Jay

After I cleared out my house of all people that weren't my family or Terrence's, I turned my attention towards Sydney.

Damn, we got lucky. My wolf said mind drooling.

"Ask away now Sydney," I invited her.

Her originally glazed over eyes focused on me, so I assume she was previously talking to her wolf. "Ah, where to start? Who's this Elliot guy?"

A loud growl ripped through me at the sound of his name.

Elliot was one of many things. An enemy, the Devil, number one on my 'to kill' list and so many other things.

I especially did not want his name to come from Sydney's beautiful peach lips. He did more than harmed her, and I was determined to kill him now more than ever.

Not realizing I hadn't answered another male voice did, "He's an old enemy."

Her green eyes traced the voice and landed on Mathew who was perched, leaning against a wall watching her.

Stupid omega better keep his grimy hands to himself if he wants to keep them attached to his arms.

When Sydney laid eyes on him she pounced at him arms opened wide. "Mat!"

She locked him in a bear hug and Mathew returned the favor, tightly hugging her back.

Why is she in the omega's arms!? My wolf growled.

"Mat what's going on why are you here?" She cried.

We are her mate. She should be in our arms! Not his! Jaycen let me go. Let me show him that Sydney is rightfully ours!

Before I lost control I hushed outside, the door clapping shut behind me.

I hoped the rush of the cool night air would dampen my raging emotions, but it didn't do the trick. Instead, I ran for the woods, not even removing my clothes before shifting, ripping them to shreds.

My massive black paws crashed against the ground as I took off running towards my spot on a nearby cliff. I lunged and leaped over rocks and branches. The twigs snapped underneath me as I slowed to prance, trying to calm myself as I covered the last stretch of ground between me and my destination.

I tried restraining my motions to be gingerly. To be Silent.

It was a complete contrast to the whirlwind of emotions hurtling inside my head and chest.

When I finally made it to the cliff I refrained from my usual starstruck gasp of the beauty before me. This time like all the others still always took my breath away. The dark blue and inky sky hung over the massive expanse of the forest that continued on below and seemed to go on forever and ever. The stars twinkled and glimmered in the night sky along with the beautiful moon.

I went over to the log I had dragged one time near the cliff edge so I could sit because I came here so often. My wolf handed over the reins and the shift back was swift. Inside the log, I retrieved my back up bag of clothes stuffed in the hallow end for situations like this.

After throwing on my basketball shorts and my shirt I went and stared off into the distance at the edge of the cliff.

Is something wrong with us? My wolf asked sounding like he was about to sob.

What?! No there's nothing wrong with us. I attempted to reassure him.

I know we've only known her for a little while, but what if she can already tell that there's something she doesn't like about us. Mean, we didn't protect her from Elliot. Maybe we aren't worthy. Maybe she should reject us? But...I don't know if I can go on without she. Not. now that we've seen and met her.

My wolf's little sobs and whimpers keyed me into just how devastated he was. He howled in desperation.

Another hint was how he consistently used 'she' instead of 'Sydney' fearful that he would break.

My heart broke a little too, but for a different reason. I knew I wasn't good enough for Sydney. But my wolf on the other hand was perfect.

He was regularly respectable and caring towards those who loved us. My wolf was brilliant and bold in difficult situations. He was charming with his words, or more so his thoughts. It was because we were opposites that I thought we fit together, but now I saw it. He was everything that I wasn't, and it was my fault my wolf was in this much pain.

People always told me to wait for my mate; that I should save everything for her. I should've given her my first kiss, ask her out on my first date, shared our first time in bed together, withhold the words 'I Love you' until she came along.

I had never told a girl outside of my family that I loved her, though, considering the rest of everything I've given away, it might not mean much to Sydney.

I hadn't realized how much this would hurt me, let alone my wolf, for her to not even give me a chance! For her to be completely into another guy, and that other guy was an omega.

She's not into another guy. My wolf whimpered. The claim carried little confidence.

Yes she is. We need to deal with the fact we're not good enough for someone as perfect as Sydney. I said despite the brutality of the words.

But that was you! I always said stop! My wolf cried.

Signing I knew he was right. I know. You're right this is all my fault.

My wolf paused ...I shouldn't be doing this to you, Jay. It's a two-way street.

No. I screwed you over by having fooling around with girls and listening to you or waiting for our mate.

Huma-

SNAP

I sprang up and let out a venomous growl.

Is Elliot trying to ambush me?

"Please don't attack!" A small voice cried.

Sydney rushed out of the woods, twigs, and leaves littered her golden hair. Her eyes were wide and scared leaving the wood.

"Why would I ea-"

Before I could finish the question Sydney tripped over a thick vine that bared sharp needle-like thorns. She fell with a loud THUD against the ground.

"Oww," She groaned.

I was over, at her side in an instant, just as she started pushing herself off the ground and up. The vine stuck to her shin with its pointy thorns embedded in her skin.

"Oh my god!" She cried bracing her injured leg.

"Shh," I breathed before delicately pulling the rope of vine away.

She hissed and her hand shot out to squeeze my bicep.

