As the morning sun broke through the lounge window, its warm rays illuminated the room, casting a gentle, golden glow over the tangled bodies of Marie and Jacob. They lay there naked in each other embraces still reeling from the night before. Marie slept peacefully with her on Jacob's chest. Jacob lay awake staring at his mate in his arms. Happiness filled every inch of his body. Jacob felt like the universe had finally fallen into place and he was was rightfully his. what has always been destined to be his. Jacob lay running his fingers gently over ever part of Marie's skin he could reach. locking them to memory.
As Marie awoke to the gentle sensation of Jacob's hand stroking her face, a smile initially graced her lips in response to the familiar and comforting touch. However, in the midst of the intimacy of the moment, a swirl of emotions and thoughts rushed in, overwhelming her.
Her mind darted back to Blake, and the deep connection they had shared. Memories of their time together flooded her thoughts, and the complexities of her feelings for him clashed with the emotions stirred by the fact here she was lying marked with the one who once rejected her.
Caught in the turmoil of conflicting motions, panic overtook her. Marie pushed away from Jacob, her heart racing, her mind spiraling with uncertainty and confusion.
Marie instinctively grabbed a nearby blanket to cover her naked body. Tears streamed down her face, her breath became short and ragged, and the grip of a panic attack tightened around her.
Her heart pounded in her chest as the tidal wave of anxiety and confusion threatened to engulf her. The weight of her choices, the bond she shared with Blake, and the complexities of her reunion with Jacob converged into a perfect storm of emotional turmoil.
Jacob watched with concern, his own emotions mirroring hers, as Marie battled the panic attack that had taken hold.
As Jacob quickly pulled on his trousers and rushed over to Marie, his concern and determination to help her were evident in his actions. He understood the emotional storm that had enveloped her, and he knew that she needed reassurance and comfort in that moment.
Gently, he held her close, wrapping his arms around her as he cradled her in his embrace. His fingers traced over the mark he had left on her neck, a physical reminder of their bond, as he whispered soothing words.
"It's going to be okay, Marie," he murmured softly, his voice filled with sincerity and empathy. "We'll navigate this together, one step at a time."
Sparks erupted all over her skin as Jacob stroked the mark on her neck. Her arms tightened around him pulling herself closer into his embrace. The feeling of his skin against hers pulling her out from the grip of the panic attack. Her breathing began to settle and she felt herself relax into Jacobs chest. Her fingers reached up and started tracing the spirals of the tattoos on his chest. Marie found this calmed her further. Jacobs body was burning with electricity from her touch and he could feel his cock twitching and getting harder. He pushes the thoughts away knowing this was not the time.
Marie, still held in his comforting embrace, looked up at Jacob with tearful eyes. Her voice was filled with a mixture of vulnerability and longing as she asked the question that weighed on her heart.
"How can we be mates Jacob. We rejected each other. Your touch hurt. Now i feel the bond with you as strong as I did the night we found each other." she inquired, her gaze searching his eyes for answers.
"I have some ideas on why this happened Marie. I have been researching as i explained in my letter. Maybe we should get showered and eat then we can sit and talk. What do you think?" Jacob said as he kissed the top of head.
"Yes please" Marie spoke but it was muffled as she had her face snuggled into his chest. Marie looked up again and found herself loosing herself in his eyes. She raised herself up onto her tiptoes and kissed him. The kiss quickly deepening and becoming more passionate. A small groan escaping their mouths.
As they stood lost in their shared moment, the door suddenly burst open, and Blake stormed into the room. He froze in his tracks, his heart shattering at the sight before him. Steve followed closely behind him.
The growl of anger that escaped from Blake's chest reverberated through the room, a visceral expression of the intense emotions he was grappling with. Marie, startled and seeking safety, instinctively moved into Jacob's protective embrace, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and confusion.
As Blake's eyes locked onto the sight of Marie seeking solace in Jacob's arms, his heart fractured even further. The atmosphere became charged. Jacob did not move from his protective stance. keeping Marie shielded in his large frame.
"What the hell, have you done to my mate" He growled. his anger projecting all over Jacob.
"I have done nothing to her" He spat back. an angry growl of his own erupting from his chest.
The tension in the room escalated, a clash of alpha powers and emotions. Blake, his desperation palpable, attempted to assert his alpha command over Jacob, a last-ditch effort to regain control of the situation.
"Jacob, step away from her. Now." Blake unleashing his Lycan king authority.
"You really think that will work on me, Blake? I'm not the same as before. I won't be controlled." Jacob let out a giggle.
"She is mine, Get away from her"
Jacob did not move, other than to tighten his arms around his mate who's silent sobs he could feel against his chest. Blake noticed the slight movement and his anger surged again.
"YOU REJECTED HER. YOU BROKE HER. SHE WAS GIVEN TO ME. GIVEN TO ME FOR ME TO LOVE HER" Blake roared so loud that the house shook slightly. "There is no way she would come running back to you." His heart breaking further with each word. Steve remained silent watching on.
Marie lifted her head slightly from Jacob's chest and twisted so she could see Blake clearly.
Marie's tear-filled gaze fell upon Blake, and for the first time, she truly saw the raw and profound heartbreak that she had caused him. His face bore the unmistakable pain of their shattered bond and the emotional turmoil he had been enduring.
As their eyes met, Blake's expression softened, and he spoke, his voice carrying the weight of his own regrets.
"Marie, I'm sorry for how I acted with Michelle. It was a mistake, and I should have handled it differently. You don't need to do this. You don't need to go back. I still want you. I know he has done something to you. come to me Marie and will help you." Blakes eyes searched Marie's begging for her to step forward.
Marie releases herself from Jacobs embrace and steps forward. Jacob grabs her hand as she steps away from him. Blake releases a low warning growl at Jacob stopping her coming to him. Marie turns back to Jacob and squeezes his hands with a smile.
"Marie you cant go back to Blake, I know you thought he was our mate but Jacob is the one who brought me back"
"please Lilah i need time to think" Marie spoke back to her in her head.
As Marie turned back round to face Blake, Her hair fell behind her back and revealed the mates mark on her neck.
Blakes eyes flashed directly to the mark. Anger surged through his entire body. His wolf pushing and pushing to come forward. The anger was quickly replaced with pain. Ripping through what was left of his heart.
"Wha..what is that?....How could you do this? Blakes sadness fell out with every word.
Marie's heart ached. The mate bond pull she had felt just a few days ago, was no longer there. She feeling of love she had for him lay there still however. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach but it was not the kind of love she had once experienced for him. Her soul and wolf were crying in unison at her to step back into Jacob's embrace. They wanted his touch. Marie could not deny it. She too wanted to be back in Jacob's embrace. Back in the safety her mate offered her.