Chapter Forty-six

*Why does my entire body ache?* Jake thought to himself while slowly sitting up from the hospital bed, completely oblivious to the arm wrapped around him. He made his way to the bathroom and washed his face in the sink. He let out a huge gasp when he saw his reflection. Hickies littered his neck and he didn't miss the bite mark either.

Jake ran back into the room, only to find his bed empty. "What the fuck is happening!!" He cursed.

"You okay, dude?" Jake spun around and was greeted with a worried Theodore.

Jake just frowned. "Did you see someone leave?" He questioned.

"Uh, yeah? Dash just left? He needed to show.." Theodores' eyes widened once they landed on Jakes neck. "Holy shit! You two are mates?!?"

"I guess..? We didn't really get to discuss that.." Jake frowned again.

"You two fucked and looked like he marked you. Not much to really discuss, brother." Theodore joked while wiggling his eyebrows.

Jakes entire neck and face turned bright red. He couldn't even look at him. "What are you doing here?"

"We got back early in the morning. It was interesting watching Trixie fly. She was completely terrified... it was awesome." Theodore chuckled. "William is down the hall with Reese, he got fucked up pretty bad but he should be healed up by tomorrow." Theodore explained.

Jake nodded his head. "And Kane and Trixie?"

Theodore rolled his eyes. "You know damn well Kane and Goliath probably have Trixie flat on her back with her legs spread wide open."

"Alright, you can just say they're busy or something.. literally anything else than what you just said." Jake groaned.

"Oops." Theodore shrugged.

"Whatever.. when can I go back to my room?" Jake asked.

"Well I was actually coming over to check that out but seeing how you are standing here with a fresh mark, I'd say.." Theodore tapped his finger on his chin, acting to be in deep thought.

Jake scoffed. "I'm leaving." He headed out the door.

"Wait for me!" Theodore shouted, chasing after him.

~ ~ ~

"Hey!" Terrance shouted from the end of the hallway. "Jake, wait a minute!"

"What?" Jake stopped and turned on his heels.

"I just wanted to say.." Terrance began.

"To say thank you for taking a knife to the heart while trying to protect your kids? Well save it because I clearly failed." Jake turned back around and kept walking, following his so called mates scent.

Terrance just frowned. "Jake, wait a second. I didn't mean to upset you!" Terrance tried to grab Jakes arm to stop him but Jake just shrugged him off. "I just want to say I appreciate what you did, you didn't have to risk your life for Trixie."

"Dude, leave me alone. Why are you even bothering with this? We aren't even friends." Jake growled in annoyance. "I'll risk my life a million times over again trying to keep her safe. It's in my DNA.. she's my best friends mate and my queen. So go away, I need to figure out why my mate is avoiding me." Jake slammed his mouth shut and closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath.

"Mate?" Terrance asked. Jake ignored the hurt he heard in his voice.

"It's not your concern." Jake whispered. He turned back around and started walking again. He didn't care if Terrance followed or not, he just needed to figure out what the hell was going on with Dash.

Terrance of course followed, still trying to catch Jakes attention. "I don't get why you're being a fucking brat right now. I'm going to keep following you until you listen to what I have to say!" Terrance yelled.

"For fucks sake! Just go... ..fuck!" Jake hissed while clutching his chest and abdomen.

Terrance rushed forward. "Jake?! What's wrong??" Jake didn't miss the concern in his voice.

"I.. f-feel.. li-ike.. m-my.. ch-chest.. is.. on.. f-fire.." Jake barely choked out.

"Oh.. no.." Terrance whispered. "Where is your mates room?"

"Down.. the.. hall.." Jake gasped. "That's.. where his.. scent.. is.."

Terrance picked Jake up and pulled one of his arms over his shoulder. "Lets go." Terrance started walking him down the hall.

"This one.." Jake breathed out heavily. He's been told what this feeling is supposed to mean. "I don't.. want to.. see.." Jake mumbled through the pain.

Terrance ignored him and swung the door open. Jake just stared wide-eye at the scene before him.

There was Dash laying on his bed with some she-wolf straddling his waist. She was bouncing on him while one of his hands gripped her ass and the other was kneading her breast.

Jake just stood there, completely shocked. He didn't even realize he was holding his breath until he took a shaky inhale, catching his mates attention.

