The Mate He Couldn’t Control (complete)

Chapter 14

I hate him. I don’t know what he did, but I knew this was his doing. This was all his doing. I spent the week scrolling through my grandmother's diaries and grimoires, but I couldn’t find a single thing about this. Maybe because her mate wasn’t a back-and-forth pain in the ass. It has even crossed my mind that Jaylon was the one that poisoned me. I wish he would just reject me already!

Nick stayed with me most of the time. My parents had instructed him, Bridget, and Dalton not to say a word to Jaylon or anyone else. My other friends thought that I was just spending time with my nephews, but that wasn’t too far from the truth, since they refused to leave my side. They were my ‘doctors’. The worst part was that unless I was drinking something warm, preferably my aunt's tea, I couldn’t even get words out of my mouth. My days consisted of coughing and weakly entertaining the kids. Nick used the opportunity to take care of me, meaning cuddling me every chance he got. He insists that his warmth is good for me in this condition and completely refuses to leave my side. I guess there’s nothing wrong with a cuddle buddy.

I was confused when my mom decided that, today of all days, she was going to take me to the packhouse for lunch with Jaylon’s mother. Too sick to care, I went in my sweats with my hair in a bun. I was freezing all day every day, this was getting ridiculous. I didn’t even look in the mirror. I knew how I looked, pale. Ghostly pale. Oh and let’s not forget the beautiful bags under my eyes. I already look dead. Great.

I walked down the stairs to meet my mother, who gave me a look for not even trying. Why would I try? What would that do? On the other hand, Nick gave me a soft smile which comforted me in a way. I sat in the passenger seat beside my mom, sipping on a tumbler filled with hot tea. She took off in the direction of the pack house and I sat in my seat praying that this would be over soon. Seeing Jaylon was the last thing I was worried about, he was probably occupied with beating up Loren’s mate since her birthday was today, but then again, they wouldn’t know who her mate was. Loren hasn’t left her room, nor has Jaylon, according to Nick. Maybe today things will change. Maybe they wouldn’t. Call it witches' intuition, but something told me today would shock the hell out of Jaylon.

We stopped in front of the pack house and Nick helped me out of the car as I let out a cough. The coughs had gotten worse, now they made my whole back hurt. I sipped some tea as we walked into the packhouse. I got some very worried looks as my mother walked ahead of me into Ingrid’s office. I was stopped by some of my friends. Nick tried to help me by standing beside me wrapping an arm around my waist to hold me up.

“What the hell happened to you?” Jacob asked immediately.

“Oh, just feeling a little under the weather,” I lied.

“We don’t feel under the weather,” Julia replied, giving me a raised eyebrow. Dalton stopped in his tracks on the stairs above them. He was in shock, he hadn’t seen me since I first got sick. He turned around and rushed back up the stairs.

“Guys, don’t crowd her,” Nick said in my defense, obviously saying more through the link. I waved them off and went in the direction my mom had gone.

Nick closed the office door and Ingrid shot up, “Oh Alison! What has he done?”

“I don’t know. . . yet,” I replied, sitting down. My mother gave her a worried look.

“Well, that’s part of what we are here today for. We are going to teach you everything you need to know for your reign, but you need to figure out what’s going on with Jaylon!”

“He’s your son, you know. He is in love with her, that’s all he cares about.” I didn’t mean to give her an attitude, but the room felt like it was moving and I was beginning to feel nauseous.

“I suppose that is my fault, dear. I made him befriend her when your parents found her alone, abandoned by her pack after her parents were killed,” she started. Not a pity story again. I get it, she had a bad life. Why can’t he reject me? Her life doesn’t answer that question. She continued, “ Ever since then, Jaylon has been the only person she has ever trusted.”

I wished my parents had left her ass in the woods at this point. My mother read my face and said, “Alison, your heart is too pure to think that way!” I wish they would have let Nick come in, he would have defended that.

“I know he’s my son, but if it were me, I would be upstairs making my feelings known! A little fight won’t hurt!” that comforted me.

We were there half the day. Ingrid had people coming in and out to bring us breakfast and lunch, and refill my tea every 45 minutes. From what I learned today, Jaylon needs the hell beat out of him. Mating will not only strengthen us but also the pack. My grandmother used to be evil. The old packhouse is haunted. The Luna is the mother of the pack, as well as the Queen, who is the only person that can control the Alpha. Besides all of that, we just gossiped, or they did, and I sat through it. I was right, a lot of people still cheat through the mate bond. Normally I would gloat about being right, even over negative things, but I was too exhausted. I almost fell asleep every few minutes until they’d snap me awake.

