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Jed had been living as a werewolf ever since he had killed his father that night, the night he had chosen to save Trey. The day his life changed forever. And being a werewolf came with so many different things to handle. But Jed would much rather handle every bone in his body breaking as he turned under a full moon, than have to deal with this.
How on earth was he supposed to act normal around Ben now. He’d only just confessed to Ben and himself, really, on how he felt… now to deal with this.
How was he supposed to behave around Ben when werewolf heat season was in, all sense of what was normal behavior had vanished. He was already finding himself possessive of Ben. It’s why he had tried to keep his distance from the demi god, but he couldn’t avoid Ben completely.
Ben was already starting to feel like he did when Aurora spiked them with truth weed, when Jed had avoided him for selfish reasons. Scared to admit something that wasn’t clear, but clear enough in some ways. And Jed had regret over that, he didn’t want that happening again. But here he was, hiding from Ben again.
At breakfast that morning he found himself ridiculously possessive and jealous of Ben. He’d walked into the breakfast hall to find Kaleb and Ben standing close together, too close together in conversation. No doubt Kaleb was apologizing for trying to kill Ben and giving him a welcoming speech to the Salvatore school. But from across the room Jed found himself impossibly possessive, walking up to the two, his eyes a shade of gold as he growled at Kaleb, showing off his fangs when he arrived.
“Dude...what is your problem?”
Kaleb questioned, and Bens raised eyebrow and confused face, was enough to get Jed to flee from the breakfast hall before he started a fight with Kaleb for simply talking to Ben. All hell would no doubt have broken loose, with the rest of the pack getting involved and fighting Kaleb, and then the rest of the vampires would intervene on Kaleb’s' behalf, and he really didn’t want to deal with the fall out of that.
Instead of staying to explain the questioning confused face, that was bens' face at that moment, He decides to leave. It was for the best. Avoid all out war between the wolves and vamps.
“Jed.”
He could hear Ben call out to him from across the room, as he walked towards the exit door, it was more a question than anything else. And he hated how it sounded like a question. A plea to stay and explain, but he couldn’t risk doing something stupid. He’d need to explain to Ben when he was more himself.
“Man… people be tripping these days....”
Kaleb said as he shock his head. Leaving Ben to stare at Kaleb for some sort of explanation.
“Hey, go talk to your boy…I’m not explaining it.”
Was all Ben got as an explanation from Kaleb.
-*-
It had been two days since his run in with Kaleb and Ben, and Jed was keenly aware of the fact that he hadn’t seen or spoken to the demi god. In fact, he’d hardly left his room in the following days. Too scared of how he would react around people, especially Ben. Or better yet, how his wolf self would perceive people interacting with Ben.
It was crazy. It had no logic to it, last time Jed had checked, Kaleb was with Cleo. And he knew that. Perhaps it was the fact that Jed too thought he knew himself well enough, only to finally find himself, that made him so on edge. Or at least his wolf on edge, the need to fight to claim his mate - anyone was a potential threat. It’s why he wanted to claim Ben so badly. And the feeling of wanting to claim Ben wouldn’t go away.
On day one of cowering away in his bedroom, Ben had come knocking for Jed. He had used all his will power to override the urge of his wolf side to open the door and drag Ben inside, give in to what wolf’s naturally did when in heat. But how could he allow himself to be controlled by what his inner wolf form wanted, he didn’t want his first time with Ben to be about some stupid werewolf ritual of needing to mate. He wanted his first time to be meaningful, and when they where both ready, not now. Not like this, not when he couldn’t even make sense of what he was feeling, and what his wolf wanted.
He’d need to speak to Finch, she was the only one that knew what it felt like for a wolf at matting season. And how he felt about Ben. She’d hopefully have an idea of what he could do. Jed was aware of how much of a big ask it was to get her to help him when she herself was in heat. He’d been told by other pack members that instead of acting like every other female wolf in heat, she just seemed extra moody and mopey. No doubt missing Josie.
-*-
“Thanks for coming.”
Jed says picking up a grey hoodie from his bed and putting it on as he goes about zipping the hood up.
“Hey, even if I didn’t want to be here, your my alpha, and more importantly…my friend.”
Finch says that last part as she moves closer to him, placing a hand on his arm for re-assurance.
