Apart.

7.

Recap:

I didn't want to be the obedient little mate that his Alpha only called on when necessary, but for the moment, I felt like that's exactly what Jake needed. And I would be there for whatever he needed for as long as I lived.

•••

I woke the next day in my own bed having sleepily trudged to my room after Axel had beat me for the sixth time.

My life turned into a repetitive cycle of getting out of bed, training, eating, taking Ben for a run, cooking, eating, gaming and sleeping. It continued like this for months.

7 to be precise.
7 whole months going without a mate.

It was slowly eating me up on the inside. Ben didn't speak to me anymore. He was too weak to even attempt it.

The effects of our lack of mate were really starting to hit home. I droned around the pack house like a machine. Unresponsive one-worded answers was all anyone had gotten out of me for months.

It was reaching the end of the day when I began accessing the stairs to get ready for bed. I opened my door to see Trent, Alice, Chelsea and Axel all standing there with brows furrowed and soft eyes.

"Hay-" Alice began, but I cut her off.

"I know why you're here. You're going to tell me that I'm not acting myself, that I'm lifeless and dull... That I have to find Jake." I looked away as a whispered the last part, somewhat in denial.

Alice sighed and Chelsea ran over to me, encompassing me with her tiny little arms.

"Dude, the fact that you know exactly what we're gonna say just further justifies the fact that you know what to do already." Axel sighed as well and rubbed in brow.

"Hayden, it's not healthy for you to be away from your mate for so long. Especially as a lower rank wolf. You need him around, and these first stages are crucial. You and your mate are both at fault for neglecting each other." As Alice said this, I finally noticed the slump in her shoulders, the dark circles under her eyes. The other two looked the same. They were worried about me.

Trent started running soothing circles in Alice's back as I began again.

"I know you guys don't agree with how I'm going about this and I respect that, I really do. But you have to understand that I'm doing what a mate should do; listen and obey the other." I was whispering now.

"Is that a joke?" Alice asked incredulously, "Yes, a mate's duty is to listen to the other, but to 'obey'? Don't be stupid Hayden." She spat out, "Respect is the most essential part of the mate bond. If you don't respect each other, you have nothing. And clearly your imbecilic mate has no respect for you or the mate bond, seeing as though he's completely tossed you aside and seemingly forgotten about you!" Alice was fuming, throwing her hands up in exasperated actions as she raised her voice bit by bit.

I was speechless. How could I be so ignorant?

No, how could Jake be so ignorant. Did he not even consider that I wouldn't wait around for him forever?

"I can't believe him." If a human we're in the room, they would never have heard me.

A soft look spread through the faces of my friends.

"Hayden," Axel began while approaching me, "it's not—"

"— AAAAAHHHHHHH." I interrupted him before he could reach my slumped figure as a sharp pain spread throughout my body consuming me as a fell to the ground. I yelled and writhed as my friends ran to me, trying to understand what was happening.

Tears sprung from my eyes. The pain was immense. I could hardly breath.

"What the fuck's happening?!" I could hardly hear Axel over the shrill ringing in my ears.

I clutched my heart as it felt like splitting in two.

"I've heard about this sort of thing before," Trent began with heavy, solemn eyes, "it's his mate."

"What about him?!" Alice asked in a desperate rush.

"He's having sex with someone else."

All hell suddenly broke loose. Axel started shouting and swearing about how he'd tear Jake's dick off, proceed to shove it down his throat and then finally rip him to shreds.

Alice guided Chelsea out of the room and Trent knelt beside me.

"This will last for how ever long the sex goes on, ok Hayden? Do you understand?" Trent spoke slowly, and I nodded my head weakly.

"Let's just hope he's not as great in bed as he thinks he is." Trent added meekly.

Axel swore again at that comment and I nodded to show I'd heard Trent.

I knew this would last though. I'd be in pain for a while longer yet.

That was the last thing I thought before everything went black as the pain consumed me.

•••

yo we starting to go places now y'all woooo this story's finally getting somewhere ay
btw thanks so much to the like 2 people who have been regularly reading this. you have no idea how much it means to me.