Chapter 1
Jake Sullivan’s first act upon returning to the Burns pack after his three-year mission was to publicly sever our mate bond.
Rumors swirled that he had met a captivating red-haired Omega named Vanessa Cooper during his hunt for rogue werewolves. They had allegedly bonded over shared struggles, and now, he was determined to claim her as his mate.
I stood in the pack hall, my gaze fixed on the couple before me. Jake, once my closest confidant, now looked every inch the hardened warrior, his broad shoulders and chiseled features exuding an Alpha’s commanding presence. Beside him, Vanessa clung to his arm, her fiery hair and delicate features painting a picture of fragility and allure. Her eyes, a striking shade of amber, met mine with a flicker of triumph that she quickly masked behind a demure smile.
“Journi,” she began, her voice soft and sweet, “I just wanted to say how sorry I am—”
“Don’t,” I interrupted, my tone cold. “We’re not friends, Vanessa. Let’s keep it that way.”
Her lips trembled, and she pressed closer to Jake, who immediately wrapped a protective arm around her. His eyes, once warm and familiar, now bore into me with icy detachment.
“Journi,” he said, his voice low but firm, “this is between you and me. Vanessa has nothing to do with it.”
I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Really, Jake? Then why is she here, playing the victim?”
Vanessa’s eyes welled with tears, and she buried her face in Jake’s chest. “Jake, maybe I shouldn’t have come. I just wanted to make things right—”
“You’ve done nothing wrong,” Jake reassured her, his voice softening. He turned back to me, his expression hardening once more. “Journi, I’m ending this. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t deny what I feel for Vanessa.”
I stared at him, my chest tightening. This was the same man who had once promised to stand by me, who had shared countless memories with me. Now, he was choosing her.
“Jake,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me, “do you even remember what this bond meant? Or have you forgotten everything?”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, weathered leather pouch—the one I had given him before he left for his mission. Inside was a charm I had crafted, infused with scents meant to protect and guide him.
“Here,” he said, tossing it to me. “I don’t need this anymore.”
I caught it, the weight of it heavier than I remembered. Without a word, I turned and walked to the pack’s ceremonial firepit. I held the pouch over the flames, letting the heat consume it until nothing but ashes remained.
“Jake Sullivan,” I said, my voice ringing through the hall, “I, Journi Burns, reject you as my mate. May the Moon Goddess sever this bond and grant us both the freedom we seek.”
The words echoed in the silence that followed. Jake’s expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a steely resolve. He nodded once, then turned to leave, Vanessa trailing behind him like a shadow.
“Wait,” I called out, stopping him in his tracks. Vanessa glanced back, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.
“Yes?” Jake asked, his tone clipped.
I pointed to the charm bracelet on Vanessa’s wrist—the one I had given him years ago as a token of our bond. “That’s mine. Give it back.”
Jake hesitated, then unclasped the bracelet and handed it to me without a word. As he walked away, I felt a pang of sorrow, but it was quickly replaced by a fierce determination. I had survived worse than this, and I would survive this too.