Chapter 19

Fear filled Jesse's hazel eyes, and he backed away. "I can't do this anymore!" he said, raising his voice. Jesse rose from the bed and grabbed his bag.

"Where are you going?" Ulric asked, standing up.

"The hotel," Jesse answered. Ulric stepped towards him, but Jesse backed away. "Don't come near me," he said, raising his hands.

"Why?" Ulric looked at him, confused. Tears streamed down Jesse's cheeks.

"Because I can't enjoy your touch without activating my power," he said, his voice cracking. "I love you," Jesse said, turning away and running out of the room, leaving Ulric sad, upset, and puzzled.

Ulric felt as if his entire world had crumbled around him. The one person he desired as a mate ran away from him. The worst part was the pain in Jesse's eyes. "I love you," he kept repeating in his head. Jesse's scent was still on the sheets. Ulric sat down and wrapped the covers tightly around his body. He clenched his fists and breathed hard, fighting back against the rage and sadness that threatened to consume him.

Jesse's tearful goodbye replayed over and over in his head. Every time Ulric closed his eyes, Jesse's tear-filled face woke him back up. Before he knew it, morning had arrived with a sharp knock on the door. He wasn't in the mood to chat with anyone, but he knew that whoever was at the door wouldn't leave.

"Hold your fucking horses," he said, swearing as he got up. He opened the door and found a very concerned Mac on the other side.

"I'm not in the mood for chitchat," Ulric said.

"I'm here to see what happened between you two," Mac said. "Jesse just informed me that he's quitting the training and not coming back," he said.

Ulric exhaled loudly and said, "Everything was fine." "We were bathing together, and he fell asleep," Ulric said. Ulric explained what had happened after that. "He feels like we can't be together intimately because of his power," he said. "I feel like I'm losing him," Ulric said.

"If he's at the hotel, then he's trying to figure things out," Mac said.

"Mac, you didn't see the fear and pain in his eyes," Ulric said. "He wouldn't even let me comfort him," he said.

"Give him time to think," Mac said. "He's hurting too," he said. "I'll ask Neil to keep us updated," he said.

"Thanks," Ulric said.

"Get yourself cleaned up and come to breakfast," Mac said. "You look like crap," he said.

Jesse entered Zoe's shop and pressed the bell that sat on the counter. "Oh, hi," Zoe said, walking in from the back room. "How can I help you?" she asked.

"Do you carry potions or spells to get rid of powers?" Jesse asked.

"Yes," Zoe said, eying him curiously. "But why would you need one?" she asked.

"It's ruining my chances at feeling the pleasures of being loved," Jesse said. "Ulric can't even touch me intimately without it activating," he said.

Zoe reached under the counter and set a small vial on the counter. "Here it is," she said. "But let me warn you," "With your low level, it can knock you out for a week," she explained. "It is dangerous," she added.

"It's better to be knocked out for a week than have a power I can't control," Jesse said. He paid Zoe, grabbed the potion, and left the store.

Zoe pulled up her holographic screen and opened her contact list. She scrolled down until Mac's name appeared. Zoe clicked on it and started typing.

Mac,

I just got a visit from Jesse. He was wanting a way to get rid of his power. I gave him the potion but warned him of its dangers. He was not looking well. I thought you and Ulric should know.

Zoe

Zoe marked the message as urgent, clicked send, and breathed heavily. "Please reach him before something bad happens," she said to herself.

Back at the training grounds, Mac sat at a table in the cafeteria and waited for Ulric. A message marked "urgent" popped up on Mac's screen just as Ulric entered the room. Mac opened it up and paled.

"Ulric, we've got a problem," Mac said, reading the message.

"What is it?" Ulric asked.

"Jesse visited Zoe, requesting a potion to get rid of his power," Mac said.

"Shit," Ulric cursed. "If he drinks it, Jess could be knocked out for a week or worse," he said.

Mac instantly messaged Neil about the situation and told him that they were on their way. Ulric had gone into panic mode and sent message after message trying to get hold of Jesse.

"He's not answering," Ulric said with panic in his voice.

"Neil said he'd meet us in front of Jesse's room," Mac said. Mac and Ulric arrived five minutes later.

"I knocked, but he won't answer," Neil said.

"Jess, it's me," Ulric said, knocking on the door. There was still no answer. "Babe, please open the door," he pleaded.

Ulric confronted Neil and demanded, "Open that door right now." Neil took out the master key and inserted it into the keyhole. Ulric discovered Jesse on his bed, holding the opened vial, when they entered. Ulric rushed up and smacked Jesse's hand, causing the vial to fall to the floor and shatter.

"What were you thinking?!" Jesse demanded, yelling at him.

"I refuse to let you do something so dangerous," Ulric replied.

"But my power is destroying my chance at feeling loved," Jesse explained.

Jesse retreated when Ulric reached out to hold him. "Please stop pushing me away," Ulric said.

"Every time I'm touched by you, my power activates," Jesse stated. "I just want to feel a touch, a kiss, the little things that love gives you," he said.

"I'll leave and let you two talk," Mac said. Neil followed him and closed the door.

"Jess, I love you," Ulric said. "Nothing will change that," he said.

"But my power is ruining everything, and I want to enjoy your touches," Jesse said.

"We'll rise above this together," Ulric said. "I want to remain by your side," he said.

Jesse sat on the bed, looking down at the floor. Ulric took a seat beside him and drew Jesse into his arms. Tears streamed down Jesse's cheeks. "How can we rise above this when everything goes wrong when we try to show love?" he wondered. "I want to be able to feel the intimate side of being loved by you," Jesse said.

"You can," Ulric said. "Please let me help and love you," he said. Every lightbulb in the room shattered as Jesse sobbed into Ulric's chest.

When they separated, Ulric wiped Jesse's tears and kissed him tenderly. "Let's go home," Ulric said, standing up and reaching out his hand. Jesse rose from the bed, took hold of Ulric's hand, and sighed softly.

"Together," Jesse said, nodding his head. They left the hotel hand in hand. This was another issue that they vowed to overcome together.

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