Chapter 13

The bond grew and their bodies throbbed. Judging by how hard Jacob squeezed Hunter's hands, he struggled and wasn't sure about the changes. He was incredibly nervous and his heart was beating a little too fast.

Hunter allowed his mate's thoughts, feelings, emotions, and soul to run through his body. He was able to relax. Jacob couldn't. The human was tense and trying to breathe properly. It felt like a powerful wind rushed through him, but there was barely a small breeze moving in the air.

What Jacob felt was a mixture of him and Hunter. He couldn't explain why he knew the emotions in his heart were not his own.

Thirty more seconds, then everything the boys experienced stopped, and Jacob fell forwards. He let go of Hunter's hands and placed them on the grass. His head span like he just stepped off a roundabout.

Hunter was calm and felt rather tranquil. He knew he'd be that way, his body was built for it. Jacob was only human. It was easy for him to be overwhelmed. "Are you alright?" Hunter asked. Even though he coped with it well, he needed to get used to feeling someone else's soul.

Jacob rubbed his chest with a worried frown. "I feel strange," he breathed and lifted his gaze to Hunter. He then felt the connection. An instant attraction and a lot of sudden affection tingled the back of his throat. His eyes widened and glued to beautiful grey ones.

Hunter felt the love pierce his heart.

Even though they barely knew each other, the love would come whether they like it or not. They couldn't control it, not now that the bond was set.

"Jacob," Hunter spoke his name with such softness that the human melted right there. "Do you feel that too?"

Jacob slowly nodded with a mouth half open. It was hard to believe that he wasn't in a dream.

Hunter then smiled and Jacob watched his mouth with a strong craving to be so much closer. In the back of his mind, he knew how odd the situation was and how he surely shouldn't believe anything that was happening to him.

"We're mates now," Hunter said and he too had the burning desire to make physical contact. "It's normal to feel like this and the emotion should calm down in a few days. We've only just connected, so our bodies need time to adjust."

Jacob nodded and attempted to relax. He found it hard when all he wanted to do was ask a million questions and hug him for eternity. He had to fight it, he couldn't latch onto him and never let go.

"You can if you want," Hunter chuckled. Their eyes connected once more and Jacob remember that Hunter could, in fact, read his mind. "I know you're not the type of person to hug people or show your affection, but it'll be different when you're around me. It's okay if you need to be closer, don't forget that I'm feeling the exact same way."

Jacob did feel very different in his presence. He felt like it would be okay to pour all of his troubles onto him. The confidence was also very strange. He wasn't used to wanting to open up around anyone, let alone a stranger.

Jacob was trying to get used to hearing Hunter's thoughts instead of only what the voice wanted him to hear. Hunter wasn't capable of just talking, his mate could now hear him constantly thinking.

Hunter spent a few more seconds of watching the human before he couldn't hold back. He moved onto his knees and shuffled closer. Usually, Jacob would quickly edge back, but he didn't because deep down, he wanted him that close.

Jacob's scent filled Huter's nose with instant pleasure. Never in his life has he wanted to kiss someone with so much passion. Jacob would probably have heart failure if he even dared to try.

"Are you okay with me being this close?" He was practically leaning against him. Jacob loved how warm he felt, but it was way too fast. It wasn't normal to suddenly fall head over heels for a stranger and that was what caused him to hold back.

"Um," he said quietly with a thumping heart. He couldn't bring himself to look up, knowing that Hunter's face would be close. "What-what now?"

Hunter's eyes couldn't leave his. "Well, I guess we'll just spend the next week or so to get used to this and then I can introduce you to my pack when you're ready to meet them."

Jacob looked up and he was right, his face was very close. "You have a pack?"

"Yes, I'm the Alpha and my friend Sam, I'm not sure if you've met. He's second in command and Brad, he's-" Hunter trailed off when Jacob didn't understand. "Don't worry, I know you have a lot to take in, we can talk about that later."

Jacob caught himself watching Hunter's mouth again, so he looked down with red cheeks. "What does the Alpha do?" he asked.

Hunter smiled. "I'm the leader of the pack. Commands come from me and only me. I keep us together and-"

Suddenly, Jacob's phone started ringing. He forgot about the outside world until now.

