Chapter 11: Driven Impulsiveness

**Jerry’s POV**

I can’t wait to see her! It has been absolute torture without my gem. I do not know what has come over me. Why am I like this? Blackmailing my sweetheart was not how I planned things. I had been doing so well while preparing to make my move, but—when she held onto her arm, revealing her fated mark after the show, taunting us. Drud acted on his own, and I stupidly followed suit as our emotions became one. Fuck, the contract was to be used as a last resort when all else failed. I should have waited to win her trust! I scolded myself as I was angrily going through my thoughts and mixed emotions. Laura was like my drug, she had been gone from me for far too long and I needed my fix!

The fated mark was nothing new to us; I was able to keep my angst intact as I had all my servants' eyes on Laura, making sure no stray mongrel approached her. With my status, no werewolf peasant would even dare disobey my order!

Drud has never behaved like this towards any female, let alone a human one. When did all of this begin? The first time I met Laura, my wolf was very quiet. I, on the other hand, was completely blown away by her. I couldn’t understand it; yes, she was beautiful, but there was something about her, her aura, which radiated warmth, love, and affection. She almost felt like she was my home, my fated, but I knew that was impossible, and I brushed it off.

The second time I saw her, I could sense my wolf’s excitement and interest. I continued to feel the same feeling towards her. Upon impulse, I was about to ask her out, knowing full well she had a boyfriend, but I did not care; I had to try. Before I was able to muster the question, she caught a cloth Jacob tossed to her, and we saw her striking emerald blue fated mark.

It is almost unheard of in humans, but not impossible. I studied her neck and saw she was not marked by her mate. It was all becoming even more bizarre. What werewolf would let his mate gallivant like this unmarked for other males like myself to see? Especially such a beauty, yes she has a bit of weight on her, but still, such a catch. Surely her mate was able to feel her. Unless the poor sod was a half-breed. Or did he abandon her to find another? But why not reject her to nullify the pairing? I remember Drud’s words as I had that thought. ‘I want her.’

It was decided we needed to learn everything there was about Laura. The more we got to know her, the more our desire for her grew. I decided to prepare and dedicate the next few months to winning Laura over, and if she resisted my advances, I would take her for myself by whatever means necessary. Why did we not keep to that plan?!

I knew there was trouble in paradise. Her then-boyfriend was not exactly skilled in furtiveness when it came to his frivolous affairs. My plan was all about timing. I had a feeling Laura might have caught on to her ex’s extracurricular activities. My scouts never reported events concerning Laura and her ex going on any form of dates or outings as normal couples would do.

Could it be because of Jacob? Is that why we became so possessive? I knew Jacob had: feelings for her as well. He would always complain either about Michael or one of the customers who had a liking for her. Some rich fool who tried numerous times to win over her heart, and she rejected him.

On the day of Laura’s breakup, I had missed the news. Once I eventually found out, I was overjoyed and pissed off at the same time. I was busy that day with a very important gig. If I had received word sooner, I would have immediately abandoned everything to find her. Be her knight in shining armour, but as I arrived at the apartment, I was in complete turmoil. When I saw her at our apartment hugging Jacob, I nearly lost my shit. Jacob took that moment away from me, but I promised myself and Drud that we would have our moment. I will make her feel special, and she will not be able to say no to me, and if she does, may the Goddess forgive me—

“Are you done rambling shit I already know? Shut up so that I can tell you why we did what we did!” my wolf snarled irritably. Always the condescending arsehole. “It’s because our chosen is now in the same building as us. Having her, smelling her fragrance, and feeling her presence have made me already accept her as my mate! She is ours Jeremy, and I will not let her be pursued by anyone anymore! Now stop mulling over pointless shit! What’s done is done! Rather, use that energy to pray to the Goddess and hope she accepts the token we gave her this morning!”

**Laura’s POV**

It was now ten p.m. and I was dreading what was to come tonight. I made my way to the door when I saw Jerry’s black SUV drive up towards the diner. Please just don’t climb out, I begged in utmost terror.

Only two of the kitchen staff remained, Liam never returned and out of all the waiters, it was just myself and Bethany. I knew she stayed late because of me. Though I had asked her many times to go home, she refused. I had a feeling she was scheming something, and it involved confronting Jerry. I can’t let her; he might hurt her or worse—

The car stopped in front of the diner, with the passenger door facing me. I gave a small smile as he opened the door from the inside. “Hello, my beautiful gem, hop in,” Jerry sang playfully. I inwardly sighed with relief; he’s in a good mood, thank the heavens! Maybe I’ll be able to get away with watching TV with him and nothing more. I can only hope.

I speedily got in before Bethany showed up. Jerry leaned towards me with expectant puckered lips. I complied and returned the gesture. He hummed but abruptly pulled away and released some kind of sneeze or snort; I couldn’t tell—it was weird.

“Gesundheit, my wolf,” I said light-heartedly, grateful the kiss did not develop into something passionate. He gave me a biting smile, but his expression instantly became blank as he started the car. I just have to put on an act, same as I had done with Michael the past few months. Though my new situation is the total opposite and a ten on the fucked-up scale, I might be able to get him to calm down and trust me.

“Thank you for picking me up, wolfie,” I said with the sweetest smile I could give. Jerry only nodded and remained silent. My anxiety started to surface, and I decided to look at my fidgety hands. This silence was unnerving, and there was a suffocating tension in the air, slowly thickening as the minutes passed. Jerry’s distant gaze was set on the road. I felt the car’s speed increase, then instinctively looked out the window only to realize we were on the highway towards the outskirts of town.

“Where are we—?”

“You’ll see,” he responded with a hint of a hiss. My heart was pounding relentlessly as my nerves were all over the place. I saw the dense forest approaching as Jerry took the exit, on a seldom-used dirt road. That’s it, I am going to die tonight. It was dark as we drove further into the woods away from the highway lights. I was surprised he was able to see as the car zipped through the trees on the unkept road.

I started trembling as my thoughts were running away with me. Did he catch on when I spoke to Bethany? Shit, I’m done for! I cried to myself. The car came to a complete stop in the middle of nowhere. I could hear wild howls from the distance. Is he going to kill me and let the wolves eat me?

“Who touched what belongs to me?!” he snarled furiously while still looking in front of him. Jerry’s voice was hoarse and deep. He sounded again like a different person. I paled at his question; at first, I couldn’t remember, and I slowly shook my head, confused.

“Don’t lie to me!” Jerry roared and slammed his dashboard. My ghost almost left my body as I shat myself. “Two fucking men touched you today!” More wolves howled outside, too close for comfort.

I desperately ran the day’s events through my mind, and then I remembered. “P-please, Jerry, I forgot about them. It was not what I initiated, I-I s-swear.” I started to cry, as I fearfully backed deeper into my seat to get as far away from him as I could.

“Tell me! What happened, and who were they?” he whispered in an intense growl, as though fighting to contain his anger.

“The first was one of the diner’s customers; h-he gave me a lift this morning. Just before I got out of his car, he tried to console me, thinking I was still upset about my breakup with Michael, but I pulled away, I swear! I even told him to not touch me.” I saw Jerry’s head turn sideways, and his eyes became unfocused.

“Console? Did you not tell him you have a new lover?” he thundered as he neared me.

“I-I—”