Chapter 173
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, warming my skin as I stirred awake. I felt the weight of an arm draped over me, and my heart fluttered. Memories of the night before surged through my mind—his hands, his lips, his body against mine. I blushed furiously, burying my face in the pillow.
Jake.
The Alpha who had consumed my every thought had also been my first. I wasn’t sure what had come over me, or him, for that matter. The mate bond had finally won, and we’d given in to the pull between us. And now, here I was, tangled in his arms, feeling something I hadn’t in years—contentment.
I shifted slightly, turning to look at him. His face was relaxed, softer in sleep, and I let myself admire him for a moment. I had no idea how long I lay there, but eventually, my own eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off again.
When I woke up a second time, the bed was cold. Jake was gone.
I sat up, the disappointment hitting me harder than I expected. My fingers trailed over the empty space where he’d been, the faint scent of him still lingering. I tried to tell myself it wasn’t a big deal—he was the Alpha. Of course, he had duties to attend to. But my heart didn’t get the memo.
With a sigh, I got out of bed and got dressed. Maybe I’d see him later. Maybe he’d be waiting for me somewhere, his usual stoic face softening just for me.
The pack house was alive with activity as usual, and as I walked through the halls, I couldn’t help but notice the stares.
Sophie was the first to find me, a wicked grin spreading across her face as she sidled up beside me.
“Well, well, well,” she teased, her voice dripping with amusement. “Look who’s glowing this morning.”
“I’m not glowing,” I muttered, though my flushed cheeks betrayed me.
“Oh, please. I can smell the Alpha all over you,” she said, laughing when I smacked her arm. “Don’t even try to deny it. The whole pack knows.”
I groaned, feeling like the floor might swallow me whole. “Why is everyone staring at me like that?”
“Because you reek of him,” Sophie said, then added with a wink, “and because you look like you’ve been thoroughly… entertained.”
“Stop!” I hissed, my embarrassment reaching new heights.
Fatima joined us then, her knowing smirk only adding to my mortification. “Sophie’s right. You’re definitely wearing the walk of shame look.”
“It’s not like that,” I protested weakly, but they only laughed harder.
“You’re mated now,” Fatima said, her tone turning slightly more serious. “People are just curious. Jake’s been distant with everyone for so long, and now he’s got you. It’s a big deal.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded and tried to ignore the burning in my cheeks. I needed to find Jake, if only to feel like I wasn’t navigating this new territory alone.
But Jake was nowhere to be found.
The hours ticked by as I searched for him. I checked his office, the training grounds, even the forest paths he sometimes took to clear his head. Each time, I came up empty.
“Still looking for him?” Sophie asked when she caught me pacing the courtyard.
“I just want to talk to him,” I admitted.
She gave me a sympathetic look. “He’s probably just busy. You know how he is.”
Busy. That’s what I kept telling myself, but the longer the day dragged on, the more my stomach churned with doubt.
Finally, in the late afternoon, I spotted him near the edge of the pack house, talking with a group of warriors. Relief flooded me, and I hurried over, but as I approached, he turned, his expression hardening.
“Jake,” I called, my voice hesitant.
He glanced at me, his eyes cold. “What is it, Ayla? I’m busy.”
The sharpness in his tone made me falter. “I just… I wanted to see you.”
“I don’t have time for that right now,” he said, his voice clipped.
My heart sank. “Jake, can we talk? About last night—”
He cut me off, his gaze narrowing. “There’s nothing to talk about. It happened. Move on.”
Move on? His words hit me like a slap, leaving me stunned and breathless.
“Jake, I—”
“Ayla,” he interrupted, his tone firm and unyielding. “I’m not going to repeat myself. I have work to do.”
He turned away, dismissing me as if I were nothing more than an annoyance.
Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here, not in front of him. I turned and walked away, my heart shattering with each step.
Sophie found me again later, her laughter fading when she saw my face. “What happened?”
“He doesn’t care,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Last night meant nothing to him.”
Sophie frowned, her expression darkening. “That doesn’t sound like Jake.”
“Well, it is,” I snapped, the hurt and frustration spilling over. “He told me to move on, like it was just… nothing.”
Fatima joined us then, her brow furrowing as she listened. “Are you sure he wasn’t just being his usual grumpy self?”
I shook my head. “No, this was different. He was cold, distant. He didn’t even look at me like…”
“Like he’s your mate?” Sophie finished softly.
I nodded, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay.
Fatima sighed, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “He’s probably just scared, Ayla. The mate bond is intense, and Jake’s never been one to deal with emotions well.”
“That’s no excuse,” Sophie said, her tone sharp. “He doesn’t get to treat you like that.”
“I don’t think I can face him again,” I admitted, my voice trembling.
“You don’t have to,” Sophie said firmly. “Not until he pulls his head out of his ass.”
Despite my misery, a small smile tugged at my lips. “Thanks, Sophie.”
“Anytime,” she said, pulling me into a hug. “And don’t let him get to you. He’ll come around. He always does.”
I wanted to believe her, but as the day wore on, the ache in my chest only grew. Jake might come around eventually, but the damage was already done. And I wasn’t sure if I could ever forgive him.
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