The Mate He Couldn’t Control (complete)

Chapter 19

Today was easy. I met Dimitry at five and we trained until seven. Sometime after that, Jaylon begged me to come over. It surprised me because he never asked me during the day when people could see me come up, but his current state explained it all. He didn’t say much, but the crackling fire gave us something to listen to. The second I got here he latched on to my hips and laid his head on my stomach. He hasn’t moved since. A soft rain fell over the forest at my command as I rubbed his hair. I’m not sure what was going on in his head, but I didn’t pester him. I’m happy that he calls me when he needs me.

As I listened to his heartbeat and breathing change pace, I stared up at the ceiling, dissecting my dreams. Usually, my dreams are Jaylon and me. Sometimes I have this feeling that they aren’t dreams, at least not fully. But lately, my grandmother has been visiting me more and more. She’s pissed. Okay look, I know she told me like a month ago to go look through some room. The thing is, I don’t know where this room is. You’d think she’d be like building A room 1, but no. She gives no instructions other than “go to this room and look”. Who does that? Do you have any idea how many rooms there are in the world? Obviously, it’s within the pack, but I would at least like to know where. Anyways, I have it on my to-do list, it’s just a little pushed back right now. But the second I find a time when I’m alone, I will go search. Just for her!

Suddenly, Jaylon surprised me by tiredly waking himself up and coming to the top of the bed with me. He’s the sweetest thing sometimes. When he’s tired or first wakes up, the first thing he thinks of is coming to give me kisses. Which is exactly what he did. He placed a few kisses on my face before I returned them as he sat with a small smile. Eventually, he’d always lay his cheek against mine and fall back asleep, but this time he was unsuccessful.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered.

“My dad needs me.”

“Do you want me to go instead?”

“No. If they know we’re on good terms my mother is going to start lecturing me again.” Jaylon stiffened and started fighting himself to wake up. He separated our faces enough for our eyes to meet as his hand ran through my hair. “I need you to stay tonight. All night.”

“Really? Is something wrong?” He never wanted me to stay all night. More like me coming over at midnight and leaving at three. I haven’t been sleeping much.

“My head is killing me. Either someone's mind linking me or my thoughts are driving me insane,” he explained frustratedly through his teeth before dropping his head on my chest. “I just need quiet. I need peace. I can’t get that without you.”

“What time do you want me to come?”

“The second I get back. Bring extra clothes with you. I don’t give a f**k who sees, Loren can get over it.” His words brought a smile to my lips. Now he’s coming around. He got up and kissed me before putting on his hoodie and rushing out. Immediately, the fire shut off and the rain stopped as the sun came out. I’ve gotta stop using the weather like a mood lighting button.

My phone started going off beside me and I picked it up off of the nightstand. “Alison, I said we would leave at 6. It’s 5:58. Where are you?” Dimitry asked the second I answered the phone.

“But it was just raining?”

“I’m pulling out of your driveway at six. With or without you.” I rolled my eyes and hung up, running as fast as I could through the packhouse. I felt bad for having to ignore some of my friends as I passed them, but I mind-linked them. Once I was outside, I could go full speed without hurting anyone. I heard my car pulling out of the driveway and rushed as fast as I could. When I caught up, I jumped into the backseat very painfully.

“How the hell are you going to leave me. . . in my own car?” I complained, trying to catch the air I just knocked out of myself. Dimitry sat up front laughing as I groaned my way up on my knees and climbed over to the passenger seat. Thankfully, he took the convertible, or else I’d be riding the roof for the next hour.

“I thought you could use extra cardio,” he smirked.

“Oh, so you think I’m getting fat?”

“No, of course not. You just needed to run off that stress eating at you.”

“I haven’t been stressed.”

“Yes, you have.”

“I’m just a little tired. I’ll be fine.”

