The Deadline

~Chapter 14~

"What caused the panic attack?" he asks and I lower my head.

Do I tell him? I should tell him. He already told me he loves me.

"I... Uhm... I was... Caleb, I..." my mind is unable to form a complete sentence. My eyes can't focus on one thing and my heart is starting to beat faster once more.

"Do I make you nervous? Emma, whatever it is you can tell me" he says touching my cheek with his thumb.

"I don't know how to tell you..." I whisper.

"It's about the deadline, isn't it? You've already decided" he says and my eyes avoid his at any cost.

"Yes"

"Please no. I can't lose you. I still have four days left Emma, let me change your mind! You're too young to die! Life is not just black and white. There are good and bad days, and that's why we have each other. We share the good days and we fight the bad days together! Just please don't kill yourself, baby. I-"

"I won't!" I stop him. "I..I love you" I say holding my breath, waiting for his reaction, but he doesn't say a word.

He stares at me with that dumb confused face.

"Say something..." I plead and look at his eyes. And then it hits me. He's not confused, he's...happy! His eyes keep switching from green to gold.

"Can you say it again?" he says like a 5 year old asking for more candy.

I smile and give my 5 year old his candy.

"I love you, so so much!" I say chuckling.

"So, you're not gonna die?"

"It's complicated, but for now, no"

"Good enough for me!" he says and before I can even blink he pulls me closer to his body and kisses me. The tingles are overwhelming, my mind is focused on him. I feel like I can let myself relax into his arms. He won't let me fall.

He picks me up and walks to the bed. Putting me down slowly he kisses my neck, while his hands roam my body.

"Stop me!" he whispers and I open my eyes, confused.

"Emma stop me before I mark you!" he says kissing my neck again, but this time I feel his teeth slightly scratch my skin.

"No, do it! I want you to mark me" I say tilting my head so he can reach my neck better.

He growls and punches the bed trying to control himself.

"Emma, please. Not now!" he pleads and I open my eyes. I decide to listen to him so I start slightly pushing him away. His wolf pushes more, but Caleb growls again. He can't control him for too long.

"Jax stop, please. Stop!" I say and his eyes snap to mine. They are gold! Not a hint of green in them.

"You said you wanted me to mark you. Why are you stopping me?"

"I changed my mind. Can you wait a little longer? For me? Please?" I say and he sighs.

"Fine mate. But if I smell another male on you he's dead and you're marked the next second!" he says.

"Thank you, Jax! Now can I have Caleb back please?" I say and he nods. His eyes turn to green and once he is in control, Caleb pushes himself away from me.

"Why?"

"The mark is not just the bite, cupcake. It ends with us making love. And I don't want our first time to happen because I couldn't control my wolf!" he says and I pull him closer.

"Good thing I can control him" I tease him and he smirks. I peck his lips and smile. I smile. I am happy. I snuggle into his arms and he chuckles, holding me tightly.

"Emma?" he says and I look up at him.

"Can you say it again?" he asks smiling and I chuckle. I hide my face to his chest and whisper what he wants to hear.

"I love you"

~~~

"Why do I have to work out?" she cries and stops running. I turn around only to see her sitting on the ground, pouting.

"Cupcake, I told you. If your body isn't strong enough to accept your wolf, your first shift will be extremely painful! And believe me it is already too much pain, you don't want extra! Now get your ass up and keep running! Come on! I'm running with you, it's not that bad" I say and pull her up standing again.

She sighs and starts jogging again, jumping over some logs and roots. She's tired, I can hear her heart, but I need her to survive that shift. If she is not ready to shift I refuse to mark her and Jax is really impatient about it. And the more she is around other males the less I can control him.

Ever since she told me she loves me I can't focus on anything else. I don't know if it was me that convinced her to stay alive or the Elysian Fields or the mate bond but I'm grateful I get to keep my mate, alive!

I'm sure I've been really annoying the last few days, asking her to repeat it again and again and again. But every time she says it she smiles too. Her eyes shine, like she just found out her feelings about me. It's mesmerizing!

"Caleb, please, I can't go on anymore" she says and I sigh. I nod and walk back to her.

"Come on, let's go back to our house" I strip off my clothes, causing her to blush and look away, and I shift.

She is adorable. I internally chuckle as she climbs on my back holding my clothes. Once she has a hold on my fur I start sprinting towards our house. Maybe I can prepare a bath for her, with some rose petals and candles.

I try mindlinking my sister to bring me some roses but I can't reach her. I try Kyle but I can't reach him either.

What the hell?

I change course heading towards the pack house. Emma notices and nudges on my fur to catch my attention.

"What's wrong? You said our house not the pack house... Did something happen?" she asks and I nod, not able to actually speak to her.

I can't wait until I can mindlink her too.

We reach the pack house and as soon as Emma is off me I shift back. She hands me my clothes and I quickly dress before walking in.

"I can't mindlink anyone. And they are not in the pack house. I can't hear anyone" I say and turn around to see her looking around the house worried.

"Should we check other houses?" she asks looking at me for an answer.

"Stay here I'll check upstairs just to be sure the house is empty" I say and start climbing the stairs.

I check every room upstairs but they are all empty. When I open the last door I hear a scream coming from the backyard. It's Emma!

I run outside worried and before I can fathom what's happening, everyone just shouts at my face.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALPHA CALEB!!"

Emma is standing in the middle of the crowd laughing at my surprised face.

"Happy birthday baby" she says and I sit on the ground, trying to relax my beating heart.

"I thought something happened to you" I whisper.

"Happy birthday bro! Don't blame me for the jump-scare though, it was your mate's idea" says Faye and I growl at her.

"You were with me all day for the last two days! When did you plan all this?" I ask and they smirk.

"We texted"