The Mate He Couldn’t Control (complete)

Chapter 29

Nick opened the door and rolled his eyes at me. “I don’t have time for your drama right now, Alison,” he sighed, closing the door in my face. Well, that was rude.

I ignored his comment and invited myself in. “Walk with me? Or run, whichever mood you're in…” I looked at his bed to see Loren sitting there. Now, this is just desperate. “Eww.”

“I said not now.”

“What do you mean ‘eww’?” Loren questioned.

“Welp, you have fun with that,” I sighed, casually walking out of his room and leaving the door open. I made it out the front door when I heard him running behind me. That’s what I thought.

“I’m sorry I shouldn’t take my problems out on you,” he breathed out, now walking beside me.

“Well, I am your problem so I guess it’s fair.”

“No, you're not. Where are we going?”

“I was going to walk somewhere random, now I want to see my aunt.”

“I’m sorry I upset you, Ali, I just have a lot going on.”

“I’m not upset, just worried. You could talk to me about it if you want, but I know you won’t.”

“It’s just some things are left better unsaid,” he defended, as we made our way through the forest. It was quiet for a moment, but I found it quite peaceful. I listened to the gentle breezes coming now and then, the birds, trees moving, wolves running through the forest, water, and wildlife around us. The trees glowing in the sunlight made me think of Dimitry. He taught me how to appreciate moments like this.

“I met you out here. Jaylon begged me to stay away from you, but the next day you were out on a mission to save me,” I giggled, bringing a smile to his lips.

“A long time ago. . .”

“Not that long.”

“I remember that day clearly. Jaylon was at the packhouse and I figured I would take the opportunity to meet you.”

“Ah, so you’re a sneak?”

“You don’t get it. I had to know you. Ever since I saw you at the diner, I had this undying urge to be around you and I still do. Everything in me wants to protect you. Your touch is so comforting and when I look into your eyes I can’t do wrong by you. At first, I thought you were mine. But now, it doesn’t make sense. Why would I feel that way? Why do I still feel that way?” Nick admitted, lost in thought.

“Maybe it’s a Luna thing?” I offered.

“I’m not in love with Ingrid or your mother.” In love?

“Maybe you were on the offering table as a mate?” I joked and we both let out a laugh until his face went serious. “It was just a joke Nick,” I added before he started counting the odds.

“Yeah, I know,” he lied through a mumble. “Well, how else would you explain it?”

“I think. . . we were meant to be friends. Best friends. The moon goddess knew I would need you.”

Nick stepped in front of me. “Alison, I’m sorry for what I did. I actually couldn’t control myself. You walked past me and then all of the sudden there was this amazing smell and I had an undying urge to mate with you. My body completely took over my mind. I have never felt anything like that in my life. I love you, Alison. You are the last person I want to take advantage of and I’ve been pissed at myself all weekend for it. I can’t be selfish, not with you. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I have been falling in love since the first day I laid eyes on you. Your eyes drew me in and ever since, I’ve been trapped. You have no idea how much it hurt when I realized you weren’t mine. Every moment I have with you makes it stronger and it kills me to see you with Jaylon,” he admitted.

I pulled him into a tight hug and laid my head on his chest. “I’m not mad at you and you can’t blame yourself. When a girl is in heat your basic instincts are to claim her. It was just your wolf coming out. I’m so sorry. The witches warned me not to go. I cast a spell, but it wore off right as I was walking past you. Honestly, I’m relieved it was you and no one else. I’m surprised it only had time to affect you. I know you love me, and I love you, but I can’t love you in that way anymore. Not only is Jaylon my mate, but I also owe it to the pack to make mine and his relationship work. There is no one I trust more than you, Nick. You are the one that introduced me to our amazing friends, showed me around, and made me feel welcome, not just to the pack but also to your family. You helped me with magic, revived me after the lake incident, saved me from rejecting Jaylon, and helped me every single time of need. I don’t know what I would do without you. I need you.”

“You don’t need anyone,” Nick argued.

“Yes, I do. We’ve established how chaotic I am on my own,” I giggled.

“You’re just learning. You’re a Luna and a white witch. I’m sure one day you’ll control everything in the palm of your hand,” Nick eased, running a hand over my hair.

“Nicky?”

“Hmm?”

“You won’t tell anyone, will you? About Jaylon and I?” I asked quietly.

“Of course not.” He’s my friend and that was exactly what I needed him to be. Eventually, he’ll need me to be that for him.

I knocked on my aunt's door. Bridget answered surprisingly. She didn’t say a single word to us, just walked off leaving the door open. We followed my aunt's voice to the living room.

“Hi,” I greeted, sitting on the couch across from her.

“What a nice surprise, I didn’t hear you two come in,” she beamed. I smiled at her warmly and asked about her day. I feel bad for how I acted yesterday because she was only trying to help. She’s always trying to help. I loved talking to my aunt, or anyone really, but the talks with my mom and aunt have always been so helpful to me. They knew everything I was going through, to a certain extent.

We talked about everything that came to mind, but she focused on the magic situation. Specifically my Grandmother and my necklace. She was fascinated by it since she hasn’t seen it in like twenty years. She asked if I tried contacting my grandmother anymore, which I have, but I’m still unsuccessful. I even tried in my sleep.

Nick eventually had to leave, but I stayed for another hour. Once my uncle got home and Bridget walked past us a few times with glares, we made our way to the end of our conversation. “It was so nice talking with you dear, are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?” My aunt asked.

