Jensen’s Mate

Burning Up

Crystal cast one final glance in Jensen's direction, where he continued watching her. She zipped up her jacket and prepared for bed. The next morning, she awoke to the delightful chorus of birdsong and the gentle warmth of the sun's rays sneaking through her tent's flaps, her face brightening with a smile. Stretching her limbs, she brimmed with excitement for the day's adventures ahead.

Camping had always been her refuge, a sanctuary from the relentless hum of daily life, fueled by her boundless passion for the great outdoors. Yet, on this trip, an unsettling feeling lingered. The sensation of unseen eyes upon her persisted throughout the night and into the early hours, leaving her restless.

As she began packing up their camping gear, her two friends, Jenny and Kay, woke up, amused by her unusually early rise.

"Crystal, you seriously wake up earlier than the sun even on weekends. You're one of a kind," Jenny remarked.

"Yeah, but what's even funnier is how she never wants to hang out with us. The moment Mr. Matthews mentioned the meteor shower, she was all for it," Kay added, chuckling.

"Hey, when it involves being outdoors, count me in. You know I'm socially awkward, and I'm okay with that," Crystal replied with a small smirk.

Crystal joined in their laughter, but the uneasiness still lingered. She tried to brush it off as nerves for the test they had the next day.

Kay noticed the change in her demeanor. "What's up, Crystal?"

After some hesitation, Crystal confessed, "I don't know. I just can't shake off the feeling that someone or something was watching me all night. But it's probably just my nerves acting up, right?" She sighed.

Kay dismissed her worries, assuring her that they would be heading back home soon anyway.

"Ah, the Midwest. Always keeping us on our toes," Kay said laughingly.

Little did Crystal know, her instincts were spot on. Jensen had been observing her all night. As he roamed the woods, shifting back into his human form, he caught a glimpse of Crystal and couldn't believe his luck. He had finally found his human mate.

Jensen couldn't resist the urge to get closer to Crystal, so he followed her from a distance, staying hidden in the shadows. He couldn't believe he was reduced to sneaking around like a common thief just to cover his nakedness. But he couldn't risk being seen by Crystal and her friends, not when his heart was already torn in two.

As he listened to their conversation, he couldn't help but feel a surge of disappointment and anger. How could he have a human mate when his heart was so fiercely drawn to Crystal? The mate bond between them was so intense, it was almost suffocating.

He felt like a creep, lurking in the bushes and watching them. But what else could he do? Roman, his wolf, was still fuming over Jensen's refusal to accept his human mate. Jensen had tried to shift back and return to his pack, but Roman's anger had kept him from doing so.

"You should accept her, Jensen. The moon goddess gave us a mate, and this is how you act? It's a damn shame to be your wolf," Roman said, slightly agitated.

Roman growled from the back of Jensen's mind. Jensen's anger flared at Roman's words. He pushed his wolf further back into his mind and locked him out. He wouldn't let Roman dictate his actions, not when it came to matters of the heart.

"Enough, Roman. Since you won't help me shift back, I can't take matters into my own hands now. Thanks, dickhead," Jensen muttered.

With determination in his eyes, Jensen swiftly made his way to Jenny's truck. He knew he couldn't stay hidden in the bushes forever and needed clothes. He rummaged through the duffel bag and found a pair of pink sweatpants with the word "juicy" emblazoned across the rear.

Struggling to put them on, Jensen couldn't help but feel ridiculous. At 6 foot 8 with a muscular build, the pants barely reached his knees. But at least they covered his nakedness.

Running back to the bushes, Jensen felt a mix of emotions. He hated resorting to this, but he couldn't deny the thrill of being this close to Crystal.

Jensen walked until he found a small gas station on the back roads. He spotted an old payphone and hoped it still worked. He fished around the coin slot and, luckily, found a coin. He inserted it and dialed his brother.

Parker was wrapping up a conversation with Lycan King Frasier when he noticed another call coming in. As soon as he accepted it, he heard Jensen’s voice.

"Parker, I need you to come pick me up. I’m off Farm Road 195, and bring clothes," Jensen urgently said.

"Well, good morning to you too, brother. All right, I’ll send Lance to your location. Why don’t you try mind-linking?" Parker replied with a slight smirk.

"Can’t. Roman’s being a jerk, and I can’t access any of my inner wolf abilities. I’ll explain everything when I get back," Jensen replied irritably.

"I’ll be waiting. Just know that Mom and Phoebe are not happy with you running off like that," Parker said firmly.

Jensen hung up, walked into the small gas station, and approached the counter. The clerk, an older man with a name tag reading "Cordell," glared at him.

"Now, young man, we don’t take kindly to people like you around here. Are you some kind of fruitcake that goes and does those orgies or did

you get caught fiddling with another man’s woman? Those clearly aren’t your pants," Cordell said.

"No, sir, just unlucky. Went for a swim, came back, and my clothes were gone. Found these at a campsite," Jensen replied cleverly.

"You better be telling the truth because we don’t take kindly to freaks around here," Cordell warned.

Jensen felt his rage boiling over. "I just want to use your restroom, that’s it," he said.

"Like I said, I don’t trust you. I don’t know where you came from, and I don’t want you in here. You obviously ain’t got no money," Cordell replied.

Jensen noticed the fake cameras meant to scare off would-be robbers. In a swift move, he leaped behind the counter, putting the old man in a headlock and breaking his windpipe.

