“So, what did he have to say?” Jacob questioned Adam after they’d gotten back from their nightly hunt. Adam and Danny had found Zach and talked to him briefly while Jacob strolled the outlying area of the small cabin Zach had been staying in. As much as he wanted to shift and bitch out at his brother for making them do these hunts while he got vacation time and for making Emily heartbreak by his disappearance, he couldn’t because the others couldn’t find the marking on his shoulder.
“He’ll be back before school starts again.” Danny glanced over at Jacob, then went back to watching the college basketball game on TV.
“And why did he leave?” Jacob was irritated by Danny and Adam’s lack of answers.
“He had to think some things through.” This time Adam intercepted for the answer.
Jacob was curious as to whether Zach was contemplating telling Emily about the pack and who they were. &l
Zach heard the sound of a car pulling up the driveway. His guess was Adam or one of Jacob’s friends was coming over. He didn’t bother to get up from his bed. He wasn’t in the mood to socialize with anyone right now. “Jacob,” he screamed out, knowing full well his brother had to have heard the chime but was too lazy to get up to answer the freaking door. The sound of the doorbell ringing for the third time was enough to annoy him even further. Zach stomped out of his room on the fifth ring, slammed the door, and pounded down the stairs. He swung open the front door without checking to see who it was.“Hey.” Emily gave a little wave with her hand. She was scared to be here, but at the same time, she felt delighted to finally get to see the one who had occupied her every thought for the past two weeks.Zach felt something that he’d missed the entire time he’d been gone. His wolf was stirring about.
Zach stood there for a while, not knowing what to do or say. Finally, after several long seconds of silence, his voice decided to make an appearance. “You should probably go.”His wolf screamed at him.His conscience screamed at him.And even Emily’s eyes seemed to scream at him that this was the wrong decision for him to be making.“Why?” Emily’s voice trembled, and her hands shook, but she was standing her ground.“I can’t have anyone find you here.” He didn’t need Jacob or anyone else in the pack to pick up on the slight scent of vampire she was emitting. She still smelled and looked like the same Emily he’d proclaimed his love for at one point, but she was supposed to be the enemy and not the one he wanted to take to his bedroom right now.“Jacob said you’d be here by yourself for a while,” Emily repeated the information Madison had told her, who said Ale
Emily wasn’t sure why Zach had led her up here, but he made it more than evident when he picked back up where they’d left off in the living room. His touch was more forceful as he backed her up to his bed along the far wall. Emily fell flat on her back as her knees buckled against the edge of the bed. She pulled Zach down with her as she lay flat, and he collapsed on top of her. Instantly her hands were under his shirt, and she began to outline each muscle she felt along his back. Emily moaned as Zach’s fingers began to tease her nipples through her shirt. Her back arched upward as she let out a deep sigh.Zach knew what was probably going to happen was occurring for a reason he’d thought of as the only solution for their dilemma. As much as he wanted to wait and have this be a special time between them and not break an elder law, the only way the others in the pack wouldn’t harm her was if she was bonded as his mate.Clothing was shed, an
This whole matter just became more complicated. Not only had he claimed her, but they’d completed the whole bonding experience that wasn’t supposed to happen just yet.How did she know to bite?Did she know about the bonding between a shifter and their mate?Was she craving blood now?Zach picked up her towel and clothes and walked back to his room.As soon as Zach walked back into his room carrying some needed supplies, Emily could tell by his expression something wasn’t right. “What’s wrong?” She sat upright in the bed when he sat down on the edge.“Um, did you know that you bit me?” He decided to be straightforward and ask her since she already sensed something was wrong. He could tell by the feelings rolling off her and the expression on her face she had no clue what he was referencing.“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. It was just&hel
The group started back to school, and it seemed everything was going as planned for all of them. Jacob kept his distance from Madison. She still ignored him but made it clear through their mental connection that she wasn’t happy when he was getting too physical with Brindle. He would drop Brindle’s hand when they were walking, and she would storm off down the hall. Madison would giggle at the sight, and Jacob would shoot her a dirty look because he’d have to deal with Brindle and her attitude later. He kept telling Madison he wanted to end that relationship, even if they couldn’t say they were together. At least he’d be rid of one complication in his life. Madison kept telling him to wait just a little longer, maybe when school was over, then neither one of them would have to listen to Brindle and her little posse whine.Zach and Emily resumed their romance like it was before the big revelation and their committed bonding. They both were trying t
Zach watched as Jacob sprang up from his seat on the rocking chair. Nothing exciting was going on with the game, so he knew it had to be something that he smelled or sensed. “What?” Zach followed him out with Danny to the entryway leading outside.“I gotta go.” Jacob ripped off his shirt and shorts, not thinking that the others could see his marking, and then shifted into his black wolf. He was off the main grounds and into the wooded areas in less than three seconds. He felt the panic his mate was experiencing and knew she was at Alex’s house. It should only take him no more than two minutes to run there at full speed. He just hoped that was enough time.Zach and Danny watched as Jacob blurred out of their line of vision, then shed their clothes, shifted, and followed in pursuit of where he was going. In Zach’s intuitive state of mind, he knew it must have something to do with Madison because he saw the tattoo marking spreading acro
Jacob had made it back to the house, shifted, and put his clothes back on before his brother and Danny arrived. He went back into the living room and picked up where he’d left before. He grabbed another soda, his half-eaten bag of Cheetos, and kicked back in the chair to finish watching the game. Although he thought this was a good cover-up, he knew Zach would be storming through at any moment, demanding to know what just went on. His thoughts were on Madison and the constant worry he felt for leaving her, but he felt she was becoming calmer and not in such a state of panic. He liked how they had this connection, but it would be the death of him at a young age if he couldn’t destroy the vampires that now had their sights set on the shifter's mates.A door slam and heavy footsteps thundering down the hall brought Jacob out of his thoughts. “What the hell was that all about?” Zach stood in the line of vision between Jacob and the TV. He wanted answers, a
Madison made it back to her house without any more encounters. Of course, her mother wasn’t home when she got there, which meant going into an empty house all alone. The sound of rustling coming through the trees to the side stopped her from going in. She spun around to face head-on what could be coming her way.Jacob walked out from the treeline, carrying a pair of shorts. He gracefully pulled them on in midstride, like he’d done that sort of thing forever.Madison walked back down the pathway to where the sidewalk met the grassed area of the yard. “What’s up?” she asked when he got a bit closer.Jacob didn’t say a word. He pulled her in close and kissed her deeply like they’d been apart forever. His hand gently touched the long gash on her cheek and the one running from her ear down to her collar bone. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get there quick enough.” He kissed her softly on the lips, as he didn&rs