88.

-HER-

The walk to his house is silent. He glances at me a couple of times but soon looks away. I can feel a lot of emotions bubbling inside him but he is holding them back with a dam.

“Oh, you’re back!” Jake’s mother’s face lights up as soon as she sees us enter the house, “All of got so scared,” She almost sobs as she throws her arms around me and hugs me tightly. Jake looks at me dreamily before sighing deeply.

“Mom, not now,” He tells her with the same dreaminess. The tiredness is audible in his voice and his shoulders are slouching. It almost makes me feel bad for him. I caused them so much trouble.

“Alright, alright,” June pulls back but she only lets me go after closely looking at my face. I don’t miss the bags under her eyes as well. It shows that she has been awake all night- just like a mother who is worried about her child.

“I am glad you’re back, honey. I wouldn’t have spared their lives if-“

“Mom,” Jake groans before he drags me upstairs. I can only offer June a small smile above my shoulder while I climb the stairs behind Jake. “Go get some sleep,” I tell her.

“I will,” She tells me with a slight nod and a smile. As soon as we are back in Jake’s room and the door is closed, his lips crash on mine. I am shocked at the suddenness of his actions but I kiss him back with the same passion.

“Jake,” I breathe after I pull back shortly after. Suddenly, the small barrier that I've been feeling through the bond before is gone. He’s breaking down in tears next.

“I thought I lost you,” He sobs as he hugs me tightly and buries his face in the crook of my neck. I am too shocked to see him in tears. I find it hard to respond to him.

I now understand why he seemed so tensed in the hospital. He was waiting for us to come home so that he could finally let his guard down. Slowly, I feel a lump building in my throat as well while my vision blurs with tears.

I simply run my hands through his hair before silently leading him to the bed because he is tired. He lays down without any protest but soon pulls me into his embrace. He places his head on my chest while my fingers find their place back into his hair.

“I don’t know what I’ll do without you,” he grumbles as he nudges my neck. I am somewhat paralyzed by all the emotions that are draining into me through the bond. Although, I don’t block them because I want to ease his burden.

We aren’t in a condition to talk right now but I am surprised at how the bond helps us to communicate without uttering a word. He grows still slowly, seemingly asleep but I am proven wrong when he stirs at the slightest movement from me.

“Sleep,” I tell him as I run my hand through his hair. Instead of closing his eyes, he looks at me with terror and something else that I couldn’t comprehend.

“You are not leaving, are you?” He asks very urgently.

“I am not going to leave you, Jake,” I tell him but he doesn’t seem very convinced. This incident seems to have left a very strong effect on him, “Now sleep,” I tell him gently. The bags under his eyes grow heavier but he still doesn’t go to sleep.

“I cannot, Cybele,” He tells me.

“Why not?” I couldn’t help but frown. He sighs deeply before telling me, “The Lycans will be here soon to take Tiffany away. I must be present when they arrive,”

“Can’t you get a break, Jake?” I couldn’t help but pity him but deep down I know that we are in this situation just because of me. No matter what, I will always feel guilty for this.

“I cannot, not today.” He sighs as he looks at me longingly.

“What?” I ask when he continues to stare at me dreamily.

“Stay with me always, please?” I almost melt at the way he says that. I want to say yes but deep down I know, that my overprotective parents wouldn’t let me move out before my last year at the college.

This realization dawns upon him soon after he says that. It’s going to be hard for us now because he wouldn’t be coming to college anymore and would be busy in pack work mostly. I already hate thinking about going back without him.

“I wish I could do something about it,” I tell him sadly.

“We’ll figure out a way, Cybele,” He tells me with determination and his eyes brimming with possessiveness.

“We will,” I promise him and the rest of the time, we lay silently in each other’s arms

“I’d have to go now,” he tells me after some time. I know by the graveness decorating his face that the Lycans are here and he’s going to see Tiffany off for the last time.

“I’ll go with you,” I tell him. He gives me a long stare before nodding stiffly. It’s afternoon when we leave the house again. We first meet the council who’s about to leave. After that, Jake leads me to a small prison in the outskirt of the pack. It’s the first time I am seeing this place.

Even though the place is empty, I know that it’s being watched secretly. When we round the prison building, we are met with three tall men. They easily stand out due to their physic and appearances. The overwhelming amount of energy oozing off their figures somewhat reminds of the Judge.

Instead of verbal greetings, silent nods are exchanged between Jake and them. I notice how their eyes linger on me for some moments but they soon seem uninterested when Jake steps very close to me.

Next, the pair of wolves who were guarding the prison lead us inside. We follow them silently. I am surprised to find that the prison isn’t as small as it appears from outside. Turns out that the majority of it is located deep under the ground which is navigated by numerous flights of stairs.

At one point, I lose count of the number of floors we have descended underground. Although, soon we are finally led to a long corridor that has iron doors lined up on its either side. They are all empty currently. The place is eerily silent. The only thing that’s clearly audible and echoes in this eerie place is the sound of our footsteps.

Between the sounds of our footsteps, I am able to hear small sobs as we reach the last prison. It doesn’t take me long to realize whom they belong to. For a moment, my heart stops. We wait outside as one of the guards unlocks the door. Jake was about to step inside when one of the Lycans stops him by raising his hand.

The air grows tense around us as the Lycan steps inside the prison. The sobs instantly stop as we hear the lycan walk inside the cell.