Page 254 of My Unexpected Mate

I looked over at Jake and tears started forming in my eyes. He looked tortured. There were huge black circles around his eyes. He was sitting across from me, and his posture was slumped. He looked like he had given up. He was looking at me with so much pain that I wanted to hug him and never let go.

“Jake…” I sobbed.

He stood up immediately and walked over to me. He pulled me into a hug and wrapped his arms around me tightly.

Nick placed a hand on my lower back. I could sense jealousy coming off of him through the mate bond.

I focused on Jake, and I held him as tightly as I could. “I missed you, Jake.”

“I missed you too, Minnie,” he mumbled into my neck. “Don’t leave me ever again.”

“I won’t, Jake, I promise,” I said quietly.

“You did such a stupid thing,” he said, not letting go of me. “I could have lost you forever.”

Nick tensed up and growled, but Jake ignored him.

“I don’t know how I would live without you, Aria,” he continued. “Don’t ever leave me again. Don’t ever put yourself in danger again.”

Tears were falling down my cheeks and the only thing I could do was nod. He let go of me and Nick immediately pulled me to his chest. I could feel his heart beating fast. I looked at him over my shoulder and he was sending daggers at Jake.

I placed my hand on his thigh and I could feel him relax slightly.

Jake ignored him completely and gave me a small smile. “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

“I am fine, Jake,” I smiled back at him.

He nodded and took my hand in his. I looked over at Blake, who was staring down at his hands. The atmosphere in the room suddenly got tense.

“Blake,” I called him and he looked up at me.

He looked so guilty. My heart was breaking. This wasn’t his fault. I hoped they weren’t blaming him for this.

I reached out to him, and he hesitatingly stood up and walked over to me. He kneeled in front of me and gave me his hand.

“I am so sorry, Aria,” he said, his voice trembling.

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Blake,” I said. “It was my decision. You tried to stop me. You tried talking to me. I didn’t listen to you. I decided. You are not to blame here, Blake.”

He lowered his head and a sob escaped him. “I should have stopped you. I should have called Nick or Gabriel or Jake.”

“No,” I shook my head. “I would have never let him hurt Cassie. I would have gone to him no matter what. You couldn’t have stopped me. Nobody could have.”

He looked up at me and wrapped his arms around me. “I am so glad you are okay, Minnie. I will never let him hurt you again, I promise.”

I let go of him and smiled. “Thank you, Blake.”

He smiled at me and went back to his seat. Cassie sat on his lap and wrapped her hands around his neck. He held her tightly and smiled at me again.

I looked around the room and my heart swelled. I missed my friends so much.

Gabriel came to stand behind me. “Are you hungry?”

“A little,” I looked up at him and smiled.

“I will make you something,” Annie said with a huge smile. “How do pancakes sound?”

“Heavenly,” I smiled brightly.

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