*BRIANNE’S POV*“You’re being unreasonable, Brianne,” My father said as his voice hardened. “Do you think I enjoy having this conversation? I’m not doing this to hurt you. But we have to be practical. You’re not a pup anymore. Soon, you’ll be past the age most wolves fund their mates.”I scoffed, unable to hold back. “Oh, so now I have an expiration date? Thanks for the reminder.”“Stop being dramatic,” He snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. “I’m trying to look out for your future. You may not want to hear it, but I know what people whisper behind your back. I know how they talk about you.”“I don’t care what they say!” I shot back, my voice louder than I intended. “They don’t know me. They don’t know what I’ve been through.”“And you think I don’t?” His voice was sharp, but there was an edge of something softer beneath it, something I hadn’t heard in a long time—concern.“I’m your father, Brianne. I’ve watched you struggle, and I’ve seen how hard this has been on you. But you
*BRIANNE’S POV*Mary leaned forward, her eyebrows practically reaching her hairline. “So she actually said all of that to you?” She asked, her eyes bugging out as if she couldn’t believe it. “Right to your face?”I couldn’t help but smirk. “Of course. She was literally glowing with confidence like she thought she had some kind of upper hand.”Mary blinked, her expression shifting from disbelief to amusement. “And you just stood there? Like, didn’t snack her or throw your drink at her?”I let out a snort of laughter. “As tempting as it was to throw my iced tea in her face, I decided to take the high road.” I paused, then added, “For now, anyway.”Mary burst out laughing, drawing a few curious glances from the other customers. “Oh my God, you’re killing me! You should’ve thrown something. A croissant or a scone—those things a practically weapons.”I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yeah, because that’s what I need. A food fight with Jordyn’s fiancée in the middle of the pack house. Very clas
*BRIANNE’S POV*I walked into the pack house, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. After spending the afternoon with Mary, my mind was clearer, and my mood had lifted. Mary had this infectious energy that made everything seem less dire. I was determined not to let anything, or anyone bother me anymore. Not my father’s ridiculous plan to marry me off, not Amelia, not Jordyn.But even with all that positivity, the thought of my father’s latest scheme made my stomach churn. I wasn’t ready to even entertain the idea of being married, especially not to someone who wasn’t my mate. It felt so wrong, so forced. Still, I pushed the thoughts away, determined to enjoy the peace I’d found.The pack house was bustling, as always, with pack members moving in and out, chatting, laughing, and going about their business. I headed for my usual spot. It was a quiet nook by a large bay window, perfect for moments like these when I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts. As I approached, something…or ra
*BRIANNE’S POV*I bit my lip, thinking back to my last encounter with Amelia. She had been almost flaunting her pregnancy in my face, emphasizing how it connected her to Jordyn. At the time, I’d brushed it off as typical possessiveness, but maybe Janette was right. Maybe there was something more to it.“Okay, so she’s protective of Jordyn and the baby,” I said slowly, “but why would she be sneaking into the woods? What could she be hiding?”“That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out,” Janette muttered, glancing around as if someone might be listening in. “I don’t trust her. I mean, even before she showed up, things felt off. And then, suddenly, she appears, pregnant with Jordyn’s child, and everything changes. Doesn’t that seem…too convenient?”I crossed my arms, feeling a knot form in my stomach. I hated to admit it, but Janette was making sense. “So, what? You think she’s lying about the pregnancy?”Janette paused, her lips pursed. “I don’t think she’s lying about the pregnancy bec
*JORDYN’S POV*“Mother, that’s ridiculous.” I sighed, pushing back against her latest attempt to speed up the wedding. “I can’t just speed up the process.”My mother stood across from me, her arms crossed, lips pursed, and a determined glint in her eyes. The tension between us had been building for days. She seemed more fixated on this wedding than anyone else, as if it were the most important event in the pack.She sighed, her frustration evident as she looked at me with a mix of pity and disappointment. “But, Jordyn. It would be better to name her Luna as soon as possible,” She insisted. “Her baby bump is already quite visible. Don’t you think it would be embarrassing for her to wear a wedding dress with a big tummy?”I felt the familiar knot of irritation tightening in my chest. The way she said it as if Amelia’s pregnancy was a ticking clock hanging over my head, made it sound like the wedding had to happen before Amelia’s belly became some kind of spectacle. As if that were the m
*JORDYN’S POV*As my mother left the room, the door clicked shut softly behind her. Amelia’s footsteps echoed lightly on the wooden floor as she walked closer to me, her gaze never leaving my face. There was a calmness about her that unsettled me. It was as though she was always in control, always two steps ahead of the conversation we were about to have.“So,” she began, her voice smooth and almost too sweet, “What did your mother say?” She asked the question with an air of innocence, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her true intent. She wasn’t just asking. She wanted to know exactly where things stood—how far she could push me, how much leverage she had.I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the world press down on my shoulders. My mother’s words were still ringing in my ears, the pressure she had so casually dropped into my hands is now festering in my chest.“Same as always,” I muttered, glancing away from Amelia’s piercing gaze. “She wants things to move faster.”Amelia tilte
*JORDYN’S POV*As the door clicked shut behind Amelia, I felt an overwhelming sense of heaviness wash over me. My chest tightened, and the room seemed to close in on me. The silence was suffocating. I collapsed into the nearest chair, burying my face in my hands. What had my life become? I was engaged to someone I didn’t love, expected to take on the role of an Alpha alongside a Luna I wasn’t sure I trusted, and all the while, my bond with Brianne tugged at me relentlessly.The bond…That damn bond. I could feel it now, burning under my skin, pulling me toward her like an invisible chain. It was always there, simmering just below the surface, reminding me of the connection we shared, a connection that had been brutally severed but never truly gone. Every time I thought of moving forward with Amelia, the bond surged, a painful reminder of what I’d lost.I let out a shaky breath, pressing my hands against my temples. The pain was dull at first, a familiar ache, but now it was sharp, alm
*JORDYN’S POV*Josh nodded, stepping back toward me. “I figured as much. Go ahead.”I took a deep breath, leaning back in my chair and rubbing my temples. “The bond with Brianne…it’s not just emotional anymore. It’s physical. It hurts. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.” I said, looking Josh in the eye.Josh frowned, pulling a chair closer and sitting across from me. “Physical pain? That’s not good, Jordyn. I’ve heard of bonds causing discomfort, but pain like that usually means something’s seriously off.”“Yeah,” I muttered, rubbing my chest where the bond seemed to tighten. “It’s like every time I try to move forward with Amelia, the bond pulls me back harder. The more I try to distance myself from Brianne, the more it hurts.”Josh scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Bonds like that don’t just disappear. You know that, right? Unless you officially break it—reject it, you’re going to keep feeling that pull.”I grimaced. The thought of rejecting Brianne made my heart clen