Chapter 120
ALPHA JAKE
The first thing I noticed when I woke up that morning was her scent.
It lingered everywhere. In the hallways, in the kitchen, even in my office. Sweet and maddening, like wild jasmine after a rainstorm. It clung to my clothes, settled in my mind, and refused to let me focus on anything else.
Ayla.
The second chance mate I never asked for.
The second chance mate I didn’t deserve.
I sat in my office, nursing my second glass of whiskey before the sun had even set. It wasn’t helping. It never did. The anniversary of Priscilla’s death loomed over me like a shadow, pulling me back to memories I fought to bury every single day. Her laugh, her scent, her touch—all of it had been mine, and then it was gone in a flash of blood and betrayal.
And now, the Moon Goddess had the audacity to throw Ayla into my life. A woman who looked at me like I was something worth saving, who smiled as if the world hadn’t chewed her up and spat her out.
I didn’t want her smiles.
I didn’t want her kindness.
But my wolf had other ideas.
Her scent hit me like a blow to the chest when I walked into the dining room that evening. She was fussing over the twins, a soft smile on her lips as she adjusted their little plates.
She looked...content. Like she belonged.
It made my chest tighten with something I refused to name.
I sat at the head of the table, barely hearing Sophie’s praise for the meal Ayla had cooked. The twins babbled happily, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside me.
When Ayla placed a plate in front of me, I caught the briefest flicker of hope in her eyes. She wanted me to acknowledge her effort. She wanted me to see her.
I couldn’t.
I pushed my chair back and left the room without a word.
\---
Back in my office, I poured another glass of whiskey, letting the burn in my throat distract me from the ache in my chest.
Why was she doing this? Why was she trying so hard to fit into a life that didn’t have room for her?
My wolf growled in protest, the sound low and guttural in my mind.
'She’s ours.'
'She’s not!' I snapped back. 'She never will be.'
My wolf didn’t answer, but his presence loomed, simmering just beneath the surface.
When she barged into my office later that night, I wasn’t surprised. Ayla was nothing if not stubborn.
“You didn’t even try the food,” she said, her voice shaking with frustration.
“I wasn’t hungry,” I replied coldly, not bothering to look at her.
“That’s not the point!” she snapped, stepping closer. “You could’ve at least pretended, for the twins’ sake. Do you know how excited they were to sit at the table with you?”
Her words hit a nerve I hadn’t expected, and before I could stop myself, I turned to face her.
“Don’t tell me how to handle my children,” I said, my voice low and dangerous.
“They’re not just your children,” she retorted. “They’re part of this pack, and they deserve better than—”
I crossed the room in an instant, my hand wrapping around her throat before she could finish.
“You’re forgetting your place,” I growled.
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t look away. She didn’t cower.
Something about her defiance made my grip tighten, just for a moment, before I shoved her backward. She stumbled to the floor, and I fought the urge to help her up.
“Don’t ever question me again,” I said, my voice colder than I intended.
For a moment, she just sat there, staring up at me with a mixture of shock and hurt.
The door slammed open, and Sophie stormed in, her voice shaking with anger as she confronted me.
When she slapped me, I didn’t react. I deserved it, and worse.
But when I looked at Ayla again, something twisted inside me. Regret? Guilt? I didn’t know.
I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but the words wouldn’t come.
Instead, I turned and walked away.
The packhouse felt emptier than usual that night. Sophie’s scolding rang in my ears, but it was Ayla’s face I couldn’t shake.
Why did I care? Why did her hurt matter to me?
I poured another glass of whiskey and sat in the darkened kitchen, trying to drown the memories threatening to surface.
The scent hit me again, but this time, it was different.
It was Ayla’s scent, yes, but it was mingled with something else. Someone else.
My wolf bristled, his growl echoing in my mind.
'She’s been with him.'
The thought sent a wave of fury crashing through me, so sudden and intense that I shattered the glass in my hand.
I waited, the hours ticking by as my anger simmered beneath the surface.
When the front door finally creaked open, I was ready.
She walked into the kitchen, her coat wrapped tightly around her, but it did nothing to hide the scent clinging to her skin.
I leaned back in my chair, the bottle of whiskey in my hand as I watched her freeze in the doorway.
“So,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “You’ve been with him again.”
Her eyes widened for the briefest moment before she masked her surprise.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, trying to walk past me.
I moved faster than she expected, blocking her path and forcing her to stop.
“You smell like him,” I growled, my voice more animal than human. “Do you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t answer.
“Are you trying to embarrass me?” I continued, my voice a deadly whisper. “Do you think I’ll just stand by while you whore yourself out to—”
“Don’t you dare,” she snapped, her voice shaking.
The defiance in her eyes only fueled my anger, and before I could stop myself, I grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto the counter.
Her body stiffened against mine, but I didn’t care. My wolf was in control now, his growl rumbling in my chest as I leaned closer.
“You’re mine,” I hissed, my lips brushing against her ear.
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she didn’t fight me.
But then she pushed against my chest, her voice trembling as she said, “Jake, stop.”
I ignored her, my lips crashing against hers in a kiss that was more punishment than passion.
Her wolf responded instantly, the sparks between us igniting into a wildfire that burned through every ounce of restraint I had left.
I ripped the straps of her dress away, my hands roaming her body with a possessiveness I couldn’t control.
She gasped, trying to push me away again, but it was useless. I was too far gone.
When my teeth sank into her neck, marking her, her scream echoed through the kitchen, but it wasn’t one of pain.
The bond snapped into place with a force that left us both breathless, our wolves howling in unison as I pulled back, my lips slick with her blood.
For a moment, I just stared at her, her wide eyes and flushed cheeks searing into my memory.
Then reality hit me like a punch to the gut.
What had I done?
Without a word, I turned and walked away, leaving her trembling and breathless on the counter.
\---
Back in my room, I stared at the blood on my lips in the mirror, my wolf pacing restlessly in my mind.
She was mine now, whether I wanted her to be or not.
But as much as I hated myself for what I had done, I couldn’t ignore the truth.
Ayla was my second chance.
And I was going to ruin her.
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