The Mate He Couldn’t Control (complete)

Chapter 18

It was 7 am, and Dimitry had me outside, in a clearing on my dad's land, stretching. Normally, we’d be doing this at four or five in the morning, but he didn’t arrive until then. He scared me to death in the process, but it was a beautiful surprise. My father has instructed everyone to stay as far away as possible because Dimitry is extremely observant, but I could still hear them running around a few miles away. “Have you been maintaining exercise? I see you are more toned.”

“Not as much as I want to, I try to run or swim a few hours or more a day,” I replied, standing up straight. “But nothing along the lines of what we normally do.”

“You changed your hair? Was that out of rebellion or boredom?” You see. . . he’s already studying me.

“I just decided to, I didn’t do it out of emotions, I thought it would suit me more,” I lied. Of course, he sneak-attacked me and I landed hard on the ground. “I thought we were having a conversation?” I groaned, getting back up. Even after my transition, I don’t know what he had going on, he’s still very strong.

“Just because you are talking to your enemy doesn’t mean they or someone else won’t attack. Always, keep your guard up! Also, you lied.” I watched his body movement to try to predict his next move. He launched for me again and I ducked, turned around, and kicked him. “Better,” he said before continuing. After an hour of this, he made me spend another hour blindfolded. My guard was down and after two months without training, I was getting my ass kicked.

“What’s with all of the complaints? You were the one begging me to come back,” I heard him smirk from beside me. I quickly turned and kicked his feet out from under him.

“With every complaint comes a lot of love. Trust me,” I replied with my own smirk. He grabbed my foot and flipped me over on my back. Ouch.

“I guess that’s our love language,” he joked. We didn’t have a thing if you were wondering, we were just naturally flirtatious. Dimitry was two years older than me. Don’t get me wrong, he is hot, but he wasn’t the relationship type and I’ve mentally marked him as a guardian figure. He knew how to break me in ways that no one else could and that was why I was so dependent on him.

“Come on, when can we go to the court and play blind tennis?” That is my favorite. Dimitry says that if you rely on sight, you will always lose a fight. You’ll never have the upper hand. So, he finds ways to make me read my surroundings blindly. The first time, he made me run through the woods by myself blindfolded. Let’s just say I had a very bad headache when I got home, but I learned a lot. I learned how the ground feels when you're close to a tree. I also learned that it’s much easier to do in daylight. The sun's rays and the tree’s shadows help guide you.

“Not the first day back on training. You’ll come home with another concussion,” he joked.

“You're so mean to me sometimes.”

“So tell me, have you found any new love interests?” New love interests? I wouldn’t call a date spawned from boredom a love interest.

“Possibly. . .”

“So you do?”

“It’s complicated.”

“That’s not a good answer.”

“It’s just he can be an asshole sometimes. You could say I have this feeling that we’re meant to be together. He says that’s what he wants and I believe him, but in the back of my mind I’m scared it’s just another act.”

“He manipulates you?”

“He. . . switches a lot. Sometimes he’s the sweetest thing in the world. Showering me with kisses and attention. The next minute he wants nothing to do with me. He explained that he just needs time, but I’m scared of how much time he’s talking about. How hard is it to just leave someone?”

“Oh, he’s in a relationship?” I was expecting him to look at me like a homewrecker since he didn’t know about mates, but he looked at me with pity. “How does that make you feel?”

“It makes me feel like hurting her,” I admitted. “It’s always one thing after the other. It’s not just him, she’s also rubbing off on my cousin. On top of that, I already have my suspicions about other things she has done. I feel like I’m gonna snap one day and all hell will break loose! It feels like they want me to.”

“Maybe they do. Maybe they want to see your limit. Try pretending I’m one of them.”

I laughed out loud. “If I do that, I might be the one hurting you for once.”

“Try me.”

I was right. I went for him full force, not missing a single hit. In a minute, I had him pinned to the ground. “I warned you,” I smirked, breathing out and taking off the blindfolds.

