Chapter 108
Ellie's POV
The alarm jolted me awake at eight, but the sound I heard first was my own heartbeat—steady, warm, alive.
I ended the alarm and stumbled out of bed. My body protested—last night's ordeal in the frozen lake had left me stiff and sore—but I forced myself toward the bathroom. I needed to be ready. Today, my parents were coming to pick me up for winter break.
I was mid-brush, toothpaste foam threatening to drip onto my shirt, when my phone buzzed on the counter.
Jackson: Morning. Did you sleep well? I'm heading to your dorm in 10 minutes.
The timestamp read 8:05. I glanced at the clock: 8:12.
Crap.
My hands moved faster, nearly knocking over the mouthwash bottle in my haste. The mate bond stirred, an insistent pull toward him that was both comforting and alarming. I'd read about this—how newly confirmed mates felt an almost magnetic need to be near each other—but reading about it and feeling it were two different things.
I typed back with wet fingers: Just brushing my teeth. Give me a few more minutes!
My reflection stared back at me: hair a mess, eyes slightly puffy from crying last night, cheeks flushed. I looked like I'd been through hell. Which, technically, I had.
But when I thought of Jackson, standing in the cold lake water, his eyes blazing amber as he transformed to save me—when I remembered his hands cradling my face, his voice rough with emotion as he whispered, "You're safe now"—the exhaustion didn't matter.
I practically flew through my morning routine.
From my dorm window, I could see him.
Jackson stood near the entrance, hands in the pockets of his dark blue jacket, his breath fogging in the December air. The morning sun caught the sharp line of his jaw, the way his shoulders were set with that quiet confidence I'd come to recognize. When he tilted his head up, searching for my window, our eyes met across the distance.
He smiled—small, private, just for me—and raised one hand in a wave.
My heart lurched.
Before I knew it, I was out the door, feet pounding down the stairwell, the sound echoing in the empty building. Most students had already left for break. It was just us, and this moment, and the pull of the mate bond singing in my veins.
Slow down, I told myself at the last landing. Don't look desperate.
I forced my breathing to steady, smoothed down my hair, and pushed open the door with what I hoped was casual grace.
Jackson's smile widened. "Hey."
"Hey," I managed, suddenly shy under his gaze.
He opened his arms—not demanding, just offering—and I stepped into them without thinking. His embrace was solid, warm, safe. He buried his face in my hair, and I felt him inhale deeply.
"Missed you," he murmured against my temple.
"It's only been a few hours," I said, but my hands were fisted in his jacket, holding on tight.
"I know." He pulled back just enough to study my face, his expression serious. "How are you feeling? Any headache or dizziness?"
I couldn't help but smile at his concern. "I'm fine, Dr. Wilson."
His lips twitched. "Good. Let's get breakfast. You need to eat."
The dining hall was nearly deserted, just a handful of students scattered across the vast space. Technically, winter break had already begun—most people had left campus yesterday after their last finals. That's why the cafeteria felt so empty, so quiet, with only two serving stations open instead of the usual six.
We claimed a corner table, and Jackson insisted on getting the food while I sat. He returned with oatmeal, scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast—enough for two people.
"I'm not that hungry," I protested.
"You were unconscious in freezing water twelve hours ago. Eat." His tone left no room for argument.
So I ate, and he watched, and under the table, his hand found mine.
The mate bond pulsed between us, warm and steady. I could feel his worry, his relief, his fierce protectiveness. It should have been overwhelming, but instead, it felt like coming home.
"Your eyes," I said quietly, studying his face. "There's something..."
"I didn't sleep much." He looked away, jaw tightening. "Had some things to take care of after I left you."
Miles. He'd gone to confront Miles.
"Jackson—"
"Later." His thumb traced circles on the back of my hand. "Right now, I just want to be here with you."
I wanted to push, to demand answers, but the shadows under his eyes stopped me. Whatever had happened with his uncle, it had cost him. So I nodded and squeezed his hand, silently promising that we'd face it together when he was ready.
After breakfast, we walked to Blue Water Lake.
The December air bit at my exposed skin, and Jackson immediately unwound his scarf, wrapping it around my neck despite my protests.
"I'm not cold," I insisted, even as I burrowed into the soft fabric that smelled like him.
"Humor me." His voice was dry, but his eyes were soft.
We walked in comfortable silence, our hands linked between us.
"A month feels like forever," I said suddenly, voicing the fear that had been building since I woke up. "Winter break, I mean."
Jackson stopped walking and turned to face me, his expression intense. "We'll make it work. Every day, video calls, texts. And when you come back..." He paused, and something flickered in his amber eyes—something deep and possessive and entirely wolf. "I'll be right here waiting."
The mate bond flared at his words, and I felt Thalia stir inside me, pleased and secure.
"Promise?" My voice came out smaller than I intended.
"Promise." He cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheekbone. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Ellie Green."
I was about to respond when my phone rang, shattering the moment.
Dad's name flashed on the screen.
"Ellie! We're at the main gate. Come meet us!"
I blinked, pulling the phone away to check the time. "Wait, you're here already? I thought you'd arrive around Ten!"
"We left earlier. Wanted to surprise you. Oh, and your mom's here too!"
My stomach dropped. Mom was here. Mom, with her sharp eyes and sharper instincts. Mom, who would take one look at Jackson and know.
I hung up and turned to Jackson, my heart racing for an entirely different reason now. "My parents are here. Both of them."
His expression shifted—from soft to alert in an instant. He straightened, rolling his shoulders back, and I watched him transform before my eyes into someone formal, controlled, perfect.
"Okay," he said, his voice steady despite the tension in his jaw. "Let's go meet them."