Chapter 59

The support this story is receiving is actually mind-blowing. Honestly, I'm so grateful for the votes, the comments and all the Sam x William shippers out there. I might be just teasing you... or not. Have a nice day!

-Sian

"What's wrong?" Jacob asked as they walked into college, hand in hand. Hunter had been a little tense all morning and he was very good at blocking out his thoughts.

"Nothing."

"There is," Jacob mumbled. "You're grumpy."

Hunter sighed and glared at a girl who was staring at his man.

"Well, you know I don't like water and-"

"You don't have to go in the pool, it's fine."

"It's not fine though," Hunter had begun to scowl so Jacob stopped.

"I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong."

"You don't need to know." The secret Hunter was keeping would be too much to reveal in a public place. He hates even the thought of what happened all those years ago and it would be hard to keep himself together. He is ashamed and blames himself. He didn't want Jacob to know what horrific mistake he had made.

"Are you sure?" Jacob's voice was quiet. He could see people staring at them because they looked like a couple, holding hands and standing close.

"Jacob, this is my problem, just drop it okay?"

"Okay," He whispered. "But stop frowning, it's annoying."

Hunter cocked his head to the side.

"You're quite demanding when you're confident. It's cute."

Something as simple as words managed to heat Jacob's cheeks up at lightning speed. Hunter dropped the frown and took a breath. It wasn't fair to be grouchy and take it out on others.

"We're um, gonna be late for class," Jacob mumbled.

"I don't care, it's not like we're supposed to be here anyway."

"Hunter!" A guy yelled and jogged over. His eyes completely avoided Jacob. "Hey man, I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."

"Oh, hey... Joe," Hunter very nearly forgot his name. He didn't really know him because he didn't really like him. Joe only wanted to be friend's with him because he was cool. All the girls wanted to be with him and all the guys wanted to be him. However, now that he was with Jacob, people didn't really like it.

"So I was wondering if you wanted to come to a party tonight?" Joe suggested but there was something odd about Jacob that kept pulling his eyes towards him. The atmosphere around him was like a magnet, drawing in his concentration.

"No thanks, I'm busy," Hunter politely declined.

"Oh come on, you can even bring him?" He pointed at Jacob who stared blankly into the distance. He could feel everything Joe was feeling. He knew that wasn't normal but he was accepting it.

Joe has a self-centered personality and thought everything should revolve around him. He was desperately pleading for Hunter to come to his party for social acceptance and he didn't like the fact that he was gay but he still looked cool so it was okay to invite him. Right now, he felt nervous but confused as to why someone would refuse his party because he was also very strongly opinionated.

Jacob didn't know any of this about him before and it was odd how he could just feel it.

"His name is Jacob," Hunter spoke in a monotone voice, clearly showing his low level of interest. "And no, we're both busy tonight."

"Are you seriously turning it down? Not everyone wants you there, you should be honoured that I'm inviting you after dating him."

Hunter laughed in his face.

"I've never been to one of your parties. Have you ever stopped to think why?" Hunter snaked his arm around Jacob's waist and pulled their bodies together. "Because they're boring and I'd rather be snogging this guy instead of being hit on by desperate girls."

Jacob pursed his lips together, trying to keep back his amusement as Joe's shock slapped him in the face.

He and Hunter were not aware that the pack had walked over and were standing behind them.

"What?" Sam questioned, making them turn. He was frowning at Joe. "You can leave now." Joe's friends who had been watching lowered their heads and turned away with embarrassment, not expecting him to be shot down so fast.

Jacob watched him turn and slump away. He liked to keep himself to himself but Hunter was clearly different.

Sam got jealous when people outside of the pack talked to his Alpha. They wanted him all to themselves but of course, Jacob was an exception.

All of a sudden, Jonah, Ricky and Harrison all dropped to one knee and bowed respectfully. Zac hesitated but did the same. Sam and Hunter glanced around when they received funny looks but they had heard Jacob's howl and his words last night.

He was their leader and it was only the right thing to do in his presence.

"Boys, get up," Hunter sighed and scratched the back of his head. He knew other wolves go to this college and really hoped they didn't see Jacob because they'd most likely do the same. "Not in public, okay?"

They quickly stood up but felt very, very proud. Their families could not believe that their children were part of a pack that included a God.

Just then, the bell rang and Jacob rolled his eyes.

"I told you we'd be late."

* * * * *

After Scott picked them up from college and arrived home, he handed a huge bag of clothes to his son.

"I know you've had a growth spurt and you've been borrowing Hunter's clothes for the past few days. So I bought you a lot of new stuff that will actually fit you properly," He chuckled.

Jacob smiled happily which caused Hunter to watch in fascination.

"Thanks, Dad."

William stood and examined him.

"It's not fair. You're my little brother and you're bigger than me."

"Better hit the gym then William," Anthony chuckled and patted his shoulder.

"Yes!" Sam came out of nowhere with an excited bounce to his step. "I need a gym buddy."

"No, I never said I would-"

"Great. I'm going tomorrow." Sam grinned. He knew William might be feeling a little left out with all the focus on his brother.

"See," Hunter chuckled. Sam was always so full of energy so he could spend hours in the gym and out train everyone. He is very strong and incredibly motivated. "That was easy."

William groaned and walked into the kitchen. Sam decided to follow and talk about his training schedule because he was deadly serious about needing someone to work out with.

"I'm gonna go get changed," Jacob mumbled and walked towards the stairs as Anthony pulled some shorts out of a bag for Hunter.

"I brought these over, just in case you wanted to chill in the pool?" His eyes watched with extreme caution, knowing it was a rough subject for his son.

Hunter waited until Scott had left before taking them.

"I don't want to be anywhere near the pool," He sighed glumly.

