Chapter 37
It feels like the air has been knocked out of my lungs, just stand there, frozen, my heart pounding far too hard against my chest.
Did: hear that right?
Live here? Win his heart? Be his?
My eyes instinctively flick to Jack–and for the briefest moment, I swear–I see it. The faintest twitch at the corner of his lips. A damn smile–or is it a
smirk?
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And just like that, it’s gone–vanished like it was never there. But I saw it.
Something twists painfully in my chest.
is he… enjoying this?
“Focus on what really matters,” my wolf growls inside my head, her voice sharp and jagged like broken glass. “Mate rejected the Alpha King’s offer–for us. Stop gawking like some jealous fool and claim him. He chose you. Stop being stupid. Accept him. Let him mark us now so we can throw that bitch out
before she takes what’s ours.”
But before I can respond, Jack’s voice cuts through the tension, deep and laced with something I can’t quite place.
Authority? Anger?
Or… protectiveness?
“What you’re asking is impossible, Lady Celestia,” he says firmly, his eyes never leaving hers. “I don’t even know how you found this place… but you’re not staying here. You can’t live with us. This house,” he gestures behind him, “was built for my mate and me to live in peace. You’re not welcome here. You don’t belong.”
My breath catches again–but this time, not from shock.
Us. Peace.
His words melt through my bones like warmth I didn’t know I needed. I can’t stop staring at him–that strong jaw, those unwavering eyes that only look
at me.
Is he really this protective… or is this just another illusion I’m foolish enough to believe?
Celestia scoffs. “Do I need to remind you of the gravity of this situation?” she says, her voice soaked in false concern. “Your little mutt laid hands on the future Luna Queen. She assaulted the only living heir to the throne. For her sake, I suggest you choose your next move carefully, Jack. Because I won’t be here, sure–but neither will your precious mate. I’ll have my father pierce a knife through her heart before the week is over.”
That’s it.
Enough.
“I don’t give a damn if your father is the Alpha King!” I snap without a second thought “You are not staying in this house. Over my dead body will that ever happen.”
Celestia’s mouth falls open in shock. Even Jack looks taken aback too, like he didn’t expect me to say anything–let alone that.
Good.
I’m just getting started.
“You want me gone?” I hiss, glaring into her cold, smug eyes. “Fine. Drag me to him, if you’ve got the balls. Let’s see who ends up with a knife in their
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chest Let’s see how that ends for you.”
Jack shots beside me, jew tight–but then a desk, dangerous grin spread across his face. That rare and of prood smirk.
“You heard her,” he says coldby: “And my decision stands. Nothing is changing”
He adjusts his stanon, eyes hard and unreadable, “if you want to take this to your father, Celestia, then go ahead. I don’t mind going to war with the Apha King of that’s what & takes to protect her.”
My head whips to him “Jack, you’d go to war–”
But Celestia cuts me off, her voice thick with disbelief. “You’re willing to lose everything for a woman who doesn’t even bear your mark? She hasn’t even called you her mate. This isn’t love, Jack. This is you forcing yourself on someone who clearly doesn’t want you.”
She steps closer, her voice sharper now. “You’re an Alpha. Yet you can’t even control your own mate? What will others think? You’re throwing your reputation away And innocent warriors will die—for someone who won’t even stand beside you.”
“She’s the one person the Moon Goddess created for me to protect,” he says. “And I will protect her–no matter the cost. If shedding innocent blood is the price…so be it”
My heart nearly leaps out of my chest.
No, no–he can’t mean that.
I step forward, grabbing his arm. “Jack, I hiss. “We need to talk. Alone.
He opens his mouth–probably to argue–but I don’t wait. I don’t care that Lady Celestia is still standing there like some porcelain statue, watching me drag him away like a woman possessed.
I tighten my grip on his wrist and march down the hallway. I throw open the bedroom door and pull him inside, slamming it shut behind us. I stare up at him, his eyes narrow, but he doesn’t say a word at first.
Then, he scoffs–low and dangerous–and steps toward me with slow strides.
“You shouldn’t ever drag me away like that again,” Jack growls, stopping just inches from me. His body heat pours into mine, his presence overwhelming in the most distracting way. “Not in front of others. It sends the wrong message–makes them think you hold the power. That you’re the dominant one.”
1 blink up at him, his piercing gaze stealing the words right out of my mouth.
His scent–dark, earthy, intoxicating–wraps around me. I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry.
1–I’m sorry,” I mutter. “But you can’t go to war… not because of me. Not when your warriors–Jack, they’ll die.”
