Chapter 3

~Jasmine~ “Calm down,” Rose called out as I paced back and forth in her office at the café, my chest tightening with anxiety. “How can I calm down Rose? Didn’t you hear what he said?” I spun around to face her, my voice was trembling slightly. “Do you even know what this means? What if the new Alpha declared otherwise by manipulating the pack’s rules? Or worse, what if he’s as dishonest as Logan?” Little was known about the newly assigned Alpha due to his busy schedule except for his name—Alpha Maverick. Rumors about his fairness or ruthlessness were unhelpful whispers. I could only hope he would remain impartial, even with Logan as his blood relative. Under the Gold Pack’s rule book, severing a mate bond required the Alpha’s approval. Worse still, the guilty party faced expulsion which is a befitting punishment for disrespecting soul tie. I sank into the office chair, running my fingers through my hair as my thoughts spiraled. “I will lose everything, Rose. I wouldn’t even know where to begin from. I have no job, just a useless housewife—” Rose crouched in front of me, her hands resting gently on my knees. “Listen to me. If it comes to that, you leave this forsaken Gold Pack and join mine. The Red Blood Pack will take you in with open arms. Do you hear me? If the new Alpha banishes you, it will only mean one thing. That you’re too good for them. You will start fresh and build something for yourself. Don’t doubt what you’re capable of, okay?” I nodded, though the storm inside me refused to settle at all. Logan would stop at nothing to avoid accountability for his despicable act, and I knew it. Rose’s expression brightened as she stood up. “What you need now is to unwind. How about a drink at a nearby bar to calm those nerves and toast to a new beginning?” Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I agreed almost immediately, eager for a brief escape from my reality, even if it was only for a few moments. As she drove us to a nearby bar, my mind raced with doubts. Could I truly face the challenge of starting all over in the Red Blood Pack? It would mean leaving behind everything I’d ever known and starting from square zero. But damn the consequences, I knew my worth. *** The loud bass of music filled the air as we arrived. Sitting on a barstool, we reminisced about our college days, laughing and savoring the moment. Just as I was beginning to relax, Rose’s phone pinged. She glanced at the screen and sighed. “There’s an emergency back at the café.” My mood dampened at the news. “I’ll be back as soon as possible, okay? Get drunk and nasty!” she teased with a wink before leaving. I laughed, shaking my head as I watched her walk away. Turning my attention back to my champagne flute, I sipped slowly, letting the burning taste trail down my throat. But suddenly, the room started spinning. I tried to focus, blinking several times, but everything became a blur. I tried to focus again, but then, I saw Samantha from a distance, ordering something at the counter with a cunning look in her eyes. A loud frequency pierced through my ears, and I couldn’t decipher what was happening, which made me question my sanity. Did I really see her, or was it a fragment of my imagination? I stood up and tried to leave, but my knees buckled beneath me. I fell, waiting for an impact that never came. Through my hazy mind, I picked up a strong scent that made my panties wet. It was oud and leather. I could feel my mate's strings trembling. Then I noticed a tall frame standing beside me, a man. His lips were moving, and I blinked several times, trying to make sense of what he was saying. “Where are you from? Are you okay?” I was so high I couldn’t give the stranger any reasonable answers to his questions. If I was in my right senses, embarrassment would be an understatement, but currently, I couldn’t care less. “Open it. What’s your address?” How could I tell him I didn’t have a home? I couldn’t even remember my phone’s password. I was too focused on his ocean eyes and sharp jawline, his full, plump lips… “Can you hear me? Do you understand?” he asked, his voice cutting through my haze. I gulped, knowing I was openly checking him out, and even though I wasn’t in the right state of mind, I couldn’t deny his allure. Mate! My wolf exclaimed. So this was it? My true mate? At this time? As I teetered on the brink of embarrassment, to my rescue he came. He guided me into a car and drove me out to a destination I couldn’t decipher at first. But as he led me into a building, I realized it was an opulent hotel. Although I knew nothing about him, I still felt safe. He guided me into a suite, his touch sending a burning trail of anticipation down my spine. The moment he laid me on the bed, my entire body ignited, every brush of his fingertips sparking an ache deep in my core. Even through the haze of desire clouding my mind, I craved the feel of his body pressed against mine. He started to pull away, but I couldn’t let him. “Don’t…stay.” My voice trembled. The moist heat between my thighs pulsed insistently, demanding more than just lingering touches. I rubbed my legs together in desperation, chasing friction that wasn’t enough. His eyes darkened as I reached for him, my fingers curling around his wrist. Without hesitation, I straddled his lap, my hips rolling against his rigid length. A needy moan slipped from my lips as I felt his hardness pressing perfectly against my center, dampening his pants with every grind. He groaned, with his jaw tightening, but still held back. “Calm down, minx,” he rasped. “I…I need you,” I whispered, his breath hitched as his resolve shattered. In a heartbeat, he flipped me beneath him, his lips crashing onto mine, tongues tangling in a heated dance of dominance. His hands explored every inch of my body. My back arched as he traced paths down my sides, leaving me gasping. His mouth found my breasts, tongue swirling, while his hand slipped between my thighs, pushing my panties aside. A shudder rocked through me as his fingers plunged into my slick heat, stretching and teasing. Before I could beg for more, he replaced his hand with his body, thrusting into me in one claiming stroke. A sharp gasp escaped me, my walls tightening around him, recognizing home. His pace was brutal yet controlled, each movement more intense than the last. Our bodies moved in perfect rhythm, driven by consuming hunger. Moans and whispered names filled the air. My climax built slowly, until I shattered around him, trembling and breathless. But he didn’t stop—couldn’t stop. His restraint snapped, and he drove deeper, showing me just how badly he needed me too. I can’t recall exactly what happened afterwards, but I woke up staring in an unfamiliar room in shock as sunlight spilled into it. Despite the confusion, a deep satisfaction lingered. Fragments of the night remained hazy; but I could remember his hard thrusts vividly. I went feral, every inch of my body rekindling. A faint smile curved my lips as I stretched, savoring the quiet. But when my gaze turned to the other side of the bed and my heart sank. The space was empty. He was gone. A heavy ache settled in my chest, twisting painfully as realization washed over me. Even my mate didn’t want me. Was I never enough for anyone? Tears pricked my eyes, but I forced myself to blink them away. No. I wouldn’t allow self-doubt to take root. I was done with betrayal, done with the hurt. All I wanted now was peace. If love was meant to find me again, it would. With renewed determination, I grabbed my phone and called Logan. He answered almost immediately as if he had been waiting for me to call. Without wasting any time, I told him to meet me at the Werewolf City Hall to start the process of finalizing the divorce. This was it. The end. If he thought he still had a chance with me, he was sorely mistaken. Logan was a chapter I was ready to close for good, and I was determined to turn the page to a new beginning.