"I know son but this happened years ago. You need to let go eventually."

"I can't," He whispered so nobody heard. Not even Sam knows why he hates water.

"Maybe, we need to talk about it. I don't know what's going on in your head and clearly, it's not good if you can't even face water after all this time."

Hunter hovered from one foot to the other.

"Just not today," He mumbled and headed in the same direction as his mate. Anthony watched him disappear up the stairs with a heavy heart.

Jacob was getting changed when Hunter walked in without even thinking about it. They both froze when Jacob was basically naked with one foot in his shorts.

"Oh," Hunter's eyes didn't flinch, they stared with big pupils. "What a nice surprise."

Jacob was deeply embarrassed and couldn't bring himself to move.

"Close your eyes."

"Really?" There's nothing to be ashamed of-"

"Just do it."

Hunter shut the door and closed his eyes with a sigh. Jacob quickly pulled his swimming shorts on and clenched his teeth, trying to settle his heart.

Hunter opened his eyes and crossed his arms.

"I'd say we're even now. You've seen my beautiful sculptured body," He grinned. "And my God-goodness are you perfect."

Jacob watched him with red cheeks.

"I'm not."

"Of course you are. I can't wait for you to see yourself like I do." Hunter then pulled off his t-shirt, making his mate frown. "I'm getting changed. Feel free to look, or don't. I don't care and you shouldn't either. We're both guys and eventually, this will be normal for us."

Jacob tensed his body when Hunter pulled off his trousers. His eyes were staring at his muscles while they flexed with his movement. He was immensely attracted to him and Hunter was right, what is there to be embarrassed about?

However, he was about to close his eyes when he pulled off his boxers. Hunter could feel his eyes on him and he smirked. Poor Jacob. His innocent mind was screaming at him but he didn't blame him, some people are just self-conscious. If they find it hard to accept themselves in the mirror, how are they supposed to accept looking at anyone else?

"The most important thing for you to remember," Hunter said and pulled on his shorts. "Is that I'm not judging your body. It's perfect and I'll always see it that way, even if you don't."

Jacob walked over and took the door handle.

"We should probably-"

"Kiss? Yes, I think so too." Hunter grabbed his face and pushed him against the door. Their warm chest rested together as he kissed him. Jacob was surprised but his feelings were strong while he loosely held his waist. Hunter roughly kissed him and found it cute that his mate struggled to keep up.

He wasn't sure if he was masking his troubled thoughts with affection because it was easy to overpower his sadness. He pulled back but kept his face unbelievably close. Less than a centimetre fell between them.

"The quicker you learn to love yourself, the easier it'll be to let other's love you."

Jacob studied his mystic grey eyes as they stared deep into his. His gaze brushed over his small collection of freckles that were only visible up close.

"Um, I think we should go downstairs."

Hunter sighed and shook his head.

"You're so good at dodging topics."

"So are you."

Hunter shrugged and lightly pinched his cheek.

"You have a point there I guess."

Jacob liked how they could talk about serious stuff and occasionally argue but still be on good term. He was starting to gain the confidence to speak what was on his mind because Hunter was always ready for a discussion.

"So... can you stop pinning me to the door?" He whispered.

"Ugh, fine," He whined and stood back. Jacob turned and rolled his eyes, also hiding a little smile while he walked into the hallway and towards the stairs.

Hunter followed and generously stared at his bare back on the way into the garden.

He stopped when Sam was sitting by the side of the pool with his legs in the water. His heart started beating hard and he swallowed down his sudden panic.

Jacob knew Hunter wasn't going to tell him what was wrong so he walked over to his brother who was sitting in the shallow end, blowing up an inflatable shark.

"Um, where and why did you get that?"

Hunter looked around to see his mum talking with his grandmother and his dad helping Scott with the barbeque. Why was Nathan not here yet? He wondered if he was bringing Vic. He still wasn't sure about his mate being related to him but maybe getting to know each other will change his opinion.

"Hunter," Margo spoke softly. He didn't realise she had walked over until she was right in front of him. "Go and enjoy yourself. Nothing is going to happen, you know how cautious we're being."

Hunter nodded but he was full of tension while Jacob sat down and also dipped his feet in the cool water. He smiled at the werewolf, not liking how he was feeling.

"Is Hunter okay?" Scott asked. Anthony watched him walk over to the pool.

"Not around water. I lost my parents in a freak accident when he was little."

Scott frowned with sorrow, he could, unfortunately, relate to that.

"I'm sorry Anthony. What happened?"

"Well," He sighed. "My parents and Hunter were driving back from a camping holiday when they got hit by a car that lost control. They swerved and drove straight into a river. The car filled with water but the guy that crashed into them jumped in and managed to pull Hunter out. Unfortunately, he got stuck trying to get my parents and they drowned. All three of them." Anthony had come to terms with it but Hunter hadn't. He was stuck by the side of the river for almost an hour until the emergency services came to rescue him.

He couldn't swim and spent the time coughing up water. He knew his grandparents had drowned and it really messed with his head for a long time. He blames himself because they were arguing when they crashed the car. They had left one of his favourite toys behind in the campsite and he was throwing a little tantrum. If they were not arguing, maybe they would have seen the car swerve and somehow manage to avoid the collision.

"Hold on a second," Scott frowned. "Who was it who jumped in to save them?"

"Um, I think his name was Der- no, maybe Daniel Jones. Or something similar. I guess he was a brave guy, he saved Hunter."

Scott's eyes stared hard and wide while his mouth hung open.

"Anthony... My father died by drowning. He crashed his car and jumped into a river to save a couple and a child who he accidentally knocked off the road."

Anthony watched him too with a growing frown.

"What was his name?"

"Daryl Jones. And I think he saved your son's life," He breathed. "But killed your parents."