“You gotta take care of your body, Ali, or else it will take care of itself. We won’t do any training till you do.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Fine, I’ll go to bed early. We’re training tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow night. If you sleep.” I rolled my eyes and dropped my phone in the backseat. Anna’s throwing a bitchfit on it right now because she doesn’t understand why Dimitry can come, but she can’t. I don’t have time for it. I also put up my shield to prevent anyone from contacting me. I loved them, but nothing is going to happen while I’m gone. I just wanted a few hours to forget. Besides, Jaylon will be in a meeting with Malachi for the rest of the day. That’s how it always is. I don’t know what they did, but they took forever doing it. I laid my head back on my seat and smiled up at the sky above. The wind brushing past us and the music playing made me forget everyone and everything. I didn’t think of my grandmother’s irritation towards me or my obsessive need to comfort Jaylon. I haven’t thought about myself as much as I should have since the day Jaylon took me shopping. Sleep? Nope. A full dinner? Jaylon’s here now! A long hot bath? No, Jaylon might need me. The most time I got was magic practice and that might’ve lasted twenty minutes before Jaylon was running around in the forest and decided to race. It’s not his fault, just my fear of saying no.

“So, have you ever been hiking in this area?” Dimitry asked curiously as we made our way up the mountain trail.

“No, but I always admired the mountains from the roof or island.”

“You go on the roof?”

“Yes, it’s easy to climb up off of my balcony,” I explained, following behind Dimitry. “You should try it sometime.”

“I might. So, is there anything you want to get off of your mind?”

“No. I left all of my problems behind in the car,” I explained.

“Good. We will have a clear mind. A fresh start,” Dimitry encouraged. People were walking near us on the trails, so I wasn’t thinking anything about it. But the smell, I shouldn’t have ruled it out as a coincidence. Someone walked up and pushed me off the edge of the trail and 50 ft down into the lake below. I swam up to the surface of the water and started losing my s**t.

“Dalton! Jaylon! When I get up there, so help me-!” I growled up at them.

“Alison,” Dimitry cut me off warningly and I calmed slightly, glaring up at the two idiots that were about to get sent down here. When Dimitry turned his attention to them, I took the opportunity to climb up the cliff full speed and come up beside them in a second. “I take it you're the asshole,” Dimitry said to Jaylon. The mutual annoyance they both had for each other was quite obvious. Dimitry hated distractions. Jaylon hated men around me.

“You are so lucky I didn’t have the keys in here!” I growled, taking off my soaking wet backpack and going through it.

“Well you shouldn’t have turned your phone off without telling anyone where you were going,” Dalton smirked.

“Oh, I didn’t?” I asked sarcastically and they both shook their heads no. “Then tell me you idiots, how did you know where I was?” Their smirks dropped at that. Exactly. They asked my parents. “So much for a clear mind and fresh start!” I yelled behind me as I rushed past them up the trail. Dimitry instructed me to breathe from behind me as I mentally mimicked him. “You seriously just let them push me?”

“I have told you many times not to let your guard down. I can’t always protect you.”

“Are you kidding me? What if they were trying to kill me? Would that have been a lesson too?”

“Alison, if they wanted to hurt you they would have gone for both of us.”

“You just thought it was funny.”

“You know I didn’t. I hate distractions.”

A few minutes after my temper tantrum, Dimitry cut ahead of me and Jaylon and Dalton were following. I have no idea why they came, other than Jaylon’s fear of me cheating. Did he hear me leave and decide to come after me? Truthfully, I expected to be back before Jaylon even realized I was gone. They were silent, but I knew they were mind-linking. They were always mind-linking. I was busy trying to pretend the past few minutes hadn’t just happened when I saw it. Dimitry scratched the back of his neck and I could see the tattoo.

“You didn’t tell me you got another tattoo,” I commented from behind him.

“Honestly, I forgot about it.”

“I’m sure. . .” I mumbled. “Well, what does it mean?”

“Family thing Alison. . .”

“You said you had no family.”

“Everyone has a family. Sometimes our family dies or breaks apart. But as members, we are required to continue their traditions and share their stories.”

“So I’m guessing it’s a sacred tattoo that you're not going to explain. . .”

“So, how do you like the move?” No. Got it.

“I don’t like surprises. . . but I guess it isn’t all bad.”

“How are your new friends? You’ve always had such an interesting choice in them,” Dimitry smirked from in front of me.

