Chapter 9: Chapter 9

JASMINE

I’d just finished my workout and was hoping the shower would wash away my frustration. But it didn’t. The ache was still there—a silent scream inside me that I wanted to direct at all three of them.

I loved them so much. But love, it seemed, wasn’t enough to untangle the intricate, complicated knots that bound us together.

I was heading back to my room when something drew me—an invisible yet undeniable force, guiding me to the library. I didn’t need to guess whose sanctuary it was.

Aaron. The door gave a slight creak as I entered the large room, its shelves stacked high with books. My body moved toward him as if on autopilot, drawn by something deeper than just our bond.

There he was—leaning casually against a table, dressed in simple clothes. But the sight of him made my heart skip a beat. His brow was furrowed in concentration as he studied a book in his hands.

I stopped, momentarily lost in watching him. Aaron’s sharp features softened as his eyes scanned the pages. Then, as if he could sense me just as I sensed him, his intense brown eyes met mine.

A small, familiar smile played on his lips. He put the book down, his expression softening, but a shadow of something deeper lingered in his gaze.

“Good to see you.” The words slipped out without hesitation. They were unplanned, a genuine confession.

“Good to see you too,” he replied, his voice carrying a weight that settled in my chest.

My gaze flickered over the books on the table, all opened to pages on mate bonds, prophecies, and magic. He was searching, trying to make sense of what we were going through.

“Any clues?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended as my eyes returned to his.

But Aaron looked away, his shoulders heavy with the burden of disappointment. “Nothing yet,” he said, his voice cracking just slightly, betraying the frustration he was trying to hide.

He turned away from me, moving to the window, as if the distance between us could somehow untangle the tension threading through our bond.

But I could feel the pull—our bond pulling him back even as he tried to retreat. And then something deeper tugged at my chest, an understanding dawning that made my stomach twist.

“I know what you’re planning,” I said softly.

His back stiffened, but he didn’t turn. I could feel the conflict in him, the way he was wrestling with himself.

“And don’t you dare think about it,” I added, forcing steel into my voice even as my heart broke.

He turned to face me then, his jaw set tight. “What do you think I’m planning? You didn’t get it right last time.” His voice held a faint challenge, but beneath it was the quiet desperation I knew too well.

But I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t hold back from saying the words that were so painful to utter.

“You’re trying to rationalize it,” I began, feeling the weight of each word. “Looking for some way out of this madness. You think that if you reject me, then I’ll have an easier choice to make. That I’ll choose one of the others and…follow your father’s plan.”

Aaron’s eyes darted away again, his silence confirming what I already knew. My throat tightened, and my heart ached for the pain he was carrying alone.

“Do you feel it?” I whispered, stepping closer, my voice so quiet that it was barely audible.

His gaze snapped back to me, wide and intense. “That feeling you have for me…it’s the same as what I feel for you.”

I took another step, closing the distance between us. His scent—woody and warm, like cinnamon—filled my senses, grounding me.

“It’s the same, Aaron. I couldn’t live without you, just like you couldn’t live without me.” My voice trembled, but I didn’t stop. “And I couldn’t bear it if you rejected me. It would destroy us both.”

I reached out, placing my hands gently on his chest. I felt the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palms, the steady rhythm stuttering as I rose on my toes, so close now that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my face.

“Don’t even think about leaving me,” I whispered.

For a moment, Aaron stood there, frozen, his eyes locked on mine as if he were searching for something, anything, to hold on to.

Then, finally, the tension drained from him like a dam breaking. His breath hitched, his lips parted, but no words came. He was too overwhelmed, too tangled in the emotions swirling between us. He sighed, his voice barely above a whisper. “There’s no easy way out of this, is there?”

I responded softly, “You said it yourself, it’s not meant to be easy.”

A weak smile flickered across his face, but his eyes were still filled with uncertainty. I reached out, intertwining my fingers with his, and gently kissed his hand. The simple act made him shudder slightly.

“I know you believe that because my bond with them is both physical and emotional, and ours is more cerebral, it somehow makes it less…significant. But, Aaron, it doesn’t. In fact, I think it’s the most powerful bond of all.”

He looked at me then, really looked at me, as if he were seeing something he hadn’t allowed himself to believe before.

“I’d do anything for you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You know that, right?”

I nodded, but the words I wanted to say were lodged in my throat. Instead, I rested my head against his chest, letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat ease my inner turmoil.

Sleep eluded me that night. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—Aaron’s words, Sebastian’s warmth, Erik’s touch. It wasn’t a painful kind of heartache, but a realization that I needed them. All of them. They weren’t just parts of my life anymore; they were parts of me.

