Chapter 109
Ellie's POV
We found them at the main gate, standing beside a black SUV that screamed "overprotective parents." Dad saw me first, his face breaking into a wide grin as he waved enthusiastically.
But it was Mom I focused on.
Mom stood beside her husband, elegant in a cream coat, her dark hair pulled back in a neat bun. Her eyes—the same amber as mine—were already locked on Jackson, assessing, measuring, judging.
The wolf in me recognized the wolf in her, and I felt my spine stiffen instinctively.
"Sweetheart!" Dad swept me into a bear hug, lifting me off my feet. "How's my girl?"
"Good, Dad. I'm good." I hugged him back, breathing in his familiar scent—pine and old books and home.
When he set me down, he immediately turned to Jackson, his face lighting up with recognition.
"Jackson! Good to see you again, son!" He extended his hand with easy friendliness.
Jackson shook his hand firmly, his smile genuine and warm. "Mr. Green. It's great to see you too, sir."
"I've been meaning to call you—that walking stick Don Miguel sent me? Absolutely incredible! The craftsmanship is extraordinary. The man's a master." Dad shook his head in wonder. "Made my whole month, honestly."
I watched Jackson relax slightly, his shoulders dropping as he responded to Dad's enthusiasm. "I'm glad you liked it. Don's a family friend. Actually, I think I can arrange a video call between you two during the holidays, if you're interested."
Dad's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Are you serious? That would be incredible! Sarah, did you hear that?"
But Mom wasn't listening to Dad's excitement. She was watching Jackson with the intensity of a predator sizing up potential prey, and I felt my pulse quicken.
"Jackson," she said, her voice pleasant but cool. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Sarah Green."
She didn't offer her hand. Just a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Jackson caught it immediately, his posture shifting subtly. "The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Green."
The air between them crackled with unspoken tension. I could practically feel Mom's wolf assessing Jackson's, weighing his strength, his intentions, his worthiness.
"We should load your luggage and head back," Mom said, turning to me. "It's a long drive."
My smile felt frozen. "Right. Yeah. Let me just—"
"I'll help you with your bags," Jackson offered immediately.
We walked back to my dorm in a strange procession: Dad chatting animatedly about basketball, Mom silent and observant, Jackson and me acutely aware of every glance, every breath, every moment of connection that might give us away.
When we reached the SUV and Jackson loaded the last suitcase into the trunk, I turned to face him, my heart in my throat.
"Call me when you get home, okay?" His voice was low, meant only for me.
"I will." My eyes stung suddenly. "And... thank you. For everything."
His hand twitched, like he wanted to reach for me, but we both knew we couldn't. Not here. Not with my parents watching.
"Take care of yourself, Ellie."
"You too."
Dad clapped Jackson on the shoulder one more time, still grinning. "Thanks again for the video call offer! And hey, take care of my girl when she gets back, yeah?"
I saw Jackson's jaw tighten, saw something flicker in his eyes. "Always, sir."
Mom said nothing. Just got into the passenger seat and waited.
The drive home was silent for the first twenty minutes. I sat in the back, watching through the rear window as Jackson's figure grew smaller and smaller until the campus disappeared entirely.
The mate bond stretched between us, uncomfortable now with distance, like a rubber band pulled too tight. I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to ease the ache.
"So, Jackson."
I jumped at Mom's voice, my gaze snapping to the rearview mirror where I could see her eyes watching me.
"He seems... nice. How long have you two been together?"
"We're not officially... I mean, we just..." My throat closed up. How could I explain this? How could I tell them that I'd found my mate, that everything had changed in one terrifying, wonderful night?
"It's complicated, Mom."
"Complicated how?" Her voice sharpened. "Ellie, you just started college. I need you to be careful about who you get involved with."
"Sarah, come on." Dad glanced at her, his tone placating. "Let the girl breathe. Jackson seems like a good kid."
"I saw how you two looked at each other." Mom ignored him, still focused on me. "That's not just a casual friendship, is it?"
My hands clenched in my lap. The mate bond pulsed, Jackson's absence a physical ache. I could lie. Should lie. Give myself time to figure out how to break this to them gently.
But I'd never been good at lying. Not to them.
"Mom. Dad." I took a deep breath, feeling Thalia press against my consciousness, lending me strength. "I need to tell you something."
Dad's eyes met mine in the mirror. "What is it, sweetheart?"
I closed my eyes. Opened them. Made my choice.
"Last night... I discovered that Jackson is my mate. My destined mate."
The words fell into the space between us like stones into still water.
For one heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then Dad slammed on the brakes.
The SUV screamed to a halt, tires shrieking against asphalt, the seatbelt cutting into my chest as I was thrown forward. Mom's hand shot out to brace against the dashboard, her gasp sharp in the sudden silence.
We sat there, stopped in the middle of the highway, the engine idling, my heart thundering.
Dad twisted in his seat, his face pale, his eyes wide with shock. "What did you just say?"
Mom's hand was pressed to her mouth, her amber eyes—so like mine—filled with something that looked like fear.
"Ellie," she whispered. "Do you understand what you're saying? Mate bonds don't just... happen overnight. Are you sure? Absolutely sure?"
I met her gaze, chin lifting. "I'm sure. I felt it. The bond, the pull, everything." I took a breath, knowing this would sound insane but needing them to understand. "Jackson... he's been hiding his wolf. Suppressing it so completely that I couldn't sense what he was. But last night, when I was in danger..."
My voice caught, remembering the ice water, the terror, the moment I'd thought I would die. "He transformed to save me. His wolf came out, fully, for the first time in years. And that's when I felt it—the mate bond, snapping into place like it had been waiting all along. It's him, Mom. I'm absolutely certain."
The silence that followed was deafening.
And somewhere inside me, Thalia hummed with satisfaction, pleased that the truth was finally out.
Even if it meant facing the storm that was about to break.