Chapter 3
A few days later, the Lycan Queen’s ceremonial visit to the Burns pack was in full swing. The packhouse was alive with activity, the air thick with the mingling scents of werewolves from all ranks. I stood at the entrance, adjusting the collar of my formal attire, when I spotted Jake Sullivan approaching with Vanessa Cooper at his side.
Vanessa was dressed in a striking red gown that clung to her figure, her hair cascading in perfect waves. She looked every bit the Omega who had clawed her way into the spotlight. Her scent—sharp and cloying—hit me before she even spoke.
“Journi, are you here for the Queen’s ceremony too?” she asked, her voice sweet but laced with mockery. Her eyes glinted with something I couldn’t quite place—jealousy, perhaps, or just plain spite.
I ignored her, stepping past her to enter the packhouse. But Jake’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist with enough force to make me wince. I turned to face him, my lips pressed into a thin line, and yanked my arm free.
“Journi,” he said, his tone cold and commanding, the kind of tone that made my wolf bristle. “Vanessa was speaking to you. Show some respect. Apologize.”
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Get lost, Jake.”
Vanessa clung to his arm, her face the picture of innocence. “It’s okay, Jake. I’m sure Journi didn’t mean to be rude. She’s just… struggling with everything that’s happened. Maybe she’s here because she’s still hoping you’ll take her back.”
Jake puffed out his chest, his Alpha aura rolling off him in waves. “Journi, I know you’re still hung up on me, but I’ve moved on. I’m with Vanessa now, and I won’t let you disrupt that. Leave. And don’t show your face around me again.”
His words were a slap, but I refused to let them land. My wolf growled softly in the back of my mind, a reminder of the bond we’d once shared—or at least, the bond we’d been promised. But now, all I felt was disgust.
Vanessa, ever the manipulator, added, “Jake, maybe I should have encouraged you to keep Journi as your secondary mate. Then she wouldn’t feel the need to embarrass herself like this.”
Before I could stop myself, my claws extended slightly, and I swiped at her cheek, the sharp crack echoing in the air. She staggered back, her eyes wide with shock, tears welling up almost instantly.
Jake’s expression darkened, and he stepped forward, his hand raised as if to strike me. But before he could, a strong arm shoved him aside, and Jonas Chavez, the Lycan Prince, stepped between us. His scent—rich and grounding, like the earth after a storm—was a welcome relief.
“Alpha Sullivan,” Jonas said, his voice calm but laced with an Alpha tone that even Jake couldn’t ignore. “Is there a problem here?”
Jake straightened, his jaw tightening as he tried to regain his composure. “Prince Jonas, Journi assaulted Vanessa. I was just—”
“I saw what happened,” Jonas interrupted, his gaze flicking to me before returning to Jake. “And I suggest you take a step back before you do something you’ll regret.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed, but he knew better than to challenge a Lycan Prince, especially in front of the entire pack. He took Vanessa’s arm and led her away, though not without a final glare in my direction.
Jonas turned to me, his expression softening. “Journi, are you alright?”
I nodded, though my hands were still trembling. “Thank you, Prince Jonas.”
He gestured toward the packhouse. “Shall we? The mark ceremony is about to begin.”
As we walked inside, I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on us. Jake and Vanessa’s whispers followed, but I held my head high. My wolf stirred, a quiet reminder that I was stronger than they thought. And with Jonas by my side, I felt a flicker of something I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.