“I’m fine. You can leave now. Next time, just call so you don’t disturb my sleep.”
“What’s going on, man?” Of course, he didn’t believe me. “I thought Dominic was joking when he told me you looked worse than dead, but seeing you now, he was right. I feel bad for your Beta and Gamma. They’ve been running your pack while you moped around.”
“Fuck off, Jake. You’re not my father to scold me.”
“What’s going on? Is this still about Andrea?”
“Why does everybody keep thinking this is about Andrea?”
“Then who? Or what?”
“You don’t believe it’s not Andrea, right?”
“If you will just explain what’s going on in your head, then I’ll figure out if it’s about her or not.”
“Go home!” I stood up from my seat, but Jacob was faster. He was already standing in front of me and pushed me back into my seat. I had no energy to fight him, so I just leaned my elbows on my desk and covered my face with my hands.
“Tell me. Just let it out. No judgment. I promise.”
“You’ve been judging me. So stop the facade that you’re the nice Alpha here. We both know you’re not.”
“Shut it! We both know that no one can understand you better than me. Now talk!”
I raised my head from my hands and tilted it in his direction. He stood beside my desk, looking down at me with his arms crossed against his chest.
My gaze found his eyes. I looked for any hint of mockery or pity in them but didn’t find any. It was either he was really concerned, or he was good at faking it.
I let out a deep sigh before leaning my back against my seat. I closed my eyes as I tilted my head up. “I found my mate.”
“And where the hell is she?”
“I don’t know. I found her and lost her on the same day.”
“And you didn’t go looking for her? Don’t tell me you didn’t want her or that you rejected her.”
I brushed my palms against my face before opening my eyes. Jacob was already by the window, looking outside.
“I marked her. It was the full moon. And then I woke up the next day, and poof! She was gone. I didn’t even know her name.”
My heart clenched in pain as the memory of waking up without her filled my thoughts. I raised my hand and massaged my fingers onto my temples.
Three months. And it still fucking hurts.
“I looked for her. For a month, I kept coming back to where I met her, but nothing. I kept returning to Darvin’s territory because I assumed she was from there, but still, nothing.”
“And you’re just giving up, just like that?”
“You have no idea how pathetic I feel right now. Everyone hates me, and my own mate doesn’t want me. I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m tired.”
“So she belongs to Darvin’s pack, and you marked her?” He asked, ignoring my sentiments.
“Are you deaf? I just told you that.”
“Get yourself ready. We’re going there.”
“No way!”
“I know you. I’m sure you went there and scouted the area, but you didn’t even ask Darvin for help. I’m going to ask him for you. Now, get up!”
