Chapter 22

William stood outside the college. It was three in the afternoon and his brother was nowhere to be seen. He didn't spot him at lunch and Jacob wasn't waiting for him by the door like he usually did. William had already texted his brother to ask if he was okay, but he got no reply, which was even more alarming.

After hovering by the exit for a minute longer, William decided to call his brother despite him hating speaking on the phone.

* * * * *

Jacob sat on the wooden steps of Hunter's family home. He watched Hunter and Anthony who had changed into their wolf forms. They were both huge white wolves effortlessly prancing around the big field.

Margo was sitting next to Jacob. She adored his calm aura. "Is it still unusual to see us as wolves? How many times has Hunter shown you his wolf form?" she asked, making Jacob jump.

"Um, yeah it's uh, weird still," he said quietly and wrapped arms around himself. "Hunter has shown me a few times."

"I bet he tried to lick your face too," she chuckled when Jacob nodded. "He gets very excited when in his wolf form. He still acts like a pup."

Jacob's brown eyes followed the two wolves. He could tell which one was Hunter because, for some reason, he stood out to him like a bright star in the sky.

Before Margo could say anything else, Jacob's phone started ringing. She watched as he fumbled around in his pockets before pulling it out.

"Hi Will," he answered and hurried away. Margo smiled as he wandered around the side of the house to get some privacy.

"Hey," his brother's cheery voice said on the other end of the call. "Sorry for calling, but I'm standing outside college now, where are you?"

Jacob's heart leapt up his throat. What should he say? "I um, I'm staying behind to do some work," he lied, sitting on the grass and leaning his back against the wall, hoping his brother didn't want to join him.

William could hear birds chirping in the background and he tried not to smirk, knowing he would sound amused. "Are you sure? You sound like you're outside."

Jacob stared at a beetle as it adventured through the grass blades. "I'm sure. Bye-"

"Wait, hold on a sec," William chuckled. "If you're at that field, it's fine. I know you like peace and quiet, but please tell me if you're going. You don't have to lie to me, it's my job to lie to mum and dad." Jacob smiled. He loved his brother. "Just text me when you're coming home alright?"

"Okay," Jacob said and lifted his head when a great white wolf bounced into view. "Bye Will."

"See you later."

When Jacob hung up, Hunter sat on his back legs and panted with a tongue sticking out of his mouth. He was tired from running around and play fighting with his dad.

Jacob studied his muddy paws.

"Stroke me please." Hunter leant forwards and nudged Jacob's shoulder with his nose. Without hesitation this time, Jacob lifted his hand and sank it into the soft white fur. His other hand caressed Hunter's ear because he remembered him saying that he liked it.

"There's nothing better than being stroked by you."

Jacob watched his tail wag with excitement and a small smile crept its way onto his face.

"And I love that smile." Hunter lifted his head and licked Jacob across his face.

Jacob scrunched his eyes shut and immediately wiped it. "I can't decide if that's gross or not," He said and Hunter did it again.

"I'm giving you wolf kisses."

"I don't think I want wolf kisses." Jacob rubbed his face again. His eyes glistened and there was still a faint smile on his lips.

"Would you prefer Hunter kisses?"

Jacob watched those beautiful grey eyes. He wasn't sure how to answer, but the first thing that came to mind was a definite yes. He attempted to block it out. "Um, my brother just called." He wanted to change the subject.

Hunter noticed but didn't say anything as he casually changed back. Jacob wanted to ask why and how his trousers were able to stay on his body when his t-shirt ripped every time.

"I don't know," Hunter shrugged as he knelt in front of him. "My mum might know. And um, you don't have to go home or anything do you?"

Jacob shook his head. He was glad that he could spend more time with him. "He thinks I'm in the field."

"Eventually, we'll be able to tell your family about our relationship. Maybe wait until it's official between us. I don't know when that will be but there's no rush."

Jacob nodded. It was going to be difficult keeping this from them. What would he do if his family planned days out or weekend trips away? He couldn't just leave for two days without seeing Hunter, it would kill his body.

"Oh don't worry about that, we will discreetly follow your family around so we 'accidentally' bump into one another. I'll make sure we're never separated for longer than a day."

That made Jacob feel better, but the thought of Hunter knowing where he was at all times was a little odd.

"Boys?" Anthony questioned and stood by the corner of the house, out of breath while putting on a t-shirt. "Are you hungry?"

Jacob's eyes instantly lit up.

"That's a yes from you then," Anthony chuckled. "Son?"