"Shit!" Dash pushed the woman off of him and hurriedly pulled some pants on but Jake was already walking away. "Jake, wait!"

Terrance just followed behind the two, keeping a fair distance away.

"Let me explain!" Dash reached out to grab Jake.

"Explain?" Jake laughed with a sneer. "Explain what exactly?"

"Jake, I'm not ready for this! I'm not ready for that type of commitment! You have to understand that!" Dash whispered yelled.

"Well thank you sooooo much then! I mean for mating with me and marking me. I appreciate it!" Jake mocked.

"I didn't mean to. My wolf saw you and he took control. It was a heat of the moment type of deal. I mean, we're still mates but.." Dash tried to defend himself.

"Got it." Jake noticed Terrance still hanging around but chose to turn around and try to leave.

Dash grabbed his arm again, stopping him. "I just need time. Just wait, okay?"

Jake gave a humorless laugh. "Wait for you? You want me to wait around while you fuck whoever? You want me to sit back and take all that pain? Go fuck yourself." Jake ripped his arm away from Dash.

"I marked you. You're still mine!" Dash growled. His wolf was clearly not happy.

"Not for long." Jake growled back, walking away.

"You can't run from this!" Dash yelled.

"Watch me." Jake then disappeared without another word.

~ ~ ~

"I don't understand why you keep punishing me?" Jake looked up to the dark sky. "I didn't even get to be with my first mate.. I accepted the fact that I would never have a mate after she passed but then you give me Dash...?" Jake sniffled. "What a joke.."

Jake has been sitting next to the little pond that's a short walk from the castle. It's a quiet and peaceful little place. He was hoping to clear his mind but ended up breaking down.

Jake just stared out into the water. He slowly pulled his hand out of his jacket pocket, revealing the knife that almost took his life. "I don't want this pain.. but you can't just wish away a mark, can you?" Jake laughed bitterly. "There's only one way to break a mate bond for a demon.. death doesn't sound so bad.. they'll be okay without me.." Jake nodded to himself for reassurance.

*My poor child..* A sweet voice echoed in Jakes ears.

Jake shot up to his feet, clutching the knife tightly. "Who's there?"

*I'm everywhere, sweetheart.*

It took a minute for Jake to realize that voice was inside his head. "S-Selene..?"

*You have been through so much.. and it seems that I have failed you..*

Jake managed to sit back down while being completely shocked. "I didn't think you would answer me.."

*Of course I would. I answer all my children.. when they truly need me..*

Jake just laughed. "Right."

*I didn't expect Dasher to betray the mate bond.. I didn't expect after all that you have been through.. that I would fail to bond you with someone worthy of your love.. please forgive me..*

"It doesn't really matter now, does it? I'm marked and I'll be forced to feel every single act of betrayal until.. death." Jake sighed while glancing at the knife in his hand.

*Oh my sweet Jake.. You have so much more to live for.. you are completely selfless.. You could have met your first mate and started the bond, tearing her away from her family but instead you didn't.. you were perfectly happy watching her be happy with the life she made..*

"Thanks for the reminder.." Jake gave a dry laugh.

*Jake.. even Gods and Goddesses make mistakes.. let me fix mine..*

Jaked frowned. "What do you mean?" Jake waited for a response but instead felt a warm tingling sensation on his neck, placing a hand over his neck making sure he wasn't bleeding for some reason, he looked up to the sky. "Selene?"

"Jake?" Terrances voice sounded from the trail that leads back to the castle.

Jake whipped his head around, looking back at a worried Terrance. "What are you doing here?" He frowned.

"Making sure you're okay.. what else would I be doing here?" Terrance chuckled lightly.

"I don't want to talk about me trying to save Trixie or Reese so just leave me alone.. please.." Jake mumbled, turning back to look out at the pond.

"Good thing I'm not here to talk about that then." Terrance spoke while taking a seat next to Jake. The knife in Jakes hand didn't go unnoticed by Terrance. "Why do you have that?"

Jake immediately tried to hide the knife back in his pocket but Terrance grabbed his wrist before he could, stopping him. Making Jake gasp, he jerked his hand back and just stared at Terrance in shock. Terrance just gave a small smile in return.

"T-Terrance..?" Jake stuttered out. "D-did you f-feel th-them..?"

"I feel them everytime we touch.. mate.."