Chapter 106
Ellie's POV
Jackson's face went through several emotions in rapid succession—realization, embarrassment, panic. "I—that's not—" He ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean it like that. I wasn't suggesting—"
"What does it mean?" My voice came out higher than I intended. "Marking?"
He looked like he wanted the car seat to swallow him whole. "It's... it's a bonding ritual. For wolf mates. It's permanent and it..." He cleared his throat. "It involves... intimacy. Physical marking. But we don't have to think about that now! Or anytime soon! I was just explaining the biological—" He cut himself off, face flushed.
I could feel my own face burning. "So you're saying this feeling of wanting to... to be close... that's because we're not marked?"
"Partly." He was very carefully not looking at me. "The bond wants us to complete the connection. But that doesn't mean we have to rush anything. We can take our time. Years, if you want. Some mates wait until—"
"Jackson."
He finally met my eyes, looking worried.
"I'm not—" I took a breath. "I'm not ready for that. Not now. But..." I hesitated. "But knowing what it means helps. Understanding why I feel like this."
Relief washed over his features. "We'll go at your pace. Always. I promise."
I nodded, then—unable to help myself—pressed back against him. My body seemed to have its own agenda, and that agenda was to minimize all space between us.
Jackson's arms came around me immediately, and I felt him relax. "See?" he said softly. "This is fine. This is perfect."
And it was. Despite the embarrassing conversation, despite the implications I wasn't ready to think about, this felt right. Safe. Like I'd found something I didn't know I'd been missing.
"Jackson?" I said after a moment.
"Mm?"
"When do we have to leave? To go back to campus?"
He checked his phone. "We should probably head back soon. It's almost two in the morning."
I made a small sound of protest, burrowing deeper into his embrace. "Don't want to."
His chest rumbled with quiet laughter. "I don't want to either. But you need actual rest. A real bed. Food." He paused. "When did you last eat?"
I tried to remember. "Lunch? Maybe?"
"Ellie." There was gentle reproach in his voice. "That was over twelve hours ago."
"There was supposed to be food at the bar," I said defensively. "I was going to eat."
"Before someone drugged your drink and threw you in a frozen lake?" His voice had gone flat, dangerous.
I pulled back to look at him. His eyes had shifted—not fully golden, but getting there. The anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface.
"Hey." I touched his face, and he leaned into it. "I'm okay. You saved me. And we'll figure out the rest tomorrow."
He took a deep breath, then another, until his eyes returned to their normal color. "You're right. Sorry. I just..." He shook his head. "Let's get you back. Get you fed and warm and safe."
The drive back to campus was quiet but comfortable. Jackson kept one hand on the wheel and one on my knee, the touch grounding us both. I watched the dark landscape slip by, my mind trying and failing to process everything that had happened.
I'd been kidnapped. Nearly drowned. Recognized my mate. Had my first kiss. All in one night.
This is so far beyond the normal college experience, I thought with slightly hysterical humor. They definitely don't mention this in the orientation materials.
"What are you thinking about?" Jackson glanced at me as we pulled onto campus.
"How weird my life has gotten," I admitted. "Three months ago, I was just trying to adjust to college. Now I have a mate and people are setting elaborate traps to kill me."
"Not kill you," Jackson said quietly. "The trap was for me. You were bait. Which is somehow worse."
I squeezed his hand. "But I'm fine. We're both fine."
He pulled up outside my dorm, but neither of us moved to get out. The thought of separating—even just for the night—felt physically wrong.
"I don't want to leave you," I whispered.
"I know." His voice was rough. "But we have to. For tonight."
"Will you..." I hesitated. "Will you wait until I get inside? Just to make sure?"
"Ellie." He turned to face me fully. "I'm going to walk you to your room. Make sure everything's secure. And then I'm going to sit in my car outside until I see your light turn on. Then I'm going to text you. And we're going to stay on the phone until you fall asleep."
He walked me all the way to my door, his hand never leaving the small of my back. Outside 304, he pulled me into a long hug.
"Tomorrow," he said into my hair. "We'll figure everything out tomorrow. Make plans. Talk to campus security about Miles. Whatever you need."
"Tomorrow," I agreed, then pulled back to look at him. "Thank you. For everything."
He smiled, soft and warm. "You never have to thank me for keeping you safe, Ellie. That's just... that's what I do. What I'll always do."
One more kiss—quicker this time, but no less meaningful—and then he was gone, waiting by the elevator until I slipped inside.
The room was dark and quiet. I changed into pajamas, noticing the way my hands still shook slightly. Adrenaline crash. I crawled into bed, and my phone—Jackson's phone, I reminded myself—buzzed immediately.
Light's on. You okay?
Yeah. Getting in bed now.
Video call?
I hit the button, and his face filled the screen. He was back in his car, still parked outside my building.
"Hi," I said, suddenly shy.
"Hi." His smile was tired but genuine. "Comfortable?"
"Mm-hmm." I snuggled deeper into my blankets. "You should go home too. Get rest."
"I will. In a minute." He shifted, getting comfortable. "Talk to me. About anything. I just want to hear your voice."
So I did. I told him about my final exams, about the project proposal, about stupid, meaningless things that had seemed important just days ago. And he listened, asking questions, making small comments, until my words started to blur together.
"Ellie," he said softly. "Sleep. I'll be right here."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
I let my eyes close, the phone still clutched in my hand. The last thing I heard before sleep claimed me was Jackson's quiet voice: "Goodnight, my Ellie. Dream safe."