Eventually

LAKE

“What the hell are you saying?” I growl, anger coursing through me.

~He wants me back?~

~

He’s ~the one that rejected me in the first place!~

~

“Is that any way to talk to your mate and future alpha?” Lucas ignores my hand.

Instead, he softly takes it in his and brings my waist close to his figure. He puts his lips to my chin and sends hot breath down the side of my neck.

“Goddess, your scent still drives me insane.”

Lucas leaves a trail of kisses down to my shoulder, where he teases me through the fabric of my shirt.

As if in a trance, my body presses itself against his, welcoming him to do anything he wants to me.

His hands roam my waist and up my back. Chills descend down my spine as I let out a low moan.

Lucas moves the collar of my shirt down my arm. A sharp pain through my arm and into my neck brings me back to my senses.

With Lynne’s help, I push the brooding male off me. We’re both breathless.

I cringe at the pain in my shoulder and put a hand over it. I can feel the mark beginning to heat and break open, a sign of Lucas trying to reverse what can’t be undone.

“Come back to me,” Lucas says, breaking the silence. “That outsider mutt is no good for you.” He tries to bring me back to his grip, but I back up.

“~You’re~ the one who did this.” I show him the blood on my hand.

Lucas brushes his hand over the canine mark left by Delilah. It’s blackened already. It’s disheartening to look at it on him. A part of me wants it to be mine.

“I saw him with someone else,” Lucas says. “Another girl.”

My eyes narrow at him.

“Like I’d believe you.”

“I’m serious,” Lucas says. “He was with—”

Before Lucas can get out his words, Jake pins him against the tree by his throat. I can see the fury in Jake’s pitch-black eyes. His mouth is open with his canines protruding.

“How ~dare~ you touch her,” Jake growls. His voice is low and almost animalistic. “I’ll have your wolf’s skin for a rug.”

“She’s going to find out eventually, you little—” Lucas wheezes as Jake tightens his grip around his throat. I quickly run over and try prying Jake’s hands away.

“Jake!” I say, panicky. “Please; he’s not worth it.” Jake still holds his grip until I bring my unbloodied hand to his cheek. “Please…”

He glances at me before growling one last time as he lets Lucas fall to the ground. Lucas holds his throat and coughs violently.

Jake sees my shoulder. I grasp his hand before he does anything else reckless. The last thing we need is a dead student.

“Touch her again, and I won’t be so merciful.” Jake scoops me into his arms and walks away from the tree.

“She ~will~ know…,” Lucas growls.

Jake carries me past Landon and Riley, going right into the hallway away from everyone and grabs me tightly. I’m standing with my back against the cold lockers with his strong body coiled around me.

“I can smell him on you.” Jake puts his head into my hair. “Tell me you’re mine. Lake, please. Tell me you only want me.”

I wearily put my hands through his hair, attempting to make him at ease. I can’t help but think of what Lucas was just saying.

“I’m yours, Jake,” I tell him. There’s a coldness about Jake’s touch now. “I only want you.”

“I’ve waited so long for you.” Jake’s breath brushes across the mark on my shoulder. I shudder as chills go down my spine. “No one, especially a lowly alpha mutt, is taking you away from me.”

After a few moments, Jake contains himself and inspects my newly opened wound. He curses inwardly before taking my hand.

“Where are we going?” I ask him. His grip is tight, and Jake simply takes me to the nurse’s office.

I hold the gauze placed over my shoulder. The antiseptic Nurse Gilbert placed over the open wound makes my entire shoulder ache and throb.

“Change these dressings tomorrow.” Nurse Gilbert hands Jake a bag filled with medical supplies. “She should be just fine in a few days.”

Jake nods and helps me off the bed and into the hallway. Landon and Riley immediately come into view. Jake helps me put my jacket on and carries my backpack.

“Are you okay?” Riley looks me up and down. “What happened?”

“It’s taken care of. Nothing to worry about,” Jake says flatly. I sense tension in his hand as it takes mine. I can’t help but feel uncomfortable.

Landon tenses his jaw when he sees the gauze partially showing on my neck. I’m sure I still have Lucas’s scent on me as well. I need to go home for a shower.

***

“Moonlight…” Jake briskly helps me out of his truck and hugs me. “What am I going to do with you?”

I lean into him reluctantly. After everything that has happened today, I’m grateful to have his presence around me, but something is wrong.

“Lake?” My mother comes out of the house, rubbing her hands on her apron. “Who is this?” Jake grabs my bag from the passenger-side floor and hands it to me.

I smile at my mate weakly. His eyes seem empty and distant. ~Why am I feeling like this?~

~

Whatever Lucas did to my mark, it’s making everything feel strange. I can almost feel the connection between me and Jake weakening.

And now Lucas told me that Jake was seen with another girl…but who was it?

Lynne growls, and I can sense she’s just as confused and angry with all these events...and I’m tired of just sitting back and letting things happen to me.

I need to find out what’s going on.