Episode 5

***********Episode 5************

..... Jake....

It's absolute torture to count out the moments between sunset and true dark. I'm conscious, the heavy weight of the sun making my blood feel like lead in my veins. But I can't keep myself still. I need to get to Louis and ascertain that she's safe. I can feel her fear, even without a blood bond between us. She's uneasy. Our hearts beat in tandem now; it will only get stronger when I bind her to me forever.

"Come on," I mumble, feeling the slow ease of the light as the sun dips below the horizon. I'm not sure how I'll approach her. How this will become what it's meant to be, but I have to see her.

The instant the sun poses no threat, retiring beneath the clouds, I race outside, as fast as I can on my path to her. Louisa's heartbeat hasn't sped beyond a few rushes of adrenaline over the last few moments, but the fact that she's not comfortable, doesn't seem relaxed, makes me desperate to confer safety.

My pull to her is strong enough to get me in the general vicinity of where we first met. The alley stinking of the hunter's blood is blocked off by police tape. A man in dark jeans and a black leather jacket stands at the at the front of the scene. His eyes narrow when he takes me in, and I fight the instinct that tells me to end him here and now. He's a hunter. I can smell the silver on him. Instead, I nod in his direction. "What happened?" I ask.

"Looks like a hit and run." He gives me a long, assessing stare. "Were you around this area at all last night?"

I shake my head, calm and casual. "I was with my girlfriend. Walked her to her car after work, but that's it."

"Oh I see," he nods, contemplating " where does she work?"

I don't like all his questions. "Are you a police officer?"

He smiles. "Me? No. This guy was a buddy of mine. Just looking for some answers."

"Well, good luck." I continue down the path toward the scent of coffee. It's my only clue beyond the thud of her heart. I don't want the hunter to trail me though. He can't know about Louis. So I wander a bit around the streets of this town, stopping in at the closing shops to throw him off my trail. Until finally, I find my way to my mate. To Louis.