The Unforgettable Rejection (Book One)

Chapter Thirty

            Once I had finished speaking I turned to face him, smiling subtly at him. Jarred gave me his whole attention while maintaining an empathetic expression on his face. I move in closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder as I take in the waterfall, listening to Jarred talk about his life before we met, before he kidnapped me, and how meeting me had changed his life for the better. While he continues to talk, I begin to nod off a little, snoring every now and then. Jarred doesn't notice that I have fallen asleep until he turns to face me, he stops, holding me, and carefully lies himself down on the grass.

            In an attempt to keep me from waking up, he leans back, holding my head, and softly rests my head on his chest. Upon doing so, I begin to shift somewhat, finding a more comfortable position all the while remaining unconscious. Jarred allows me to move around, and I bury my head in Jarred's chest for warmth that seemed to soothe me. I finally locate that one snug, comfortable spot in his arms, slipping into a sound sleep with elegance. While in that deep sleep I quickly started to get restless, squirming, wriggling, moaning, clenching his shirt, and shrinking into a smaller ball than before. I scream suddenly and sit up, startling Jarred out of his semi-conscious state, he abruptly sat up, his eyes and body language showing a considerable deal of anxiety. Subsequently, he queries me,

"Nicole, you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It was just a nightmare."

"Just a-!? You woke up all terrified and shit. You're all sweaty and breathless. That was definitely more than a nightmare. It was a night terror, it practically jumped you. Are you going to tell me what it was about?"

            I fall silent, trying my best not to make eye contact with him. I don't want to let Jarred know that a traumatic event in the past involving rogue wolves like him set off my ephialtes.

"Well?"

"It- I ca- I can't."

"Why not?"

"It's complicated."

"It can't be that complicated, just give me the details."

"Don't make me get mad at you."

"Then just tell me what happened in the dream."

"It's something I'm not ready to discuss."

"Nicole, please. I can help you."

"You can't help me."

"Don't do this to yourself, don't keep it bottled up. Just let me in."

"Why can't you just let it go? I already told you I didn't want to talk about it, yet you keep insisting!"

"That's because I fucking care about you!"

"Well, did I ask for you to care about me?!"

"You don't need to ask and I don't need permission to care about you, we're mated! So please talk to me about it."

"Back off!"

"No!"

"Excuse you!?"

"I'm just trying to help."

"I don't need help!"

"I don't care if you don't want my help, I'll give it anyway."

"STOP IT!" I then begin to spiral downward, I throw my hands to my head and fling my head down, (more thoughts than she can handle begin to flood her consciousness). I send my arms out to the sides of my body, (her mind explodes with hurt and rage). I begin to strike, pound, hammer my hands against his chest, (her emotions begin to overpower her, making her physically react in an attempt to exhaust her mind, to make it stop).

Jarred's POV

            Seeing her like this, seeing her fall apart like this right in front of me, I knew something was bothering her, I realized that right then and there I should stop pushing it and just embrace her. Hold her close. I tried to draw her in by grabbing her arm, but she started to resist, slamming and punching my chest with all of her might. I spoke to her softly in an attempt to calm her down.

"Shhh, you're alright. It's okay. I'm sorry."

           I'm struggling to pull her in, but after some time I eventually succeed. Bringing her under my control and holding her firmly til she stops moving. Sorrowful tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably over her memories, her shoulders were shaking so much from the force of her emotions. With her in my arms, I make the decision to stand there unwilling to move, holding her, giving her a back rub, and petting her head, while leaning my chin on the top of her head until she is done.

            She looks up at me, her eyes bloodshot and puffy, her vision is slightly blurred by the tears that had prickled and trickled down her cheeks, I bring one of my hands to her cheek and gently brush it away, seeing that her face is also somewhat swollen, with a bright red nose to match her eyes. Even her skin was flushed and it wasn't hard to tell that she had sobbed a great deal, I felt what she was feeling at that moment–I had never experienced this type of emotion from anyone, especially from someone I actually really cared for–The very first person I had cared for since my parents.

"Why don't we head back, huh? How's that sound?" I say, cupping her face, she nods her head up and down indicating she likes that idea and agrees with it. "Okay." I begin to back away, but Nicole remarks,

"Wait, don't pull away.. Not yet."

"Are you okay?" I ask, holding her close for a little while longer.

"Don't ask me that." She states.

"All right, you know you can tell me anything. Simply let me know when you're prepared to do so."

"Okay, I will. And thank you for not pushing it any further."

"Of course." Not too long after, we headed back to the house.