Chapter 47
Chapter 47
We walk back to the house in silence, the cold night air wrapping around us as we move along the moonlit path. I had asked Jack if we could skip the carriage–1 needed the fresh air, something to clear the chaos in my head. He didn’t ask questions, just nodded and walked beside me.
By the time we reach the house, my limbs are heavy with exhaustion. I don’t wait for him to open the door–1 push it open myself, step inside, and head straight to the bedroom.
The moment lenter, I begin kicking off my heels. The dress feels suffocating and I reach behind me, fingers fumbling with the zipper as I start to peef it
of
But halfway through tugging it down my hips, I feel it–that unmistakable sensation of eyes burning into my back, I pause, frown, and glance over my shoulder, only to blink in disbelief.
“What the hell, Jack?” 1 sputter, yanking the dress back up–even though I know it’s already too late.
“What?” he says innocently, eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Can’t you see I’m undressing?”
He grins–full–blown and devilish. “Exactly, would be a shame to miss the show.”
My jaw drops as my cheeks flood with heat. “Get out, you pervert!”
“This is my room too, sweetheart.”
1 gape at him. “Wait–what do you mean your room?”
Jack shrugs off his jacket, tossing it over a chair, and begins unbuttoning his shirt like this is the most normal thing in the world.
“There’s only one bedroom in the entire house, Kali.”
“What?!” I nearly trip on the damn dress. “Didn’t you plan for–children’s rooms or something? You know, with your future mate?”
“I didn’t,” he says smoothly. “I figured I’d enjoy my mate first before we start popping out pups.” His gaze flickers down my body, hot and teasing. “But now that you’ve brought it up, I don’t mind practicing the act of making them.” He winks.
“Jack!” I squeal, grabbing the nearest object–a pillow–and hurling it at him.
He catches it mid–air, laughing like this is the best entertainment he’s had all week.
Mortified, I rush to the drawer Jasmine had filled earlier and yank out a soft cotton top and matching shorts. I’dart into the bathroom and slam the door behind me, locking it with a shaky hand. My heart is racing as I quickly change, muttering curses under my breath.
When I finally emerge, I nearly drop dead.
Jack is shirtless, sprawled across the bed like some Greek god drunk on confidence. His muscles flex with every slow breath, golden skin glowing under the dim light. I try not to look. I fail. And the way his arm is tucked behind his head like he’s posing for a magazine doesn’t help.
I just stand there awkwardly, clutching the hem of my shirt.
He pats the empty space beside him. “Come on, I don’t bite… unless you want me to.”
I roll my eyes but stay rooted in place. I know he bites hard.
“This isn’t the time to act shy. We’ve done worse, remember?”
My whole body flushes. Damn him. Damn him!
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Chapter 47
I cross the room and climb into bed, making sure there’s a healthy distance between us. I lie stiff as a board, silently freaking out. It’s the first time I’m actually sharing a bed with a man. I don’t even know where to put my hands.
Jack lets out a long sigh beside me.
“Stay far away from my uncle. He’s dangerous.”
The humor in the room vanishes like smoke sucked out by a vent.
I glance over. His jaw is clenched so tightly I can see the muscle ticking. It’s like he’s holding back the urge to snap something–or someone–in hall.
“Did he… did he do something to you?“I ask softly.
Jack’s eyes grow darker, shadows pooling in them. “He killed my father.” he says, voice flat, like he’s forcing each word past his teeth. “Tried to take the alpha position while my father was sick. Thought he could use his weakness to steal the title. But I was faster. Younger. Stronger. I’d already gotten my wolf, and I used it. Beat him. Broke his leg. That’s why he limps.”
I stay quiet, heart sinking.
“After that, he ran to the Alpha King for protection,” Jack continues. “And the bastard got it. Since then, we’ve had… clashes.” His fists clench. “One day I’ll end him.”
I don’t know what to say. I remember Fury’s warning–three men to fear. Now I know why Jack’s uncle tops the list.
“I’m not scared of anyone,” I say lightly, hoping to ease the tension. “Though, clearly, I have a gift for getting under people’s skin.”
Jack glances at me, the shadows softening. “You’re a stubborn little wolf.”
“Damn right,” I say with a playful smirk.
He chuckles, and for a moment, the heaviness in the air lifts but then he turns serious again, eyes shadowed with something deeper.
“I don’t want to lose you too. Like I lost the first…”
His voice trails off, raw and vulnerable.
“I know he had something to do with it. I just… can’t prove it.”
I know who he means. His first mate.
I bite my tongue, holding back more questions. His face is too raw. Too exposed. And for the first time, I realize–Jack bleeds too.
So I change the subject. “Hey, um… do you have a pack library or something?” I ask, trying to sound casual.
He blinks. “Yeah. Why?”
“Just bored,” I shrug. “Need something to read while you’re off being Alpha–y.”
“You want books?”
I nod, hiding my real motive.
“My private library has everything you need. It’s in the main pack building.”
He reaches to the nightstand and tosses me a heavy gold key. “It’s better than the public one. More… complete. Don’t lose it. That place is sacred.”
I clutch the key with a grateful smile, but my mind is elsewhere.
The necklace.
2/4
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Morning light pouts in through the curtains, warm and golden–but his side of the bed is cold.
Jack’s scent still lingers faintly on the pillow, but the space beside me is empty, as if he vanished with the night. I press my hand to where his body should’ve been, and the chill of the sheets makes something inside me ache in a way I don’t like.
No. Don’t go there, Kali. I shove the feeling down hard, swallowing it like a bitter pill knowing that I can’t afford to get attached.
Pulling the covers back, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, stand, and stretch. Today, I need to find answers. Not distractions. Not comfort. I need to find out what this necklace around my neck means—and why Jack’s uncle looked at it like it held the key to something ancient.
After a quick bath and dressing in something simple and easy to move in, I leave the house, locking the door behind me. I keep my hood up, walking with purpose toward the main pack building–but something in the distance catches my eye.
A figure moves along the dirt path ahead–slim, graceful. Familiar.
Jasmine?
She’s walking alone, far off, her steps uneven like her mind isn’t really in her body. I quicken my pace, calling out, “Jasmine!”
No response. She doesn’t turn around.
“Jasmine!” I shout again, louder this time–but it’s like she can’t hear me. Like she’s somewhere far away, locked inside herself. She keeps walking, slow and disconnected.
A strange heaviness forms in my stomach, and I
