JACKLYNFour hours later, I walk back to the witch's cottage. I can't believe this is happening. It feels like I've been waiting for this day for a lifetime, even though Victoria and I have just met. In just a few short days, she's ruined something I've spent my whole life working towards. And today, she's finally going to get what she deserves.I knock on the door again, and the witch opens it. She's holding a vial in her hand. "I have your potion," she says. "This is it. And it's very powerful. If you use it, you're going to make sure they are completely over each other. Forever.""What's in it?" I ask. I'm a little nervous. I know this sort of magic is dangerous, but this is the potion that I need. It's going to solve all my problems. It's worth it, no matter the risk."Dark magic," she says. "All you need to know is that it's going to work. I promise.""It won't hurt her, right? I don't want to do anything except break them up. If she dies, they'll blame me.""That's
MAXIt's amazing what a difference a few days can make. A week ago, I didn't even know Victoria. Two days ago, I thought we were going to lose everything and everyone we loved in a fire.But we didn't.And now, her I am, standing at a celebration with my true mate, getting ready to announce my engagement-- getting ready to share the news of my one true love with my pack. My family. And I have never been happier."Are you ready?" I ask Victoria."Yes," she says. I can't help but love the way she looks in her strapless pink dress. She's the most beautiful girl in the world, and she's going to be my wife. I can't believe this is really happening. But it is.I pull her in for a kiss, and her lips are soft and sweet. I wrap my arms around her and hold her close.I take her hand, and we walk over to a clearing where people are already gathering. Victoria and I are standing in front of everyone. We came here together, but now it's time for me to let her go."Fo
I don't understand what's happening. Yesterday, I was so sure I wanted to be with Max. I was so sure he was my true mate.But this morning, I woke up and I felt nothing for him. It was like he was a stranger. Worse than a stranger. He was repulsive to me. He disgusted me. He was not the man I was supposed to be with, and I had no idea why I'd ever agreed to marry him. I still don't. Did I do it just to prove something to myself? Was I playing some sort of game with Jacklyn? I've never been one to play games. I've never done anything for attention or for the sake of competing with someone. I've always been too laidback for that. I don't know why I'd do that. But I did. I said yes to Max. I said yes to marrying him, just like that. It's strange, to think that I would do that. But I did. And then, I broke his heart.He was just so...I don't even know how to describe it.I felt nothing but disgust.And I knew then that I had to end it with him. I knew I had to l
JACKLYNI can't believe it worked. I mean, I knew I had a good plan. And the witch said it would work because dark magic gives you what you were destined to have, and I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Max is my destiny.I always have.But still, it feels too good to be true.Everything played out exactly how I hoped it would. Exactly how I planned it. When Victoria left, Max was so completely lost and hopeless that it was easy to bend him to my will.It was so easy to make him forget about Victoria and fall completely for me. It was so easy to get him to agree to everything. I am his now. He is mine. I've got Max exactly where I want him, and now that Victoria's out of the way, there's nothing standing in my way. Our wedding is scheduled for a week from Sunday, and there's so much to do. Max is coming over any minute to help with the wedding prep. He's such a more committed, helpful fiancé this time around.So much so that it feels forced. Almost like he's been bra
I sit down, and the witch sits across from me. I don't know what she's about to tell me, but I'm incredibly eager to find out."Recently, I was approached by a woman named Jacklyn," she says. "I believe you know her.""I do," I say.I'm surprised to find that the mention of her name makes me angry. I don't know why it would. I mean, sure, she tried to take Max away from me, but I don't even want him."She wanted me to help her chase you off," she says. "When her plan with the fire didn't work, she decided she had to try something more drastic, which is why she came to me.""Okay..." I say."She asked me to help her make a potion that would get rid of you," she continues. "From the looks of things, it worked.""What do you mean?" I say."Well, you're not at the camp anymore. I assume that means you broke up with Max.""I did...." I say. "That's because of the spell.""I don't understand.""The way you felt when you woke up this morning-- that sudden realization that you did
MAX"Are you sure you want to do this, Max?" my sister says.I know she means well, but that's not exactly a comforting thing to say to a guy who's about to walk down aisle. "Yes," I say."Really?" she says. "Because you don't seem very happy.""Because I'm nervous," I say. "I don't know why you're making such a big deal about this.""Because I think you're making a mistake," she says. "I saw how you looked at Victoria, Max. You never look at Jacklyn that way.""I love Jacklyn," I insist."You don't look like it," she says."Oh yeah? And how do I look?""Like a zombie," she says. "Like your soul is dead."Her words cut deep. I want to yell at her, to lash out, but I know she's right.Not that it matters."Yeah, well," I say, "it doesn't matter. Victoria doesn't want to be with me.""I saw her with you the night you announced your engagement, Max. I don't know what happened between you two, but I know true mates when I see them, and--""Enough!" I interrupt. "Just-- be