The moonlight filtered through the window, casting soft shadows across the room, but it did nothing to quiet my racing thoughts. After what felt like an eternity, I gave up on trying to sleep.

My body was yearning for something…someone.

I considered making tea, but I knew that wasn’t what I needed. I needed comfort, warmth—something only they could provide.

Before I could second-guess myself, I found myself wandering down the silent hallway. My feet seemed to know where to go even before my mind did.

Three doors. Three choices.

I stopped in front of Erik’s door, my hand hovering over the wood. Why had I come here? Why was he the one I needed tonight? There was something about him—something about the way he saw me, understood me—that felt right.

Before I could knock, the door opened, and Erik stood there, his hair tousled from sleep, his eyes soft but alert. “Jasmine?” His voice was low, husky from sleep, and it sent a wave of calm through me that I didn’t even know I needed.

“I…I couldn’t sleep,” I confessed, feeling vulnerable standing there.

But before I could say more, Erik stepped aside, silently inviting me in.

His room was simple, but the air was warm, filled with his scent—earthy, strong, comforting. I took a deep breath, feeling some of the tension leave my body.

Erik’s hand gently brushed my back as he closed the door behind me. The simple touch sent a shiver through me. He looked down at me, his expression unreadable but soft.

“Come here,” he whispered, guiding me toward the bed.

I hesitated, but he pulled back the covers, patting the spot next to him in a gesture so simple, yet so heavy with meaning.

I slid into the bed, the warmth of his body immediately calling to me. Erik lay beside me, his presence comforting without touching me at first, just breathing steadily beside me.

But I needed more. I moved closer, resting my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath me.

His arm wrapped around my shoulders, and in that moment, everything—every worry, every confusion—seemed to fade.

He kissed the top of my head, a gesture so tender and familiar it felt like home.

“Better?” His voice was a gentle rumble against my ear.

“Yes,” I whispered back. “Much better.”

For the first time in days, I felt truly at peace.

The morning light filtered into the room, gently waking me. I blinked a few times before realizing I was still wrapped in Erik’s arms.

It had been the best night’s sleep I’d had in…longer than I could remember. I stretched slightly, and when I looked up, Erik was watching me, his honey-colored eyes filled with something that made my breath catch—adoration, care…maybe even love.

His fingers trailed gently down my nose, tracing lines with a soft caress.

“Did you sleep better?” he asked, his tone laced with genuine concern.

“Much better. The night before, I barely slept at all,” I admitted, still a little groggy but comforted by his presence.

“I was worried about that,” Erik confessed, his fingers gently grazing my cheeks. “You’re too flawless to be losing sleep. It’s as if you were sketched by the Moon herself, you know?”

His words coaxed a smile from me. I nestled my face into his chest, allowing myself to simply exist in that moment, basking in his warmth.

“I missed you so much,” I found myself whispering. The words tumbled out before I could rein them in, and once they were free, all the pent-up emotions came rushing back.

Erik’s hand, which had been tenderly tracing my face, shifted to my jaw. His thumb swept over my lips—a gesture so familiar it sent a ripple of anticipation coursing through me.

My breath hitched, my heart pounded. My body yearned to bridge the gap, to feel him, to taste him. But doubts niggled at the back of my mind. Was this the right moment? Would this only muddle things further?

Yet, somewhere deep within, I knew we were already in a mess. Nothing about us had ever been simple.

Erik bridged the gap between us, but this kiss was different from our previous ones—those had been fueled by passion and desire. This one was gentle, almost pleading.

His lips against mine sent a wave of warmth through me, and for the first time, it felt like my heart was complete. His kiss was the missing piece of a puzzle I hadn’t even realized was incomplete.

My hands found their way to his neck, drawing him closer as his fingers traced every inch of my skin, sending jolts of electricity through me. His lips journeyed down to my neck, leaving a blazing trail behind.

“You couldn’t have missed me more than I missed you,” he murmured against my skin, his words sounding like a solemn promise.

As was always the case with Erik, things escalated quickly. The tension in the air was palpable, the chemistry between us undeniable.

I could feel his arousal against my legs, and my body responded to his every touch, making my hair stand on end. My own excitement was a liquid heat trickling down my legs.

He gently rolled me onto my back and blanketed my body with his. His eyes, always filled with adoration, now blazed with passion, clouded with lust.

His hand tentatively reached the hem of my nightgown, as if seeking my consent. His fingers brushed against my bare skin, sending electric shocks through me that made it difficult to breathe.

His gaze never left mine. “Is this okay?” he asked softly.