I woke up feeling like a train had hit me. My muscles were sore, and Apolo was still asleep. I used that to my advantage and used another spell to help with the pain. Ian must have given her the necklace by now, which is why I don't feel pain anymore, but I had to be cautious. If she took the necklace off, I would feel pain again instantly. I made sure that if she took it out, she wouldn't feel pain for a couple of hours; that way, she could bathe or get ready without worrying about the bond. She could have the normal life she desperately wanted.
"If she cheats on us, we won't feel it," Apolo finally woke up.
"I don't think she will. She needs to be away from us, that's all," I retorted.
"But if she does, we won't know," He insisted.
"The same applies to us, and I can bet that her wolf is doing the same thing you are doing," I commented.
Apolo huffed and blocked me. We were not in a good mood, and the reason was obvious. Now that Jennifer was eighteen, our bond became ten times stronger than it would generally be. I felt hollow like there was a missing piece inside me. I tried to remember what happened, but it was all blurry; the pain didn't let me think clearly, and I couldn't remember much. I was sure Aunt Kailee used her ice power to help me calm down. I hope that I didn't hurt anyone during my rant. I didn't mean to, but sometimes my Lycan side arises when I get angry.
"I didn't do anything," Apolo defended himself.
"You don't know that. You were in the same pain I was, meaning that you can't remember what happened either," I remarked.
"I know, but I would remember if I bit someone, and that didn't happen. I tried to use your magic, so I believe I tried to turn, but that was it," He said.
"And what if you gashed someone?"
Apolo huffed again. I love my wolf, but he can't admit when he has done something wrong. His Alpha side gets the better of him and tries to justify everything he does.
I got up and decided to take a shower, which could help with the headache that started on the back of my head. I also need to get ready. Uncle Alex must be waiting for me to take me to training.
The bathroom was nicely decorated with sleek, modern fixtures. The walls were lined with soft grey tiles, and a large mirror stretched above a double sink. The shower was walk-in-style, with glass doors and a chrome rainfall showerhead hanging from the ceiling. A fluffy, white bath mat lay in front of the shower, and fresh towels were neatly folded on a nearby shelf.
I stripped off my clothes and dropped them on the floor. If my mom saw me, she would scold me and tell me to put them on the counter, but right now, everything hurt, and I didn't have the time. I stepped into the shower and turned the know, letting the cold water cascade over my aching body. At first, the cold water was like a shock to my system, but it helped numb the soreness in my muscles. I leaned against the cool tile, closing my eyes and letting the water run over me.
As I stood there, images of Jennifer filled my mind. I was about to open my eyes when I heard someone stepping into the shower; I was about to tell whoever dared to get inside to f**k off when I felt fingers trailing over my skin. I swear I felt the sparkles from the mate bond, but that was impossible; Jennifer was back in the pack; she couldn't be here.
"Hello, mate," I heard her soft, beautiful voice next to my ear. She was pressing her body against mine and nibbed my ear.
"Jen, what are you doing here?" I asked, still with my eyes closed.
"What? Can't I come and find my mate?" She purred seductively.
"Jen, you might regret this later; you should step outside," I instructed and tried to open my eyes, but she started pressing her soft lips against my body, and my lust spiked to the roof. The sensations were so real that there was no way this wasn't true. I could feel her warmth, the softness of her touch, and the heart of her breath against my neck, where my mark should be.
"Can I mark you?" She asked.
Her question startled me, making me open my eyes to notice I was alone. Damn, it was all an illusion. I was utterly alone in the shower, and even if it felt real, it was clear that it was only a vivid illusion. I sighed, feeling the same emptiness I felt when I woke up. I shut the water off, stepped out of the shower, and grabbed a towel to dry myself.
"Was that real?" Apolo asked.
"You tell me, it is clear we are alone," I growled.
"I swear I felt her wolf," He muttered.
I had no idea what happened because I could swear it was Jennifer, but how could that be? She can't come here, and even if she did, I bet it would be to reject me, not to kiss me.
I left the bathroom with a towel on my hip. I needed to find my cell phone. I bet Mom must have freaked out because I didn't call her last night. I forgot to do so before going out with Kale, and then I was brought back to my room. I can also bet that Uncle Alex or Aunt Kailee must have told her what happened yesterday. I found my phone on the bedside table and checked for any messages. Soon, I saw lots of missing calls from my mom.
"She is going to kill us," Apolo commented.
"I know, but we have to call her. When we get to the training grounds, they are going to take everything from us, and then she will come here and unleash hell." I joked.
I dialed her number, and she picked up on the first ring.
"Killian!" She scolded, she was clearly worried sick for me. I instantly felt my heart sank. She probably didn't sleep thinking of what had happened to me. "Why didn't you call me to tell me you had arrived at the pack? Do you have any idea of how worried I was?" I wanted to answer, but she continued speaking. "Your Aunt Kailee called me in a panic last night, saying you were turning into your Lycan form! She had to use her ice magic to slow your body down until you fell asleep! What the hell happened?"
I sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to collect my thoughts, but they were the same as before, completely hazy.
