Jacob's eyes flew open, and a cold sweat coated his body as he realized that Marie was not nestled in his arms as she had been when they fell asleep together. Panic coursed through him as he called out her name, his voice trembling.
"Marie!" he shouted, his heart pounding in his chest. He sprang out of bed and dashed down the stairs, his wolf senses alert and on edge. As he reached the kitchen, his anxiety turned to confusion when he saw Marie sitting at the table, a mug of coffee in front of her, engaged in a conversation with Michael.
Marie turned to face Jacob, her eyes softening with relief. "Jacob, you're up. We were just having a chat," she said, her voice calm and reassuring.
Jacob's initial panic slowly gave way to a sense of bewilderment. He approached the table, concern etched on his face. "Marie, I thought something had happened to you. I woke up, and you were gone."
Marie reached out and took Jacob's hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm sorry I didn't wake you. I thought you needed some rest after yesterday"
Dr. Michael gave a reassuring smile in Jacob's direction.
Jacob's tension began to ebb away as he realized that there was no immediate danger. He leaned down to kiss Marie on the forehead, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering unease. "Just... next time, wake me up, alright? I'd rather know where you are."
Marie smiled, her love for Jacob evident in her eyes. "Of course, I will. I promise."
With the reassuring presence of Michael and the embrace of his mate, Jacob finally began to relax.
"So what were you talking about?" Jacob asked as he walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed his own mug of coffee before taking a seat next to Marie.
"We were just discussing the events of yesterday" Michael answered "and i was just checking Marie over from her injuries"
Jacob's panic began to rise in his chest again "Are you still in pain? are you okay?" He quizzed as he his hands began to inspect Marie's body. When he went to move her hair of her forehead so he could inspect her head wound.
Jacob's eyes widened in astonishment as he gently reached out to touch the once-injured spot. Marie looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and apprehension.
"Jacob," she began, her voice shaking slightly, "I have something to tell you. That wound... it healed quickly because my wolf has returned"
Jacob's breath caught in his throat. "Your wolf? But I thought... I thought she was gone," he stammered, barely able to comprehend what he was hearing.
Marie nodded, her gaze fixed on her lap. "I thought so too. But that night you came to see me, something changed. I felt a connection with my wolf and she spoke to me briefly calling Blake our mate" Jacob growled at those words. Marie placed her hand on his chest "but she never came back to me fully. Then when i spoke to you on the phone i felt her in my mind even more like she was....Like she was getting closer to me.
Jacob was stunned and he stood silently flicking his gaze from Marie and Michael. Marie continued " Then when i opened the door and you were stood in front of me and i could smell your scent, The same scent from the night i found out you were mate." Marie's eyes teared up. Jacob reached his hand out and cupped her face. "Then you touched me Jacob, and you brought her back. You brought my wolf back to me" The tears that had filled Marie's eyes were now free falling.
Jacob pulled her close to his chest and wrapped his huge arms around her.
"Baby, this...this is amazing" He whispered as he bent down and kissed her head.
Michael looked on at the situation that was evolving in front of him. He was still concerned.
"I am sorry to question you my Alpha but...." Michael started to speak but hesitated. After all Jacob was his alpha but Marie was like a daughter to him.
"Carry on Michael. It is fine for you to ask questions" Jacobs met his gaze
"I understand from talking to Marie and yourself that you found something out about the vampire venom. I wonder could this have something to do with why the black vampire marks are now no longer present or even why Marie's wolf has returned"
"I believe that it does Michael"
"Please tell me Jacob. I need to know" Marie pulled back slightly, her eyes focused on Jacob.
"After i won the alpha battle, I learnt that the Vampire my father was holding a prisoner had not been killed that night like he had alleged. He was still being held down in the prison"
Michael and Marie looked at each. Marie Took Jacob by his hand and led him to the window seat taking a seat next to him.
"Please continue" She asked softly. Michael followed a took a seat opposite them both.
"I went to visit him. I wanted to know about the power of his venom. i wanted to know if there was a way i could break it and give you back your wolf. I thought that if....that if i could give you back what i took that you would one day forgive me" Jacob lowered his head as memories of that fateful night once again flashed through his mind. Marie squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"He laughed when I asked him the question Marie. At first i thought he was laughing because there was not a way to get what i wanted for you but he started talking and he explained that vampire venom may be powerful but it is not powerful enough to remove what somebody is born as" Jacob paused and looked at both Michael and Marie.
