Chapter 0223

When I wake up the next morning – or, at least, I think it’s morning – it’s not like this weird

mountainous hospital room has windows – I smile, because I smell Jackson.

But then I frown, rubbing at my eyes, because…

I mean, I took a shower. His scent wouldn’t be all over me anymore, so why…

But then, when I follow my nose and peer over the side of my bed, I burst into a smile because I

have my answer.

Jackson’s laying there, on a way-too-small mattress of all things, dead asleep. I grin, looking at him,

wondering how the hell he got here and why he’s not back at the Academy yet, but…

Well, also, I just look at him. Because he’s so damn handsome, even with his mouth hanging open

and his arm splayed out to the side, and so incredibly precious to me, even though we’ve only been

bonded for less than two days.

Before I can stop myself, I crawl out of bed and drop down onto his mattress, curling up at his side

with my head on his chest. Jackson jumps the moment I touch him, but he instantly calms when he

realizes what happened. “Don’t scare me like that,” he murmurs, instantly wrapping his arms around

me and pulling me tight.

I laugh. “Good morning to you too.”

“Yeah yeah,” he mutters, and I can almost feel him rolling his eyes at my insistence on a greeting.

“How are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say, though my stomach instantly growls in response. “Starving, but fine.”

Jackson frowns down at me and starts to sit up, like he’s going to go get me some food

immediately, but I laugh and stop him with a hand on his chest. “Just stay still with me for a moment,

Jacks,” I whisper, wanting nothing more than to have a peaceful few minutes with him before the

rest of the world catches up with us.

My mate lays back down and exhales like he’s exhausted, but also like everything, in this moment,

is…completely fine. Which, honestly, is precisely how I feel.

After a few long minutes of just holding each other, our breathing slowly coming to match, our

heartbeats synching up, I raise my chin to look up at him. “Jacks,” I whisper, curious. “Why aren’t

you at school? And where did you get a mattress?”

He laughs a little. “I’m not at school because I refused to go.”

“What!?” I squeak, sitting up to stare at him. He tightens his arms, making me lay back down and

relax.

“I wouldn’t go,” he says, as if it’s simple. “I wouldn’t leave without you. The professors got pissed,

but what are they going to do, carry me? I’m bigger than they are.”

“Jackson,” I breathe, staring at him. “One night with me in the hospital is not worth getting kicked

out of school –“

“I’m not getting kicked out,” he says, his voice completely unworried. “I’m just getting a demerit on

my record.”

“What’s a demerit?” I ask, fascinated, worried.

“Who knows. Who cares.” He peers at me for a second. “Ari, I’m like…very good at this military

stuff. They’re not going to kick me out and lose everything I can offer just because I slept in the

wrong facility one night. I haven’t done anything bad.”

“I don’t like you arrogant,” I murmur, giving him a little smack on his chest that makes him laugh.

“You have to follow the rules, Jacks – you don’t get a free pass just because you’re big and nobody

can boss you around.”

“Oh, look who’s talking about rule breaking, little girl,” he mutters, his voice dry. And I go still but

then burst out laughing.

“Okay, I’m properly shamed on that one,” I sigh, putting my head back on his chest. “But, where did

you get the mattress?”

“Your mom did that,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “She found me curled up outside

your locked door –“

“Jackson!” I gasp. He just grins down at me.

“She pulled me to my feet and yelled at me a little –“

“Which you deserved –“ I say, my brow furrowed.

“Yes, she looked just like that,” he murmurs, raising a hand to cup my cheek and making me grin.

“But then, while she yelled at me, she dragged me off to where they keep the spare furniture and

helped me carry this in here. And then she left your clothes and your notes and she left.”