How we stood there staring at each other for so long. The air around us felt thick. I could feel her scent wrapping around me. Even my wolf who is in slumber stirs slightly.
"Do you feel it?" I licked my lips and my voice was a little bit rougher than before. My eyes stared at hers not wanting to miss any of her expression.
"Feel what?" She asked, confused.
"The connection,the pull" I walked closer to the bed, asking myself if she would deny it.
She took a deep breath. Instead, she looked down at her hands.
"I… yes," she admitted quietly. "I felt it the first time we locked eyes at the event. I just didn't know what it was."
I felt relief, she could feel what I felt. But…
"What do you think about it?" I asked.
Her gaze lifted to mine again, and I saw it clearly—confusion and conflict.
"I don't know what to think," she said honestly. "Everything happened too fast. I'm confused, Jake. I need time to digest everything."
Time
Was there still time? No need for me to ask around or investigate, I knew the blade men were responsible for this. And then they will give her time. What has been happening undercurrent has finally begun coming into light.
"I want to go home," she added softly.
My body reacted before my mind did. "No."
Her eyes widened slightly. "No?"
"You have to stay here," I said firmly. "Only then can I protect you."
She stiffened. "Protect me from what?"
From me.
From my wolf.
From the instinct that wants to claim you.
But I couldn't say that yet.
"You were attacked," I reminded her. "You think that was random? It wasn't."
Her expression hardened with determination."I still want to go home."
Something twisted inside my chest.
Jealousy.
The word tasted bitter, I gritted my teeth
"Is it because you miss Stan?" I asked before I could stop myself.
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.
She stared at me like I had just slapped her.
"What?"
"Is that why you're so desperate to go back?" I pressed, hating myself even as I did it. "Because you can't stay away from him?"
Her shock quickly turned into something else, looking at me like I was a clown or something.
"Are you not aware that I'm married to Stan?" she asked slowly.
The reminder hit like a punch.
Married.
I knew. Of course I knew.
But hearing her say it so plainly tore through me.
"I'm sorry," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "That was… out of line."
She crossed her arms, defensive now.
"You think?" she said quietly.
I exhaled heavily. I couldn't keep dancing around it anymore.
"The reason you were attacked," I said carefully, "was because you're my mate."
There was silence.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
"My wolf has been in slumber for years," I continued. "Dormant. Silent. I thought it was gone. But it wasn't, it was just waiting for you ."
She shook her head faintly, as if trying to understand.
"What does that even mean?"
"It means," I said, forcing myself to stay calm, "that my wolf can only fully awaken if I mate with my true mate."
Her face went pale.
"And that's me?" she whispered.
"Yes."
The word felt heavy. Final.
I stepped closer, my voice a little bit quiet. "There are forces that don't want that to happen. If my wolf awakens, it changes things. Power dynamics. Pack hierarchy. Everything."
Her breathing quickened.
"So the attack…"
"Was meant to weaken me. They have to kill you"
She took a step back.
"But I'm married," she said again, like it was a shield she could hide behind.
"I know."
Goddamit you don't have to tell me over and over again. Every time she said it, it felt like a blade sliding deeper into my ribs.
"I'm not asking you to betray your vows," I said quietly. "I'm just telling you the truth."
Her eyes shimmered with emotion. "This is insane."
"Maybe," I admitted. "But it's real."
She turned away from me, pacing a few steps before stopping.
"I need to go home," she said again, even more firmly this time. "Stan is my husband. I can't just disappear and stay here. He'll worry."
The jealousy came back stronger this time. Biting my tongue to control my emotions. I clenched my fists to stop myself from saying something reckless.
"I care about you too," I said instead.
Her expression softened just a little.
"You barely know me," she whispered.
My lips curved into a sad smile. "My wolf knows you. And that's deeper than anything."
She looked torn. And her emotion turn derail
"I can't just abandon my life," she said. "You're asking me to uproot everything."
"I'm asking you to stay alive."
"And I'm asking you to respect my marriage."
That word hurt somehow.
"I do respect it," I said quietly. "That doesn't mean I don't feel what I feel."
She swallowed hard.
"I wish this didn't happen," she murmured.
"So do I," I lied.
I would never believe that someone like me, someone considered one of the strongest would be brought to this situation.
Every instinct told me to stop her, to keep her, hold her and cherish her. With my power she couldn't escape if she wanted to. But I didn't. Images of that night she fought with that sword man flashes through my mind. I knew she was definitely a stubborn one. And she would rather die than be kept.
"You're stubborn," I muttered.
She turned slightly. "I think determined sound okay"
Despite everything, a faint smile tugged at my lips.
After a long moment, I sighed.
"Fine."
Her brows lifted in surprise. "Fine?"
"I'll let you go home."
Relief flooded her features.
"But," I added sharply, "under two conditions."
Her shoulders tensed. "What conditions?"
"First, I will go with you."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"You think I'm letting you walk back there? I rather you stay and while I keep my eyes on you, but since you are so stubborn or determined as you say. It's only right that I follow you"I shook my head.
"That's going to raise questions."
"Let them."
She hesitated.
"And the second condition?" she asked cautiously.
I took a deep breath.
"You will have to decide"
"Decide what?" she asked quietly.
"Whether you're staying there," I said, my voice lowering, "or moving into my pack."
Her heartbeat spiked—I could hear it.
"Moving into your pack?" she repeated.
"Yes."
Her expression turned complicated again. "Jake…"
"I'm not forcing you," I cut in gently. "But the longer you stay tied between two worlds, the more dangerous it becomes. For you and for me. I also for your pack"
She stared at me for a long time.
"You're asking me to leave my husband," she said.
"I'm asking you to survive."
She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again.
"If I agree to this," she said slowly, "you don't push me. You don't pressure me."
I nodded immediately. "You have my word."
"And you don't disrespect my marriage again."
That one stung.
"I won't," I promised.
Silence fell again—but this time it wasn't as hostile. It was Fragile.
"Okay," she whispered finally. "You can come with me."
A strange mix of victory and guilt surged through me.
This wasn't how I wanted to win her trust.
But it was a start.
As she turned away to prepare, I exhaled slowly.
Married. My mate was married, and I was walking into her life, into her married life. What's going to happen in the future depends on me.