“Tell me about it,” Jaylon mumbled from behind me. He would jokingly grab at me every few minutes, but I was still irritated.

“Shut up, you used to be friends with them. Anyway, what’s interesting?”

“You choose people that do everything you won’t,” Dimitry explained.

“I do not.”

“Yes, you do. I think it’s very strategic actually. You watch them do everything to see if it works out. They’re everything you refuse to be. It’s smart actually, but kind of mean,” he lightly laughed out.

“Oh wow Alison,” Dalton commented.

“I do not do that, Dimitry.”

“Yes, you do.” I pushed past Dimitry and sped to sit down on a random spot as we made it to the top. I breathed out as the sun was setting in front of me. The mountain top looked like what I would imagine the moon to be based on pictures. Dimitry sat beside me and smiled at the view. “We came on this trip to reconnect you with nature and your emotions.”

“Hmm, now how will I do that?”

“Well, you’ve already connected with the water,” he joked and we both giggled. “Just, enjoy the world around you. The more you admire, the stronger the connection will be.” I looked at him confused but decided it was Dimitry. He’s not crazy. I did as he said, as he left me to myself. I admired the red, orange, pink, purple, and blue that filled the sky and reflected in the lake below. I smiled to myself at the sight as I felt everything in me stop. Every emotion that was burning my skin evaporated. I was left with peace. Every thought in my mind was gone too. I never wanted to leave. I just wanted to watch the sky.

“So, I’m an asshole?” Jaylon questioned as he sat beside me.

“No, I didn’t exactly call you one. I said you could be one. And after that, I said you can be sweet. Also, I didn’t say that today.”

“So you thought that yesterday?”

“No! Dimitry asked what was on my mind and I said, I’m always worried you’re gonna flip on me again,” I explained quickly. Now that I’m sitting and not doing anything, I’m exhausted. I guess hiking and lack of sleep don’t mix well.

Jaylon pulled me to lean on his shoulder but I shot him a confused look. “Don’t worry, Dalton already knows. Plus he’s too busy facetiming Angelina about the view to notice.” I love that for them. Seriously. Everything he does, he wants Angelina to see. I did as Jaylon wanted and cuddled his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”

“It always takes you forever, so I thought I’d be back in time. I guess that wasn’t the case this time.”

“It does not take me forever.”

“Yes. It. Does.”

“Still, I wish you would have told me.”

“I’m sorry. I will next time.”

After a moment, Jaylon sighed and pressed a kiss on my forehead. “It’s so calming being up here.” I looked up at him as I watched his eyes take it all in. I loved seeing things through his eyes. “It’s quiet.”

“It’s a reminder that life can be peaceful. Beautiful, even. You just have to look at it from a different place.”

“Everyone wonders how we were mated, but I see it now. You’re everything I’ve ever needed,” Jaylon surprised me before leaning down and kissing me while the wind blew around us. Probably my doing.

“Come on you two! You can kiss at the bottom of the mountain too!” Dalton complained. I pulled away from Jaylon's lips as I began to giggle and turned back to Dimitry, who had a smile on his lips. At that moment, I was sure, he knew. I respected that he’s never talked about it before. I’m sure there’s a good reason for it.

The next morning, Jaylon was attacking my face with kisses until I woke up. I smiled up at the person who looked like an angel as the sun coming in through the windows bounced off his skin and made his eyes glow. “Come on sleeping beauty,” he sang above my lips before pulling them into a slow kiss that made my eyes close again.

“Are they here already?”

“Their plane should be here in four hours, which means we need to take a shower now.”

“Now?”

“Yes. I want to go out before they get here.”

“Is there something you're not telling me?” I sat up suspiciously.

“What do you mean?”

“You wanted me to stay all night. You took me home to get a few sets of clothes. You wanted to cuddle and watch scary movies with me all night. You hate scary movies.”

“Do I need a reason to give you my love?”

“I’m just curious,” I replied before giggling as Jaylon carried me out of bed and into the shower. I know I didn’t say it back, but he’s everything that I have ever needed. He might drive me insane sometimes, but he always makes up for it.

