INSTAGRAM/BOOKTOK - Hi all, if anyone wants to be friends on socials my handle is Dearchay. You can see the character aesthetics, and sneak peaks on there. :)

New chapter is finally out, and...there is some spice towards the end. If your name is Jasmin please do not read this chapter <3333

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO | EZRA POV

"Ezra- what's wrong?"

The words come to me cloudy, as if there is a layer of water between Troy and I.

I shook my head as if I could shake the heavy feeling but my heart feels like it's suffocating. Like there is a weight sitting on top of it.

Troy goes to grab my shoulder, to which I brush off. "I'm fine. Just a weird feeling." I reassure. My senses return to me, and I can see Troy's expression now- eyes observing me with concern.

"Let's circle the sector another round, then we can report back." I advise, initiating the run.

I need to focus on the mission at hand.

but something is happening.

I can't shake the feeling.

Mate.

My wolf urges impatiently.

I opt to ignore him. She is with the elder.

and the half breed.

A fire ignites through my veins at the mention to which I push down.

The mission is first.

There is a connection.

No shit. I retort irritably.

If only I had put an end to his miserable existence the moment I laid eyes on him.

I want to ignore his words but It feels like I'm fighting demons to do so. It lingers in my head like a curse.

I sense her presence, she's near and before I could stop myself- I find my steps turning in her direction.

You're gearing off course. Troy links to me.

I need to take care of something.

I don't wait for his response, instead of fighting the pulling instinct, I head towards her.

AMARA POV

The walk back was quiet to say the least. From my peripheral vision, I feel Jace' gaze on me but I opt to ignore.

"Amara, you can't ignore me forever." Jace beckons, "Whether you like it or not- we're stuck in this together."

I do not like it, and if I ignore it, at least I can pretend this isn't real.

A hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. I turn to him in annoyance, and meet his dark gaze. I haven't had a proper look at him in a while, but he looks like he hasn't slept a day in his life. Much different from our initial encounter that day I moved to Mountain View.

"You're on a mission to vex me I know it." He remarks lowly,"Should've known from the day we've met."

I almost laugh incredulously at this, "And you must have been on a mission to kill me from the beginning, I should've known."

"How many times do I have to tell you, That wasn't my intention." His patience, is now obviously wearing thin for him. He looks away and sucks in a breath. "Those damn Wendigos." He mutters.

"Amara."

I whip my head around to see Ezra emerging from between the trees. He looks flushed, with a focused gaze, he makes a b-line to me. I almost have to swallow down the need that approaches just looking at his disheveled figure. Today he wears a white linen top, it clings to his muscular frame, highlighting every defined contour of his broad shoulders and chest.

"Elder Vittoria," Ezra nods, politely in her direction to which she returns.

I can feel an eye roll from Jace next to me, and I plead internally that I don't have to break up a fight anytime soon.

Surprisingly, Ezra takes the high road today and ignores him completely. Instead, he wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me away. We walk at a brisk pace towards to castle.

"What's wrong? You look..flushed."I ask, pensively. I don't think I've seen him in this state before, a parallel from his usual calm and composed nature.

"Something felt- amiss. I want to make sure you're okay after the ritual you've undergone with Elder Vittoria." He advises.

"I'm okay,"I reassure, as we take our steps up the stairwell. "It was strange, of course for me but I am for the most part okay."

"Tell me more about it."

I think back. The image of the wolf approaching still is deeply imbedded in my head. Jace also..being in my head. When they said we were intertwined, I don't think I was prepared for the extent that we are. We could mind link, just like Ezra and I. Elder Vittoria, knew this and waved it off matter of factually.

Ezra stiffens next to me, and removes his arm from around my shoulder. Instead he goes to open my bedroom door, gesturing for me to enter. I do so, and he follows in suit and closes the door behind us.

"What is it?" I ask, assessing his suddenly stoic features.

"Tell me again about what happened."

"Again?" I repeat, did I mishear?

No.

"You were in my head. When you had your arm over my shoulder." I conclude. The look on his expression at my words gave me the confirmation needed.

"It wasn't my intention, it happens, you know that." He reasons, as he makes his way to my bed for a seat.

"So what did you gather? To give me the sudden cold shoulder." I prod, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You saw your wolf."

My wolf? I only nod, signaling him to continue.

"Then he was able to mind link with you." The words leave his mouth almost as if they brought him physical pain to say.

"Apparently." I mutter, also at loss for words. "I don't know, it caught us by surprise."

"Not Elder Vittoria." He comments, thoughtfully. His eyebrows furrows at this, and he leans back,  raking a hand through his hair with frustration. There's a pregnant pause between us as we straggle in our thoughts.

"Amara." He beckons, now bringing his gaze to mine, he raises a hand and gestures for me to come closer.

I move to fill in the gap between his legs from his seated position. His hands trails painfully slowly up from the back of my thighs.

They trail up from my thighs and hips until they rest at my waist. With a firm grip on my waist, he lifts me up and hoists me onto his lap. I adjust my legs, so that they straddle over him comfortably. Afterwards, he wraps his arms around my waist, tracing circles on the small of my back.

"Amara," He beckons again, but this time from my neck. His breath fans the sensitive spot where my neck meets my jaw. My skin feels like it's on fire, everywhere he touches leaves a fiery trail in it's wake.

My words are caught in my throat, as I fight the overwhelming desire.

"What am I to do? Should I snap his neck where he stands today?" He murmurs, darkly. A hand traces up my spine, before resting on the back of my neck. He places small kisses along my jaw, and I bring a hand up to intertwine with his locks.

"Or should I mark you now and complete our bond?"

CHAPTER END

Thank you for your patience! I love a little jealousy trope. <333