Chapter 72 72

Chapter 72 72
Jake
I'd been on edge since the meeting, my worrying fear niggling away at me until I gave in and began walking towards Icebergs. I couldn't just sit back and allow Hannah to suffer in pain alone.
Hannah would castrate me if she knew I was lurking around, especially if I was wrong and she wasn't affected by her heat cycle. I never wanted to be wrong so badly but my gut was telling me otherwise.
The street was illuminated by the bright, full moon, leaving little option of places to hide. I crouched behind a bush on the opposite side of the road and watched the entrance like a hawk.
Her scent was stronger, wafting through the night air to tempt me. Inside me, I could sense Rayne stirring, he wanted nothing more than to be with Honey. I hadn't just destroyed my only chance with Hannah, I’d ruined his with Honey.
Inside the club, the music is pumping, and a growing line of patrons waits to be allowed in. I scan their faces, to see if any are pack members that will pose a threat. No wolves in the line but I do spot the asshole that Hannah took home on Wednesday.
Maybe she made plans to meet him here tonight? If that's the case then my presence here will be seen as interfering.. I could turn what is already a bad situation into a catastrophic disaster.
I stand up to leave but no sooner have I taken a step when I see Hannah. Shes in agonising pain, keeled over as Serena struggles to hold on to her. .
Hannah vomits into the gutter, catching the attention of the arsehole. He bails on the line and approaches Hannah with a shit-eating smirk plastered across his smug, ugly face.
It takes me less than a second to read the situation and run towards Hannah but not before he gets to cop a feel of her.
Without thinking, I throw back my fist and pound it against his cheek, sending him flying backwards, dropping Hannah. I swoop down and catch her, saving her from hitting the ground.
“What the fuck is your problem, dickhead?” The arsehole yells, clutching his cheek as blood begins to trickle out from under his palm. I was holding back because he’s human but I take great pleasure in the fact that I hurt him.
“Keep your hands off my girl or next time I’ll break more than just your ugly face.” I threaten him, holding Hannah in my arms.
Being this close to her, while shes in heat, is absolute torture. My nerves are pinging and Rayne is out of control, drunk on the scent that Honey is emitting. I can't leave her though, as hard as it is for me to be around her right now.
“We have to get her home, fast!” Serena yells over the arsehole who is still carrying on about his cheek.
“The pack grounds are surrounded by warriors, some of whom are unmarked,” I tell her, making it clear that I will not be taking Hannah anywhere near the pack while she’s in this state. “I’ll take her back to Emma’s house.”
“Jake, it's not safe for you to be near her right now.” Serena points out as I begin to jog towards the house. “You could lose control.”
“I can fight it,” I promise her, hoping it’s a promise I can keep.
As soon as we get inside the house, I instruct Serena to start running a cold bath as Hannah’s skin is burning. I lay Hannah in the bath, still fully clothed and race to the kitchen, to salvage as many ice cubes as I can get from the freezer, filling a mixing bowl.
Racing back to the bathroom, I toss the ice cubes into the bath. Serena gathers Hannah’s hair and secures it on top of her head, using a hair tie she found on the sink. Hannah feverishly mumbles something incoherent but doesn't open her eyes.
Shes in so much pain and it’s unbearable to watch her suffer, knowing I hold the only cure to make it stop. My mouth salivates and I feel my incisors extend, ready to sink into her neck.
I back away from the bath, pushing myself up against the wall and try to gain control over my own body again. I’m failing her right now but I know if I give in to my urges then I’d be letting her down more.
“Jake, if you need to step out, I can watch her on my own.” Serena offers, seeing me struggle to get myself in check.
“I can’t leave her, not when she’s like this because of me,” I tell Serena. My breathing is erratic as I fight the battle.
Serena wipes a face washer under the cold water before placing it against Hannah’s forehead, desperately trying to cool her down.
“I’ve never seen anyone go through heat this badly before.” Serena comments, adding to my guilt. “Jake, you might have to mark her, just to make this stop.”
“No!” I exclaim, forcing myself off the wall and back to Hannah’s side. “Her body was already violated without her consent, I will not do that to her too.”