"Sure." Hunter stood up and held a hand out to his mate. Jacob almost didn't take it but he was craving his touch.

Jacob hesitantly placed his hand on his and Hunter used very little effort to pull him to his feet. Touch to Jacob was always unwanted, but Hunter's skin melted into his every time. Hunter pulled Jacob closer than what he would have liked, but when the wind changed and filled Jacob's nostrils with Hunter's smell of spice and cinnamon, Jacob let go of his discomforts and closely followed him to the front door.

* * * * *

Jacob left Hunter's home at seven in the evening. Anthony dropped him off so he didn't have to walk back. It was a few hours by foot. When Jacob entered his own home, Grace and Scott were waiting for him in the kitchen.

"You missed dinner." Grace watched him stand awkwardly by the door with his bag in his grip.

"Sorry."

She crossed her arms and tracing her eyes up and down as if his clothes would speak for him. Jacob hated it when she looked at him like that.

"I tried calling you but you didn't pick up."

Jacob had been avoiding talking to her on the phone because she would have told him to come home. He glanced down to his feet and shuffled back.

"Hold on a minute," Grace said. "Come take a seat, we want to talk with you."

Jacob wasn't in the mood for talking. It has been a few days since his parents did their usual interrogation.

When he took a seat at the table, Scott sat forwards.

"So what's up?" he asked with a kind smile. Jacob sometimes wished his mother could adopt his calm tone. He didn't like raised voices.

"Nothing."

"Well, you've been telling us that you're staying behind in college," Scott knew that was a lie. "You've been distant recently and quieter than usual."

"I'm fine." Jacob was wringing his hands with nerves.

"You're not fine," Grace sighed, irritated that Scott wasn't angry too. "Look at you, you look like you're talking to ghosts." Jacob frowned and sat back in his chair. "We've been doing some talking, your father and I, and we think it's best if we try and put you back on medication."

Scott's eyes darted to his wife, not quite remembering having that discussion.

Jacob stood up like someone had knocked over the teapot and backed away. "No," he breathed with troubled eyes that Scott couldn't bear to look at. "No way."

"The voice has been getting worse and you're getting more paranoid and depressed each day." Grace was pleading with her son. "It will help you."

"There's nothing wrong with me." Jacob was getting upset. He had answers now for the voice, and life might start to pick itself up again. He wasn't allowed to tell his parents, they would think he had gone insane. Not being able to tell them was extremely hard, too hard. Who could he turn to if he needed to talk?

"Me," Hunter's voice boomed in his head. "You can always talk to me about anything."

"There is, you're not well."

"I'm not touching any medication, I'm not sick or depressed, I'm fine." Jacob's hands were starting to tremble.

"You are in denial Jacob. There's nothing to be ashamed of or scared about. You just need to-"

Jacob shook his head and clenched his hands into fists to calm down. His mother never understood or listened to what he wanted. "I know how I feel. Don't tell me I'm in denial, you're not the one who has lived through this for half a year," he snapped before turning and quickly running out of the kitchen.

"You need to relax and take deep breaths. Everything will be okay."

Jacob ran up the stairs and into the bedroom. William was sitting on his bed doing homework when Jacob chucked his bag on the floor and threw himself onto his bed. His eyes twinkled with tears and his frown cast sad shadows on his cheek.

William watched him bury himself under his duvet. "I told mum," William sighed. "I told mum not to force the idea onto you. It hasn't helped you in the past."

Jacob's face was pressed into his pillow but he heard his brother.

"Don't worry, they can't force you."

Jacob turned over and faced the wall. He allowed a few tears to escape with frustration. He had come to learn that his parents wanted what's best for him, but they don't truly listen to what he wants for himself.

"We have to figure out a way to ease their image about the voice in your head." Hunter was sitting on his bed with a frown, zoning in on his mate because if he hurt, Hunter hurt with him. "You need to tell them that you're hearing it less until it becomes completely silent."

"They won't believe me. They'll think I'm just trying to get them off my back."

"Well they'll have to believe you, there's nothing else you can do."

Jacob wished he hadn't told his parents about the voice. If he knew it was Hunter, he would have stayed quiet.

"This is all my fault, but from now on, I'm always going to be here for you, day and night."

"It's alright Jacob," William spoke when he heard him sniffing back his sadness. "You won't be like this forever." He didn't really know if that was true or not but his brother needed comforting.

Jacob curled into a ball and closed his eyes. It was at that moment when he realised that he wished Hunter was with him. Jacob wanted his comfort more than anyone else's.