Chapter Thirty-SevenJenna's POV“Veronica is right.” Zephyr voices finally. He doesn't get up and move towards me like Veronica did, but his eyes convey his pity. “It's his loss. You're exceptionally beautiful, any man would be lucky to have you.”Even though they're right, I know that deep down, sometimes what truly matters isn't the physical traits of people, but what they carry within. I wasn't strong and agile, and so I was unfit to be the alpha's mate. Jack had chosen the woman who possessed these qualities to be his mate. While I had been rejected, left to wither... “Thank you.” I mutter. “But I think his rejection made me realise that sometimes people look past our physical qualities.”“A lot of men usually reject their mate because they feel she's not as attractive as they would have wanted. Women, for a lot of men, are like prized possessions, kept for gazing, just like we do some items we loot from war.”Zephyr picks up his glass and dangles it in the air for emphasis.
Chapter Thirty EightJack's POVViolet’s words are my final undoing. With a groan, I tear the clothes off her body, enjoying the gasp that falls from her puckered lips.Arousal pumps through me as I grab her again, pulling her against my body and allowing her to feel the evidence of my arousal.“Oh Jack.” She moans, “I have imagined this for so long... “ She whispers against my ear, her breathing laboured, skin damp with sweat.I won't lie and say that I have imagined this with Violet, because I have not. I have never imagined possessing her like this, touching her and watching her unfold in my arms. But in this moment, I do. I do want Violet with every fibre of my being. I want to soak myself in her essence, drown myself in her moistness. I kiss Violet again, allowing her to taste the extent of my desire for her. I move my lips to her neck and bite the delicate skin, enjoying the low moan that falls from her lips. Violet slides against my body, as if she's in need of more. And I w
Chapter Thirty NineVeronica's POVYou're right. I agree, realising how insightful the young woman is. Even though she is just a young adult, she'd had to grow up really quickly. What with the death of her papa and how she'd lost her mom at birth.She had turned out really okay, and her mate was really foolish to have let such a spectacular woman go. What she lacked in physical strength, she made up for intellectually. Jenna was a beautiful woman with intriguing layers. I was certain that there was more to her than met the eye. And I wished that she was more open. I sincerely desired to learn everything there was to know about her. I wanted to ask her about her mate to know what it had felt like for her. I wanted to know why I was feeling so conflicted about my feelings for Zephyr and my own chosen mate. I expected the bond with my mate to surpass the physical attraction I felt for Zephyr. So, why wasn't that so? “Veronica?” Jenna's inquisitive voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I
Chapter FortyJenna's POV “I will continue to teach you to fight.” Veronica says, her eyes never leaving mine.“Thank you.” I swallow hard as gratitude fills me. I don't know how my life would have turned out if I had not met Veronica. Perhaps the gods were truly directing my steps.“You're already learning so quickly.” Veronica tells me. “Sooner or later, you'll have my back on the ground.” She turns to give me a wan smile, and I smile back. “Thank you so much, Veronica. I would have been able to do very little without you.”Veronica gives me a side hug. “Let's go back. It's getting cold out here, and we haven't had dinner.”I nod my consent and follow Veronica back inside. We eat in silence as I think about the earlier events of the day. I think about Zephyr's offer and the strange tension that had existed between Zephyr and Veronica. Suddenly, I am curious about Veronica and her mate. She had said very little about him, and I had yet to meet him. “Something on your mind?” Veron
Chapter Forty OneJenna's POVVeronica looks at me with eyes full of wonder.“You're such a young woman, but so wise in thinking.”I blush at Veronica's compliment and, without dropping her hands, say.“You reminded me about how amazing I am. I want you to know that you're an amazing woman, as well as a good one. You've housed me, clothed me and fed me. Taking a lover for yourself isn't a really horrible thing to do, and choosing to reject someone you cannot bring yourself to love isn't bad.”“It's never happened here, you know.” Veronica says as she steps away from me towards the door.#What never has?”“The rejection. We take the mates fate has chosen for us very seriously.”“So, you'd rather live with him and become unhappy.”“I don't think being with him would make me unhappy.” Veronica confides.We're outside now, and like always, the evening twilight casts a golden glow on everything. Despite being in this environment for the past few days, I still can't get over how wondrous th
Chapter Forty-Two Jack's POV Violet and I spend the rest of the night exploring each other's bodies. I am patient with her, allowing her to try everything with me that she has only always imagined. The night is exceptional, and the connection I feel with her makes me feel like I made the right decision about her.“You're so much stronger than me.” She whispers, her head tucked in the crook of my neck, fingers lazily sliding over my bare chest as she lays against my body, purring in satisfaction. I had gone down on her minutes earlier, tasting the sweetness of her honeypot and becoming intoxicated by her naturalness.I chuckle at her words and turn to lay a soft kiss on her sweaty, dampened forehead. “That's how it's meant to me, sweetheart.”“I like it.” She confesses, pushing her head back to meet my eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes are filled with love and contentment, and I can't resist pushing her against me once more, allowing myself to enjoy the feel of her soft, plain flesh a
Chapter Forty-ThreeJack's POV“Secure the borders, make sure none of them leave with the children.” I shout telepathically.Another bullet sinks into my skin, and I groan painfully as my strength begins to wane. Some of the men have begun to drop dead from the deadlines of the bullet.But I don't allow the bullet attacks to stop me from tearing through the humans and running after those who try to escape.“Scour the surrounding forest, make sure none of them leave with the children.” I order again, a little glad to see some of the fellow fighters run into different corners of the forest.The acute smell of blood and death fills the air, and I am filled with bloodlust. I move through the humans with unrelenting hatred and a violent energy that cannot be tamed. I don't allow myself to feel weakness or pity until the last of them crumble to the ground, so that the only sound that reaches my ears are the soft cries of the women and children as they each try to find their loved ones. My
Chapter Forty-Four Jenna's POVThere's a sense of freedom and complete abandon I experience as I tear through the forest, Veronica right beside me. The soundless wind ruffles my coated fur, and the earthly scent of the forest fills my lungs, causing me to experience the almost alien feeling of happiness. Because yes, this is what happiness feels like. It cannot be further than this. I am filled with a sense of purpose and such vitality as I continue to weave through the forest, the thudding sound of our hoofs against the forest ground like music to my ears. Suddenly, I sense it—the presence of a prey close by. And then, the hunger tears through me again, causing me to race harder, the incessant need to feed overcoming all sense of caution and logic. Soon enough, our prey comes into sight—a large deer with ears perked to catch the slightest sign of movement. “We have to be discreet, or else we lose him.” Veronica cautions through telepathy, and I give a nod in answer. We approac