Jacob grabbed her sweatshirt off the ground and pulled it down over her head in an attempt to help. She must have gotten the wrong indication from this action, as she slapped his hand away and pulled the shirt down without any assistance. Madison's whole demeanor had changed within ten seconds. She went from being gentle to picking up the rest of her belongings and slamming them in the bag she'd brought.
Jacob pulled on her arm as she was about to toss another glass candle jar into the bag. "What's wrong?" Not only could he tell by her facial expression something was wrong, but his wolf had also picked on the negative vibe steaming from his mate.
"Nothing." Madison jerked her arm away.
"Bullshit." Jacob pressed her against his chest. His arms enclosed behind her tightly before she had a chance to stop him. "Now, tell me what's wrong." He leaned back so he could look directly into her eyes.
Madison felt the command in his voice and felt warranted to listen. "I get it," she replied, trying to use as much sarcasm as possible while fighting back the tears.
Jacob had an expression indicating he had no clue as to what she was talking about.
With that bit of thinking going on his part, Madison found this the prime opportunity to break free of his hold. She stumbled backward after his arms weren't supporting her anymore but then regained her balance relatively quickly.
"Get what?" Jacob tried to grab for her once more, but she jerked away from his outstretched arms.
"That you realized what happened. And it was me and not Brindle or one of your many other fuck buddies." Madison plopped herself down on the ground and willed her tears away.
Jacob let out a deep sigh and sat down beside her. She flinched when he touched her hand, but she didn't pull away. "You're wrong. It's not because of what happened, or you aren't Brindle or one of the 'fuck buddies.'" He had to smirk at that comment. So, that's what Madison thought of them. Yeah, he guessed she would be right about them being only people he would screw around with and not develop any type of serious relationship. Now that he and she had done everything, he couldn't imagine anyone else being by his side, in or out of bed.
Madison looked at him, and he saw the tears building in her eyes.
He leaned over, kissed her gently on the cheek, and then wiped the blood from the bite on her shoulder. It was finally starting to heal and had subsided to a small little bubble of blood on her skin. "We're...no, I'm in a lot of trouble for what happened here."
Madison felt the chill of the wind that blew across the field of the hilltop. It must have dropped at least ten degrees since she had arrived. She pulled the blanket she and Jacob had cuddled on around herself. It still smelled like him as she pressed her nose against the soft fuzzy material. A sense of comfort surrounded her as it seemed her inner self was soothed by his smell alone.
Protective arms went around her from behind as Jacob scooted over to be behind her. Madison leaned back against him, and he rested his chin on the top of her head. "So then, explain what you mean by you being in trouble for what happened." She felt him take a deep breath and then slowly let it out.
Jacob proceeded to tell her all about the pack, Orfeo, and the dhampir. She'd already known about his mother and Rose since it happened here in West Lakes, and she was friends with Zach at the time. He told her about the pack elders, including his father, and how each had to follow a specific set of standards and rites when forming a union with a mate. He had once again screwed up big time, like the night he went with Danny and Zach and followed the elders for Adam's initiation. Jacob explained what the bite marks meant, and since they had sex and tasted each other's blood, they would be forever linked until one of them died.
Madison was in shock and disbelief. She thought he was only really excited when he'd first bit her. Now, he told her they would be forever connected.
"So, what you're saying is I won't be able to date anyone else or kiss anyone else or even have sex with anyone else for the rest of my life?"
Not that she wanted to in the first place. She always knew there was something about Jacob and how being with him always felt right. But now the scenario had the potential of being a possibility, Madison started to question everything about them and their abnormal existence.
Madison saw Jacob wince when she said about not being able to kiss or have sex with anyone else like it was painful for him to hear or think about her doing such. "What about Brindle?"
Jacob shrugged like he had no clue what he would do or say to her about this situation. He ran his fingers through his hair and rose to his feet. He held out his hand for Madison to take so he could help her up as well. "I guess I should have given you more time, but it was so hard to keep away from you. My wolf needed his mate as much as I need you right now." His eyes darted over to her and then back to the tree line, it was as if he was afraid of showing weakness with her.
Madison buried her head into his chest once more and breathed deep the smell she'd grown to desire over the past hour or so. She glanced at the position of the sun and saw it was beginning to set. "Do you know what time it is?"
Jacob reached into his front jeans pocket and brought out his cell phone. The time was almost six o'clock.
"Will they know we've formed a union or whatever you call it that we did?" She was talking about the elders of his pack. She didn't want to see him get into any trouble for something that was consensual on both their ends.
True, she didn't know one little bite would get her hitched for life. But now, thinking back over their time together here, she would probably go through with it even if he had told her before they did anything.
"I really don't know." Jacob grabbed Madison's bag that held all her 'witchy' stuff and threw it over his shoulder. He interlaced his fingers with hers, and they started walking toward the lone trail that went back down to the parking area.
Good thing it was all downhill from here. It was a good hike back, and it would probably be dark before they got back unless they jogged some of the way. But knowing Madison and her nonathletic abilities, that was so not going to happen.