My chest vibrated, in what I realized was a natural instinct to soothe away her pain and calm Sydney. I hadn't discerned that this action was embedded in my DNA till her.

"Did the thorns come out?" She braved a glance at her leg and saw they didn't. "Are they supposed to stay in your skin? I mean the thorns?" Sydney asked inspecting her leg which was speckled with thorns.

Holding the sides of her cafe, I counted six thorns stuck or slightly protruding. Not answering her question I picked her up bridal style surmising Sydney to squeal and wrap her arms around my neck.

"Don't drop me." She whimpered softly in my ear.

"I would never drop you," I whispered back.

Before she could fully bury her head in my shoulder I saw her cheeks start to turn a dark crimson.

Walking us over to the leg, I gingerly seat her down, then I took her right heel in my palm and examined the thorns buried in her delicate skin.

Her skin was red and agitated as her newly triggered wolf gene seemed to be trying to heal the wounds.

"Is it poisonous?" Sydney queried, likely wondering why I was talking so long.

I chuckled. "No Sydney. I don't even think there is such thing as poisonous vines. Or at the very least around here."

Something lightly hit me on the shoulder. "Yes there are, Dummy! Goodness," she sounded humorously exasperated, "apparently, you never paid attention during any science class ever."

I pulled away and feigned looked at her with disbelief.

This pulled a smile tugging laugh. "I'm being serious Jaycen. Is it like gonna kill me? I mean I survived a wolf attack, and this is how I'm gonna go out!? Poisonous vines!"

Letting her playfully swat me and the mention of her almost death slide I paid attention to her wound. "No, it's not. I just have to pop these thorns out or else you might start healing too quickly and that can cause some issues if these stay in there."

"Alrighty then. What are you waiting for?" Sydney asked slightly dazed.

Looking back up to her face I saw she wasn't paying attention to me, but the brilliant sky above us.

"Gorgeous isn't it?" I asked her.

Sydney's head snapped down so she could look at me. "Yeah. Gorgeous." Her voice was a whisper.

Now she seemed deep in thought as she gazed into my eyes.

☽✣☾

Sydney

Tumbling through the forest my blood pressure had been sky-high. I thought I would be fine trekking through the woods with the voice in my head guiding me through an unusually fragrant smell that it claimed was Jaycen.

Only strides into the forset everything seemed darker and eerie. The frightening idea entered my mind of Elliot lurking right around a tree or boulder.

Hyperventilating the voice in my head had to console me.

I will protect you. Our mate is not too far away.

Swallowing my fear I ran forward and stumbled towards the prominent scent. Finally, I shot into a clearing only to stumble and multiple quick sharp pricks into my leg followed.

Jaycen had raced over to picked me up and place me on a log that looked over the cliff and its grand view of the forest below.

To say I was astonished was a giant understatement. The way that the stars twinkled over the peaceful yet so lively forest took my breath away.

When Jaycen commented on the sky, I looked down to reply, I was sucked into his beautiful eyes.

His eyes are so unique. That might be my favorite feature of him.

I tried to shake my tender thoughts about him.

Honestly, he's been nothing but kind to me. Sure he got us into that mess of detention, and this Elliot figure seemed to think attacking me would get to Jaycen. While the memories are blurry, I remember him crying my name and begging for me to stay with him. And even now here he is tending to me.

The feel of his fingers on my skin heightened my senses.

Gosh, he's amazing. Those alluring sea-foam eyes and those dark, dark locks that are practically begging me to run my hands through them.

Kiss him! The voice yelled.

I flinched from the newness of having another set of thoughts mixed in with my own.

Just kiss him. He's right there!

Maybe...

Hesitantly I leaned forward, closer to Jaycen. The smell of him swirled into my nostrils with hints of both the woods and of the manly cologne he wore. The smell of him was like a drug. I was addicted.

One of his strong broad hands traced up my calf and curled behind my knee, showing me his attention was on my movement.

Yes.

My eyes fluttered shut and the next thing I knew was that I was kissing Jaycen.

His lips were firm against mine, but they were so soft to touch. He tasted of vanilla. Nothing extra, and that's what made the taste of him perfect.

Jaycen pressed closer against me. He grabbed the middle of my thighs to hold me closer. Subconsciously I wound my arms around Jaycen's neck pressing him closer to me. Jaycen's tongue pressed to my lip, asking for entrance.

That's when I pulled away.

I laughed and pressed a quick kiss to his now pouting lips.

"Why'd you st-" I cut Jaycen off before he could continue by placing my fingers gently on his lips.

"I stopped because I don't truly know you, two I don't want to get hurt even though I can acknowledge you have been nothing good to me thus far,"

Jaycen nodded looking though sorrow and hurt were clear on his face.

"-and three I kinda have thorns in my shins and they kinda hurt." I said trying to lighten the mood and take the sad look from his face. "Plus I don't want to die from poisonous vines."

Jaycen threw his head back and laughed; it was music to my heart and made my heart nearly burst.

☽✣☾

EDITED JUNE 19 2020