The moment I closed the door, I breathed a sign of relief, but the tension still hung in the air
Stan words could still be heard in my head. I told Stan everything that happened, the reason why I was being attacked, the reason why Jake was here. And the fact that Jake is my mate. And all he could was to cry, begging me not to leave him.
That broke something within me, although he was my husband but that was only in name and politics. And then he knelt in the room begging me not to leave him, not to leave what we had.
What we had.
What do we have?
Was it a marriage arranged by elders? Or a bond formed out of convenience or is it a union born from pity and politics.
Stan had lost his mate years ago. And the elders thought joining us together could create something between us. As this isn't the first time a wolf mates with someone who isn't his or her mate.
But then he never marked me. He never touched me beyond polite affection. He never looked at me like I was his world.
And I never felt the fire. The fire that I felt when with Jake.
"Stop behaving like a weakling Stan." I scolded him "for Christ's sake you are the head of fearless pack, so behave like one" Stan's face fell after hearing this.
But I couldn't stay if I did. I might drown in guilt.
Because the truth was, what I felt for Stan wasn't love. He was my childhood friend, and a partner because the elders thought it was right.
But Jake…
Jake was something else.
And as if my thoughts summoned him, I stepped into the corridor and nearly collided with him.
My breath caught.
He stood there, tall and impossibly composed, hands tucked casually into his pockets. Moonlight streamed through the high windows behind him, casting silver along his sharp features. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and the world tilted slightly.
A storm of emotions surged through me.
Guilt.
Desire.
Regret.
If only I had been patient years ago.
If only I had waited.
Maybe I wouldn't be standing here as another man's wife while staring at my true mate.
"What are you doing out here?" I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.
His lips curved slightly. "I was bored. Decided to take a walk."
Even standing still, Jake carried an aura of quiet dominance. The kind that didn't need to roar to be felt. My wolf stirred inside me, restless and eager.
He tilted his head. "Come Walk with me."
It wasn't a command.
But it wasn't entirely a request either.
My heart betrayed me by beating faster.
I looked at his face—his strong jaw, those intense eyes that seemed to see through every wall I built. Heat crept up my neck, and I hated myself for it.
"I can't," I said quickly, turning slightly away. "It's not appropriate."
A faint frown touched his brows.
No one has rejected Jake.
Not warriors. Not elders. Not even rival alphas.
Yet here I was, rejecting him again and again.
And he let me.
Only me.
He stepped closer anyway.
The space between us shrank because he moved closer, way more closer than usual. My heart raced hard, blush crept into my face.
He smelled like cedarwood and night air.
"Why are you always fighting it?" he asked quietly.
His voice lost its teasing edge. It was deeper now. And…Rougher.
His hand moved before I could think, snaking around my waist.
Electricity shot through me.
My fingers instinctively grabbed his shirt to steady myself. My body leaned into him traitorously, even as my mind screamed.
"This isn't right," I whispered.
But he didn't let go.
Instead, his other hand lifted, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. The touch was gentle. Reverent.
"I'm not forcing you," he murmured, repeating the words he had said earlier. "But the longer you stay tied between two worlds, the more dangerous it becomes. For you. For me. And for your pack."
He was right. My heart tightened at the realization.
People were already watching. If it became known that the Luna of Fearless had a mate bond with another alpha. It might be problematic. And if I hesitated too long… more lives could be lost.
"I feel guilty," I admitted before I could stop myself. "If I had waited… if I had trusted fate—"
"You were pressured," he cut in gently. "You were protecting your people. Don't punish yourself for that." he paused for a moment is gaze soften " And you could say I kinda part of this too"
His understanding made my eyes sting.
I had expected anger from him when he learned about my marriage. Instead, he had shown patience. Even restraint.
Something inside me cracked.
I lifted my gaze to his, and for a moment the world disappeared.
The moonlight shimmered in his eyes. His face softened in a way only I ever saw.
"Jake…" I breathed.
His grip tightened slightly. As if afraid I would disappear.
"You feel it too," he said quietly. Not a question.
I did.
Every pulse of it.
Every time he was near, my wolf surged forward, desperate to close the distance. To claim. To belong.
But belonging to him meant breaking someone else.
"This isn't right," I repeated, but this time around the words felt weaker.
His face lowered closer to mine. Our foreheads nearly touched. I could feel his breath against my lips.
"And marrying someone you don't love is?"
I swallowed hard. "People will get hurt."
"They already are."
His hand slowly slid up my back, fingers splaying protectively. I trembled, unable to stop the blush creeping across my cheeks.
I hated how easily he affected me.
He noticed, of course.
A faint, satisfied smirk ghosted his lips. "You're blushing."
"Don't tease me."
"I'm not." His voice softened. "I just want you to stop being afraid of what you feel."
I wasn't afraid of my feelings.
I was afraid of the consequences.
Still, I didn't move away.
Our bodies remained close. Intimate.
For a fleeting second, I imagined what it would be like to let go. To let him pull me into a kiss. To let the bond snap fully into place.
My wolf purred at the thought.
But before I could decide, a faint shift in the air prickled my senses.
Instinct.
I stiffened slightly.
Jake noticed immediately. His head lifted, eyes scanning the corridor.
And then I felt it.
Another presence.
My heart dropped.
Stan.
He stood at the far corner, half-hidden in shadow. His face was pale. His eyes are dark and unreadable.
How long had he been there?
How much had he seen?
Guilt slammed into me like a physical blow. I stepped back from Jake instantly, the warmth of his body leaving me too quickly.
Jake's expression hardened the moment he saw Stan.
Dominance flickered in his gaze. Not aggressive. But territorial.
There was tension in the air.
Stan didn't speak.
He just stared.
Hurt.
Betrayal.
And something else
I had wanted to avoid hurting him.
But maybe… maybe one couldn't run away from the truth.
Jake's hand brushed mine lightly, silent support.
For the first time since this began, I understood something clearly.
A decision wasn't just necessary.
It was unavoidable.
And no matter who I chose, someone would bleed.