Chapter 110
Ellie's POV
The SUV sat idling on the shoulder of the highway, hazard lights blinking rhythmically against the grey December sky. My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched Mom's hand slowly drop from her mouth, her amber eyes—so like mine—fixed on me with an expression I couldn't quite read. Fear? Anger? Both?
Dad's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his face still pale from the shock of my confession. The silence stretched between us like a physical thing, pressing down on my chest until I could barely breathe.
Thalia stirred restlessly inside me, sensing my distress but also radiating a strange satisfaction. She was pleased the truth was out, even if I was terrified of the consequences.
"Mom," I said softly, breaking the silence. "Say something. Please."
She took a deep breath, then another, her chest rising and falling as she visibly struggled to compose herself. Then, without warning, she unbuckled her seatbelt and twisted around to face me fully, her movements sharp with urgency.
"You and Jackson..." Her voice trembled slightly. "Have you... have you marked each other?"
Before I could answer, her hand shot out and grabbed my shoulder, her fingers digging into the thick wool of my sweater. She was already reaching for my collar, trying to check my neck for any signs of a mate mark.
"Mom!" Heat flooded my cheeks as I gently pushed her hand away, embarrassment warring with understanding. Of course that would be her first concern. "No! We haven't—Jackson's been completely respectful. We've only kissed and... and held each other."
My voice grew smaller with each word, and I felt Thalia shift uncomfortably at the topic. But there was also a warm flutter in my chest when I thought of Jackson's gentleness, his constant reassurance that we could take things at my pace.
Mom's grip on my shoulder loosened, and she slowly sank back into her seat, her hand pressed against her chest as if to calm her racing heart. Her breathing was ragged, but I could see the tension beginning to leave her shoulders.
"At least he's a good boy," she murmured, more to herself than to me. "At least he knows how to control himself."
The relief in her voice was palpable, and I felt a small knot of anxiety loosen in my own chest. She wasn't completely opposed to this—just terrified of the implications.
Dad, who had been silent this whole time, suddenly cleared his throat and restarted the engine. He pulled back onto the highway smoothly, his eyes flicking to me in the rearview mirror.
"Sarah, you're overreacting," he said, his tone deliberately calm and rational. "Even if they had marked each other, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Most wolves mark their mates as soon as they confirm the bond—it's our nature."
I watched Mom's head whip toward him, her eyes flashing with anger.
"David!" Her voice rose sharply, all the composure she'd just regained evaporating. "How can you say that? We've lived in human society for years now. We've adapted to their ways, their rules. I don't want to see Ellie drop out of college because she's pregnant, having our neighbors in Mapleton point fingers and whisper behind our backs!"
Her hands were shaking as she spoke, and I could hear the fear beneath her anger. This wasn't just about me—it was about our family's carefully constructed life in the human world, the normalcy we'd fought so hard to maintain.
She's scared, I realized. Scared that my choices will expose what we are. Scared that everything we've built will crumble.
The mate bond with Jackson pulsed gently in my chest, as if sensing my distress and offering comfort. I pressed my hand over my heart, drawing strength from that invisible connection.
Dad sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly as he navigated the highway. "I'm not saying I want that either, Sarah. I'm just saying... the pull between mates is powerful. It's difficult to resist, especially for young wolves." He paused, and I saw his jaw tighten as if he were remembering something from his own past. "Besides, they can use protection. Modern medicine is very advanced now."
I wanted to sink through the floor of the car and disappear. Were my parents really having this conversation? About me? My ears burned, and I could feel the heat spreading from my neck to my face, making my skin prickle with mortification.
This is worse than the time Mom gave me 'the talk,' I thought miserably. Way worse.
Mom didn't respond immediately, and in the rearview mirror, I could see her profile as she stared out the window at the passing landscape. The silence felt different now—thoughtful rather than angry.
Maybe she was considering Dad's words. Maybe there was hope that she could accept this.
But then she turned around again, and the intensity in her gaze made my breath catch. She wasn't angry anymore—she was assessing me, studying my face as if trying to determine whether I was truly ready for what lay ahead.
"Ellie." My name came out firm but not harsh. "Look at me."
I met her eyes, forcing myself not to look away despite my embarrassment.
"If things progress between you and Jackson—if you decide to take that step—you need to be absolutely certain you're ready for the consequences. Do you understand me?"
I swallowed hard and nodded. "I understand, Mom."
"Do you?" She leaned forward slightly, her expression serious. "Being marked by your mate isn't just a physical thing, honey. It's permanent. It's a commitment that goes deeper than any human marriage. And if you conceive..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "Wolf pregnancies are different. More intense. More dangerous, especially for young she-wolves."
Thalia whimpered softly inside me, both drawn to and frightened by the idea of carrying Jackson's pups someday. It was too much, too soon, but the instinct was there, buried deep.
"I know, Mom." I took a deep breath, surprised by how steady my voice sounded. "And if—when—we get to that point, we'll be careful. Jackson isn't reckless. Neither am I."