Chapter 18
"In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine." –Maya Angelou
Rose's POV
I arrived early for my lab class, taking the extra time to go over my end-of-term paper one last time before our professor arrived.
My fingers drummed lightly against the edge of my notebook as I reread my analysis.
It had to be flawless. The moment Professor Dodson walked through the door, I would turn it in.
A familiar scent hit me, making my heart jolt. Jake.
He slid into the seat beside me. I had been doing so well at avoiding him.
“Hey,” he whispered.
I forced myself to look up, pasting on a smile I hoped seemed cheerful. “Hey.”
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Jake said, his voice edged with something…hopeful. “I just wanted to make sure we’re good.”
“We’re good.” I kept my tone light, even as I returned my focus to my paper. “Why would you think we weren’t?”
Jake lifted a brow. “Well, when you requested a change of lab partners, I thought you were angry.”
I kept my expression neutral. “No… I didn’t request the change. Professor Dodson thought it was better to pair me with Marissa since she needs extra help.” I went back, looking at my paper and with a steady voice I asked, “Why would you think we weren’t?”
“Uh-huh,” Jake said, his voice laced with disbelief. “That’s not what Professor Dodson told me when he asked if I’d done anything to make you feel uncomfortable.” His gaze was sharp, searching my face.
I let out a dry, humorless laugh, meeting his eyes with a sardonic tilt of my lips. “I can’t control what our professor thinks. I didn’t say anything, and I didn’t accuse you of anything, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I looked back down at my paper, but I jumped slightly when Jake placed his hand over mine.
“Rose, I didn’t say you did. He was just being cautious. There’ve been cases of harassment on campus before,” he explained. “He told me you suggested partnering with Marissa because she failed her mid-term.” Jake hesitated. “I just…get the feeling you’re upset with me.”
“Why would I?” I asked, pretending to read my paper.
Jake sighed. “Because I’m an idiot.”
That made me glance at him. He was staring at me intently now.
“Rose, just because I didn’t like you then doesn’t mean I don’t…” He swallowed, leaning in slightly, his voice low near my ear. “It doesn’t mean I don’t like you now. But you’re my cousin’s mate. I…I know you’ll end up with him eventually.”
A bitter laugh slipped from my lips before I could stop it. “I doubt it,” I muttered grimly.
I wanted to say more, to set the record straight once and for all, but before I could, our professor entered the room.
Jake lingered a moment longer, watching me, before standing and heading to his new lab partner. Marissa arrived a few minutes late, taking the seat beside me. I wondered if Jake had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to talk to me alone.
After class, I moved quickly, grabbing my things and heading straight for the parking lot. But halfway there, I heard footsteps behind me.
“Rose…please. I miss my friend.”
I tensed but didn’t stop. Jake caught up with me in front of the humanities building, gently pulling me off the path and onto the well-manicured lawn so we weren’t blocking students rushing to their classes.
“Can’t we just go back to the way things were?” he pleaded.
“So you can use my notes?” I shot back, yanking my arm from his grasp.
Jake shook his head. “You think that’s the only reason I want to be your friend?”
“You admitted as much,” I said, my voice sharp with barely contained frustration.
His jaw twitched, his fists clenching at his sides. “You know, Rose, last time I checked, we studied together. And I always had something to add. If you think I’m so stupid and useless, why were you always the one asking to go over complicated chemistry equations with me?”
I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my emotions. “I never said you were stupid. Stop putting words in my mouth.”
“It sure feels like that’s what you’re implying,” Jake said bitterly.
“If you think I was completely depending on you to get through class, then you never really paid attention.” He laughed, but there was no humor in it.
“Do you have any idea how many nights I stayed up, poring over readings, trying to make sure I understood everything? Just so I wouldn’t look like a complete idiot in front of you? ”
My eyes met his, and for the first time, I saw the hurt there. The sincerity. My chest tightened.
“You really cared about impressing me?” I asked, my voice softer now.
Jake exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Of course, I did.”
He hesitated before speaking again, his voice quieter.
“I like you, Rose. I wanted to impress you. That’s why I always asked for study sessions.
You’re not exactly into the party scene on campus.
” He paused, then smirked slightly. “Though my Facebook feed tells me otherwise. I saw the pictures of you and Aiden.”