“Now…tell me how can I help.”
Finch steps back, all seriousness and intent to help, in her voice.
“It’s about Ben….”
Jed says looking down at the ground, he’d be lying if he wasn’t upset with how he’d been treating the other man as of late.
“I figured. I saw him looking around the hall for you, when Dr. Saltzman was explaining to everyone at assembly, about the wolves being overly heightened at this given time. That last part I’m quoting, I mean, would it kill the man to just say it, the wolves are going through mating season-“
She stops then, having noticed Jed’s reaction to the mention of Ben and the werewolf season.
“Oh….so that’s what this is all about, can you just please talk to him! I’d give anything to be able to be going through this with Josie, at least Ben isn’t off finding himself.”
“How do you expect me to do that. I wouldn’t be able to control my wolf. And Josie will be back before you know it.”
“And if you don’t try, you might end up losing him....and I know you don’t want that. Trust yourself and your wolf that you won’t do anything.”
He knew Finch was right, it’s what he needed to hear after all. As much as he didn’t trust himself right now, he needed to see Ben.
-*-
It was later that night when there was a low knock on Jed’s’ door. It was dark out, some of the students already asleep in their rooms. Whoever was knocking didn’t want to wake anyone up.
Jed knew who it was before Ben even spoke, Bens smell was already imprinted into his senses by now.
“Can I come in…Finch explained it to me-although I would have preferred it, if it had come from you, Jed. You can tell me these things.”
And maybe it was the way Ben spoke, his tone not of an angry one, but of understanding and love, that gave Jed the strength to get up of the floor, where he had been sitting on the ground, near his bed with earphones in, listening to music.
“Hey…”
“I’m sorry, to be honest I didn’t think I’d have control over my wolf. After I reacted the way I did with Kaleb, I couldn’t risk it again. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
Ben takes in a big sigh, his hands coming forward to his sides from where they had been linked together behind him. Sort of like a soldier pose. Jed only now realizing that Ben was holding a piece of clothing in his hand.
“Well… it seems to me, Jed… that your doing pretty well, so far.”
Ben says giving him a smile.
Jed smiles then, as he opens the door wider, indicating for Ben to come in.
“I guess your right….”
Ben walks into the room, taking a look around. The room wasn’t messy, but it wasn’t neat either. Somewhere in-between.
"So this is your room.”
“Yeah, it is, I’m sorry we haven’t had much time to spend in here –“
“Jed, I have no problem with waiting. If your not ready...I want to wait, your worth the wait.”
Jed felt that feeling gain, the one he always felt when he was under the gaze of Ben, as if he could see every emotion written all over Jed’s' face. Vulnerability and exposed.
“What’s that?”
Jed questions now noticing Ben holding a shirt in his hand.
“Oh… I- I thought this…might help.”
He hesitates to give it to Jed but eventually moves forward, handing the piece of clothing to the werewolf alpha.
“It has my scent on it, I thought you could ware it…or, whatever…Finches idea.”
“Thank you.”
Jed says reaching for it as he ends up touching Bens hand in the process, holding it for a moment as they share a long look of Want. It felt nice to touch any part of Ben, he had Ben missing him so much.
Jed clears his throat then.
“I know what might help…”
Jed pauses for a moment before continuing, pondering if what he was going to say was the right thing to do.
“ ….if you stayed with me… here, tonight.”
He waits to see what Bens reaction would be, not sure himself if this was a good idea or not.
“If you think it would help, I’d be more than happy to stay with you tonight, Jed”
They stand there in the middle of Jed’s room as blue meets hazel eye, somehow having a conversation of trust, patience and care without speaking, until Jed eventually takes Bens hand and brings the demi god towards the bed, laying down as he gets Ben to follow him onto the bed so that Jed is spooning him from behind.
Jed takes in Bens’ scent, holds onto the demi god close to him. His arms wrapping around Ben as he finally feels his wolf relax properly for the first time since all this began. It would be better to have someone to help him when next time he was in heat.
Ben turns around then, the bed shuffles making noise under both of their weights, as the demi god moves his right hand up to cups Jed’s face, leaning in slowly to press there lips together, a brush of lips before ben finds his tongue, intertwining together as they melt into one another. Jed’s wolf purrs in satisfaction.
The end.