Chapter 6 — Tempted Thoughts

Fear and excitement traveled through Jacob as he stared at the beautiful girl in his arms. Jacob sucked in a deep breath as his eyes widened when he took in her scent. His heart raced as the magnetism of her touch continued to tingle where his fingers touched her skin. Jacob closed his eyes for a moment and tried to push the annoying voice of his wolf, Alden, to the back of his head as he yelled the same word repeatedly. Alden: MATE! Jacob kept his composure intact as the world inside him was falling apart. He didn't want to let the girl out of his arms, but he knew deep down that this moment would have to end. Jacob opened his eyes and studied the girl for a moment. He remembered seeing the girl pass him at the hospital the night he visited his friend Kevin. She must live in town, he told himself. Why else would this beautiful girl be so far from anyone else? Jacob's ears twitched as he heard the sound of footsteps in the distance. "Are you sure you are alright?" he asked her as he pulled the unknown girl back to her feet. Cassidy stepped back to give herself some space and clear her head. "Yes, I'm fine," she answered as she brushed herself off from the dust that had settled on her clothes. "Do you live around here?" the tall man with the husky voice asked her. Cassidy tossed her chestnut hair back as she looked at him with a questioning eye. "Have we met before?" Jacob smirked at the question. He could tell her the truth about their electric moment in passing in a hospital a few months ago. But he considered the moment moot and decided not to say anything. "I don't believe we have. I think I would remember if we had met before," he told her with a smile. Cassidy rolled her eyes as she smiled at the comment. "Do you live nearby?" Jacob asked her innocently. Cassidy looked at her rescuer for a long moment. There was something oddly familiar about the man, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. She didn't want to give him too much information; after all, he was still a stranger and didn't even know his name. "I'm staying with a friend nearby," she answered. Jacob nodded as he heard the footsteps getting closer and closer. The scent was unfamiliar to him, possibly her friend, he told himself. He needed to leave before someone saw him talking with this girl. "Well, since you seem to be fine. I guess I will be on my way. Be careful while being out here alone. The forest is not a friendly place to be in after dark." He said with caution. Cassidy nodded her head as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Ok, thanks." Jacob nodded and turned to leave. Alden: What are you doing? You didn't even get her name. How are we supposed to find her again? his wolf whined in his head. Jacob pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew it would be a long night with his wolf bellowing in his head about their mate. Jacob: I'm sure we will see her again. Fate had a funny way of making things happen when it wanted it to. Cassidy watched as the mysterious man walked away from her. She internally slapped herself when she realized she had not attempted to get the man's name. What was she thinking? Of course, he didn't take the chance to get her name either; maybe he wasn't interested in her. Cassidy shook her head. She felt their connection when he grabbed and held her in his arms. There was something there. "Cass, you out here?" Cassidy quickly turned and started to head toward the voice calling out to her. Nat sighed with relief when she saw her friend walking out from behind a set of trees. "Oh, you scared the hell out of me. I've been looking for you forever. Come on, let's get inside. It's probably not safe out here after dark," Nat said quietly. Cassidy smirked at what her friend said as she followed her faithful friend back to the cabin. A shiver slithered through her as she looked at the trees and bushes surrounding the area. A wind blew softly through the branches and leaves, making an almost whimsical sound. Cassidy was almost positive she could hear the trees warn her that it was time for her to go home. She rubbed her arms to shake off the goosebumps that started to form on her arm. Before taking her last step out of the forest and back into open spaces, Cassidy turned and looked back through the woods, wishing she would see her white knight once last time. The scar that went up half her leg started to tingle with heat. She pressed her hand to the inner part of her leg and rubbed it, hoping it would extinguish the pain. When the pain faded a little, Cassidy looked up once last time and sighed before returning to the cabin. Jacob stood high in the distance as he watched his potential mate leave the forest. He ran his hand through his hair to process what had just occurred, then closed his eyes and took deep breaths to control his emotions. Alden: Why are you so upset? We have found our mate. Jacob: But she's human. Why would the goddess choose a human as our mate? Alden: She must be unique. Did you catch her scent? Jacob nodded. Her scent was mixed, but he couldn't pinpoint what she was exactly. Jacob: This doesn't make sense. Alden: It might not make sense now, but in the future, the answer will be revealed. Jacob shook his head before turning away and heading back to the pack. A part of him wanted to follow her to see where she was staying, but it would only lead him to want to know more about her. He already had enough on his plate, trying to earn the pack's trust back and figure out a way to protect his pack from his enemy. Jacob's fists tightened just thinking about the monster that had caused so much destruction in his life. One way or another, he would rid himself of Adrian Santos once and for all.