JASMINE
The rest of my day was consumed by the gnawing emptiness left by Sebastianâs departure. It was a different kind of ache compared to when we were just dating. Back then, I missed him, sure, but it was a bearable kind of yearning.
Now, the mate bond made it feel like we were tethered by an unseen cord, and with every mile he moved away, it tugged harder at my heart. The pain was sharp and physical, replacing the simple longing of before, and it was amplified by the knowledge that he was in danger.
The pack house was stifling, so I sought solace in the garden. The floral fragrance barely managed to cut through the tight knot of tension in my chest.
I found my usual spot under the jasmine tree and sat down, trying to quell the turmoil within me. My mom named me Jasmine because she said I smelled like the flower when she first held meâsweet, with a hint of orchid and vanilla.
I tried to focus on the garden blooms, to let the scent of jasmine calm my restless mind. But every deep breath I took seemed to tighten the knot in my chest. It wasnât just Sebastianâs absence. Something felt off.
There was a persistent feeling at the back of my mind, like a whisper I couldnât quite make out. My bond with Sebastian felt strained, and although I couldnât pinpoint why, the sensation grew heavier with each passing minute.
As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I realized I wasnât alone. Aaron was nearby, sitting on a bench and staring at the horizon. My heart fluttered at the sight of him. He seemedâ¦preoccupied, his mind clearly wrestling with something significant.
I could almost hear the cogs whirring in his head.
âWhatâs on your mind?â I asked.
He turned at the sound of my voice, his usually serene face lined with worry. He motioned for me to join him, his gaze still fixed on the horizon as if it held the answers he was seeking.
âIâve been thinkingâ¦about us. About everything,â he said.
I sat next to him but didnât touch him, sensing the gravity of what he was trying to convey.
âIâm not sure Iâm cut out for this, Jasmine.â His voice was soft but laced with doubt. âUniting the packs⦠Itâs bigger than me. Maybe I canâtââ
His words trailed off, but I could feel the burden he was placing on himself. It was the Scire wayâcelebrating their wisdom but also bearing their perceived failures alone.
The Scire were like that. They took responsibility for themselves. They were the ones with wisdom, and while they were known for celebrating their glories, they also martyred themselves for their failures.
I gently laid my hand over his, interrupting his words with the warmth of my touch. I could feel the tension between us, not just from the weight of the responsibility but from something deeper.
Aaronâs vulnerability was raw, but beneath it, there was an undeniable connectionâa longing that neither of us could ignore.
âI know it seems impossible, unattainable. But you donât have to do this alone. I donât expect you to carry this burden alone. Weâre in this togetherâthe four of us.â
My words were steady, but inside, my heart was pounding in anticipation. His eyes turned toward me, and for the first time in this conversation, I saw himâtruly saw him.
His gaze was conflicted, but I could feel the desire simmering beneath the surface.
âBut what if Iâm the one who breaks this? What ifâ¦Iâm not enough for you?â His voice wavered slightly, revealing the fear he tried so hard to hide.
Without thinking, I brought my hand to his face, cradling it gently.
âYouâre more than enough, Aaron. I need you. Not just because of the packs, but because I love you.â
My words held a weight of their own, and I saw the hesitation in his eyes falter.
There was a moment of silence between us before he moved closer. His breath hitched as our faces hovered just inches apart, the tension crackling like electricity between us.
His lips brushed mine, gentle at first, as if he was testing the waters. But the softness quickly gave way to something moreâsomething deeper.
Aaronâs kiss wasnât just about connection; it was filled with need. His hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer with a desperation I hadnât expected. The kiss deepened, and I could feel his restraint unraveling. There was love, yesâbut there was also a desire that he could no longer hold back.
As I pulled him closer, our bodies melded together, each curve and angle fitting perfectly. His hands clung to my waist, as if he were scared Iâd vanish into thin air.
I reassured him with every touch, every breath, that I was here to stay.
The kiss was more than just a promiseâit was an admission. A raw, painful truth heâd never dared to voice. When we finally broke apart, both gasping for air, his forehead rested against mine.
In his eyes, I saw the love heâd been holding back for so long.
âIâll try, Jasmine. For youâfor us. Iâll do whatever it takes,â he said. His voice was soft, but this time, it was filled with a determination that hadnât been there before.
I thought talking to Aaron would lift the weight off my shoulders, but Sebastianâs absence still felt like a crushing burden. The pain seemed to intensify with each passing second.
I tried to lose myself in training, pushing my body to its limits. But no amount of physical exertion could silence the ache in my heart.
It wasnât just the guilt of holding back or the complexities of our situationâit was something more profound. My mate bond with Sebastian felt like a thread stretched to its breaking point.
The scent of saltwater and mint, fresh and intoxicating, snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to find Erik watching me, his expression a mix of tenderness and worry.
âHey,â he greeted, his voice a blend of warmth and something he couldnât quite put into words.
âHey. I thought you already trained today,â I said, walking toward him.
His frustration was evident in the way he rubbed his neck.
âItâs my third session,â he said. He exhaled. âI justâ¦training helps me clear my head.â
I could see the struggle in his eyes, the words he was grappling to express.
âMinnie, itâs not just about trainingâ¦â He trailed off, searching for the right words.
I understood what he was trying to say. The mate bond was a primal force, pulling at both of us. It wasnât just emotional; it was physical.
The bond between mates only fully formed after matingâa line we hadnât crossed yet.
The wolves needed the mate bond. It was our deepest connection with them, our soul intertwined with another. And the bond only fully formed after mating.
After sex.
And we hadnât done it yetâany of the three.
Erik, more than the others, was feeling the strain. His wolf yearned for that final bond, the completeness that only mating could provide.
âI know, Erik. Itâs not like we neverâ¦you know. But right now, with everything going on, it feels like it might complicate things even more.â My voice wavered, betraying the fear Iâd been trying to hide.
Everything was moving too fast and too slow all at once.
Erik moved closer, his gaze locked on mine, his hand lightly brushing my arm. âI get it. We almost⦠And I wonât lie, I wanted to. But things are different now.â
His words were filled with understanding, not frustration. Erik had always been the one who understood me best, the one who could read my heart like an open book.
âI donât want to make things harder for you.â
âYou wonât,â I whispered, struggling to keep my emotions in check.
Before I could say more, he pulled me close, his lips meeting mine with a desperate urgency. This kiss was nothing like Aaronâsâit was passionate, a fiery release of all the desires weâd tried to suppress.
But just as quickly, Erik pulled away, resting his forehead against mine. âWe donât have to rush. Iâll wait for you. Always.â
His promise hung in the air between us, a pledge of patience, even though I could feel the tension in his body, the way he yearned for more but held back.
He wrapped me in a tight hug, his chin resting on my head, and for the first time since Sebastian left, I felt a sense of peace.
But the tranquility was short-lived. A sharp, agonizing pain tore through my chest, stealing my breath.
It wasnât just physical; it was the bondâmy mate bond, twisted and strained as if fighting to stay intact. A wave of suffocating dread washed over me, leaving no room for doubt.
One of them was in danger.
A matter of life or death.
~Sebastianâ¦~