"please continue my alpha" Michael urged wanting to know the rest.
"The vampire explained that what the venom does is mask the abilities of another supernatural. In the case of a werewolf he told me that the venom hides the wolf form. Pushes it so far back into the humans side mind that it feels as if you are no longer connected and then the venom pushes down the wolfs abilities such as healing and shifting" Jacob finished and looked at Marie who was sat motionless.
After a few minutes of silence Michael cleared his throat. "So all this this time, Marie was never in fact a human? her abilities were just hidden in someway"
"yes That is what the vampire told me. He said they spread the rumor of it being the only thing that could turn wolves into humans to scare others"
"In that case then, What is it that lifted this masking? The marks are gone. Marie was given a second chance mate, and now her wolf is back because of you? and now she is your mate again and you two have marked each other? Michael asked question after question. confusion covered his expression and it lingered in every question.
Marie had been sat in silence since Jacob had finished explaining what he had learnt. Her heart was beating so quick she could hear it and feel it in her chest and her ears. Panic was rising once again and her thoughts were racing.
"Lilah, I do not understand. You recognised both Blake and Jacob as our mates. I fell in love with Blake as a human or so i thought but now we are all consumed with Jacob who rejected the mate bond. So why do we have this mate bond again?" Marie questioned in her mind as she sat frozen to her seat.
"I do not know why i claimed Blake to be our mate. I was not able to do anything after that night. Even though the marks had gone. I was still so far away from you but then Jacob appeared and he touched us and the force to come back to you, back to him was so strong"
Suddenly Marie jumped up from her seat and stumbled backwards. Panic had now consumed every inch of her body. Her breathing was becoming ragged. Her silent conversation with Lilah had at least for Marie answered one question but threw up a thousand more unanswered ones.
"Baby....what is wrong?" Jacob stepped forward but Marie backed away from him. Her heart rate grew faster and her breathing sharp.
"I...I can't do...this" Marie managed to say between her hyperventilating breaths.
"Marie, you need to calm down. You are panicking. You are fine. You are safe here" Michael offered reassurance but Marie was like a deer caught in the headlights. Lilah was pushing for Marie to go to Jacob to seek his touch but Marie was pushing back. She didn't know what to think anymore.
"It was you..."Marie pointed at Jacob "It was you that night that brought Lilah back. That night that you touched me, It was you..."
"What was me baby? Please calm down Marie."
Marie could no longer take the feeling that had consumed her body. She turned on her heels and ran out of the kitchen past the lounge which still showed then aftermath of the last 24 hours up the stairs and into the bathroom locking the door behind her. Jacob followed quickly behind her knocking gently on the door.
"Marie, Please let me in."
"I, I cant Jacob."
"Marie i know this is scary and confusing, But i promise i am not going to hurt you again. Please let me in"
Marie paced backwards and forwards in the bathroom clutching her chest at the pain that was now radiating through her from the speed her heart was beating. Marie was sure it was about to burst out of chest. She could hear Jacob begging to be let in but she wanted to be on her. She was consumed in her panic and her thoughts racing.
"Baby please just unlock the door and let me in."
"Ja.....Ja...."
Michael ran up the stairs and joined Jacobs side.
"Alpha she is having a panic attack"
"I know that, But she will not let me in"
"Ja...Ja.....Jacob i cant.....I cant....breathe" Marie shouted between her fast breaths and tears streaming down her face.
Jacob could not take it any more. He hit the door with his large shoulder and with one hit the door swung open revealing Marie leaning against the wall lost in the throws of panic. without any hesitation Jacob strode to Marie's side. He took her hand gently in his and placed it on the center of his chest. His other hand he placed gently on her cheek.
"Baby you need to slow your breathing. Feel my breathing and copy. breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Follow me baby"
Marie raised her eyes to look at Jacob "I...can't. I can't do this"
"shh baby, yes you can. close your eyes and concentrate on the movement of my chest and follow my breathing. We will do this together."
Tears streamed down Marie's face as she clung to Jacob, her panic slowly subsiding in the comfort of his presence. He held her close, offering reassurance and support as her breathing gradually steadied.
After some time, Marie finally spoke, her voice shaky. "I... I am broken Jacob."