My Mate Changed Me.

Chapter Twenty-Two: One Month Later

       After school I went straight to Jem's house, driving the new car he had bought me. I drove with purpose as I pulled into his giant driveway, he was waiting for me outside. When I got out of the car I ran passed him and he followed me as I ran for the woods near by. He shifted before I did and ran passed me, smirking as he took the lead. But I shifted right behind him and as I pushed my paws off the ground I nipped at his hind leg causing him to yelp.

        'Very funny.' He huffed and I enjoyed our run together. In school we have to pretend to only have a student/teacher relationship because not all of the students and teachers are werewolves. So, to have to see him and be in the same room as him yet not be able to show him affection was nearly unbearable but as long as we had this time together I was okay.

        'Race you to the river bed.' I said and he sighed mentally, obviously knowing I can beat him easily. 'Fine, we'll take a casual run there.' I laughed and he knocked against me playfully before keeping pace with me. 'Have you heard from Roger?' I asked and heard Jem growled lowly. I let my head fall.

        'This is supposed to be a small break from reality Celine.' Jem said through our mate bond and I sighed as I pushed forward at a prance while Jem full on sprinted to keep up.

        'I just can't believe Christian disappeared into thin air.' I muttered and felt more than saw Jem stiffen. 'But you're right, let's just enjoy this time.' I said more for his sake than mine. I know he must blame himself for letting Christian get away. From what he told me they had quite the scuffle and Christian ran before Jem had the chance to incapacitate him. I didn't want him to blame himself, his back was still really bad at the time. 

        Since then I healed it, just as I did when Clara the vampire had instructed me to. Jem and I hadn't told anyone i was capable of doing so because we weren't sure how it worked or how it affected me. Jem watched as I tried to bring Chase back, and I had failed, but the attempt drained me physically and I went into a deep sleep for two days. Jem was scared sceneless those two days and told me to keep the power to a minimum.

        'Hey?' Jem's voice rang out through my head as we reached the river bed. 'Are you okay?' He asked as he sat near the water, I walked up to him and nuzzled in his fur.

        'I'm fine.' I sighed then shifted into my human form. I stepped into the cold water and shivered but went deeper.

        'You're going to catch a cold Celine.' Jem chided and I shrugged.

        "Are you coming?" I asked not looking behind me. I heard his bones shift then felt his warm skin against mine. He held me from behind and we relished in the feel of the cold water as it pushed against our warm skin.

        "You have yet to mark me." Jem said into the silence and I froze. All this time and I had yet to mark him, there was just so much going on that I hadn't made the time.The thought of us being together like that consumed my mind most days but we were always so busy.

        "I figured you were too busy." I said in return and he scoffed.

        "First of all, you are more busy than I am considering you are the leader of our pack, and secondly, I am never too busy for you." He said and I blushed. I realized that there were times where he had hinted at us being alone and having things to do but i never really paid attention to the subtle hints. "I've been trying to give you your space because I figured that's what you wanted but now I believe you are just clueless." His chest vibrated against my back, letting me know that he found my cluelessness amusing.

         "How was I supposed to know?" I asked, flushed.

        "What was I supposed to do Celine? Spell it out for you?" He asked, smile in his voice.

        "I'm sorry." I muttered and he turned me around to face him.

        "It's nothing to be sorry about, dearest. I know there's been a lot on your mind, but I'm sure you feel the frustration not being marked by his mate is causing my wolf. Why just the other day a female wolf from another pack got the wrong idea-" i held up my hand for him to stop.

        "What?" I growled out and he chuckled.

        "You can't blame her and believe me when I say I set her straight but considering if I was marked I wouldn't have to set anyone straight, they'd already know." Jem explained and I sighed in recognition. "How about we head back?" He suggested and this time I couldn't avoid the fact that his voice had dropped an octive.

      "Okay." I said, as a child would. I was nervous even though this wouldn't be our first time. I still felt inexperienced but as long as Jem wanted me I supppose that's all that matters.

        We were going to have this time together. Even though Jem's house was made into the pack house a lot of our wolves already had homes and we haven't been getting any new members, so the place was still for us all by ourselves. The perfect place for us to have alone yime and gather our thoughts together.

        Jem shifted into his wolf and nodded for me to do the same but I shook my head and we began walking back. I was a bit uncomfortable with how Jem was looking at me the whole way there. As if I were something he could sink his teeth in but to give him credit, whenver he saw himself looking at me like that he;d quickly look away.

        We were in for a treat when we got home...