"I’ve had enough s**t from people the past few days. I don’t need it from you, racist old man," Jensen said as he laid the body on the floor and kicked it.

Jumping back over the counter, Jensen filled a cup with a Slurpee, grabbed a lighter from outside, and found an old gas can. He shook it to ensure it had gas, then went back inside, pouring gasoline everywhere. He lined a trail to the gas pump, lit a match, and tossed it. A line of fire raced to the gas pump, causing a massive explosion that engulfed the gas station. Lance pulled up moments later.

"What the hell happened here?" Lance asked.

"Guy was a racist bigot, and I needed to clean the dirt off my body," Jensen replied, standing by Lance’s driver-side window.

"Hop in," Lance said, holding back a laugh. "I can see why you wanted clothes. Forgot your swim trunks?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let’s get back to the pack house so I can shower and see my brother," Jensen replied.

"Hell, man, I could’ve used a Slurpee and gotten some gas," Lance said.

"Here, take mine," Jensen said, pushing his Slurpee towards Lance. "I’m not a big fan of cherry, but I’ll drink it."

"Yeah, you better, ‘cause we obviously can’t get another one," Jensen said as they drove off.

"Man, I hope there weren’t any cameras in there. If this gets out on the internet, conspiracy theorists and all that crap – we’ve got enough witches working to keep our community hidden," Lance said.

"Nope, no trouble. Just a simple racist old man. Sucks for him," Jensen replied, taking the Slurpee back from Lance and sipping it.

"Hey, man, you said you gave this to me," Lance replied.

"By the way, your son made a full recovery. Luna Phoebe wanted me to tell you. He’s sleeping peacefully in her office in Xavier’s playpen," Lance said, well, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.

30 minutes later, Lance pulls up in front of the Packhouse and parks. Jensen then hopped out of the passenger side. Not caring that he’s still wearing the hot pink pants having PAC members stare in point even the omega who were working in the house, stopped and stared at Jensen.

, the door swung open and Jensen stepped inside his brother’s office. Parker's excitement was palpable, radiating from every fiber of his being. He could sense that something monumental had occurred, and he couldn't wait to hear all about it.

With bated breath, Parker hung on every word as Jensen began to recount the events of the day. His voice was filled with a hint of disappointment and anger lurking beneath the surface. Parker knew that his brother was struggling with the idea of having a human mate. In a world where supernatural creatures and humans were meant to remain separate, the thought was daunting. But Parker couldn't bear to see his brother suffer

He knew that Jensen needed time to process and come to terms with the situation, but he also knew that he would always be there to support him, no matter what.

“My brother, do not let fear hold you back from true happiness. We will face whatever challenges may come together, as we always have. Trust in yourself and in your love for Crystal. That is all that truly matters."parker replied with a determined tone.

He reminded Jensen that love knows no boundaries, and that Crystal could very well be the one for him. But Jensen's mind was clouded with thoughts of their differences and the potential backlash from their pack. The weight of these concerns was written all over his face, and Parker could see the toll it was taking on his brother.

At 15, she still has three years before the moon goddess will push her towards me, as I've already found her. All I have to do is find another wolf or supernatural being to mark. I can't have a human as a mate," Jensen replied, throwing his hands up in frustration.

But Parker refused to let Jensen succumb to fear. With a determined tone, he said, "My brother, do not let fear keep you from true happiness." Parker stood up from his chair, facing his brother.

Parker's words reverberated through the room as Jensen and Parker continued their conversation. Phoebe entered gracefully, carrying Chase on her hip, her presence radiating warmth and love. She kissed her husband's cheek gently before setting her nephew down. Chase eagerly jumped into his father's arms.

"Hey buddy, I missed you," Jensen said, holding his son close.

Their conversation was interrupted as Chase showed off his new toy. "Daddy, daddy, look what I got!" Chase exclaimed, proudly displaying his new Superman toy, a gift from his aunt Phoebe during their recent trip to the human town. He looked up excitedly at his father.

"Oh, that's cool," Jensen said, noticing the toy. "But remember, that's just a fake hero. We are the real deal," Parker added, grinning at his nephew. He demonstrated his wolf abilities by growing claws with a simple flick of his hand, leaving Chase in awe.

Parker returned to his chair but maintained the affectionate atmosphere. Phoebe's soft voice interrupted as she lovingly sat on Parker’s lap. "You know, Jensen, we are not meant to be with humans. Crystal may be more than just a mere mortal, perhaps something greater, only appearing human to the rest of the world. You should look into that," Phoebe suggested.

"Even so, I have no urge to be with her, Phoebe. It's more than just her being human or underage right now. There are many factors," Jensen replied.

Oh, before I forget Jensen, the witch Janis said that even though he’s fully recovered. She still thinks it’s best for him to see the pack doctor at least once a week to make sure there’s no long lasting side effects from what Lisa had done. Phoebe replied.

"You know, Phoebe, I have to admit, you are the best sister-in-law I've ever had. With you and my mother’s help, I don't need a mate. You both have done an incredible job helping me raise my son," Jensen said gratefully.

As Jensen rose from his chair, he held his son tightly and made his way out of the alpha office towards his apartment on the beta floor. In that moment, he made a firm decision to avoid and ignore the mate bond at all costs, even if it meant losing his wolf. He was determined to be the best beta he could be and, above all, an exceptional father to his son.