When it was time to go, I opened the door to reveal a very concerned Dalton. He was pacing until he stopped and gave Ingrid and my mother a worried look. He knew, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. Not right now. But I don’t need him to tell me, I’m perfectly capable of finding out on my own. Immediately, I focused on the sounds around me until I heard a discussion about shifting. Surprising myself, I flew past everyone, going so fast that I was there in a second. Well, that’s new. Jaylon and Loren’s eyes widened as I stopped in front of them. The second I met Loren I knew there was something different and now I’m sure of what it is. “Oh come on Jaylon, all of those years you said that I was the stupid one, but you’ve gone off and played yourself, my love,” I smirked as Jaylon paled at the sight of me. I see very clearly what he’s done to me now. He bit her. And since we all know about their private life, I’m pretty sure it was a mating. You can’t have two mates at once, so either she heals, I die, or I reject Jaylon. Two of those things are about to happen.

“W-What’s wrong with you?” he asked, forgetting his little pretend mate beside him.

“Hmm, let me guess, the makeshift mark on her neck! I wonder why she hasn’t celebrated with you yet? Why haven’t you two shifted to solidify your new mating, so that I would be out of the picture? Oh wait- you can’t,” I stepped forward, Jaylon stood frozen in shock. “Come on Loren, you know you’ll have to explain it at some point.”

“J-Jaylon, I can’t-can’t shift. I-I’m human,” she stuttered. Every step I took toward them made it worse.

“Ali-” Jaylon started, but I closed my eyes irritatedly and then opened them, cutting him off.

“I don’t want to hear another word that comes from your mouth unless it’s a rejection. If you cross me again, I won’t be so nice. Consider this my birthday present to you,” I said, turning my attention to Loren and putting a hand to her throat. My hand glowed as I healed the bite. I could feel the little energy I had drain as I did it, but there was no other way. Before a word could be said, or I ended up hurting someone, I needed to get out of here as soon as possible. I turned and sped past my mother and everyone else as I began to shake with anger. I do not hurt people, but this is a time when I would. Jaylon was screaming behind me and I could hear him and the boys arguing as he tried to push through them. There’s no reason for him to follow me.

My wolf had been refusing to come out so I tried to do the thing I did earlier. I was unsuccessful a few times, but then I sped off and came to a stop in the kitchen. I grabbed the island for support for a second before speeding off upstairs to look for any way to heal myself. I don’t see how it’s fair that I can heal others, but not myself. That just feels cruel to me.

It didn’t take long, maybe ten minutes, before the chaos caught up with me. Thankfully, my father took my nephews to the park today because I would murder Jaylon if he brought this around them. “Baby, please! Just listen to me!” He started the second he landed on my balcony naked. ‘Perks’ of being a werewolf. Everyone’s always naked. I scowled and threw a towel at him.

“Leave.”

“No! Not until we talk about this!” he argued, trying to step forward and grab me, but I stepped away from him.

“Oh, so you're finally willing to reject me?”

“NO! Let me explain what happened! I didn’t mean to!” he whined.

“You didn’t mean to?” I questioned with squinted eyes.

“No! I would never do that!”

““Never'' is an odd word considering what you just did. Actually, you didn’t “just” do it. You did it last week. Hours after we got home and you promised to change. I’ve been sitting here growing weaker for a week! I’ve been coughing up blood, freezing, losing energy by the day, and I can’t keep any food down or even wolf out! If it was an accident you would have told someone. You would have checked on me. You would have tried to fix it. But no. What were you doing? You were in the living room wondering why she wouldn’t shift!”

“Because I thought it wouldn’t hurt you! Nothing has been hurting you!” he explained as tears slid down his cheeks.

“Oh but you just keep trying, don’t you? Reject me. Now!” I growled.

“I’m not doing that! Why do you want me to?”

“Are you insane? This is why! You lie and manipulate! You’re so back and forth! You’re driving me insane! You hurt me and didn’t even say sorry! This is just pathetic! I can’t stand sleeping in my own room, or house, because of you! Every time I walk through the halls, lie on the bed, take a shower, or even look in this f*****g mirror, I think of you!” I screamed, grabbing the first thing I saw and throwing it at the mirror. It shattered as pieces flew out around us. I turned back around as my rage began to multiply. If I hadn't been driven over the edge, his tears would break my heart. But the silent ones I cry at night never affect him. “Reject me.”

“No, please! I can change. Let me change!” Jaylon begged as he started grabbing for me again.

“I, Alison King, re-” I started but was stopped the second a hand went over my mouth, and Dalton, Seth, and Jacob walked in front of Jaylon. They were holding him back and convincing him to leave and Nick was whispering in my ear.

“No-no-no, not now. It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay,” Nick whispered in my ear. His free hand started rubbing my hair back to calm me as frustrated tears began to fall from my eyes. I could see from the cuts on everyone that Jaylon had put up a hell of a fight earlier. This was all so unnecessary. All they have to do is let me say the words and it will be over. My pain. Their problems. Poof! They’ll just disappear.

I could hear my mother come in and rush up the stairs but there was a second set of shoes following her. She and my aunt came into view and both had horrified expressions as they saw the state of the room and the people inside of it. I didn’t move. I just sat there watching everything as Jaylon argued and begged them to let him hold me. I could feel from Nick’s grip that even if he got past them, Jaylon would never touch me.

