Chapter 9

Jacob put his hood up and walked down the college corridor and towards the stairs. He was going to sneak out without catching his brother's attention, knowing he finished at the same time.

All Jacob wanted to do was sit in the field and enjoy being away from social interactions. He wanted to fully relax because there would be nobody around to judge.

Little did he know, Hunter Rayson discreetly followed him while Sam got the pack together. Brad was forced to tag along. Hunter didn't know what he was going to do now that the bond felt like it was starting to deepen. He knew Jacob felt it a bit but he didn't know what the next step should be.

How does he approach a human, tell him he's a werewolf, then tell him they're mates and he was the reason why Jacob thought he was crazy for half a year?

In Hunter's head, it just wasn't the right way to reveal himself. How else was he supposed to do it?

In the current moment, he wished he had told his parents about finding his mate and if they didn't reject him, they would have guided him through this process and he and Jacob would have been good friends before the bond deepened.

Hunter was nervous and for some stupid reason, he waited right until the last minute to actually talk to his mate.

When Jacob walked out of the entrance and into the car park, he breathed a sigh of relief that he didn't see his brother. As much as he loved him and his support, he hated how William was so overprotective.

Just as he was about to step onto the grass and approach the trees, a big hand rested on his shoulder. Jacob gasped and quickly turned, almost tripping over his own feet. His eyes were wide when they connected with grey ones.

Hunter felt like he had achieved something. He touched his mate for the first time and it felt overwhelming, but in a good way. Even if it was just his hoody. He couldn't wait to discover what it felt like to touch his skin.

"Sorry, I didn't think that would scare you," he smiled and swallowed back the emotion that was forcing its way up his throat. He was still getting used to Jacob's timid personality because it was the complete opposite of him.

Jacob stood there like a statue, wondering why Hunter wanted his attention.

"Oh um," Hunter thought desperately of something cool and logical to say. "I was wondering if you wanted to do more of the project? Maybe I could help teach you the theories?" When Jacob looked down at his fidgeting hands, Hunter wanted to smack himself for panicking.

Jacob wanted to say no because he needed time to himself, but he didn't have the confidence to say it.

Hunter could hear his thoughts. "It won't be long," he said quickly. "Where are you headed?" He knew the human was going to the field even after he told him not to go. It wasn't safe.

"Um... nowhere," Jacob whispered and stepped back when Hunter was a little too close. His chest still felt odd and heavy but he assumed it would pass.

Hunter now knew it would be difficult to tell him who he really was if he can't even spark up a conversation. Jacob was a man of very, very few words but that just made Hunter excited to get to know him.

"Well um, are you headed to the field? Your brother says you go there sometimes for peace. I don't blame you, I go there too sometimes." Hunter lied right to his face but he couldn't tell him that he listened to his thoughts, so he always knew where he was.

Jacob nodded and shuffled backwards when Hunter stepped closer. His brother's friend seemed to be someone who didn't acknowledge other people's space. Or maybe that was just him being weird.

"Do you want to go there and do some work?" Hunter was desperate. If Jacob rejected his request then he didn't know what he would do. "On the project?"

Suddenly, a blow of emotion kicked him in the chest, making it almost impossible to hide it on his face. Jacob was beginning to feel it too. It was like they were two magnets drawing closer with force.

Hunter was able to suppress his feelings but he was naturally mentally stronger, being a supernatural being and all. Jacob was only human and being close to Hunter was feeding the connection.

Hunter watched a frown appear on his face until the blood very slowly started draining from his cheeks. It was too much for his mate.

"Jacob, shall we go to the field?" he questioned. They needed to get out of the public eye.

"I- Um," Jacob rested a hand on his head when he started to feel faint. "I need to go home."

"Don't fight against it, let it flow through you."

Jacob was clearly tense. He took a breath and looked over Hunter's shoulder to see his brother walking in the opposite direction. He wanted to catch up with him and go home but his feet planted to the ground like roots sprouted from the souls.

"Jacob?" Hunter's stare was a little more than intense. He was concerned about how the connection would affect his mate. Bonds between werewolves and humans don't happen often.

After about ten seconds, the weird illness within Jacob began to subside and he started feeling better. "I'm going home," he mumbled and turned to leave but Hunter was growing desperate and grabbed his arm. His pupils dilated when his scent and his warmth filled him with quite a lot of pleasure. Almost too much.

The werewolf knew the human wouldn't feel it as strongly once the bond sets, but for now, he found it very hard not to invade his space completely.

Jacob stared with questioning eyes before pulling his arm away and backing off. That's when Hunter decided it was time to back off too, only so he could follow him to the field and when he knew they were alone, he would reveal everything.

"Don't worry, I can see that you're busy so we can just do work another time," he smiled awkwardly and stepped away. His heart screeched in his chest but he had to do it.

Jacob's gaze fell to his hands. Maybe he felt the dizzy spell because he forgot to have breakfast? He had lunch in his bag that he could eat. Like his mum said, he could eat a lot.

When it was clear that Jacob wasn't going to say anything else, Hunter turned to leave which settled the human even more. He didn't like socialising because it made people realise how weird he was.

When he was sure that Hunter wasn't going to come back, he turned and continued his journey to the field.

* * * * *

Fifteen minutes later, Jacob breathed in the fresh air and walked into the big open space. He could hear the birds chirping and any noise of cars or people was now out of earshot, or so he thought.

He took his bag off his shoulders and dumped it on the grass. As he was about to sit down, a voice startled him.

"Jacob?"

He jumped and quickly turned. When his eyes fell on Hunter again, he wasn't pleased to see him. "Did-did you follow me?" he asked and took a big step back.

"I did, yes." Hunter didn't care anymore. He just wanted to get it over and done with and reveal himself. "But there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

Jacob really wished that he just went home. "What?" he whispered and pulled his sleeves over his hands.

"Well... It's a bit hard to explain." Hunters eyes scanned the trees on the other side of the field and his sharp gaze detected his pack, watching from a distance and making sure nobody else heard their conversation. He didn't want them to listen, but he wanted to make sure that they were alone. A rival pack was spotted close by all week. "And I know it'll be hard to believe at first."

Jacob was beyond confused and he could see the nerves in Hunter's eyes.

"For half a year now, there's something that has been bothering you and I can finally tell you why." Hunter struggled to put his words together in an order that wouldn't utterly freak out his mate. At this point, no matter what he told him, he'd seem crazy. "Jacob," He sighed, trying to pluck up the courage to just say it. It had to come out of his mouth at some point.

Jacob chewed on the inside of his lip with anticipation. He wanted to know what he needed to say but he was also worried about the situation. He didn't know Hunter. In fact, he barely knew him at all.

"I'm..." Hunter swallowed and took an extra second to calm himself before he took the biggest leap of his life and told him. "I'm the voice that has been talking to you inside of your head."