Chapter 2: 2. Sweet Pain

Panic like never before gripped his heart. She whimpered as she came to. Jerome wanted to do anything to ease her pain.

"Please leave, I want to speak to her alone." He said to the nurse.

The nurse nodded and left. She closed the door softly behind her. Jerome smoothed Gabriella's hair back.

It was jet black and soft. He could play with it all day. 'That doesn't sound gay at all,' he snickered at himself.

He focused on the girl in front of him. Her eyes opened and when she saw him she went into a panic. Her machines started beeping like crazy.

'Calm down. You're not in trouble. I'm sorry for frightening you earlier.'

She calmed down. The crazy beeping slowed down. He smiled. Well, at least she knew his words to be true, he thought to himself.

"I'm going to bite you so you get better faster, okay? It is going to hurt for a while and I'm sorry. If I lick the wound it will heal faster and it'll hurt less," he told her.

Jerome felt like a pervert. The truth was licking it would help him keep his True Nature at bay. It would be a pleasant sensation for her but the pleasure would be his for the greater part.

Seeing his mate in so much pain had his emotions in a flurry. He didn't know how he could go through this for 6 more years. Her well-being was important, more important than True Nature. He'd seen what following True Nature alone did. It wasn't pretty.

'Mate make the hurt go away?' The voice was feminine and alluring. The thought did things to him it shouldn't. He nodded.

His incisors elongated as he gently pushed her hair aside. His eyes brightened & darkened in color simultaneously. He just had to bite and lick, he told himself.

He leaned forward and her scent got stronger, sweeter. At that moment, he was consumed by the need to mark her as his. The sheer satisfaction he felt when his teeth sank into her was immense. Her whimper of pain nearly broke him. But it was momentary.

He felt a relief he had never thought was possible. It was better than any orgasm he'd ever had in his limited experience. He was ready to claim her fully and damn the consequences.

Then he remembered that this was to protect her and called on his father's power as well as his own. The amount of power he felt run through him actually made him heady.

He flowed the power from the tip of her hair to the bottom of her feet. He made sure her entire body was covered. No one would touch what was his, except him. That satisfaction was both logical and of True Nature.

He held her hand over his heart as he bit down. He carefully pulled out and licked the spots where his teeth had punctured her skin. She moaned and he concentrated on the hand over his heart.

He looked at her. Her face was flushed. He searched her eyes.

"This is yours, Little One." He tapped his heart with her hand. "It has always been and always will be. You need to remember that when you are 18. I will claim you fully then. For now, know that you are mine as I am yours from head to toe."

She nodded weakly. Her eyes dropped closed. The doorknob rattled. He released the lock on the door, without moving and held her hand.

When his father and Ramona walked in they saw him stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. Ramona glared at him. He squirmed, he felt like he had been caught in a compromising position.

"Why did you lock the door?" She hissed.

"I didn't want you to freak out and distress her further."

"She's been panicking all day about you being angry with her. How dare you pick on my daughter for her size?"

Jerome frowned. "I beg your pardon?" The island accent came back heavy.

"She hears you all. The sneers, the taunts, the whispers. Every day!" Ramona's green eyes began filling with tears.

"Her only hope was you and now -"

"Son, please leave." Jacob softly insisted.

Jerome reluctantly stood up and stood outside her door. Signaling to the enforcer that had come with his father they traded spots. Jerome went and got his little mate food and drink.

To him, she was little. At 16, he was already 6' 3" with a lot of muscle. Ramona's words rattled around in his mind.

He'd heard the jokes. He'd never stopped them from being told. He felt ashamed. His heart ached at the thought of the cruel words poking holes in her esteem.

Marking her had been far too sinfully delightful. The head rush was unbelievable. Just thinking about it made him smile.

Goosebumps tingled all over his body. He groaned inwardly at the fact that she'd have the same effect on him for the next 6 years. He smiled. It definitely gave them a chance to become friends though.

A small part of him ached at the thought that she wouldn't know she was destined for him until she was 18. He prayed to the Goddess and her God that no one would fancy themselves in love with her. He had practically willed her to forget what he said after marking her.

Checking his watch he headed back to the hospital room. As he reached for the door Ramona swung the door glaring at him yet again. He was doing a really crappy job of impressing his future mother-in-law. He swallowed.

"You bit her?!" She hissed.

"It was that or let her suffer." His island accent came back thick.