"Mom, I am fine now. I'm sorry for not calling you sooner. I went out with Kale and didn't notice when midnight arrived. I planned to return to my room before that and be ready when Jennifer turned eighteen. I had a spell prepared to avoid the pain, but it didn't go as planned. The mate bond with Jennifer is a lot stronger now that she is eighteen, so I felt the distance pains from being so far away from her, and it was overwhelming."
There was a pause on the other end of the line before my mom spoke again; her tone was softer, but she was still concerned.
"I understand the bond is stronger now, so you must take more precautions, Killian. Jennifer is fine, thanks to the gift you gave her; Esmeralda was called into her home because she started to lose control, too. If you need my help, you just have to call me, and I will be with you," she said.
"I know, Mom," I replied, my voice tinged with frustration, and that freaking illusion in the shower was not helping me. Jennifer experienced pain, and Apolo wanted to get back to her. I had to remind him why we came here and that she should have time for herself. "I'm trying, It's just... it's f*****g hard. I feel like there is a part of me missing. I want to go back to the pack, and Apolo is not helping me with that desire," I ranted. "We are both struggling with this situation."
"I don't know what to tell you; I didn't have that problem with you, Dad, and you know I had to stay away from him for years. I can only tell you that I am here for you, and if you need me there, I will go to hell if I have to," she said firmly. "Just please take care of yourself; if Aunt Kailee hadn't been there, who knows what would have happened to you? Your Lycan is stronger than mine or your dad's; you have to stay in control until you learn how to control him,"
"I promise, Mom. I'll be more careful. I will create a necklace similar to the one I gave Jennifer; that way, I can train without worrying about the pain," I reassured my mom, and then I remembered Hope. "Mom, did you know that Aunt Kailee had a daughter who is probably the same age as Lillian?" I asked her. The silence on the other end of the line indicated that my mom was aware of that fact. "Why didn't you tell me?" I questioned her.
"It was a hard time for them. Your father and I decided it was better not to tell you because you would ask questions that we couldn't answer," she answered.
"Do you know what happened to her?" I asked.
"Yes, I do, but it is not my secret to tell," She told me.
I let out a breath and decided to stop prying into someone else's life. I had my own problems to solve before getting involved in something else.
"I need to go, Mom. Uncle Alex must be waiting for me," I said.
"Right! Training will help you a lot, darling." she seemed happy but worried for me at the same time. "And remember, we are all here for you. You are not alone,"
"Thanks, Mom," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips.
"Take care, Killian. And call me if you need anything."
"I will. Bye, Mom."
I hung up the phone and took a deep breath. I hope training helps me forget about Jennifer for a few hours.
————————————————————————————————
When I got downstairs, I saw Uncle Alex, Aunt Kailee, and their kids were having breakfast. The dining room was filled with the aroma of freshly cooked bacon and eggs, and the sound of cheerful chatter filled the air. Hope was helping her brothers, Ash and Alaric, serve themselves from the various platters on the table. Kale and Kyros were already seated and enjoying their food.
"Morning, everyone," I greeted, trying to mask the exhaustion and lingering frustration in my voice.
"Morning, Killian," Uncle Alex replied, looking up from his plate with a warm smile. Aunt Kailee nodded in acknowledgment, her expression softer but still carrying a hint of concern. The kids all chimed in with their greetings, each one offering me a smile or a wave.
Now that I knew what happened with Hope, I could remember the day I met the twins. When we arrived, everyone seemed worried and sad. I did ask my mom what happened, but she told me I should not worry about it. I could bet that was the day Hope was kidnapped because I didn't see my father or mother throughout our stay.
I took a deep breath and stepped closer to the table. "I wanted to apologize for what happened last night," I began, looking at Aunt Kailee. "I didn't mean to lose control like that. I appreciate you using your ice magic to help me calm down."
Aunt Kailee smiled gently.
"It's alright, Killian. I don't know what happened to you, but I can imagine that you already explained your mom. She was very worried for you," she said.
"Yes, I called her and explained what happened," I replied.
"Are you ready to give up on your bond?" Hope asked me. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't help but growled at her.
"Hope, stop it. Killian, please take a seat," Uncle Alex instructed.
I thanked my Uncle and sat down. I didn't have much appetite, but considering that I was going to train, I needed to get some food in my system. Everyone chatted happily, including Hope, though I did notice that she would look at the window constantly like she was waiting for something.
Uncle Alex stood up and clapped a hand on my shoulder. "We'll leave for training soon. It should help you focus and get a better handle on things."
"Thanks, Uncle Alex," I said, feeling a bit more hopeful. "I'm ready whenever you are."
"Good," he replied. "You should grab something for the trip there; you'll need your energy."
I smiled at him and did as he instructed me. I had no idea where the training camp was, but if he was advising me to grab something for the way, I should listen to him. I tried to push the thoughts of Jennifer as I tried to focus on my training ahead, but it was impossible. She filled my every thought.
Apolo stirred, still grumpy but more subdued.
"This training better be worth it," he muttered.
"It will be," I assured him. "We need this."
After breakfast, I said goodbye to everyone and then followed Uncle Alex outside. He gave me a backpack he told me had everything I would need, and then we took off to climb the snowy mountains ahead of us.
I had no idea what awaited me, but I was ready for any challenge that I may face. It was for Jennifer and our bond.