“Good. Now, I need to familiarize myself with the area. You are to run the lake.”

“The whole lake?” I questioned, standing up.

“Yes, the whole lake. Come on, this is a small lake. You’ll live.”

“Well, where are you going?”

“Just some online research. I need to know the area to plan your training. Anyway, after you finish you're free until sunset,” He smirked at me and headed to the house. “No cheating!” he yelled over his shoulder. I groaned, put on the watch he gave me, and did as he said. I loved running anyway, so this wasn’t that bad. My soreness wasn’t helping though. I would wolf out or try out that supernatural speed thing, but the watch was a tracker. Smart man.

An hour and a half into the run, I passed my aunt's house and she gave me a water and confused look. “Dimitry is finally here,” I explained before heading back down the trail. A couple of miles down, I stopped for a second about to pass out from the heat. It was hot, the humidity was insane and my back was killing me.

“Are you okay, Honey?” I heard my dad yell. My head shot up and I saw him, my uncle, Malachi, the boys, and my dad's friends all in the middle of “Alpha training” down by the lake. I don't know why it’s called that. There are more than Alphas in attendance. Maybe “title holder training”? I don’t know. I guess Alpha training sounds less stupid.

“Oh, you know Dimitry. . .” I mumbled, standing up straight.

“He wasn’t in a tennis mood?”

“No, he said he didn’t want to give me a concussion the first day back. But, at least he isn’t making me run blindfolded this time,” I reasoned.

“Concussion?” My uncle questioned, full of concern.

“Blindfolded?” Malachi added.

“Why didn’t you just go full speed?” Dalton questioned.

“Well, I’m not a cheater.” When my dad gave me a confused expression, I sped up to him and earned wide eyes like usual. Seth and Jacob were fighting (training) and so were Benny and Ethan. It was a hilarious sight to see. Technique- not the best.

“You didn’t tell me you could do that,” my dad commented. “Anyway, why are you so tired?”

“I’m not tired, my back just hurts,” I explained.

“Maybe because it’s covered in bruises,” Jaylon replied, grabbing my wrist and making me turn to look at him. I felt myself heal as the sparks went off between our skin. Looking at his bare chest made our agreement difficult to maintain. Not now. “Why?”

“Well, I wasn’t really into it yet. Then, you came into the picture. . . I promise the second I imagined your face, he went down in less than a minute,” I smirked up at him.

“Be nice,” my dad warned.

“I am, I am. Anyways, I can’t believe you let them see while they train. Blindfolds are for more than kinks,” I mumbled tiredly as I walked back to the trail and left. They thought I was joking.

Eventually, I passed the packhouse and decided to go check on Julia and Penelope. They weren’t downstairs so I went to Julia’s room. She was lying on the floor as Penelope stood over her irritatedly.

“I’m not letting you sleep all day,” she was saying as I walked over.

“I don’t want to get up. Seth was very rough last night,” Julia whined. Eww. Julia might say she’s over Dalton, but since their breakup, every night has been a drunken party for her. With a new person. . . This is about to sound very mean, but I see why they weren’t mated. Dalton’s very calculated, put-together, determined, and at the top of his class. Angelina seems to be the same way. Julia likes to have fun and there’s nothing wrong with it, it just wasn’t the right match.

“Julia! Get the hell up!” Penelope continued

“Ugh! Fine!” she complained, getting up slowly and stumbling to her bathroom.

“I didn’t want to picture that,” I commented as Penelope turned her attention to me.

“Oh good, you missed the details when I tried to wake her up for breakfast.”

“Gross.”

“You’ll get used to it. Everyone’s always sleeping around over here,” She sighed as I rolled my eyes.

“So, what are you doing today?”

“Dimitry got here last night. I just finished a run.”

“Aww, how relaxing. Why do you look like hell though?”

“Two-month break,” I reasoned pathetically. “I’ll be right back.”