I frowned. “It was a one-time thing,” I admitted. “Alpha Aiden asked if I wanted to go, and I agreed. It wasn’t all that enjoyable.” I grimaced. “I don’t think I want to drink again anytime soon.”
Jake’s expression shifted, growing serious. “Are you two together? He hasn’t marked you yet— is he waiting until you turn?”
His scrutiny surprised me, but I answered honestly.
“He…you know he’s with Lexia,” I said quietly. “He’s trying to figure out a way to make her his luna. He probably wants to reject me after my turn.” My voice faltered slightly. “He doesn’t… want me.”
Jake watched me closely, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.
I let out a bitter sigh, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “Seems like none of the boys I like ever do.”
I tried to move past him, ready to bolt for my car after that admission, but before I could take a step, Jake’s hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me toward him. His chest was firm against mine, and before I could react, his lips descended onto mine.
I gasped, startled by the suddenness of it. It didn’t feel the way I thought it would. The scent was wrong. The taste of his mouth was wrong. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but remember how Aiden had smelled, how he’d tasted, how his touch had sent shivers down my spine.
But…but Jake was…
He was holding me so gently, like he cared.
That thought made me soften. Slowly, I responded, letting my books slip from my grasp as my hands traced up his chest. Jake let out a low growl, his grip tightening at my hips, pulling me flush against him.
Somewhere, I vaguely registered my phone ringing incessantly, but I ignored it. Right now, at this moment, I just wanted to let go. He tasted wrong, felt wrong. Because he wasn’t Aiden. but he was here and he wanted me.
When Jake finally pulled away, we both stood there, breathless. He smiled down at me, triumphant, like he had just won something. I felt warmth creep up my cheeks as I looked down at our intertwined hands. A small, self-satisfied smile tugged at my lips.
Maybe I could have this.
Maybe, just for a while, this could be the one thing that made me happy.
I didn’t check my phone until I was safely in the driver’s seat of my car. When I did, my eyebrows shot up in surprise—ten missed calls from Aiden. A sudden weight settled in my chest.
I hesitated for only a second before calling him back.
“Are you okay?” Aiden’s voice came through the line, sharp with urgency.
The concern in his tone caught me off guard. My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I tried to steady my breath.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” My voice sounded odd, strained.
I heard him shift uncomfortably. “I… I felt weird. Like something was wrong. There was this tugging sensation in my navel… I thought maybe something happened to you.”
I sucked in a breath.
Did he feel the kiss?
I had never felt anything when he kissed Lexia. Granted, I had only seen them kiss a handful of times, and the only emotion I had ever experienced was burning rage. But… had there been something else? Had I just been too blinded by my own anger to notice?
“I’m fine,” I assured him, forcing the words out.
Aiden was silent for a beat. “If you say so.”
Another pause.
“Well, I need to get back to the conference hall. We’re going over policies for the regional meeting coming up in a few weeks. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I murmured a goodbye, then ended the call.
Frustration boiled inside me, and before I could stop myself, I slammed my hands against the steering wheel.
Was this going to happen every time I kissed Jake?
I had to tell Aiden the truth eventually, but how would his wolf react?
This was confusing. I wasn’t in a relationship with Aiden but then why did I feel so guilty kissing Jake?
And why did I lie to him? I hadn’t seen much of Aiden since he ended up in Dr. Danvers clinic after dislocating his arm.
There was a regional meeting of the alphas that was coming up soon and he was busy preparing for it.
The alphas of the region, aligned or not aligned, met every four months.
The last meeting he’d attended was in mid-January when he’d recently returned from studying abroad.
I knew because I’d helped Tony go over the financial aspects of it.
Did this mean Aiden was going to ask me to run over the financial logistics before he left for the meeting in May?
Biting my lower lip, I put my foot on the accelerator and reversed the car to go home.
As I was heading forward toward my home, the feeling of unease didn’t subside.
I turned onto the road leading to pack territory, something felt…off.
My car was shaky, veering slightly to the left. I frowned. I had just gotten my tire pressure checked that morning—everything had been fine.
I pulled over onto a patch of grass, stepping out to inspect the issue.
The front left tire was nearly deflated.
Great.