Chapter 45: Stormy Weather

Jake’s POV

I’m still outside with both Aaron and Alex. My mind still trying to process that of Aaron’s confession. Aaron having confessed to having feelings for me. Feelings I never knew existed until now.

Yet, the longer I stood there the more I continued to think. The scent of amber and honey soon reaching my nose. A scent that I only ever got from Alex along with a faint scent of cinnamon and orange.

A new scent that was slowly reaching my nose. My eyes still on those of Aaron even as he continued to stand before me. Vox pacing within my mind at this sudden change in events.

‘Vox?’

‘He smells like mate. But…’

‘But what?’

‘I don’t know how to process this’

When hearing his words I’m not surprised in the latest. Aaron’s arrival throwing a kink into our lives. A concern I’m about to voice to Vox but don’t and instead say this to him, ‘You and me both pal. You and me both.’

A distant rumble soon reaching my ear the longer we stand outside. The smell of rain reaching my nose. A storm. A storm was coming, and we needed to take shelter and soon. My lips ready to offer some hospitality to Aaron only to pause. Zak’s words echoing within my head as he calls to me via our bond. A bond I was curious about with Aaron but shove it away for now.

‘JAKE. TORI’S GONE. HE RAN’

At the mention of running do I move to growl out. My growl enough to draw the attention of both Aaron and Alex. “What’s the matter Jake?” asks Alex, concern etched along his voice. A part of me wondering why Tori had ran. My mind racing at the thought. Deciding to speak instead of dwelling on the question. Questions I didn’t have answers too.

“Tori ran”

“What? Why?” questions Alex. His attention now on that of Tori. Not me. Not Aaron. Just Tori. Our little mate. Aaron also worried for his newfound mate.

Another part of me wondering if the Moon Goddess had anything to do with this. Did she pair the five of us together? I wonder. Soon realizing that I hadn’t answered them back.

“Not sure Alex. Zak didn’t say. Just that he ran. And given our current condition we need to act fast. There’s a storm brewing and I want Tori inside before anything happens to him.”

“Then let’s go”

The three of us now moving to Zak. Zak the last person to see Tori before we all move to find him. Our sweet little mate. Our heart.

Oh Tor. Why? Why are you running?

Tori’s POV

It’s raining by the time I hit the forest edge. My legs running as quick as possible. A piece of me telling me to flee. To head for that of the forest. To hide.

Rune still yelling at me even as we do. Having gone out the back door of the pack house that it would take each of my mates time to actually figure it out. For with no scent and now the rain, it would take time before they did.

‘Tori, why are you running? Mates love us and we love them’

‘No Rune. We can’t’

‘Why?’

‘Because regardless of what Zak says, we’ll never be able to give Jake what he needs. We’re not capable of producing them an heir’

‘That’s not true and you know it’

‘Yes it is’

‘No it’s not. Face it, your just scared because of Aaron being our 4th mate. To know he’s our missing piece. Admit it. This has nothing to do with producing heirs or anything like that. It’s about the Moon Goddess and what she said to you isn’t it?’

Runes words hitting me like a bag of rocks. My body slowing once we were far enough into the forest. My body drenched in the rain. The rain continuing to fall as I debate on telling Rune the truth.

‘Tori?’

Hesitating a bit longer do I finally move to answer him back. A sigh rising as I do. ‘Yes Rune. I’m scared. I’m scared that our mates will die at the hands of the Rogue King.’

‘But you don’t know that’

‘I do Rune. You weren’t there but I was. You didn’t see it. But I did. Alex was locked in the mouth of the Rogue King. His massive mouth locked tightly around him. Jake, Zak and Aaron each trying to free him.’

‘Tori…’

‘No Rune. I can’t…. I can’t lose them. Jake, Zak and Alex were all I had as a child. They showed me nothing but love and compassion during my darkest times. To show me hope when Lilyanna and her goons would personally use me as a punching bag. To abuse me because I didn’t have you.’

Tears soon falling from within my eyes as I find a tree to lean against. My tears mingling with that of the rain as I feel Jake trying to press against my mind. Having thrown up a mental block so they couldn’t locate me as easily. Aware that if Jake could enter my mind then so could Alex and Zak and possibly even Aaron. But while I wasn’t exactly sure about Aaron I decided not to risk it.

Thunder greeting my ears as it continued to pour rain. My mates howling into the air as they continued to look. Their howls one of pain and frustration.

‘Please Tori. Just talk to them. Tell them about your dream. About the message from that of the Moon Goddess. If you’d just open up I’m sure they’d understand you better.’

‘No Rune. I just can’t. I can’t face losing them, I’m sorry’ is all I say just as I hear rustling within the distance. My ears quick to pick up on a sound. Rune soon growling within me.

‘Rune?’

‘We’re not alone Tori’

My eyes quick in searching the area only to pause. My breath hitching by what I saw. No. It couldn’t be. Anything but him.