Hunter felt his arm lean harder against him as he fumbled his hand into his pocket.

"Hello? Jacob, where are you?" the caller asked on the phone. Jacob knew that it was his mother.

"Nowhere, why?" he mumbled quietly. It didn't feel odd that Hunter was close enough to listen. Before the bond, he would've got up and walked away. Things were different now.

"William didn't see you after college and he said you didn't come home. Are you okay?" Grace was still at work but her mind was constantly focused on Jacob, especially when he had been struggling lately.

"I'm fine."

Hunter knew how much Jacob struggled to get through the day. Most of that was his fault but his mate was not a very strong-willed person and even Jacob knew that himself.

"That doesn't sound convincing. Are you still at college?" She asked, getting an earful of birds chirping in the background. "Are you at that field again? Jacob, how many times do I have to tell you, it's not safe!"

That was something Hunter could agree with.

"I'm fine," Jacob repeated.

"I want you to go home, please. William will tell me if you don't and-"

"It's only the afternoon," Jacob muttered.

"I don't care. You can't just go places like that whenever you feel like it."

Jacob hated how much she babied him. He was seventeen, not seven.

"Maybe, I could come back with you?" Hunter suggested.

"Who's that?" Grace yelled down the phone. "Jacob, who are you with!"

"It's just Hunter," Jacob sighed.

"Oh..." There was a long pause and Jacob really wanted to hang up on her. "William's not there with you?"

"No."

Hunter found Jacob's bluntness rather amusing. His family must be used to his lack of communication.

"Are you working on the project together?"

"Yes, bye-"

"Wait!  Have you had your lunch?"

Now, Jacob's eyes dulled over. "No, bye." With that said, he hung up and dug his phone back into his pocket. His elbow brushed against Hunter's side, reminding him that he was still sitting very close.

"Jacob, I was wondering if you could keep this a secret for a little while? I'm not telling my family until things have settled and we're used to each other."

Jacob nodded as questions started flooding his mind. He didn't know where to start.

"Let me tell you the basic stuff that I know about the bond," Hunter said and cleared his throat. "When we leave each other today and go to our own homes, we'll still be able to feel each other and it'll ache to separate. We can last all night, it'll just be hard to get used to at first."

"So everything I feel now, I'll still feel when we're not together?"

"Yes, we're bonded now. We'll feel each other for the rest of our lives."

Jacob looked up with wide eyes. He understood that mates are like relationships but stronger, he was shocked to learn that Hunter will be in his life for the rest of his own.

"You'll get used to that. I remember finding you for the first time and it took me a while to realise that I was looking at my lifetime mate," Hunter smiled. "I was also pleased it was you."

It took Jacob a moment to realise Hunter's words were a compliment.

"You'll get used to that too. If I'm totally honest, I flirt a lot." Hunter had to be truthful. For most of his life, he had been a dominant figure and he knew that even with his mate, it won't change. "I don't really have an off button."

Jacob didn't know if it was the bond or if it was just his type, but he liked how he saw Hunter as the leader of whatever was developing between them. Maybe it was the wolf inside of Hunter that had been shared with him too that caused the human to feel this way. or maybe it was the burning desire to feel wanted by someone else.

"Can I have your number?" Hunter asked. "Hearing your voice in my head is great but it's not quite the same as hearing it out loud. I'll have to call you a lot."

Jacob would grow to learn just how difficult it was going to be, pretending to still live different lives.

Not only had the bond forced them to share their mind, body and souls, it forced them to make a huge impact on their everyday lives. They'll have to see each other at least once every day and trying to keep that a secret will be hard.

Hunter watched him pull out his phone again so they could exchange numbers. He knew their relationship would develop fast because their feelings were incredibly strong. He couldn't wait until they figure out a comfortable routine for their bond.

Obviously, Hunter would eventually tell his parents about having a male human as a mate. When the time comes for Jacob to tell his family about having a 'relationship' with someone, he will always have to lie and pretend because he couldn't tell them about the bond or Hunter being a werewolf. He'd have to act like they were two people who happen to be strongly in love.

Under no circumstances must the humans know about who Hunter really is.

Not that Jacob would be telling his parents anything for a while. Well, if they do manage to keep this a secret.