Chapter 3: Chapter 3

JASMINE

I turned around and saw Aaron leaning casually against one of the columns, a glass of whiskey dangling from his fingertips. He wore a suit with a coat draped over it, making him look even more sophisticated and smart than usual.

Aaron’s pack, the Scire, was famous for their universities and their endless pursuit of knowledge. Everyone wanted an alliance with them—because who wouldn’t want the smartest wolves on their side?

In fact, one of our mining systems had been perfected by Aaron’s father, Theodore.

“A little overwhelming, but I expected nothing less from my first ball,” I admitted, slowly walking toward him.

Aaron shrugged, flashing me that smile—the one that always made my heart skip a beat. If my pulse had been racing before, now it was practically sprinting.

“I know exactly what you’re about to say,” I told him, meeting his narrow brown eyes.

“You do?” He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. “All right then, Jasmine, enlighten me.”

Aaron always had a way of challenging me, pushing me to think deeper, to feel more. He never used nicknames for me—just Jasmine or my queen.

Just remembering the way he said ~my queen~ sent chills down my spine, and for a second, I almost forgot what I was about to say.

I bit my lower lip, smiling softly as I sighed.

“You’re going to say my night would’ve been easier if I hadn’t dated my three best friends, and maybe the four of us could’ve actually enjoyed tonight together,” I said, stepping even closer, secretly craving the scent I’d missed so much.

Cinnamon with a hint of leather—it was warm, comforting, and dangerously addictive.

Aaron tilted his head slightly, sighing as he smiled down at the floor before slowly lifting his gaze back to mine.

“Maybe before we got together, I would’ve said that. But after experiencing what we had, I can honestly say your scenario would be impossible.” His words stole my breath, and suddenly there was a lump in my throat that made it hard to swallow.

“You think it’s impossible for us to be friends again?” I asked quietly, afraid of what he might say.

But Aaron shook his head gently. “No, Jasmine. I think it’s impossible for us to be just friends.”

“No, we’ve always gotten along well. The impossible part is resisting you,” he said, his eyes locked onto mine, making heat rush to my cheeks. He smirked, taking another slow sip of his whiskey.

“You resisted just fine when you broke up with me last month,” I blurted out without thinking, instantly regretting how harsh it sounded.

“Touché.” Aaron looked away, turning his attention toward the dance floor, as if analyzing every person who passed by—but I knew him better than that; he was lost in his own thoughts.

“You don’t really think I broke up with you because I stopped liking you, do you?” he asked softly.

I didn’t answer, instead staring out at the crowd, wishing I could escape this conversation—but Aaron always pushed me to face my feelings head-on.

“I broke up with you because seeing you beside me, knowing you could belong to someone else… I couldn’t handle it. I’ve always made decisions thinking about what’s best for everyone else, but this time, I had to be selfish. Because I knew I couldn’t stand it.”

His eyes found mine again, shining with a mix of nostalgia and affection.

“You know me too well, Jasmine,” he said softly, his voice teasing, like he had a secret I wasn’t in on. “But you missed one thing.” He paused, holding my gaze. “I’d never change a thing. Even if we aren’t together tonight the way we once were, I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.”

His words hit me harder than I expected, filling me with warmth but also a heaviness I couldn’t quite shake. I didn’t know how to respond, and before I could find the words, he spoke again.

“You look stunning tonight, by the way,” Aaron said quietly, his voice softer, more intimate. “Regal. Like a true ~queen~.” His lips curled into that half smile that always drove me crazy, and for a moment, the rest of the world seemed to disappear.

I laughed softly, trying to brush off the intensity of his compliment, even though butterflies were fluttering wildly in my stomach. “Thanks, Aaron. You’re not looking too bad yourself.”

There was a quiet pause between us, the kind of silence that spoke louder than words ever could. Aaron and I had always shared this strange connection—something deeper than logic, deeper than reason.

But tonight, with the Moon Ball looming over us, everything felt heavier, more intense. It wasn’t just about my pack anymore—it was about my heart too.

Aaron stepped closer, and I felt his presence like a magnet, pulling me toward him without even trying. “Jasmine, you know…tonight isn’t just about finding your mate,” he said softly, his voice low and secretive.

“It’s about the choices you make. About deciding what kind of alpha you want to be.”

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden seriousness in his tone. Aaron had always been the planner, the thinker, the one who saw life as a chessboard.

But tonight, I wasn’t sure I was ready to play his game.

“I know,” I whispered, looking away as my thoughts spun wildly. “But knowing doesn’t make any of this easier.”

“It’s not supposed to be easy,” Aaron said gently, his hand brushing lightly against mine. That simple touch sent electricity racing through my veins, waking up every nerve in my body. “But whatever happens tonight, Jasmine, don’t forget—you were born to lead. With or without a mate.”

His words filled me with strength, the kind of strength only Aaron could give me. It came from years of friendship, from knowing each other better than anyone else.

I opened my mouth to respond, but suddenly the entire room fell silent. The ceiling above us slowly opened, revealing her—huge, glowing, and breathtakingly beautiful.

Our guest of honor, the Moon.

“It’s time,” Aaron said softly, his voice echoing deep inside my chest as he gestured toward the dance floor.

He waited for me to move first, and I felt him close behind me as we stepped forward. The ballroom was filled with young people, all of us waiting, all of us hoping tonight would be the night we found our mates.

Aaron stayed close beside me, but my eyes wandered, searching the crowd. My heart skipped when I caught Sebastian’s bright blue eyes to my right, and then Erik’s warm honey-colored gaze to my left.

It was finally happening.

Maybe tonight would be the night, or maybe we’d have to wait until the next ball. But the fact that the four of us were the same age, experiencing our first Moon Ball together, made everything feel so much more important.

Because if one of these three guys was my mate, tonight was the night we’d finally know. Right now.

My heart pounded wildly, my thoughts spinning out of control. This was it—the moment I’d been waiting for my entire life.

But before I could fully grasp the weight of what was happening, I felt it.

A tingling sensation spread through my arms and legs, warmth flooding my chest. I was suddenly overwhelmed with passion, love, peace, and desire—all at once.

And then…

A tug. A deep, undeniable pull right in the center of my chest.

It felt like a string had been tied around my heart, pulling tighter and tighter with every passing second.

My breath caught in my throat as I spun around, frantically scanning the room, desperate to find the source of that powerful pull.

My heart raced faster, unsure if I was looking for Erik, Sebastian, Aaron—or maybe someone I’d never even met before.

And then, I felt it again. Stronger this time, more intense.

Like my soul was being drawn toward someone.

Or maybe…toward three someones.