I walk over to the altar and right up to Max, who's as shocked as I've ever seen anyone. He looks as surprised as I felt when I heard he and Jacklyn were getting married today."Victoria, what are you doing here?" he says."I'm here to save you," I say."From what," he says, "you do realize this is my wedding day, right? What are you saving me from, exactly? The chance at being happy?""I'm just keeping you from making a big mistake," I say."I think I'm the best judge of that," he says."I know, but I can't just stand by and let this happen," I say. "You were about to marry the wrong woman.""Victoria, I don't want to talk about this," he says. "You're not invited here."His words are harsh and his tone strong, but there's something in his eyes that tells me he's happy I'm. here. That maybe he was even hoping I would come.I stare at him, not knowing what to say, and then I turn to Jacklyn, who's gaping at me in shock."Victoria, you need to get out of here," Max says. "I've
JACKLYNUnder my pain and devastation at losing Max all over again is a cold hard fury. Locked in a dingy cell, awaiting my trial, I bite at my nails, my brain working in overdrive.That stupid witch! She ruined everything! I was this close to getting Max and she –She betrayed me!I hear footsteps and look up to see Grace, my best friend approaching. Her eyes are filled with tears as she rushes forward, grabbing the bars, “Jacklyn, are you okay?”“Do I look okay?” I snipe at her. “I’m in my wedding dress. I was about to get married to my mate and that woman, that bitch, she just came in and took him from me all over again!”Grace flinches at my words but her voice is heavy, “Jacklyn, how could you do something like that? You put a spell on Max’s true mate just so that you could have him.”I snap at the judgement in her words, getting in her face and screaming, “What did I do wrong?! He was mine first, Grace! I loved him first! And he loved me! I never stole Mac from Victori
VICTORIAI stare at Ajax who is grinning, looking healthier than ever.“How are you alive?”I can barely speak but I manage to garble the words out.He rushes towards me, helping me up, “I never died. When you ran away, Brian’s people gave chase. You gave me those few precious moments to heal and I took over the pack.”I can barely see anymore.I can see him mouthing something.“…ust me?”I don’t know what it is but I nod.Then he’s forcing a bitter liquid into my mouth. I’m too weak to throw it out but as he feeds me the potion, he yanks out the broke piece of spear within me. I scream silently as the agony overtakes me but then I feel the wound healing almost instantly.I go limp in his arms, struggling to breathe as he pats my back, reassuringly, “Just breathe through it. It’ll be over in minutes.”I follow his instructions and sure enough my visions grows clearer.However, the first words out of my mouth are a cry for my mate, “Max!”I yank myself out of Ajax’s hold,
VICTORIA“Impala,” I breathe in horror. “What the hell are you doing here?”I stagger back in shock and fear and Jacklyn smiles, “I brought him here. I mean he was your mate first. So technically you can’t be mated to Max.”“Max is my true mate!” I shout at her. “Impala tried to force himself on me! My mating to Max is valid!”Jacklyn sneers, “Doesn’t matter now, does it? Impala has decided that he wants you back or kill you, depending on how much you resist.”Max is in front of me, his shoulder bleeding but his stance is protective, “She’s not going anywhere with you, you bastard! She’s my mate!”“She was never yours,” Impala spits out. “That bitch was mine and I don’t like mates who run away so she will have to be taught a lesson. You, however, you belong to this big mouthed woman.”“That’s the deal,” Jacklyn smiles. “You take her, I take him.”“Have you gone crazy, Jacklyn?” Max growls.“Crazy?” Jacklyn looks offended. “I love you! I’m doing this for us!”“Victoria is my
VICTORIAIt’s like I’m reliving my worst nightmare as I hear screams of terror, of the people I had grown to love.“What have you done?!” I scream at Jacklyn. She smiles, “I made a deal. A deal to get my mate back.”I try to run past her but she steps in my path, “And just where do you think you’re going?”“You’ve lost your mind!” I hiss at her, terror and adrenaline pumping through my blood. “That is your pack, people you grew up with! You know what happens when another pack invades! They will kill everyone, man, woman, child! They will torture the women, you friends, your family-”“Well they deserve it!” Jacklyn screams suddenly, getting in my face. “They were all complicit in keeping my mate from me!”My breathing is hard as I stare at her, “You’re crazy! You think they will let Max live? You think they’ll keep him alive for you?”“They will,” Jacklyn sneers. “They don’t Max. They want someone else. But don’t worry. They’ve promised to chain Max and bring him to me. Once