He leans closer, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “That’s all you wanted to say?” he murmurs. “That’s why you dragged me in here? Because for a moment… I thought you were finally ready to be claimed.”
His eyes drop to my lips, and heat surges to my cheeks. Damn him. Damn that voice. That look. That scent.
“This is serious, Jack,” I say, struggling to keep my thoughts straight. “You can’t fight the Alpha King over me. Do you even realize how many lives it would cost? How much blood would be spilled?”
“If that’s the price to protect you, then yes–I’ll pay it.” His voice is so calm, it makes me shiver. “Besides, weren’t you the one who said you weren’t afraid of him? As if your own life isn’t on the line too?“/
I exhale sharply and take a step back. “It’s different. This is who I am. I don’t bow–to anyone. Not even the Alpha King. But that doesn’t mean I want a damn war started in my name.”
“So what?” he snaps. “You’d rather I stand by while he rips you apart?” He steps closer again, towering over me. “Celestia is serious, Kali. If she doesn’t get what she wants, she’ll drag you to her father. And you know what will happen then.”
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look away, the truth weighing heavy on my chest.
“Fine,” I whisper. “Let her stay. One month. That’s all she gets. After that, she’s gone.”
Jack’s eyes flash with something unreadable. “She won’t leave after a month, Kali. Not if she sees I haven’t claimed you. Not if there’s no mark. She’ll see that as an opportunity and keep pushing.”
My heart thuds faster. “Then what do you suggest we do, Jack?” I murmur, lowering my gaze to my open palm. My voice is barely a breath. “What do you want from me?”
He lifts his hand and gently tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes.
“We make it work,” he says softly. “We take this one month and use it. Share a room. Build our connection. That’s the time I’ll give you to accept our bond. Don’t you think that’s fair?”
My lips part, but I can’t speak. My throat is too dry. “That’s… moving too fast.”
His brows rise slightly.
“Fine. We’ll share a room–but not a bed. And I mean it. We take things slow. I need to know who you really are before I give myself to something so… irreversible.”
He runs a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his face. “And how do we do that, exactly? Get to know each other… slowly?”
I draw in a breath. “Let’s… date.”
Jack blinks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “What does that even mean?”
I blink back. “You don’t know what dating is?”
He tilts his head. “No. Should I?”
I almost laugh, but there’s too much tension. “I read about it in a book. Humans–before they get married–they date. They spend time together. Learn if they’re compatible before they commit for life.”
Jack snorts. “Date? Like humans? Kali, we’re wolves. We don’t date. We mate. We mark. The moment we meet, we accept. That’s how the Moon Goddess designed us.”
I lift my chin and meet his eyes. “Take it or leave it, Jack. It’s all I can offer… until I’m sure about you.”
A long silence stretches between us before he exhales a low growl under his breath.
“Fine.”
Before I can react, his arm wraps around my waist and he pulls me closer. I gasp, my heart skipping a beat as his forehead nearly touches mine.
But then his eyes glaze over, and I know immediately–he’s mind–linking someone. A second later, he pulls back, jaw tight.
“I have to go. My Beta, Khads, needs me. It’s urgent.“/
My blood runs cold.
Khaos?
My heart drops. That word. That name. His hands around my neck, calling me a bitch like I was nothing.
Desperate to change the subject, I blurt out, “Jack… is it true? That your Beta is your twin sister’s mate?“.
I go stiff.
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Jack notiens immediately.“kali?”
He studies my face. “Do you know my Beta? Have you met him before?”
Horce a weak laugh and shake my head. “No,” 1lle smoothly. “I’ve never met him.”
He doesn’t look convinced. “Hmm.”
I scramble for a distraction. “Jack… is it true? That your Beta is your twin sister’s mate?”
His face changes slightly. “How do you know that? Did Jasmine tell you?”
“No,” I lie again quickly. Just a guess. But… maybe you should check on her. Make sure she’s okay–with her mate, I mean.”
His eyes darken. “Let me tell you this once, Kali. No one interferes between mates. No one. That’s a rule in this pack. A rule I made.”
“But you’re the Alpha,” I argue, frowning. “She’s your sister. That has to count for something.”
“It doesn’t,” he snarls. “Alpha or not, she’s a mated female. Her mate is responsible for her now. I’m sure she’s in good hands. And whatever he chooses to do… it’s not my business.”
With that, he throws the door open and walks out, leaving me standing there alone.
1 stare after him, heat crawling up my chest–not from anger, but fear.
“That’s exactly why I’m scared,” I whisper into the silence. “Because what if… what if you’re worse than him
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