Alison will train you!” She blurted the last part out as the room yelled “what?”

“WHAT? WHY HER?” Loren freaked and looked between me and them with wide eyes. I sat in my chair with a big smirk. This is just the comedic break I’ve been needing. . .

“Are you crazy? Loren is sleeping with her mate and rubbing it in her face throughout the day! It’s like putting food in the tank with a starving shark and telling it not to touch it!” Dalton argued in Lorens or my, I’m not sure, defense. The whole room sounded off around me as I sat there calmly. I don’t know what they’re arguing for, it’s not going to change their decision. Instead, I just twisted the ring on my finger, amused by the shining diamonds.

“This is exactly why!” Ingrid yelled over them, making the room go silent. “Out of all of you, she is the only one that can control her emotions and actions! Just as she has done the past few months. Regardless of the situation, she is the only one fit to do it.”

“Alison, are you comfortable with this?” Malachi asked.

“Whatever you think is best I am fine with,” I replied.

“Please please, please! Jaylon can train me. He won’t hurt me. He loves me,” Loren begged. I’m sure. . .

“You’ve obviously never accidentally stepped on his foot,” Ethan mumbled under his breath.

“Loren, you aren’t his mate. His control around you takes MUCH more effort. Believe me, I trained him, he isn’t nice. Now you can accept it or I will have no choice but to remove you from the pack,” Malachi threatened. I loved being called his mate. It was something Loren needed to get through her head. “Now, you all get dressed, we are going to have a trial run today! Dalton, I expect FAIR pair-offs!”

The room groaned and headed out as I followed. Jaylon walked a terrified Loren to her room as Nick and Benny made bets on me whooping her ass. I ignored them and went up to Jaylon’s room to change my clothes. We’d only just called it off last night and I didn’t see the point in removing them since I’d be back. This just proved my decision to be useful.

“So you missed me?” I heard from beside me. I turned to see a very mesmerized Jaylon standing in the doorway.

“I need something to wear,” I replied, turning my attention back to my small section of clothes.

“So you don’t miss me?”

“We will talk about all of the things I miss when Loren’s out of the picture.”

“I know you miss me,” he whispered from behind me as he put his hands on my hips.

“Jaylon. I need to get dressed.”

“I guess I should also.”

Surprisingly, we got here first considering Jaylon decided to strip in front of me and test my restraint. Then attempted to seduce me to make me admit I missed him. The rest eventually arrived and Loren stood beside Jaylon the whole time Dalton talked. He was trying to put off the me and Loren situation because he had everyone paired except her. I got paired with Benny. He wasn’t weak at all, but I had a feeling I could take him easily. Plus, he would be too scared to hurt me.

“No,” I simply replied. Dalton looked at me like he was about to kill me. Normally he’s more patient, but I’m “publicly embarrassing” him. Well if we’re going by ranks. . .

“Yes, Alison!”

“No, Dalton. You or Jaylon,” I demanded.

“That’s not happening.”

“Fine, both of you.” I have no idea why everyone thought this was so funny. I’m not kidding.

“No, we will hurt you!”

“Okay, I’m sorry, but if I’m gonna be mated to the alpha, I should at least be able to fight one.”

“Nope, forget it! You will be just fine with one of your little boyfriends over there,” he replied with an annoyed smirk. Alright then, I’ll just piss him off.

I turned to Benny and sighed, “They’re scared I’m gonna hurt their ego.”

Dalton and Jaylon gave each other a look and headed for me at the same time. I had both of them on the ground in a second. I turned around, hearing clapping coming from Ingrid off of the 10th-story balcony. We had an audience. Well, this was awkward.

I turned around and sent Nick’s sneaky self to the ground with them. “Dimitry makes me do this two hours every morning with blindfolds and occasionally noise-canceling headphones. You aren’t sneaking up on anyone,” I said, standing over him. They all three slowly got off the ground, grunting as I focused my attention on Loren who seemed like she was considering her odds in the human world.

“What the hell was that?” Jaylon complained.

“That was a lesson for underestimating,” I replied, earning an eye roll from him. “So, who’s next?” I smirked up at my friends. Their eyes widened as they stepped back.

“That’s all you Jaylon!” Seth commented. I think I’ve proved my point.

“Bridget?”

“Nope.”