Chapter 17
My head spins as the image of a little girl clutching a blue necklace burns into my mind. Even with my eyes closed, it’s all I can see. I know that girl is me- I recognize the familiar curve of my cheeks, the shape of my nose, the quiet sadness in her innocent eyes, and her dark curls. She is me.
I feel it deep in my bones.
I try to push past the haze, to remember more, but no matter how hard I claw at the fragments, they slip through my fingers like sand. Even my wolf is restless, scratching at the edges of my mind, desperate to grasp something–anything–that could tell us who we are and where we come from.
“How did we remember that?” I ask her, frustrated.
“I think…” My wolf whispers hesitantly. “I think it was because of our mate.”
My breath catches. “What?”
“The bond, Kali. Maybe it was Jack who triggered the memories.”
Her words settle in my mind like a slow–moving storm. I don’t want to believe it, but a part of me already knows she’s right. This has never happened before–not until Jack’s lips met mine. It means Jack is somehow connected to my past.
And that means I would have to accept the bond.
But accepting it means accepting something far worse.
Submission.
I will never submit to him. I will find my past on my own. And that means I have to leave him – as soon as possible. I will continue my journey to the witch’s hut and uncover the truth myself.
“I refuse to believe that,” I snap. “Jack is dangerous. Staying with him means putting myself at risk.”
“But what if staying with him is the only way we remember?” she counters. “What if we need him to unlock the rest of our past?”
“I’ll figure it out on my own. I don’t need him.”
There’s a pause before my wolf murmurs slyly, “Why don’t we kiss him again and test the theory? Maybe if we do, we’ll see more…”
I groan. “Absolutely not.”
She starts whining in my head, but I ignore her. Deep down, the thought unsettles me–if kissing Jack really did something to me–then our bond is far stronger than I want to admit. I need to get away from him before I fall deeper into this mess.
I refuse to let our bond grow through physical touch. That’s the last thing I want.
The door creaks open, snapping me out of my thoughts. I squeeze my eyes
“I know you’re awake.”
tighter, pretending to be asleep.
Jack’s deep voice slides over me, making my heart thump against my ribs. I bite my lip, cursing my body’s reaction. Then he chuckles, low and teasing.
“I don’t mind waking you up with a kiss if that’s what you’re waiting for,” he muses. “Should I play Prince Charming?”
My eyes snap open, and I scowl at him, even as heat rises to my cheeks. “Don’t you dare.“”
I still can’t believe I kissed him—and then fainted like some delicate fool. Who even does that? Worse, it was my first kiss. Not that he needs to know. He’s probably kissed a hundred women before me—just like Travis–
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Chapter 17
I slap myself lightly, scolding myself for feeling jealous about whoever Jack has been with. It’s none of my business.
He smirks, tilting his head as if studying me. “You look like you’re thinking really hard about something. Let me guess–you’re still mad I kissed you?”
My cheeks burn hotter, and I curse myself for reacting so strongly. “Don’t flatter yourself,” I snap, sitting up. “And don’t ever kiss me again.”
He steps closer, his scent wrapping around me like a warm embrace. “Really? Because I could’ve sworn you kissed me back… like a dominant queen. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you enjoyed it.”
Heat flares in my chest, and I clear my throat. “It shouldn’t have happened, and it sure as hell won’t happen again,” I say firmly.
Jack, of course, ignores me. His expression shifts, his smirk fading from teasing into something more serious. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice lower now. “You fainted.”
I tense, embarrassment creeping in. Seriously, who the hell faints from a kiss?
“I’m fine,” I say stiffly, sitting up straighter. “You didn’t need to worry about me.”
He leans in, his presence overwhelming in the best–and worst–way. “I didn’t call the pack doctor,” he says casually, though there’s an edge to his voice. “I figured you wouldn’t be comfortable with another man touching you while you were asleep.”
I narrow my eyes. “That’s not your decision to make.”
His gaze darkens, his jaw ticking. “Maybe not. But the thought of anyone else’s hands on you makes me want to rip their throat out.”
My breath catches. The possessiveness in his voice is unmistakable, and it should terrify me. Instead, it sends a dangerous thrill down my spine.
My fingers curl into the sheets. “You don’t own me, Jack.”
A slow, wicked smirk spreads across his lips. “Not yet.”
Damn it. This man will be the death of me.
My pulse quickens. “I will never belong to you,” I say, even as my voice wavers.
Something primal flashing in his silver eyes. “You keep saying that,” he murmurs, lifting a hand to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. “But your body tells a different story.”
I swallow hard, hating how his touch sends a shiver down my spine.
I need to get out of here.
And I need to do it soon.
“Are you okay?” he asks again, his voice lower this time, but I know better than to mistake it for genuine concern.
I scoff, slapping his hand away. “Don’t waste your energy pretending to care, Jack. I’ll be gone soon.”
His silver eyes burns into mine. “You are my mate. How the fuck am I wasting my energy? You’re not some random woman. You’re my mate–my one and only Luna.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Exactly. That’s the problem. You don’t actually care about me, Jack. You just need a Luna. You need me to fulfill duties, to be the perfect little mate so your pack can look at you like you’re untouchable. But without this bond, you wouldn’t even look at me twice. I’ve seen the way your pack treats their women. That says everything about you.
“Alphas like you only know how to take. You don’t know how to give, and I will never be your Luna. I don’t want to be with you. Can’t you see? That’s why I tried to reject you.”
His jaw tightens, his eyes flashing with something unreadable. Then, to my shock, he exhales sharply and steps back.
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Chapter 17
“I won’t ever accept your rejection,” he says, his voice rough, controlled. “But I will let you leave freely.”
My breath catches in my throat.
That’s it?
He’s just… letting me go?
Jack turns toward the door, and for a fleeting moment, I think it’s over–that he’s truly walking away.
But then-
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Something heavy drops at my feet with a dull thud.
My bag of gold. The one his men had taken from me.
My eyes widen. I drop my gaze to the bag, my fingers twitching at my sides.
Jack folds his arms, watching me. “That’s yours, isn’t it? Nothing inside is missing. Take it and leave.” He tilts his head, a smirk playing at his lips, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “But if you dare come back to my pack… or if you fall into my arms again, I won’t give you a second chance to escape. So, dear mate, make sure you run as far away from me as you can.”
I swallow hard. This… this isn’t what I expected. I expected him to chain me to a bed, demand my submission, and use his strength to bend me until I had no choice but to give in. That’s what alphas like him do, isn’t it? Dominate. Conquer. Take.
But instead… he’s letting me go.
My heart flutters despite my resistance, and my wolf howls in protest. Don’t leave mate. Stay. We need him. He needs us.
I grit my teeth and shove her voice to the back of my mind. No. I will not be weak. I will not let the mate bond decide my fate.
Without a word, I bend down, grab the bag of gold, and straighten. I don’t hesitate. I don’t let myself look at him any longer than necessary.
I turn on my heel and walk out the door.
Even though my heart is screaming at me to stop.
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