After our shower and me rushing to do my hair and makeup, I put on a blazer dress and heels to match his suit. He didn’t know till he saw me and jokingly tried to undo the two buttons. “You’re lucky I already have plans for us,” Jaylon warned, before pulling me into a kiss and dragging me out the door. No one saw us because it was the last Sunday before school and they were mourning it by sleeping in.

It was a simple breakfast date, but our simple dates were always the best. Jaylon swears nothing is going on but he’s been full of smiles and jokes all morning. Not a single thing irritated him. Usually, everything irritates him. He couldn’t stand sitting across from me for more than five minutes, so he moved beside me so that he could torture me by whispering in my ear. Sure, he could've done it through mind link, but it wouldn’t have had the same effect. This man is trying to seduce me today. . .

As we made our way to Malachi’s office, I tried to make sure my crown was secure on my head. Business casual as you might’ve guessed. Every time there was an event or anything business, Jaylon and I had to be a perfect couple, which meant we could be a real couple right now. So, he grabbed my hand and we beamed at each other as the office doors opened. Apparently, this family adopted twin boys three years ago, who just wolfed out two months back, which is why Jaylon was gone on my birthday. It took so long because they had to pack up their whole lives.

“As I said before, we can have you a house built in one of our communities, but until then you are all welcome to stay here in the packhouse, in your own rooms,” Malachi explained before the office turned their attention to us.

I stiffened at the two teenage boys who flashed me white smiles. I did the same and Jaylon immediately stepped in front of me. “I’m Alpha Whites son Jaylon, the next alpha in line. You’ve met me before, and this is my mate, Alison, you’re future Luna,” he said, shaking the two boys' hands and stepping to the side, now death gripping my hand.

They immediately turned their attention towards me, to Jaylon’s annoyance. “My name is Jesse,” the blonde one started, coming as close as Jaylon would allow him. His accent caught me off guard. Besides Dimitry and my friends that call, I haven’t heard any other accents aside from the one the pack shared.

Jesse’s red-headed brother pushed him out of the way. “Hi, my name is Mason,” he greeted, grinning ear to ear. Well, obviously they aren’t identical.

“Aww, my nephew’s name is Mason,” I offered. I kept my warm smile as Jaylon’s began to slowly drop. He’s pissed. I’m guessing they have no idea that a mind link can be a group thing because their shields are down. “Where are you both from?”

“London.”

Jaylon made us both take a step back and I looked behind the two flirts to reveal their parents. “Hello, I am Nia and this is my husband Brandon,'' their mother stood up, shaking my hand.

“It’s so wonderful to have you all join us! My mate and I are going to show you around the house and then you can pick out your rooms. Have you already been to the school?” I started, seeing as my mate cared more about the competition, rather than greeting the new additions to our pack. Ingrid and Malachi flashed me smiles from behind them and we started them off in the kitchen. To keep it formal, the pack house inhabitants are currently trapped in their rooms. The last thing two parents want to see is a couple making out on the kitchen island or a petty fight in the living room.

“No, but Alpha White said he could have them enrolled, just in time for tomorrow,” Brandon replied, looking at the boys who seemed less than impressed. Aww, I remember that feeling. As we walked, I reassured them that the transition would go smoothly as everyone was friendly. If not, I would be more than happy to help. Jaylon found the last part interesting but, Malachi and Ingrid are struggling to manage the teenagers. An example being: Loren. She’s always in trouble but never seems to care.

Jaylon would pitch in now and then, but he mostly stayed quiet until they went into their rooms. Immediately, he pulled me into a kiss as he tightly held my waist. We separated our faces and he looked into my eyes. “I agreed to set up for tonight. I have to go to the store, but I will be back to see you before.”

“Wait, you don’t want me to go?” Since when does Jaylon agree to help set up anything?

“I won’t be alone,” he explained, but I glared at him. “No, not with girls.”

“Be careful,” I smiled up at him before we kissed one last time and he left. I watched him walk off and stayed until I heard him talking to Dalton and one of his other friends that I like to avoid before leaving. Alright grandmother. . . now you have my attention.