"It was all different when Adam and Rose did their whole union." Jacob pulled Madison quickly along the trail. He knew the scent of Orfeo, the offspring, or whoever else might be tracking them was picked up in this area a couple of days ago. The last thing he needed was to run head-on into a group of vampires and have no back-up except for his mate, who was in no position to fight.
"Why was it so different?" Madison stumbled, but Jacob kept her on her feet. He was moving fast, like he was panicking about someone or something being out in the woods as the sun went down.
"They were older, they did everything the right way, and they had the backing of the pack." Jacob was beginning to feel maybe he should have waited. Maybe he should have had restraint. And then, perhaps he wouldn't feel as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
"Okay." Madison was heavily breathing as they continued down the hill at a near jog. "We're not going to say anything about what happened up there." She nodded back toward their spot they'd left a little while ago.
Jacob looked at her like he needed more explanation of what she was insinuating they do.
"We go back to our normal ways. I don't like you, and you put me down every chance you get." That had to be the solution for the time being. It could possibly help him avoid a massive blowout with his father if they remained silent about the whole matter.
"But I don't want to go back to the old ways. I like how it is now. My wolf is content and not so anxious all the time, and I love how you make me feel." He stopped on the trail and started kissing her. She responded but appeared to be having trouble breathing because of the sprint they'd been on for the last couple of miles.
"Just for a little while until everything gets all straightened out." They were back on their mission of getting back to the parking before nightfall.
Jacob nodded his head reluctantly but had no other option at this point.
Finally, up ahead,
he saw her little Honda and his bike parked side-by-side. They were home free without any trouble coming their way. Halfway to the safety of their vehicles, an image flew past them at a high rate of speed. There were only a few things Jacob knew about that could move that fast. Shifters, which he knew it wasn't one. A deer, but then no deer could cause a blur while running. That only left one other option,
A vampire.
"What the hell was that?" Madison pulled on his arm causing him to stop.
"Let's go," Jacob said in a rushed manner like getting to their vehicles was a life or death situation. He half carried, and half dragged her until they were in the safety of the blinding lights that encircled the whole parking area. He threw her bag into her car and pushed her into her seat. "I'll follow you back to your house." He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss, then slammed the door. He jumped on his bike and roared it to life. They were on the road, with him following her, quicker than the next blur that went past them.
Madison hit the gas and sped off faster than she ever did in her life. Jacob was on his speed bike, so he had no problem keeping up. She wasn't worried about the West Lakes cops trying to stop her from speeding. In fact, she welcomed it. They needed some back-up against this 'whatever' that kept circling them. They finally got into the safety of her neighborhood and slowed their pace.
Madison pulled into her driveway, and Jacob followed. Her mom had left the porch light on for her, but it didn't appear like anyone was home. She got out of her car and looked all around to see if what shadowed them out of the park had followed them back to her house. She didn't see anything suspicious but jumped when Jacob came up from behind her and went
'Boo.'
Madison slapped him across the chest. "Not funny."
Jacob laughed and pulled her close. He heard the hurried pace of her heartbeat, which signaled she was still terrified of what had followed them.
"What was that back at the park?" Madison whispered into his chest as he held her close. She was afraid to talk loudly in case whatever was trailing could hear their voices and come after them once again.
Jacob wasn't sure what it was. But if he had to place a bet on the matter, he would go for a vampire. "I think it was a vampire. Or, more specifically, one of Orfeo's clan." He released her from the confinement of his arms and led her over to her doorway. "No one's home?" He noted the house lights were off, and there was no movement inside.
A silent 'ohhhh' formed on her lips in response to his answer about vampires trailing them. "I guess Mom went over to one of Grandmother's houses. No big deal. I'll just lock all the doors."
"I don't think I'm comfortable with you being here by yourself with everything going on."
Madison opened up the front door, and both of them entered.
"I can stay the night." Jacob kissed her neck and moved his hands down toward her butt.
Madison giggled but moved away from his hands and lips. "No, you can't stay. Remember, back to the way it used to be."
Jacob groaned but didn't persist in making any more moves on her.
"Just for now." Madison tiptoed up and kissed his cheek.
Jacob nodded and moved back toward the front door, with Madison following. "Do you have any spell or something you could do to make sure no one else except your mom can get in?" He was paranoid about her being by herself for a couple of hours.
"I'll be all right. My aunt lives right next door." Madison pointed to a small house about fifty yards away.
Jacob looked over and saw a lady on the porch. They both gave a quick wave, as her aunt did the same.
"See, she won't let the boogie man get me." Madison noticed out of the corner of her eye her aunt was still watching them. Oh well, at least she was watching out for her when her mother wasn't around. "Plus, she dabbles in a little black magic also." Madison knew her aunt had done that previously, not to harm or maim, but to get even, so she said. It was a long time ago, and her eldest grandmother had told her if she ever followed that path again, she would be forever banned from the circle.
