Chapter 55: Chapter 55

Leo looked nervously at me then at Jake, "It is true that I can do all that, but I was only being nice towards my mistress. I do not want to take her as my mate. My apologies, Jake, if it appeared so."

Jake seemed to relax a bit, and I slipped my hand in his, making his gaze go to mine. His expression softened and he smiled as his gaze moved to my neck where he had marked me. He squeezed my hand lightly and my lips spread into a smile as we stared at each other. He looked back at Leo, "Okay, I'm also sorry for assuming that."

Leo nodded as we reached the car, "It is understandable after visiting the River of True Mates."

Sean looked at him as Jane and Shane went to enter the car, still whispering to each other and oblivious to our conversation as we stood beside the car. "Wait, the river makes us more possessive, is that what you mean?"

"Something like that. It makes bounds you to your mate and draws you closer once you see them in the river more so than before." Leo explained to us, and that confirmed my theory of us feeling the mate bond more because the river affected us.

"That is amazing." I said as I took my hand from Jake's and walked around to the passenger's seat.

"Yeah, so cool." Jake added as he opened the driver's door and climbed into the car.

"Yeah, but not so cool for me when my mate's Abbey." Sean said as he opened the back door while I opened the passenger's door.

"Just gotta deal with it, man. Faith has a way of making things right." Jake said as Leo and I climbed into the car at the same time. Sean sighed and climbed into the back after Leo.

Jake started the car and started pulling out of the parking lot as Shane turned his attention to him, "What are you guys talking about?"

Jane turned her attention to Jake too, and he chuckled as he said, "You two would have known if you weren't too into each other."

Sean chuckled too while Shane grinned and Jane's brows furrowed in worry as if she just realized that she hadn't broken up with Drake yet. I smiled as I added, "Nice to know that we aren't the only couples that get too caught up in each other."

Jake glanced at me with a smile touching his lips and I held his gaze. He took one hand off the wheel and took my hand in his. He interlaced our fingers and turned his eyes back on the road as he drove us down the road.

"We're not a couple yet," I heard Jane's voice from behind my seat. "Not until I break up with Drake first."

"Okay, but I'm not sure how he's going to take it." I said as I glanced at her through the side mirror.

She sighed while Shane said, "I'll explain to him so that he won't get mad and he'll understand since he knows that he has his mate too."

Sean snorted, "Yeah, good luck with that. Drake is too into Jane to just give up unless he goes to the river and sees his mate."

"He has no right to refuse to break up and he knows that. It's either he accepts it and move on or dwell on the past and be miserable." Jane muttered with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Yeah, but it'll be hard on him." I said quietly, knowing that both she and Drake were hurting.

"I know." She said quietly too, and I saw Shane try to hold her hand. I thought that she would pull away, but she let him hold her hand.

I turned to Jake as he continued driving with one hand, "It'll be hard on you and the guys too because you'll have to chose sides. Shane or Drake."

He glanced at me as his brows furrowed in worry then looked back at the road. "I hope it never comes to that, but there will be tension because they're friends that are with the same girl."

Sean let out a heavy breath as he said, "I know, man and I don't wanna be part of it."

Shane glanced at Sean and Jake as he said, "Don't worry, it won't come to that because Drake knows that I never hold anything against him and would do anything to see him happy."

"Yeah, that's true. Let's hope everything goes well." I said as I turned to the side and faced my window.

"Yeah, let's hope so." Jane muttered with worry evident in her tone.

After hours of driving, we finally arrived at the school's parking lot where Jane, Shane and Sean left their cars. We all climbed out of the car as the school's bell rang for the end of the school day. I closed my door as the rest did the same. I walked around to Jake's side as he leaned against the driver's door.

As I did, the school's double doors opened and students started pouring out of the school building. I reached Jake and leaned against the car beside him. He glanced at me and placed one arm around my shoulders as he stood closer to me. Jane and Shane stood close to each other as they stayed beside us.

Sean and Leo were also leaning against the car as we all waited for Alex, Mike and Drake to walk out. Jake was still looking at me and I could feel his stare boring into my head. I turned my head sideways to face him, and our faces became inches apart. "What?"

His eyes narrowed in on my lips at my question, not to mention how close we were standing. He raised his gaze to my eyes as he asked, "What do you mean?"

I have him a look, showing that he should already know, "You keep staring at me…"

His lips tugged up into a smile as he gazed deeper into my eyes, "Just enjoying the view, baby doll. You're gorgeous."

I felt my cheeks blush at his compliment and my lips spread into a smile. "You're the gorgeous one, you sweet talker."