“Wait, you're leaving?”

“I said I’ll be back.”

I was planning on staying for a while, so I needed to take a shower. I’m still surprised Jaylon’s room was all black. Like I see his emotions now, but truthfully I was expecting red. I was mentally complaining about his soap options when his bedroom door shut. He didn’t waste any time. I smirked when I felt his arms wrap around my waist. “I missed you.” One of his hands slid down in between my legs causing my head to fall back on his chest. He took advantage of that by sucking on my neck. My hormones were getting worse by the day.

“I missed you too.”

“I saw the look you gave me. I told you, all you have to do is ask.”

“No, we agreed to wait for all of it.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t take care of you,” he continued, removing his hand and turning me to face him.

“No, you can’t. We agreed to give our all at the same time,” I reminded him for the millionth time. More specifically, my all.

“Baby, we have this conversation every day. There’s plenty of ways I can fill your needs without taking your virginity,” he smirked before gently pushing me against the wall and turning his attention to my lips. Oh no.

After a very long shower, I was staring in the bathroom mirror, covered in bites. He can be very possessive. . . Jaylon finished drying off, walked behind me, and smiled at our reflection. “I wish you’d let me make them permanent.”

“When you make something permanent, it’ll only be one.”

“Why only one?”

“Because they’re hard to cover.”

“Then show them,” he smirked.

“Jaylon, I can’t do that.”

“Why not? They look so good on you.”

“Every bite you put on me will be put on you,” I turned in his arms and smirked up at him.

“I’ll wear them without a complaint.”

“I’ll remember that. Do you have something I can wear?”

“Of course,” he returned, walking me into his closet. He gave me a hoodie and sweatpants.

“I’m fine with just the hoodie.”

“You aren’t wearing anything under it. You are wearing sweatpants.”

“But Jaylon! You’re taller than me. I’m gonna look stupid!”

“No, you're not. You’ll look adorable in them.” Adorable?

“I’m just wearing the hoodie.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“No, Alison!”

“Fine. I’ll take them off when I get downstairs.”

“You try that and you’ll get mated tonight,” he threatened and I finally caved. “Good girl.” As I quickly got dressed, Jaylon did the same before turning back to me. “Alison, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“On Loren’s birthday. You healed her. How did you know how to do that? You aren’t practicing are you?”

“No. It just happened. It’s like I just knew.” I’m not lying. At least not fully. . . The books only have spells and potions. The rest I get to figure out for myself. “Why would you just now ask me?”

“Well now that I’m sober, I’m starting to think back on things. Things that I’ve been missing. Like the whole island situation. I don’t remember you drinking anything. Were you kidding about not remembering?”

“I wish I was kidding,” I mumbled, thinking back on Nick and I’s conversation. I couldn’t see anyone else other than her doing that to me. She couldn’t have known how I’d react so I assumed she planned to kill me. Still, no proof.

An awkward silence filled the closet for a second as neither of us knew what to say. Eventually, Jaylon sat up from his spot on the wall and made his way toward me. “Don’t worry about it, I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” He gently grabbed me and gave me a quick kiss. “You better behave,” he smirked before walking past and leaving.

I put on my shoes and left. I can come to get my clothes later. I walked down to the kitchen where I heard my friends making lunch. I walked in beaming, stopping in between Jacob and Seth. They both gave me weird looks but smirked and didn’t say anything. “I made you some food,” Nick mumbled, sliding a plate to me. Thankfully, he’s too distracted by his food to look at me.

“Thank you,” I smiled at him. I made Jaylon apologize to him so everything has been fine with that so far.

“So, what the hell happened to you?” he asked

“I told you, Dimitry is a God and I missed two months of training.”

“How is that even possible, you're not human?”

“I don’t know, but I’m guessing it has something to do with the fact my dad insisted that only Dimitry train me.”

“Sneaky sneaky Alpha,” Ethan teased from beside Nick.

