*BRIANNE’S POV*(Present day)I sat with Marcus in a warm cafe, the heat from my untouched cup of tea rising in thin wisps between us. He had managed to convince me to leave the bus stop a few minutes ago, urging me into the warmth and away from the cold emptiness I was feeling. The world outside the glass walls of the café moved on without me. People bustling about, cars honking in distance—but inside, everything was still. Too still.I stared blankly at the people passing by, my thoughts a jumble of emotions I couldn’t begin to untangle. The moment I had seen Amelia in Jordyn’s office replayed in my mind like a broken record. Her smile, so casual, do comfortable. And now I knew why—she’s carrying his child. It felt like the final blow to an already wounded heart.I could feel Marcus’s gaze on me, studying me closely. He always has a way of seeing through me, reading me like a book I didn’t want anyone to open. The weight of his stare felt suffocating, but I couldn’t bring myself to
*BRIANNE’S POV*As I stepped out of the cafe, I bumped into someone—solid and unyielding, like hitting a wall. I stumbled back a few steps, my hand instinctively going to my chest.“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” The words trailed off as I looked up, only to be rendered speechless by the sight in front of me.“Jordyn?” I stuttered, my chest skipping several beats.He stood there, his tall figure looming over me, his ever-beautiful eyes locked onto mine. His presence was magnetic, making everything around us disappear for a moment. My mind, which had been a whirlwind of confusion and hurt, suddenly went quiet as I took him in. How did he always do this to me? He had this way of making the world stop spinning, even if only for a second.“Bri.” He called softly, snapping me out of my reverie. His deep voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket.I shook my head slightly, trying to regain my composure. “What are you doing here?” I asked in a whisper, my voice betraying the storm of emotions sw
*BRIANNE’S POV*The air was thick with tension as I stood between them, my body trembling from the chaos that had just unfolded. Jordyn and Marcus both stood frozen, staring at me as if they had just realized the gravity of what they’d done. The raw emotion in their eyes was almost unbearable, a mixture of anger, guilt, and something I couldn’t quite place. But I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. Not after everything.“I can’t do this,” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The weight of those words hit me as they left my lips, and it felt like something inside me was breaking.I turned my back on both of them, my head spinning as I tried to make sense of the mess I had somehow found myself in. I took a few steps away, feeling their gazes still heavy on me, but neither of them said a word. The silence between us was suffocating, and I could feel the emotions clawing at me, trying to tear me apart.How did it come to this? I wondered as I wrapped my hand around myself, trying to hol
*BRIANNE’S POV*The night air was cool against my skin as I turned to a corner, putting as much distance between myself and the two of them as possible. I could feel the tears welling up again, but I swallowed them back, determined not to break down until I was far away. Far away from the man I loved who was about to become a father with someone else. Far away from the ex who was trying to work himself back into my life.I stopped for a moment, leaning against a street lamp, trying to catch my breath. My head was spinning and the weight of the past few days felt too much to carry. I had loved Jordyn so much, and yet, here I was—caught between him and a reality I wasn’t ready to face. And then, there was Marcus, lingering like a shadow from my past, showing up when I least expected it.I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I didn’t have all the answers yet, but one thing was clear—I needed to figure out what I wanted. For once, I had to put myself first, and not let the chaos of thei
*JORDYN’S POV*After the fight with Marcus, my mind was a tangled mess of regret and frustration.My knuckles were still raw from the impact, the ache reminding me of just how out of control things had gotten. Seeing Brianne standing there, caught between the two of us, hurt more than I was willing to admit. She looked so small, so torn, and I hated myself for being the cause of her pain. I could still see the look in her eyes. The mixture of betrayal and confusion. She didn’t deserve any of this.As I walked away from the scene, my heart felt heavy, like a weight pulling me down deeper into the darkness. I tried to steady my breathing, but everything just kept coming back to one thing—I should’ve told her. I should’ve told her everything from the start. But I don’t, and now it felt like everything was slipping through my fingers.I needed to clear my head. I need to apologize. Not just to Brianne, but to Amelia too. I hadn’t been fair to her either. The things I said in my office—ask
*JORDYN’S POV*“I don’t want to hurt Brianne,” I said softly, my voice filled with regret.“And what about me?” Amelia asked, her eyes searching mine. “Do you care about hurting me?”I didn’t know how to answer that. Of course, I cared. But everything was so tangled up in confusion and regret, and I couldn’t see a way out that couldn’t hurt someone.“I don’t want to hurt anyone,” I finally admitted. “But I can’t undo what’s already been done.”Amelia nodded, her expression softening slightly. “I know. But you need to figure out what you want, Jordyn. Before it’s too late.”The room fell silent after that, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air between us. I could feel the tension loosening, but the heaviness in my chest didn’t go away.“I’ll give you space,” I said after a long pause. “I’ll make sure you’re comfortable here, but I’ll stay out of your way.”Amelia looked at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and understanding. “Thank you,” She said quietly.I stoo
*JORDYN’S POV*Josh sighed again, his shoulders sagging slightly. “You know what they’ll say. They’ve never approved of her. They think she’s weak, that she’s not fit to be your mate. The whole situation is just giving them more ammunition.” He said.I clenched my fist, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. I couldn’t believe how quickly everything had spiraled out of control. Just days ago, I was trying to figure out how to tell Brianne about the pregnancy, and now I was facing the prospect of being forced into a marriage I didn’t want, all because the council thought they knew what was best for me.“I’m not going to let them control my life,” I muttered, more to myself than to Josh. “I’m not going to marry Amelia just because they said I should.”Josh gave me a wary look. “I get, man. I really do. But you need to think about the long-term consequences. This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about the pack, the future of your leadership. If you go against the council, you’re
*JORDYN’S POV*My blood boiled at her words. “Brianne is not weak,” I growled, my fist trembling slightly. “And I won’t let anyone…especially you, talk about her that way.”My mother leaned back in her chair, her expression unyielding. “You’re being foolish, Jordyn. This isn’t about love or mateship. This is about what is best for the pack.” She said.“What’s best for the pack?” I echoed, laughing bitterly. “You think forcing me to marry Amelia, a woman who doesn’t even want this child, is best for this pack?”“Amelia didn’t want this child?” My mother repeated, her eyes narrowing with interest. “She said that?”I cursed myself silently for letting that slip. “That’s not the point,” I said, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “The point is that I’ve already made my decision.”My mother stood up, her eyes blazing with determination. “You haven’t made a decision, Jordyn. You’re avoiding it. But sooner or later, you’ll have to face reality. Amelia is carrying your child, and