Jasmine
“Well,” Jake starts, uncrossing one leg and recrossing the other.
“I’ve lived in Starview my entire life. There’s a lot of history in that town, and after a group of rogue wolves attacked our pack, we had no choice but to step up when we were teenagers.
Silas was on track to be alpha. Most in the area know him, or at least know of him, since he took over the territory. ”
“Yes, I’m aware of him,” I say, hoping the nerves aren’t bleeding through. “He paid for your hotel?”
Jake nods. “It was easier, since this is a work trip.”
“Right.” My gaze drops to the floor as I process what he’s telling me.
Jake is from Starview, which I know is where most of the pack leadership lives.
Kind of have to know these things when you’re hiding from them for as long as I have.
But if he lived in Starview and is on a work trip…
I look at Jake. “You’re pack leadership? ”
“Why do you say it like that? Is that a bad thing?”
“No,” I rush out, waving my hand in front of me. “Not at all. I’m surprised? I guess? I’ve never, um, met someone from pack leadership.”
“Well, I’m honored to be the first.” Jake shrugs, thrusting out both his arms to the side, and we both laugh.
Somehow, even in a situation like this, he still makes me laugh. Not only do I have to worry about being hunted by demons, but I’m also being hunted by his kind, and for some reason, I’m not bolting from this room.
Every red flag is waving around him, yet my ass is still in this chair.
If I didn’t have the bond between us, I would be gone. I would run from here, pack my stuff, and move to the next town. But with fate involved, I keep hesitating.
Yet…
I can’t fall for him.
No matter what.
Jake clears his throat, and my gaze returns to his. “I don’t go around telling everyone this, but I should mention to you that I’m a second. Not that it matters…or maybe it does matter with how you’re looking at me right now? Are you okay?”
“What?” I shake my head quickly, ridding my face of any tell. “Sorry, yes. I just—Yes, I’m okay.”
My gaze returns to the floor. I’m unable to look at Jake for too long without my blood surging, begging me to be closer. The next thing I know, his hand cups my forearm, and I jump out of my chair. I back away two steps, then another, until I’m closer to the door.
“Actually, I’m not feeling too hot.” I’m a terrible liar. “You probably have second duties to do anyway, right?” I force out a laugh. “Today was great, though. Thank you.” I cringe and turn around, walking as fast as I can without running.
“Jasmine, wait,” Jake calls, but I don’t stop.
I’m five feet away from the door.
Four.
Three.
“Jasmine, don’t go.” Jake grips my wrist, sending shocks through my body, the bond singing at our touch. “Please. We can help each other.”
I don’t turn around yet. I know I need to leave, know I need to distance myself from him, even if every part of me wants me to stay.
“Jake, I can’t.” My voice breaks.
Jake squeezes my wrist, over and over, and I imagine he’s searching for the right words.
I know I haven’t made any of this easy, from omitting the truth about my magic to not sharing my knowledge about the bond.
It would be so much easier if he let me go.
We’d have to reject the bond, I think, but he’d be free of me.
He doesn’t know it, but if he ever finds out who I am, he won’t want anything to do with me. Just like everyone else.
He tugs on my wrist, and I go with him, letting the motion pull me around until I’m facing him. He lifts his free hand to grip my chin, pushing up until I’m forced to look at the pain—the want—in his eyes.
Fuck.
“I won’t ask anything of you. And you don’t have to tell me anything. Just…don’t go.”
I imagine what it’d be like for our future if I let myself dive headfirst into this relationship, or whatever you want to call it. If I let myself bond to him, entertain the idea of telling him my truth. But every time the image comes to mind, it turns into the worst possible outcome.
He could leave me.
He could turn me in to the Council.
He could kill me.
“What if we’re destined for heartbreak?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Fate may have brought us together, but we get to decide what happens from here until the end. Got it?”
I nod without realizing, and when Jake pulls on my hand, I close the gap between us.
“Good girl.” He swipes his thumb against my lower lip. My body betrays me once more, and I lean into his touch. “I didn’t realize how overwhelming all this would be. You let me believe you were human and you felt nothing.”
I meet his gaze, taking one deep breath so I have the courage to say, “What I feel for you is all-consuming; it’s having me forsake everything I’ve worked so hard for.”
“The day you decide to give yourself to me—to trust me—know I won’t take it for granted.”
“You’ll hate me,” I whisper.
“Leave that to me to decide. But I can tell you, I won’t hate you. Nothing could change my mind.”
I nod, but I don’t believe him. After everything I’ve been through, after hiding for a decade, I have every right to be wary.
“Should we talk more?” Jake asks.
“Probably.” I would do anything to distract myself from every impending problem trying to tear me down.
He squeezes my hand and leads us back to the chairs by the table, unlacing his fingers from mine when we sit back down.
“So,” Jake drawls. “Mate.”
“Mate. That’s something I never thought I’d say.”
“No?”
I shake my head. “Never. My, um, upbringing wasn’t the best. Finding my mate felt like a daydream—one I had often, but never something that felt plausible to explore.”
“And do I add up to the man of your dreams?”
“No.”
“No?”
“You’re a wolf,” I say, like it’s a curse he’s dealing with.
“And? What’s wrong with wolves?”
“Nothing. It’s just not what I imagined.” I place my hand on his and squeeze once. “I don’t regret anything.”
Jake smiles.
“Good. So, partners?” Jake slides my book over.
I take it from him, then say, “Yeah, partners.”