Chasing Forever: Jacob's Story

Two weeks later.

"Nich, what are you doing?" I say as she falls onto the floor hard, the breath being forced out of her lungs from the impact. "You're better than this. Why aren't you focusing?"

She growls and pulls herself up, her lip bleeding slightly. "I am focused." She spits. "We've been training nonstop for days Jacob. I've barely slept since Julius-"

"Enough." I say, looking away. "I get it. You need rest."

"We all need rest, J!" She says, gesturing to the other beta's around us, fighting in pairs. "You've been working us into the ground!"

I look at her. "We're going to be going to battle in-"

"Weeks, J." Chyenne whispers, walking over and touching my arm lightly. "In weeks. We have time to breathe, time to break, to sleep."

I turn away from her, frustrated. She doesn't understand. None of them understand.. I think to myself.

She touches my cheek, forcing me to make eye contact. "Jake, you haven't slept in days. You need to rest, eat."

"I eat.." I mutter, staring at her. Her face has worry lines and her eyes search mine as if she's trying to see me breaking inside. "And I don't need sleep."

"Yes, you do."

I turn to my father, sighing because I can feel another lecture coming on. "Father, I-"

"You're going to go back to your house with your mate, Jacob." He says, looking at Chyenne and nodding. "Take him, feed him, and make sure he sleeps tonight."

She nods, taking my hand and pulling me towards our house. "Come on, love."

I sigh and bend to pick her up. "You don't take me anywhere. I'm your husband, remember?"

"Oh, so does that mean I can't walk now?" She teases, crossing her arms.

I grin. "Well.." She raises her brows as I look down at the ground and than back at her. "It certainly seems that way doesn't it."

She laughs and I take off, running to our house. When we get to the door I put her down and she leans up to kiss my cheek. "Why thank you, kind sir."

I smile at her, following her into the kitchen. She ties her hair, newly cut to her shoulders, into a bun and opens the cabinet to pull out ingredients for soup. "Run out back and grab carrots, J."

I nod, walking up to her and kissing her neck before turning and walking through the back door into our small garden. Sighing, I kneel down to pull the carrots up.

They were right, you know. Jordan says suddenly, making me jump.

Jesus, a little warning would be great next time, Jordan.

You do need to eat and sleep. He says, completely ignoring me. The war is coming, you'll need all the energy you can muster up. Jayden and I can only give you so much of ours without taking control.

I sigh, ripping up another carrot and rolling my eyes. Jordan. Take your lecture and shove it up your-

Eh, eh. Those aren't nice words Jake.

Oh great, Jayden's here. I think, standing and wiping dirt off my hands.

As much as I hate to admit this, J, He says and I can feel the smile in his voice. Bloodsuckers right. We won't win this war unless you buck up and sleep.

"J?" I turn to see Chy, standing in the doorway and looking at me, confusion making her eyes brighter. "Everything okay?"

I nod, forcing a smile and bending to pick up the carrots. "Yeah, of course." I lie, walking across the lawn toward her and kissing her forehead before walking into the kitchen and starting to rinse the carrots off in the sink. "Why wouldn't it be?"

She walks in behind me, closing the door. "I don't know," She says quietly. "You just looked like you were talking to somebody through the link, that's all."

I shrug. "Just Jayden asking if I knew why Roxy isn't talking to him again." I feel a pang in my chest at the lie, but I can't tell her the truth. She'd be ashamed.

She snorts, taking the carrots and starting to cut them. "Maybe because he isn't exactly nice to her all the time."

I wrap my arms around her waist, leaning against her and placing my head on her shoulder to kiss her cheek. "Jayden isn't nice to anyone all the time, love. Rox should know that by now."

She sighs. "I know. I just wish he would lay off the act, at least around her."

I nod, feeling Jayden's guilt through our link and trying to reassure him silently. "So do I, love.."