CHAPTER 3

"Honey!" I look up and a blonde girl with green eyes and fair skin runs towards Alex.

I feel a lump in my throat and my heart shatters into a thousand pieces. Alex looks at me sadly, as if apologizing with his gaze and then explaining.

"Who is she?" he says, pointing at me and looking at me in surprise, as it is forbidden to bring other people. I see Alex about to answer, but I intervene.

"No one important," I say with a tender smile, even though I'm breaking inside.

"Excuse me," I get up from the table and walk towards the garden.

"Jane!" Alex says, getting up, but the girl doesn't let him. I just smile at him and walk away through the garden.

"You see! He's a damn dog," I say, holding back the tears.

"I... I," my wolf says, crying and writhing in pain.

"We're leaving, Jenny. I don't care if I die trying, I don't want to be someone's second choice," I say angrily and hurt.

"He hasn't marked you yet, maybe you can get away," my wolf whispers.

I transform into my wolf form and run through the forest. Everything is dark, it gives me chills and terror, but I don't care as long as I get away from Alex. I can't believe I'm starting to love him. My insides shatter into a thousand pieces as I remember how the girl put her arms around my mate. I run as fast as I can and feel a pang in my heart as I get further and further away from my mate.

"Is my mate feeling it too?" I ask my wolf.

"Yes," she says sadly.

"Don't worry, Jenny. I'll find you another mate, someone who will truly love us. And I have an idea of who it is," I say hopefully.

My wolf just nods and we sever the connection.

"Oh no," I say anxiously.

I sniff vampires. I'm alone. It will be harder for me to eliminate them. Finally, I reach a familiar place in the forest and then I see a vampire. He has black hair, pale skin, and red eyes.

I growl, positioning myself in an attacking stance.

"Calm down, I don't want to hurt you," the boy says, raising both hands in a sign of surrender.

I growl in the same way, but it's clear that he doesn't want to harm me. He looks at me impassively, showing no signs of wanting to hurt me.

"My name is Luke," he says with a smile.

I just nod and continue on my way.

I arrive home, smiling happily and transform back into my human form.

"Dad!" I shout as I enter the house.

"Daughter, thank God!" My father hugs me tightly and I feel like everything will be alright.

I feel an intense pang in my heart, causing me to fall to the ground.

"It's because of your mate, isn't it?" my father says, worried.

I nod and clutch my chest. I feel the need to be with Alex, but that won't happen. No matter the cost, I won't be that idiot's second choice.

"Bring Jake to me, Dad," I whisper as I tremble in pain on the floor.

My father nods, concerned, and goes in search of Jake.

"What will you do, Jane?" my wolf asks, worried.

"Something I should have done a long time ago, Jenny. We deserve a mate who loves us, not one who treats us like a toy," I say confidently.

I see Jake running towards me and he meets me.

"I was so worried about you!" he says, holding my face and examining me with his gaze.

"Jake, I need a favor," I whisper through the pain.

"Of course, anything," Jake says, concerned.

"Mark me as yours, mark me now," I say with a longing and desperate voice.

*

*

Jake's eyes open wider, surprised.

"What?" he says, surprised.

"I won't tell you twice, idiot," I say angrily. The pain has become more bearable, but it's still there.

"No, Jane! You can die. Your bond with Alex is almost indestructible," Jenny says worriedly.

"You said it yourself, Jenny, almost. We can try it, I don't care as long as I can separate from Alex," I say confidently.

I feel my heart shatter into thousands of pieces. I didn't spend much time with him, but his way of being with me, being overly protective, was tender and sweet. I thought he really... loved me, but it turns out he had another damn one.

"No, sweetheart, you can die," my father looks at me worried, but I shake my head.

"No, Dad, that won't happen. I just want to break this bond, I want Jake to mark me as his."

I turn to look at Jake, he looks hesitant and afraid. I understand I'm afraid too, but my pain is greater than all that fear.

"Alright," Jake finally says.

"I'll be outside," my father says, leaving the room.

Jake gives me a tender and comforting look, telling me that everything will be okay.

"Are you sure?" he asks, approaching me.

"Yes," I finally say.

I clench my fists and stand up from the chair, determined to end all of this. Jake positions himself in front of me, and I give him access to my neck to mark me.

"I hope it works," Jake says, approaching my neck. I feel his breath on my neck and feel the urge to vomit because he's not my partner, but I suppress the nausea.

Jake gives a warm kiss between my neck and collarbone, I feel his tongue grazing my skin. I let out a sigh.

"Don't you dare, Jane? I know what you want to do, don't you dare!" Alex says with evident fury. I can feel his anger, his rage, but that doesn't stop me.

"Goodbye, Alex," I say, severing the connection.

Then I feel Jake's fangs piercing my skin. I gasp and let out a silent scream. The band wants to break, but it doesn't break. Break, damn it! I say angrily in my mind. Then a pain runs through my whole being, making me fall to the ground.

"Jane, are you okay?" Jake says, holding me.

"Yes... I think it worked," I say with a smile.

Jake smiles and presses his lips against mine. I close my eyes and let myself go, but my heart is broken, my insides are empty, and I can't feel anything for Jake. But perhaps that could change with time.

It satisfies me to know that I broke the bond with that idiot Alex, but now I feel a consuming sadness.

"Jane," my wolf says, hurt.

"I know, I'm sorry, Jenny, but Jake will be a fresh start, a happy beginning," I say in a comforting tone.

Jenny wants to say something else, but she looks weak and injured.

So she remains silent.

"You will be happy by my side, Jane. You'll see, I'll make you happy forever," Jake looks at me with a smile, and I try to give him a smile in return.

We hear noises from outside. Jake and I immediately stand up, tensing.

My father opens the door, scared, and his gaze is anything but comforting.

"It's the alpha of the Kollow Moon pack. He's coming for you," my father says worriedly.