Page 59 of Noah

“Jackson,” he said, voice tight. “You?—”

I froze, panic bubbling in my chest. I knew what he was feeling. The bond, the mate mark—it was a lot to process, to accept.

Hell, I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon either. I should’ve slowed down, I should’ve given him more time to come to terms with it.

“Noah,” I said, panic creeping into my voice, “I didn’t—I didn’t mean to push you, I?—”

But his eyes were wide with something else now. Panic. Real, raw panic.

And the moment we’d just shared, the passion, the urgency, the connection—it all seemed to fade away, leaving only the weight of his reaction hanging between us.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, stepping back. “I didn’t?—”

“No,” he cut me off, his voice shaking. “It’s not that. It’s... it’s too fast.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. I knew it. I had moved too quickly, too recklessly.

The mark—the bond—it was supposed to be a sign of everything we were, but maybe it wasn’t the right time for us. Maybe I’d made a mistake.

But deep down, I couldn’t help but believe we were meant to be. I just needed him to see it. To feel it.

Chapter 16

Noah

I couldn’t breathe.My heart was hammering, my chest tight with the kind of panic that threatened to choke me.

I couldn’t stay. I just couldn’t.

Everything—every ounce of what had just happened, every ounce of what Jackson had just given me—it was too much, too fast, too real.

My skin burned where he had marked me, the bite still sharp, still searing, and it made my head spin.

“I—Jackson, I need to go.” My voice was unsteady, barely a whisper, but it felt like I was shouting it at him.

I had to leave. I couldn’t be here with him, not now.

Jackson looked at me, that expression of worry—guilt, regret, whatever it was—on his face.

His mouth opened like he was going to say something, maybe apologize, maybe beg me to stay. I didn’t want to hear it. I couldn’t hear it.

“Wait—Noah,” he said, his voice strained, but I was already gathering up my clothes.

I pulled on my jeans, my shirt, not even thinking about whether they were on right or not. I just needed to go. I needed space. I needed air.

“Please,” Jackson said again, but I couldn’t look at him. Not now.

I couldn’t look at him and see that defeated, hurt look on his face. Not when I was barely holding myself together.

I just needed to get out. I needed to clear my head, to figure this out, to fix myself before I destroyed everything.

Shoving my feet into my boots, I fumbled with the laces. Jackson’s voice was soft, pleading, but it was like a distant murmur in my mind.

“Noah, please, I’m sorry... I didn’t?—”

I couldn’t listen to him. I couldn’t hear the apology in his voice when it felt like everything was spinning out of control.

Without another word, I turned and walked out. My hands shook as I closed the door behind me, and I heard him calling my name, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

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