“I’m sure, Jaylon is probably wondering where I am,” I smiled at her.

“Or he’s making up for his bad attitude to Loren right now,” Bridget smirked at the bottom of the stairs. My aunt gave me an apologetic smile and shut the door behind me. I heard her scold Bridget as I walked away. What she said made me begin to panic. I’m already trusting him on a thin string and she’s trying to push me.

I froze after getting a few feet into the forest when I heard a voice. “May I ask what’s got you so upset?”

I turned to see Noah leaning up against a tree. “What are you doing here?” I asked, before realizing he wasn’t looking at me. All of the sudden, I saw myself in front of me, sitting on a rock sobbing. I looked so different and from the tears burning my cheeks, the clothes I had on, and the way I looked, I knew exactly when this was. This was my birthday, two years ago.

“Who are you?” my past self asked, too upset to read the oddness of the situation.

“My name is Noah, I’m new here. Who are you?” he asked with curious eyes.

“I’m Alison.”

“May I ask what’s wrong?”

“Why would I tell you? How did you even get over here?”

“Well, you don’t know me so I have no reason to judge you. I’m sorry to intrude but I was out for a walk and I heard you.”

I sighed before answering, “The guy I spent my whole life obsessing over is currently sleeping with my friend and I walked in. He just continued and pretended like I didn’t exist. It’s my birthday. . .” I trailed off as tears sped down my eyes.

Noah’s expression changed to empathy. He walked up to me, looking down with sad eyes. “He sounds like an ignorant ass.”

“He is,” I replied, with my anger building up. “I wish I never met him. I wish I could forget about him.”

He grabbed my hands, helped me up, and held my face so that I had to look at him. “You are going to be okay. Stop focusing on people that don’t deserve you and let them go. Focus on your own happiness. Get new friends. Find everything you want in life. Find what makes you happy. Now, I’m not supposed to be here so you need to forget this for now. Happy Birthday, Alison.”

With that, he was gone and I disappeared. I stumbled backward coming out of my trance, being left completely confused. I don’t remember that. Was that compulsion? Vampires can do that? I didn’t know what to think or feel. I didn’t know what to do. Do I talk to him? Do I go to Jaylon? Do I go home? I mean quite honestly I'm pissed all over again about the birthday situation from watching myself sob about it to a stranger in the middle of the woods. I could see it all in my head again. He was just casually on top of her and pretending I didn’t exist. Of course, the ONE time my parents let me bring friends he just had to hoe down with them.

Perfect timing. A white wolf ran in front of me with worried blue eyes looking down into mine. I rolled my eyes and looked away from him. “What’s wrong?” Jaylon questioned, shifting.

“I don’t like you right now.”

“Why? What happened to you? Why do you look like that?”

“Like what?”

“Your eyes look like fire and your hair. . . What did you do?”

“I didn’t cast a spell,” I replied with an irritated tone.

“Well tell me what’s wrong with you? Why are you mad?”

“You slept with my friend on my birthday and made me cry in the woods to some f*****g stranger on a rock! And the worst part is you didn’t even say sorry,” I screamed at him. The look on his face told me that I had completely lost my mind. He did deserve it though, he never really got anything from me about that night. I just gave up on him and didn’t come back for two years. But now, he is going to deal with it.

“Baby, that was two years ago. Why are you just now pissed about it?”

“Because I should have cussed you out then. You are so lucky he compelled me to forget about you.”

“Who compelled you?” he questioned, getting closer to me.

“Noah compelled me to forget about you and focus on myself.”

“He did what?” he asked irritatedly and I glared at him. Seriously? That’s all he cares to say? “Okay okay fine, I’m sorry. I was going through changes, but I didn’t want to take advantage of you. I'm sorry.”

I looked at him with tear-filled eyes as I read his body language and eyes. I ran and tackled him to the ground, wrapping my arms around his neck and letting my tears fall onto his shoulder. “You’re so mean and confusing sometimes,” I complained into his chest.

“I know, I’m sorry, but I promise I’m trying to change for you,” he reassured.

“Bridget said you were with Loren.”

“I swear I wasn’t with her. I came straight here. She’s just trying to get to you, that's all.”

“How do I know you're telling the truth?” I sat up on him stubbornly.

“I don’t know how to show you, baby, but I’m yours. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Mine?”

“All yours,” he whispered, running his thumb across my lips. His dark eyes looked up into mine as the same thought came to both of us.

We lay on the forest floor watching the night stars above through the trees. Every time I look into the beautiful unknown it looks different. Sometimes there are no stars. Sometimes the sky is darker or lighter. And then there are times when nothing is up there. But tonight the moon is bright and full with an eternity of stars dancing around it.

“Maybe the reason I was so affected by him was that my brain was struggling to remember something,” I spoke up.

“You think so?”

“There’s no way he’d act the way he did if I was his mate. It was just my mind playing tricks on me. It has to be.”

“I guess I could see that,” Jaylon let out a breath of relief. “We need to get your emotions under control.”

“I know.”

Jaylon turned on his side, gently moving hairs from my face. “I’m going to take care of you.” I felt my heart slow as I looked into his eyes that were glowing in the moonlight. His features were full of love. He could hide all he wanted, but his eyes will never lie to me. They told me everything he was thinking and feeling, as they have since we were younger. “There are those beautiful blue eyes again.”