VICTORIATears of horror fill my eyes, “Why would she do that?!”“Because she she knew the witch would help us track her down,” Max hisses. “What is this woman planning?”“Even so,” I cover my mouth. “Why do it so viciously?”Max doesn’t have an answer to that.My heart pounding with sick fear, I look at him, “She’s not going to leave us be. I don’t believe it.”However. Max looks unsure.“Let’s wait and see.”Two days later there is still no sign of Jacklyn.“She’s left the pack territory,” One of the group leaders of the search party reports. “We can’t catch her scent anywhere. Wherever she is, its not here. We’ve combed the woods.”Max looks relieved, “Maybe she’s truly left.”However, there is a niggling suspicion in the back of my head. I don’t think Jacklyn would leave. Her obsession with Max goes way beyond that. She tried to kill me twice. She has killed two people.“What about her godfather? Doesn't he know?” I look at Max.“He says he knows nothing,” Max takes
VICTORIA“How could you give me something that belonged to Jackyln?!” I ask Max, tearfully, “You knew what she tried to do to us!”“I thought she had a change of heart!” Max looks just as upset. “I would never have knowingly put you in danger!”“Grace!” I look at the red-eyed woman. “Go tell the Alpha everything.”Grace nods, eager to help and when she disappears, I turn to face Max, “Look.”He looks at my ring and I wince.It’s glowing red.“It is the cursed object.” I say, dread in my voice. “The more I try to pull it off, the tighter it gets.”I give him a frightened look, “Max.”His expression is tight, “Okay. We have two options.”“Waiting for me to take my last breath is too big of a risk. The other option is cutting off my finger.”I hold his gaze, “I prefer the latter option.”However, he shakes his head, “There’s something else we can try. Come on.”He wraps his hand around mine as he begins to drag me along with him.“There’s a jewellery maker in the pack. He
VICTORIA“Cursed?” I give the old witch a stunned look. “Cursed by what?”She looks unsure, “Whatever it is, I can’t sense it. But this is not a spell on you. You touched a cursed object some time ago.”I look at my mate who is frozen in place and then I glance at the witch, hope in my voice, “But you can fix it right?”She hesitates, “If it was another witch’s doing, then yes. But this is through some cursed object. There are two ways to undo it. Find the object and destroy it. Or, wait till you are on your last breath and your mate gives you the mating mark. I would suggest the first one. The second one can always go wrong.”My heart sinks and she reaches behind her and stuffs some of the herbs into my hand, “Keep these with you. Chew on a few leaves every twenty four hours and you will be able live. But this solution is temporary. You need to find that object and destroy it.”“Is there any way of tracing it?” Max asks, urgently. “We don’t even know what it is? Maybe if y
VICTORIA“You’re just upset,” The Alpha says after a few brief moments. “I won’t push you right now. But the Elders’ decisions are absolute. And you know that.”He takes a step back, “Jacklyn will come to you soon. Don’t lay a finger on her. Am I clear?”I just stare at him in stony silence, refusing to say anything.I won’t accept her. There is no way in hell!Fortunately, Jacklyn doesn’t seek me out till a few days later. I’m in the hospital at that point when she comes striding through the doors, smiling.“Max-““Get out,” I snarl at her.However, she is undeterred, “Look, I know you’re upset but this is for the best. I understand you better than anyone. And you’re not even mated to her yet. Look, once we mate, it will be-““My mate is there!” I point towards the unconscious Victoria on the bed. “That’s my mate! You’re not! So get out!”Her smile slips, “Don’t be delusional Max. Victoria is dying. In fact, the elders consider her dead at this point or they wouldn’t have
MAXA scream leaves my lips. I run towards her, my heart racing, fear a bitter taste in my mouth.Victoria is sprawled on the rock, unconscious, blood seeping from her mouth and ears, her body limp. She is dressed in the mating robes and she had been probably waiting for m.I start checking for injuries but I see none. It is almost as if she was suddenly seized by an illness.I put my ear to her chest and hear a death rattle.Panicking and terrified for my mate, I pick her up in my arms and run all the way back the pack. The celebrations are still going on and they come to a screeching halt when I barge in with my unconscious mate. Shocked faces greet me till the Alpha forces his way from between the crowed, his voice urgent, “What’s going on, Max? What happened to your mate?!”People have already summoned the pack healer as I begin to recount how I found her. The pack healer is by my side within seconds and the first thing he does, while I’m still holding Victoria in m
MAX“Jacklyn wants me to have this?” I ask in disbelief, looking at Grace.Grace nods and her voice is filled with sympathy, “She is trying her best to come to terms with it, Max. With all of it. I know she messed up and she knows it too. But you have to understand, she’s loved you since we were all children. You loved her too.”My heart tightens at the memories.Grace sounds sad, “You were the one who found your true mate, not her Max. You’re happy and in love. Her heart has been crushed. I’m not saying what she did was right but Victoria could have given you two some time to work things out. She immediately rushed you into a mating ceremony-““I was the one who rushed her,” I say, sharply, looking at Grace. “Victoria has suffered a lot. I want to give her some stability. And I did talk to Jacklyn. I explained everything to her and she told me she had no hard feelings. Grace, this happens. Sometimes true mates do appear and you can’t do anything. Jacklyn should understand that.