"Like she wouldn't suffer while you went off?"

Jerome felt weak, he'd forgotten that she'd need him close for a while. He'd created a bond. With a weak body, Gaby wouldn't be able to withstand the pain and distance for at least a few hours.

Not to mention he'd been absorbing a good amount of her pain since he'd picked up her body. He hadn't thought of the distance in the hospital. He realized that he had been negligent and felt bad.

"I went to get her food. I left an enforcer at her door. No one told me she was in extra pain." He desperately tried to get his control back. He could feel his voice changing.

He was double distressed. Once for leaving Gaby in pain. And distressed by the fact that not even his father had called him back.

"Don't you dare get angry with me young man! Get in there and help. Next time you get the enforcer to get her food! She needs you close." Ramona stared him down from below.

Jerome nodded. She was an anxious mother. She had the right to be demanding for her child.

He sat in the chair next to the hospital bed. He took Gabriella's hand. The color in her cheeks returned.

Ramona sighed. She kissed her daughter. "Fight baby, you're all I have left." She whispered.

She looked at Jerome. He was striking at 16. Her daughter was in awe of his academic feats.

Listening to her Gaby rattle off his accolades, she'd often teased her daughter of having a crush on the future Alpha. Now, here he was, patiently waiting on her. It seemed as though he had a crush on her.

Her stomach rolled uncomfortably. Many mistook Gaby's big body for maturity. Her baby was just that; a big baby. It had helped when Gaby was studying for her Masters but it was a huge drawback in following her late husband's wishes.

Gaby was playful. She made friends easily and did not seem to have the same shy awkwardness as many child geniuses who were also without social skills. She was too trusting. That filled Ramona with fear.

Jerome stroked back Gabriella's hair and whispered the things he'd do with her when she woke up. Ramona felt her fears ease. He was one of the promising warriors.

His offering to train Gaby meant a lot. On the other hand, picnics, were a little too romantic for her liking; even if he offered it as a reward for her excelling in training.

She closed the door and walked to the chairs outside the room. Jacob watched her. As her best friend's mate, she trusted his call.

"He means her no harm Ramona," Jacob told her softly. He cocked his head to one side a small smile on his face.

Seconds later his mate came running down the hall. She hugged her best friend. She looked for her son.

"Where's Gaby?" Esme asked. Ramona nodded to the door.

"Where's my baby?" Esme asked. Jacob nodded towards the same door.

Esme grinned. "Got my wish! Gaby is the future Alpha's Mate!" She clapped her hands in glee. She kissed her husband. Jacob smiled amused.

Ramona scowled. "She's still a baby."

Esme smirked. "So is my son. I'm not saying let's plan a wedding for next year. She only turns 16 in 5 years."

"Don't remind me. He wants to take her on picnics. Teens, a blanket, food, and hormones..." Ramona moaned.

Esme snorted. "Mona, my son collects reptiles and bugs on picnics. Romance is something of a foreign concept."

Ramona threw her friend a skeptic look. She knew Jerome, he did consider such things as fun. She also knew the fatal attraction of a mate.

If her Antonio could barely restrain himself as an adult what more a raging hormone-filled teen? She sent a silent prayer to the Goddess. Hopefully, Jerome was the awkward genius and it would all balance out.

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Jerome was really looking forward to having Gabriella home. She'd been in hospital for five days and he was only allowed to visit her during visiting hours. He was on edge every moment he was not with her.

He sighed, going on training was going to be torture. The thing that kept him going was that she would be safe no matter where he was. He was not particularly worried about himself getting hurt.

He had begun serious training at 10. While his academic pursuits were where his head had been he knew that his role as Alpha would require his dedication. Part of that was being strong and fearless.

That came from certainty and knowledge. He'd forced himself to learn the discipline and it had proved invaluable when he studied his doctorate. He cringed at the thought of his mate being defenseless in High School.

He knew that he'd have to teach her enough to protect herself from other women. He didn't relish the thought of anyone hurting her but he knew he'd have to be the one to train her. No matter what.

After a few days, she had the doctor's permission to leave the hospital. Jerome wanted to have her in his room but his father had strongly advised against it. In the end, a guard had been deployed outside the home of the Luna's best friend.

A Court had been held over the young De Wit girl's actions and she'd been put onto manual labor for six months on top of the usual house chores. She sulked through her chores which was to be expected. Jerome didn't feel for her at all.

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