Chapter 181
I woke up only to find Jake not beside me in bed. To be honest I wasn't very shocked . It was kind of like a trend now ,he acts like this and then tries to pretend like it didn't happen. I tried to understand him even though it was highly annoying and it also hurt like a lot. I wanted us to be a normal couple ,normal mates full of love and understanding but Jake still felt guilty . It's as if letting me in meant he would be betraying Prisca or the twins but honestly I felt like she would want him to move on. And from my dreams I believed she wanted what's best for him and the twins . He was punishing himself, maybe he believed he didn't deserve any love or a second chance . Maybe he believed this was a test because honestly I once believed that too at first . I would be patient but not forever. A healthy relationship between us wasn't only good for us but also good for the twins . They needed to be surrounded by love and happiness.
I decided to drown myself in the happy things like taking care of the twins for a long time. They made me so happy everytime I was around them I honestly forgot my problems with their father.
I wasn’t sure when I dozed off, but I was warm. So incredibly warm. My body was cocooned in something solid and comforting, making it difficult to move. My mind floated between sleep and awareness, wrapped in a soft, dream-like haze.
Then, realization hit.
My eyes blinked open, adjusting to the dim glow of the room. I was in the common area, curled up on one of the large couches, a book still resting on my lap. But what made my breath catch was the steady rise and fall of Jake’s chest beneath my head.
Jake.
I stiffened slightly, my fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt before I dared to lift my head the slightest bit. His arm was draped loosely around me, his warmth seeping into my skin through my clothes. He was still asleep, his face relaxed, his usual scowl missing.
How did this even happen?
I had been reading after putting the twins to bed, exhaustion creeping up on me. I vaguely remembered resting my head on the armrest, but at some point, I must have shifted—and Jake must have sat down beside me, falling asleep too.
I should move. Right now.
I swallowed hard and slowly tried to shift away, but the second I moved, his arm tensed, tightening ever so slightly around me.
I froze.
His scent surrounded me, woodsy and warm, and my heartbeat picked up as his fingers flexed slightly against my side. Was he awake?
I waited, barely breathing, until finally, his grip loosened, and I seized the opportunity to slip away. My movements were careful, painfully slow, until I was free. As soon as I put space between us, I let out a quiet breath and stared at him.
Jake hadn’t woken up.
I ran a hand through my hair, my skin still tingling from where he had been touching me. What was I even supposed to do with this? He had been distant ever since that night, keeping himself buried in work. And yet, here we were, accidentally falling asleep together like nothing had changed.
I sighed, shaking my head before turning to leave.
But the moment I stood, a sharp pain shot through my knee. I stumbled slightly, gripping the armrest for balance. I glanced down and realized I had a small scrape, probably from earlier when I had been playing with the twins.
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath.
“You’re hurt.”
I nearly jumped at the sound of Jake’s deep, groggy voice.
I turned quickly, finding him rubbing his eyes, his brows furrowed as he stared at my knee.
“It’s nothing,” I said quickly.
Jake didn’t look convinced. In one smooth movement, he sat up fully, his muscles flexing slightly as he leaned forward. I had barely processed what was happening before his large, calloused hand wrapped around my ankle, pulling me toward him.
My breath hitched.
“Jake, what are you—”
He ignored me, his focus entirely on my knee as he inspected it. His grip was firm yet gentle, his fingertips brushing against my skin as he tilted my leg slightly to get a better look.
“It’s just a scrape,” I said again, trying to ignore the way my stomach flipped.
“You should be more careful,” he muttered, his thumb tracing just above the wound. “You’re always running around, getting yourself into trouble.”
I huffed. “Excuse me for having responsibilities.”
Jake shot me a look, his lips pressing into a thin line before he sighed.
Without another word, he pulled out a cloth from his pocket—because of course, Alpha Jake was always prepared—and carefully dabbed at the scrape. I winced slightly at the pressure, but it wasn’t bad.
The worst part? The way my heart was racing from such a simple act.
“There,” he said after a moment, his voice lower, softer. “It should be fine, but you should clean it properly later.”
I swallowed, nodding as I carefully pulled my leg back. “Thanks.”
He didn’t say anything, but something about his expression had softened.
For a moment, neither of us moved. The air between us was thick with something I couldn’t quite place. This wasn’t like before—this wasn’t anger or tension. It was different. Something shifting, something unspoken.
I had spent days avoiding him, convincing myself that I didn’t care. But right now, sitting here with him, I knew I was lying to myself.
Jake cleared his throat suddenly and stood up. “It’s late. You should get some rest.”
The moment was gone.
I nodded, watching as he walked toward the door. But just before he stepped out, he hesitated for a second—barely a pause, but enough for me to notice. Then, without looking back, he left.
I exhaled, pressing my fingers against my temples.
What the hell was I supposed to do with this man?
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