I have no idea what I was thinking. Running away was a stupid idea. After Jackson carried me off into the fucking sunset, we decided to go for a run. We each went behind a tree to shift. My wolf was white again due to me calming down. I grabbed my clothes and moved out to meet Jackson. Jackson and I ran for miles until we came to a cliff. We shifted back and dressed before sitting by each other on the edge.

"What did he do?" Jackson asked softly after a few minutes of silence.

"He just yelled at me, Jackson. He was upset that I didn't tell him about me. I got emotional because it was overwhelming. That's all," I answered.

"I wish he wasn't your mate." Jackson muttered.

"You said something like that earlier. What do you mean?" I inquired, turning to face him better.

"You don't hear the same things I do in school. Before you came around, he slept around.

He has had sex with every single unmated girl in school. Even some mates ones. When you did come around, he was angry that you unofficially rejected him and he was confused about his feelings so he started sleeping around even more.

He talked shit about you. He kept saying how much of a bitch you were because you wouldn't just shut up and suck his dick already.

He kept saying how you're his mate and you should have just submit to him and let him control you. He was planning up ways to break you. He was going to emotionally torture you, Stella!" Jackson finished his rant and I sat there in shock.

He was really doing all that? I started crying and Jackson held me. Would my mate really do that to me? I mean, I had briefly overheard conversations about him being a man whore but I didn't think anything of it. You can't really trust high school gossip. I didn't know what to do or who to believe.

I could feel myself turning cold. I pulled away from Jackson and looked at my hands which were blue and covered in ice.

"Stella. It's ok. I'm here for you. You don't need to go back to him. I wouldn't ever do anything like that to you," Jackson grabbed my hands and held them. "I accept you for who you are. I already know some of your deepest secrets. Stella, I- I," Jackson started stuttering.

I turned my head quizzically and Jackson captured my lips in the same motion. I instantly responded and kissed back. It wasn't like when I kissed Elliot. Elliot gave me sparks but Jackson gave me fire and passion. Jackson wrapped one arm around my waist and cupped my cheek with his free hand.

I twisted my fingers up in his hair and pulled gently. Jackson moaned and pulled away reluctantly.

"Stella Dea, I love you. You are the girl of my dreams and I've loved you ever since I've met you. You would make me the happiest man of you agreed to be my girlfriend and if you do, I promise to make you as happy as I possibly can," Jackson whispered sweetly to me.

"Yes, yes, yes!" I was so excited that he felt the same about me so I pushed him backwards and straddled him to kiss him. "I'm not going to say if I love you or not because I'm not sure. I think I do, but I wanna be sure before I say it."

"Take all the time you need, gorgeous," Jackson mumbled against my lips.

I kissed him again and we sat up. I could feel his hands roaming my body but avoiding my boobs or butt. He gently grasped my hips and pushed me away.

"We should stop. I don't want out first time to just be a heat of the moment thing. I want it to be special. For both of us. I want us to both be able to say 'I love you' with no doubt in our minds before we love each other," Jackson said sheepishly.

"Thank you for thinking about it that way. You're so sweet," I said against his lips as I kissed him again.