“They always are,” Benny agreed as Jaylon and Loren walked into the room with my cousins. Of course, they had to come into this kitchen. Our conversation dropped and it was an awkward silence.

I felt eyes on me so I looked up to see Angelina with a bright smile on her face. “I’ve never seen you all-natural before. You’re so pretty.” She is literally the sweetest soul I have ever met in my life. . .

I wasn’t expecting her to say that and neither were the three girls that were sending her glares. Yes, three. For some reason Julia was so bothered by that, which got her a mind link. “Aww, thank you,” I beamed, flashing her a bright smile. Jaylon glanced up at me with a fast and gentle grin to let me know he agreed. Bridget stopped glaring the second I raised my eyebrow at her. We had a conversation. A conversation about a lot of things. It was nice, on my end. If we have another it won’t be.

Being in the same room with Jaylon is difficult. His presence demands my attention. Every time I looked at or passed by him, things became harder to keep secret. At first, we couldn’t keep smiles off of our faces, but then people started to get suspicious so we’d fake an argument. After dinner, he picks me up and takes me out bowling or somewhere random. No matter what it is, it’s always so fun and innocent. Every night he drops me off and then within an hour is begging me to sneak over to see him. I think it’s because he wants me to go out of my way, drop everything, and cuddle him to heal his shakes. It’s cute. But some nights if I’m already asleep, he’ll come to me. It’s stupid that his mate has to be his secret, but I guess it makes things more interesting. But moments like this, it’s like sticking a hot iron down my throat. I want to push things along, but I’m scared he’ll use it as an excuse to relapse or stay with her. He’s more irritable on his withdrawals than he is when he’s giving in, but so far he’s been an angel, in private.

“I can feel that you have disconnected from your spirit. We are going to rebuild the bond.”

“Dimitry, I can’t do it!” I complained, sitting at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the lake.

“Yes, you can, Alison! You have done this a hundred times! Just close your eyes and listen to the world around you,” he instructed, I nodded to him before closing my eyes. “Let your senses of the world around you inspire your train of thought.” I could hear the soft breeze, some leaves moving, wolves running around the forest a few miles away, and the wildlife around me. The rays of the sun setting behind me warmed my back, but suddenly, it felt like they were shining through me.

The wind picked up as I felt it swirling around us. I felt my necklace warm up on my neck as the water behind me started radiating like it did the night I arrived. Humming started in my head as Jaylon popped up. I saw mini clips of us in the past but from a different point of view. Before I could figure out what I was seeing, I was shaken awake. My eyes shot open to two books sitting in front of me and Dimitry beside me. “Alison! Are you okay?” Dimitry asked from beside me.

“Yes, I’m sorry,” I mumbled.

“I’m so proud of you! You did so well today!” He smiled and pulled me into a hug. Huh? What the hell? He never voluntarily hugged me. He never said he was proud. Did he know? What is he?

“But what about these?” I asked, motioning for the books.

“What about them? You brought them with you. Remember?” I nodded awkwardly, unsure of what to do. “Come on, let’s go home. Your parents are waiting for us.” He helped me up and I followed in a daze. I had so many questions. I didn’t know what to say or do. I stayed that way through dinner. Afterward, I practiced magic alone in the forest. I made sure to put up a shield. I feel like Dimitry knows about my powers. Whatever he did, I felt more in control of them. These books had more entertaining spells. They weren’t all necessarily more fun.

I grabbed three small rocks and laid them in a circle in my hand. Suddenly, three small dragons were flying above my palm in a circle. I smiled at them before closing my palm, making them shift back into rocks. Next, I wanted to see if I could focus my emotions in my palm. So, I closed my eyes and held my palm open. I thought of my current relationship. I felt tingles and opened my eyes. Ooh, an energy ball. I guess that was ironic. Considering our sparks. Finally, I finished trying to shapeshift. I used my phone and did it perfectly. I was the spitting image of my mother and talked just like her. I think I’ll be using this in the future. . .