Chapter 6: Chapter 6

JASMINE

The room fell into a hush after I spoke. My words hung heavy in the air, a silence so thick you could cut it with a knife. No one dared to shatter the quiet, the gravity of my statement lingering.

“Your sentiments are touching, Jasmine, but they lack practicality.” Theodore’s voice sliced through the silence, icy and unyielding. I should have known he’d be the one to speak up.

“I don’t think the mate bond has to be practical,” I retorted, struggling to keep my voice steady against the rising tide of frustration.

“When it involves an ordinary wolf, maybe. But when it’s a wolf destined to find her alpha as a mate, we have a problem.” Theodore leaned in, an air of superiority surrounding him. “You didn’t just find any wolf; you found three alphas. This is a situation we’ve never faced before. If we were to entertain your fairytale dreams and consider this absurdity, we’d have to unite the Four Packs.”

The annoyance Theodore sparked in me was tangible. But his point was hard to refute. If we were to stay together, merging the four packs seemed like the only logical solution. The room, once silent, was now filled with whispers, their voices a discordant symphony that only amplified my feeling of being trapped.

I could feel the collective scrutiny of the council members bearing down on me.

“Enough.” Erik’s commanding voice echoed through the room, demanding attention. The room fell silent again, the echo of his voice resonating within me.

“We’ve just found out that we are mates, and now you believe you have the right to dictate our next steps?” Erik’s tone was firm, his authority unquestionable.

“We are your parents,” Ragnar attempted to interject.

“And you brought us up to make our own choices and lead our packs. The mate bond is our business.” Erik’s defense sent a wave of relief washing over me. His unwavering stance was a lighthouse in the storm.

“You can’t seriously be thinking about merging the four packs, can you, Erik?” Ragnar challenged him directly.

“I don’t know, Father,” Erik responded, his voice tired but determined. “But it’s been a stressful and difficult night for all of us. We need time to think this through.”

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken fears and unresolved issues.

“We have the best wizards in our pack. Let them examine the case and see if there’s any prophecy about this situation,” Sebastian suggested, his words sending a shiver down my spine. “Remember, this bond was created by the Goddess herself. Going against it is not just defying our beliefs; it’s disregarding something sacred. There are four lives at stake here, not just a business arrangement.”

My father’s eyes met mine, pain and uncertainty etched into his features. “And in the meantime?” he asked, his voice a blend of worry and resignation.

“We all know what happens if mates are separated without rejection.” Aaron’s words sent a chill through me, the fear of the consequences stark and real.

If mates were separated without rejection, they began to suffer—discomfort, illness, and eventually death.

“So the most sensible course of action is for us to move to Aurum and stay close to Jasmine until we figure this out. The Wolfhearts will use their magic, the Scire their knowledge, and the Bellator will reinforce the guard at the Aurum Pack House. We’re not just dealing with one future alpha; we’re dealing with four,” Aaron concluded. Each alpha nodded in agreement.

In that moment, I allowed myself to appreciate how each of them, with their unique strengths and qualities, was fighting to make this work. The warmth in my chest was different—a mix of gratitude and something deeper.

“Is that okay with you, William? Spending this initial period in your pack?” Aaron asked my father.

He sighed deeply, his resolve evident as he nodded. “No problem.”

“Great. We’ll stay in touch,” Aaron said, standing up. Sebastian and Erik followed suit, their shared determination evident.

***

My parents had to stay at the party, as did the other alphas. It was the night that the wolves found their mates, and it was important for the alphas to bless the newly formed couples. But I simply couldn’t stay there.

Each of us grabbed our suitcases from the council apartment, and we headed toward my pack. Questions swarmed my thoughts, multiplying with each step I took. I yearned to trust that we could make this work—that our connection was strong enough. Yet, the responsibility of leading four packs loomed over me like a dark cloud.

Could love truly bridge the gap, or was I just fooling myself? My heart yearned for them—all of them—but my mind was more realistic. Three packs, three different paths. Could we ever truly find unity, or were we doomed to fracture before we even started?

I was uncertain, but I knew one thing: the three of them would stand by me. And that was the most comforting feeling. My whole world was split into three parts.

The moon was still casting its glow when we arrived. Dawn would break soon. The dark night added an extra layer of mystery to my familiar pack. The iron gates, the stone walls, and my well-known pack house stood ready to welcome us.

We stepped out of the car, filled with the uncertainties that this shared living would bring. The air was thick with a blend of anticipation and unease. I noticed some staff members watching us, their expressions a mix of curiosity and respect. But I was too drained to explain. I simply used the respect they had for me and walked in.

Followed by them, who were carrying our luggage, I moved through the house with such familiarity that I didn’t even have to think. I climbed the stairs but stopped dead in my tracks in front of my bedroom door.

Where would they sleep? If I were to indulge my deepest desire, I would want to sleep enveloped by them. For a moment, I pictured myself nestled in Erik’s arms, with Sebastian spooning me and Aaron lying between my legs. That was my idea of heaven.

But reality quickly pulled me back, leaving me standing in front of my bedroom door.

“We’ve all been here before. What do you think about staying in the front rooms? They’re guest rooms, right?” Sebastian broke the silence, and I silently thanked him for it.

“Yes, they are,” I responded and turned around, but instantly regretted it. Facing the three of them so close, their scents so potent, their gazes so intense, I was at a loss. I didn’t know how to react, who to look at. I was a whirlwind of emotions.

“I’m really tired, and…” I began, hugging myself awkwardly, rubbing my arms.

“We feel it and…” Aaron started. He stepped forward, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear and gently lifting my chin with his fingertips, drawing my eyes to his.

“It’s us, Jasmine, never forget that,” Aaron said softly, and his meaning was crystal clear. Before they were my mates, they were my best friends. His words eased my anxieties with a clarity that only Aaron could provide, grounding me when my emotions threatened to consume me.

Erik, however, moved closer, his presence commanding, his voice laced with the raw emotion he’d been suppressing. “You never need to justify yourself,” he said. His intensity stirred something deep within me. He also stepped forward and opened the door behind me.

Then Sebastian, the calm amidst every storm, reached out, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “Don’t even pretend.”

I might have felt suffocated, but not with them. Even though the tension was still palpable, there was also comfort in the midst of it all.

“Good night,” I said, stepping back. I smiled and closed the door.

I barely reached the door before the weight of the night overwhelmed me. My hands shook as I pushed the door closed, the cool wood against my back barely grounding me.

My legs buckled, and I slid to the floor, knees pulled to my chest, heart pounding. I could still sense their presence—their scents, their warmth—but now, all I had was silence.

My body was worn out, but my mind was racing. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Why couldn’t I just… breathe?