I stood at a corner, hiding my aura so no one would recognize me. Across the room, Sarah lay on the king size bed. With the pack's family doctor hovering over her, hands steady as he cleaned the wound at her side. The sharp scent of antiseptic mixed with dried blood filled the air. Her face was pale—too pale. Strands of her dark hair clung to her forehead, damp from sweat. She looked fragile.
And I hated it.
I had carried her here myself after she collapsed from exhaustion. One moment she had been standing, stubborn as always, The next, her body gave in.
I caught her before she hit the ground.
The memory still burned in my arms—how light she felt, how her head fell against my chest, how my wolf stirred violently at the contact.
Mate.
The word echoed again in my mind, was this a curse or blessing?. This was a question that always been in my head from the very first beginning I met her.
She was mine.
And she wasn't.
My jaw tightened as I watched the doctor applying the bandage around her. She fought so hard, so bravery,despite knowing that she couldn't escape death. She fought for survival. And she won. For herself, for her family, for her pack.
My heart was a mess, at first I wasn't ready to mate or have any love interest, but everything changed after my wolf went into slumber. I secretly started searching for my mate. For many years but searched, went beyond the wolf territory. Even venturing into the human realm. For the past over 300 years, he started believing that he wasn't blessed with a mate, until he met her. But faith really do know how to play cruel.
She was married. My eyes shifted to the man who stood beside her,with his hands folded across his chest. His eyes only focused on Sarah, knowing that she never belonged to him but to another one made him terribly jealous. I clenched my fist into a ball. I told myself I had no right. She had chosen him. She had built a life with him. Whatever bond fate had tied to me came too late. But knowing that didn't stop my fist from clenching. My claws nearly pushed through my skin.
The doctor finally stepped away. "She needs rest. The wound will heal, but she pushed herself too far." The doctor faced Stan, but his eyes met mine, there was a brief understanding between us. Although I had hid my aura, I only allowed the doctor to feel my presence in the room.
Stan nodded once. As if he gets what the doctor was speaking about.
"Jake."
I didn't turn immediately. As I already know that voice.
Jenny. My step sister. She has always been protective over me,she could read my emotions without me showcasing it "You look like hell," she muttered quietly.
I gave a humorless smirk. "I feel worse."
Her gaze drifted to Sarah, then back to me. Something clicked in her expression. Understanding.
And then her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh."
I swallowed.
The word stuck in my throat. Saying it out loud would make it real.
But I was tired of carrying it alone.
"She's my mate," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jenny froze.
"And she's married," I added.
The words cut deeper than I expected.
Jenny's expression softened. "You're sure?"
I let out a dry laugh. "My wolf almost tore out of me the moment I touched her. I've never been more sure of anything."
Jenny exhaled slowly.
"That's… complicated. your wolf that's in Comtatose react when ever you are with her?"
"That's one way to put it."
I dragged a hand through my hair, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at the wound on my shoulder. The gash from the previous battle was still fresh. I had barely allowed it to close before jumping back into another fight.
Pain was easier than thinking.
Jenny noticed the slight flinch.
"You're still injured," she said firmly. "You shouldn't even be standing."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
Her voice hardened. "You just came out of a battle. Your wound isn't fully healed, and now you're standing here torturing yourself. For what?"
I didn't answer.
"Listen to me," she said quietly. "If she's your mate, then she's your mate. Marriage or not. You don't ignore something like that."
"She chose him"
"Did she know?"
I hesitated.
No.
She didn't know.
The bond had snapped into place for me—but from her expression when I carried her, there had been no recognition. Just exhaustion.
Jenny continued, "Maybe she hasn't felt it yet. Maybe she's suppressing it. Maybe she doesn't understand it. But you can't just disappear again.
"
"I already gave up once," I muttered.
"And that's the more reason you can't give up avain. look where that got you."
I looked back at Sarah.
Her chest rose and fell slowly. Fragile. Human.
Mine.
Not mine.
This voice kept repeating in my head.
Jenny's voice softened. "Try your luck. If she's truly your mate, fate won't let it rest. But first…" Her eyes dropped pointedly to my shoulder. "Take care of yourself. You won't win anything if you bleed out from stubbornness."
I huffed faintly.
Typical Jenny.
She reached up and squeezed my arm gently. "Rest, Jake."
Then she walked away.
I stayed.
I didn't move from my corner. Didn't speak. I didn't let my emotions show.
Eventually, Stan stepped out to speak with his surbodinate, the The room grew quieter. The guards shifted positions outside. One by one, people drifted away.
Night fell slowly.
The pack house became silent.
I should have left.
I didn't.
When the room was finally empty, I stepped forward.
Slowly.
Carefully.
I stood beside her bed, close enough to hear the faint rhythm of her heartbeat. My wolf settled slightly at the sound.
I studied her face.
Without the tension of battle, she looked younger. Softer.
I reached out before I could stop myself—my fingers hovering just above her hand.
I didn't touch her.
I was afraid if I did, I wouldn't be able to let go.
A small movement.
My hand snapped up.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
Then her eyes opened.
Confusion clouded them as she stared at the ceiling. She blinked slowly, trying to focus.
Her gaze shifted.
And landed on me.
For a moment, we just stared at each other.
Her brows furrowed slightly. "Where… am I?"
Her voice was weak. Rough.
I felt my throat dry.
"You're safe," I said quietly.
She tried to sit up, but pain flashed across her face. I instinctively moved closer.
"Easy."
Her eyes sharpened slightly as she looked at me properly now. Recognition. And Questioning.
The air between us changed.
My wolf stirred again.
Did she feel it?
Did she sense the invisible thread pulling us together?
"You are awake," I said softly, unable to stop the faint relief that slipped into my voice.
And as she continued to stare at me—confused.