My aunt pulled two boxes from the bag. I watched as she opened the first and pulled out a syringe. She injected Jaylon while he was distracted by the others. Even though I knew the second one was for me, I didn’t fight it. I just watched and listened to Nick. Truthfully, I looked forward to the sleep that was coming. After a slight pinch, the room began to blur and darken. The last thing I could make out was Jaylon’s parents coming to collect their son who was now passed out on my floor. If we are the future of the pack, everyone is doomed.

Hours later, I woke up in Nick’s arms. The room we were in was unfamiliar, but the sound of my nephews' voices coming from another room kept me calm. “Nick!” I whispered, gently nudging him.

He breathed in tiredly and rolled from his side to on top of me. “Hmm?”

“Where are we?”

“My parents' house.” Great. The first time I meet his parents, I’m unconscious in his room. They must think I’m amazing.

“Wait what? But my nephews?”

“Shh, calm down. It will do them good to see someone their age,” he mumbled. I sighed and tried to get a better look at my surroundings but his head was in the way. I moved him from the left side of my face to the right side of my neck and let my eyes wander. I’m not complaining, just curious why he brought me here. It was much bigger than his room at the pack house.

I was minding my own business when Nick inhaled deeply again. His body felt stiff for a second before he started placing kisses on my neck. As a first response, I froze and my eyes widened. Before I could function properly, he started to suck on my skin, which took me out of shock. I immediately pushed him up and placed a hand over his mouth. I was just in time because the amber eyes looking into mine were glowing and blood began to slide down my wrist from his elongated teeth, breaking my skin's surface. “Nicholas Knight,” I warned through a growl.

Nick stared down at me disobediently for a second before removing his teeth and closing his eyes as he licked off my blood. Weird. When his eyes opened again, they were normal and he laid his head on my chest. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled like a child.

“You boys are going to be the death of me,” I breathed out as I subconsciously played with his hair.

“I know, I know. I shouldn’t have done that and, on top of that, that was terrible timing. I’m sorry. I was half asleep and you smelt so good and it was just natural instinct. Please don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad.”

“You looked mad.”

“I was just trying to get you to come to your senses. Now, are you awake enough to tell me what we're doing here?”

“Your room was all messed up. Your dad didn’t want your nephews to walk in and see that and your mom didn’t want Jaylon coming back once he woke up,” Nick explained.

“My parents let you bring them here? They wouldn’t even let me step foot off our property until my birthday. Oh no! What do your parents think? I’m so rude just sitting here sleeping while my nephews run around their house!” I began to freak out so Nick rolled off of me and onto his side before pulling me into his chest.

“No, don’t start stressing yourself out! Boys aren’t like girls, they don’t piece together things as easily as a child. All they know is that they’re staying the night at my house and playing with my little brothers. They aren’t as calculated as you. Also, my parents have been dying to meet you so they’ve been downstairs about to jump out of their skin all day. Now calm down.”

“Why didn’t you let me reject him?” I asked quietly.

“You needed to calm down and think first. You know deep down you love him, he’s just being an i***t right now.”

“He doesn’t care about me! I don’t care whose parents died, he was just hoping I’d die off with them!”

“You know how Jaylon is, he has a hard time admitting to messing up. I’m sure he figured he would just hide it.”

“Why can’t I just reject him? Then he would be happy with her, Alison free. All of you won’t have to deal with our problems.”

“Alison, if you reject him, not only will he lose his title, but he will lose his sanity. You are the true heir. You're claiming the title with or without him. But we both know you would never do that to him. You grew up with him. You consider him as a part of your family. You’re in love with him. Best case scenario, he would die, but if he lived through the pain he’d be completely insane. Our mates are our second half. Without them, we lose part of ourselves.”

“So, I’m stuck with someone that doesn’t want me?” Nick isn’t wrong, I stupidly still love him, but my anger was overshadowing it. As it should. But, I wouldn’t say I’m in love with him. It’s more like the innocent love I had for him when I was younger. The love of his presence and friendship, not his kisses, cuddles, dates, and sweet nothings.

“Not necessarily. You could take him up on the business offer and wait until he dies, then your second mate will be born. Your line of witches is eternal unless they link their lives to their mates,” he gave me an uncomfortable look.

“Ah, just wait 70 years or so,” I replied, annoyed.

“What are you talking about? We can live up to 400-500 years old.” Oh of course! At least I would only have to listen to his baby Loren for a small amount of that time. “I’m sorry Ali, maybe you’ll find someone to spend your time with.” This conversation is just as pathetic as Jaylon. Okay, that was a little mean.

“Maybe.” Honestly, I can’t be the only one in this conversation that thinks it’s f****d up to count the days until someone dies. If I am the only one that thinks that, I’m concerned.