Another Mate?

Jasmine

Warmth. Not the oppressive, suffocating heat of fever, but something soft and comforting is what I feel the moment I come to. My fingers clutch at the texture beneath me, silk, smooth and cool against my skin. I open my eyes slowly, blinking against the soft glow of lamplight. I’m lying in a bed. A real bed!

The sheets are the finest I’ve ever felt, a deep crimson that contrasts sharply with the stark white of the plush pillows. The room around me is unlike anything I have ever known. Luxurious yet imposing, with dark wooden furniture polished to a mirror-like sheen. Ornate carvings adorn the walls, depicting scenes of wolves, forests, and battles, their intricate details almost alive in the flickering lamplight.

Above me hangs a chandelier, its crystals catching the light and scattering it in a thousand tiny rainbows. It looks like a piece of the night sky, captured and frozen. This isn’t the pack house. Panic surges through me, a cold rush that sends my heart racing. Where am I?

I sit up quickly, too quickly. The room spins, and I clutch the edge of the mattress, gasping for air. My body protests, weak and bruised, but I push through the pain. I can’t stay here. Before I can move further, the door opens. I freeze.

The man who steps inside moves with an effortless grace, his tall frame radiating an air of authority. His presence is magnetic, commanding, and I can’t tear my eyes away. The dim light bathes him in shadow and flame, accentuating the sharp planes of his face. High cheekbones, a straight, aristocratic nose, and a jawline that looks as though it were carved from stone.

His eyes are the most striking thing about him, a deep, glowing crimson that seems to pierce through me. They hold an intensity that is both unsettling and impossible to look away from. His dark hair falls in soft waves around his face, a stark contrast to the pale, flawless skin that gleams like marble.

He wears a tailored black suit, simple yet elegant, and moves as though the world bends to his will. “Good. You’re awake,” he says, his voice smooth and deep, carrying a hint of something ancient and powerful.

“Who are you?” I demand, though my voice trembles, hoarse from disuse. He raises an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Ramon,” he says simply. “And you are?”

“Jasmine,” I say hesitantly, my throat tightening as his gaze holds mine. There’s something in his expression. Curiosity, yes, but also something far more dangerous.

“Jasmine,” he repeats, testing the name as though it holds some hidden meaning. His voice wraps around it, soft yet commanding, sending an unexplainable shiver down my spine.

He steps closer, each movement deliberate, his crimson eyes scanning me with an intensity that makes me want to shrink back. But I hold my ground.

“You’ve been unconscious for days,” he says, his tone calm but laced with something I can’t quite identify. “It’s a miracle you survived, given your condition.” My stomach churns at his words, and I instinctively clutch the edge of the blanket. “Why… why did you help me?”

His expression darkens, the faint smirk fading. For a moment, his crimson eyes burn brighter, and the weight of his gaze feels like it could crush me.

“I have no patience for men like your Alpha,” he says, his voice like a blade cutting through the silence. “Leaving someone like you broken and discarded? Unforgivable.”

Ryker. The mere mention of his name makes my chest tighten, the bruises on my skin throbbing as if in memory of his touch. “You know about him?” I whisper, my voice trembling.

Ramon’s gaze hardens, a flash of anger crossing his face. “I know enough.” His voice drops, colder now, each word heavy with disdain. “And I know what he’s done to you.”

There’s no hesitation in his tone, no guessing. He knows. “How?” I ask, fear and confusion warring in my chest. “How do you know?”

He tilts his head slightly, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “Because, Jasmine,” he says softly, stepping closer until he’s just a breath away, “you’re my mate.” The world seems to tilt on its axis.

“No,” I say, shaking my head as if I can dispel the weight of his words. “That’s not possible. I already have a mate.” My voice cracks on the last word, the reminder of Ryker’s rejection slicing through me like a knife.

Ramon’s lips press into a thin line, his gaze never wavering. “He isn’t your mate, Jasmine,” he says firmly, his voice like velvet over steel. “He may share a bond with you, but it’s nothing compared to this.”

I want to argue, to deny him, but my words die in my throat as he leans closer. He raises a hand slowly, giving me every chance to pull away. But I don’t. His fingers brush my cheek, cool and gentle, and the moment his skin meets mine, something ignites within me.

Sparks.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. An electric surge that courses through my body, lighting up every nerve ending. It’s warm and intense, overwhelming in its power.

My breath catches, my heart pounding in my chest. The mate bond. It has to be. But how? The sparks between us are stronger, fiercer, and more consuming than anything I’ve ever felt with Ryker.

“Do you feel that?” Ramon asks, his voice soft but filled with certainty.

I can’t speak. My body trembles, tears welling in my eyes as the truth crashes over me. The bond with Ryker had always felt like a chain, cold and binding. But this… this feels like freedom, like coming home.

“I…” My voice falters, my hand rising of its own accord to cover his where it rests against my cheek. The sparks intensify at the contact, sending a shiver down my spine.

Ramon’s gaze softens, the crimson glow dimming slightly. “You’ve been hurt for so long, Jasmine,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing against my cheekbone. “But you don’t have to carry that pain anymore. You’re mine now.”

His words terrify me as much as they comfort me. A part of me wants to push him away, to reject this bond and the chaos it brings. But another part, deeper and more primal, knows he’s telling the truth.

For the first time in years, I feel a flicker of hope. And it terrifies me.