Jacob knew he had questions that probably needed to be answered since he had left Danny's so abruptly a few hours ago. He had no idea, though, what he was going to tell them. He gave Madison a quick kiss and pushed her back inside. "Lock the door," he told her one last time.
Madison agreed with a nod.
"Jacob."
Jacob heard his name as he walked down the path to his bike and turned around.
"No Brindle tonight."
He jogged back to the stoop Madison was standing on, kissed her on the lips as a confirmation of her request, then hurried back to his bike.
Madison watched as he spun out of her drive like he was on a mission. She couldn't believe everything she found out and experienced since she'd left home early this afternoon. She waved one last time to her aunt, then closed and locked the door as she promised him she would do.
Within the past five hours, everything in Madison's life had changed. She was heavy-hearted and missing a boy she had claimed to hate for the past six years. And to top it all off, she was forever bonded to him.
Chapter Twenty-One
Zach saw Jacob came back late yesterday evening after everyone was done watching the football games. He'd gone straight to his room without saying a word to anyone. This morning he was up and out of the house before anyone else had a chance to speak to him.
"Where's your brother?" Zach's dad grumbled at him as he reached for his third cup of coffee. It had been a late night for the pack as they had several reports of vampires from their trackers who were out the previous night.
Zach grabbed his backpack off the floor and hurried to the front door. He was late picking up Emily for school. "I haven't seen him. He came in yesterday evening, but I didn't get a chance to speak with him. Why?"
His father waved him off. "I'll speak with him later." He went out the back patio doors as Zach exited via the front.
***
"So, where'd Jacob disappear to last night?" Danny questioned Zach as the whole group walked up from the parking lot at school.
Zach shrugged. "Didn't get the chance to talk to him yet. My dad was looking for him too." He gripped Emily's hand and tried to warm it with his body heat. This complete change of season thing felt great for the shifters, but the girls hated how cold it was becoming.
"Why? He in trouble again?" Madison overheard their conversation, and anxiety rushed through her.
What if someone found out about us?
What if someone has seen us?
Madison forced a smug smile on her face and tried to play it cool. She didn't want the others to know she was concerned and not gloating if Jacob had gotten into trouble.
"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." Alex pointed at the six figures walking toward them.
"What's up?" Danny fist-bumped Jacob, Will, and Anthony. He ignored Brindle and her crew.
"I had some business to take care of." Jacob held Brindle's hand. He was trying to force himself not to look over at Madison, but unfortunately, he couldn't control his desire of wanting to see her. His eyes shifted over to where she was standing. Good thing it was getting cold out, and she had to wear longer and thicker shirts. At least the bite mark would be covered up. Her face showed disapproval of him holding Brindle's hand, and he automatically wanted to drop it. Their eyes met, and he instantly wanted to run over to her and make everything better. It had only been one day, but he didn't know how long he or his wolf would be able to keep up this charade.
Madison slowly shook her head at him and glanced away.
"Dad was looking for you this morning." Zach's voice brought Jacob back to the moment.
"For?" He dropped Brindle's hand and stuffed his hands inside his hoodie pockets.
Brindle let an exaggerated 'huff' of annoyance. She crossed her arms in front of her to try and keep some warmth in. "I'm going in. It's too cold out here." She waved her hand for Rachel and Heather to follow. The three of them entered the sc
hool through the front doors.
Madison gave them a sardonic wave with her fingers, which caused Emily and Alex to snicker. Jacob hoped she wasn't casting some sort of spell on them.
Zach continued his conversation after half of his brother's crew had left. "He didn't say."
"Guess I'll see him after school or something. Later." He walked past Danny and Zach with Will and Anthony following. "Emily, Alex." He acknowledged the two girls as he passed. They both gave out flat 'Heys.' He stopped at Madison but didn't say anything. He just looked her up and down, then shook his head and continued on his way. He hated acting like this, but it was the only way for right now
"I can't wait to graduate, so I never ever have to see your conceited, chauvinistic, rude, ignorant brother ever again," Madison said her rant loud enough for Jacob to be able to hear through the doors. She saw he stopped in step for a split second but then continued on his way without a rebuttable remark.
Alex put her arm around Madison's shoulders and the three girls walked into the school. "Six and half more months, and we are out of here."
***
It was halfway through the day and Jacob couldn't stand the feeling of not being with his mate any longer. He had watched her during lunch and seen she looked as miserable as he felt. Everyone kept asking her if she was all right or feeling ill, but Madison kept everyone at bay with her quick responses to what was wrong. She made up every excuse from test anxiety to just being tired.
Jacob knew Brindle was working in the office this period. She liked to do volunteer work with the secretaries during her free period. She told him she wanted to help the little people of the school. Like who the hell did she think she was. He convinced her, which wasn't too difficult, that Mr. Abbott, their guidance counselor, needed to speak with Madison Bennet. He needed this office excuse so she would have a reason to get out of class.
Brindle, who had more air in her head than brain cells, willingly obliged because she thought Madison was going to be reprimanded. She quickly ran the pass up to the classroom Madison was in at the moment.
Revelations (Separate Worlds Book 1) Page 13