Jenna's POV
I don't know how long I'd lain on the forest ground, but as I slowly come back to myself, I realise that I might have been there for far too long, long enough to attract prey.
As I crack one eye open and look around, the still midnight air alerts me to the dangers that lurk in these forests. And for a moment, I regret leaving the pack.
However, now is not the moment to scrutinise hastily made decisions. Now is the time to get up as stealthily as I can and get the hell away from here.
I can't help but remember the tales that Papa had told me about avoiding the forest as a younger child. I had first learned about rogues and shapeshifters from Papa, who had told me that they would never come into the pack to cause trouble, but getting lost in the forest could mean being harmed by them.
I get up slowly, wincing when pain shoots through my ankle. I must have sprained something when I fell over the shrubs.
Trying to make as little noise as possible, I begin to limp towards where I'd come from but halt when the memories from earlier slam through me.
“Tonight, I, Jack, chose Violet as my mate, to remain mine in all seasons, across multiverses, realms and time.”
I shut my eyes as that familiar pain courses through me again. I had been rejected by my own mate.
I had been seen as weak and unfit. Unsuitable to be the alpha's met. Incapable of being taught and trained. He hadn't even tried to take a chance on me because I was never the woman he wanted. He had always had eyes on Violet from the beginning.
I try to take a forceful step forward, despite the pain of that rejection, the pain that came with realising that I wasn't good enough for someone the gods had destined me for...
But my legs refuse to move because the second the alpha had publicly announced his new mate, rejecting me in secret, the pack had ceased to become home.
How would I go about my day every day knowing what had happened? How would my wolf cope with the loss of her mate? Was I always going to fight for control whenever the alpha was near? And continue to question my worth each time the memories of that rejection come back?
“No.” I say out loud as a swivle around. I refused to live that way.
I wasn't going to live like that. I wasn't going to wallow in pain and watch someone who was supposed to be mine frolic with someone else.
I was not going to live a lie and pretend to be happy just so Jack could have his wishes. If he didn't want me as his mate, it meant that he didn't want me in the pack. And I refused to go back where I wasn't wanted. Or needed.
I begin a slow trudge further into the forest, already on the lookout for dried woods I could use to make fire. Tonight, I was going to rest, and tomorrow morning, I was going to search for a new pack. A pack that was going to be accepting of me, and one that would train me.
I needed to be trained. I didn't wish to be like Violet, but I needed to learn to stand up for myself.
Happy with the internal decision I have just taken, I gather a few dried woods and settle under a large maple tree. Even though my appetite is still nonexistent, I am lucky enough to come across a few fruit trees, taking a handful of pineapple and raspberries to stuff myself for the night.
Tonight isn't the time to try to hunt. I need all the rest I can get and proper time to restrategize and plan my life from here on out.
I have managed to light the fire, just as Papa taught me. I am a little proud of myself for doing this all on my own, without his aid.
I can't help but recall those happier times with Papa. And more than once, I had wished that he was still alive. Maybe, if he were, this would not have happened.
He would have trained me, and maybe if I had been trained, I would not have been considered unfit to be the alpha's mate.
I bit into the juicy pineapple, quickly filling my stomach with all the fruits that I had gathered. My wolf was starving and needed more than what I was having. But this was going to have to do for now.
The wood is eerily quiet, so the only noise that permeates the still air is the crackling of the fire as its bright embers continue to lick up the dried leaves and hard wood I'd piled.
When my wolf stirs and suddenly becomes alert, I pause, my heightened senses catching onto the definite snap of a dead wood from about a mile away, which causes me to become tense.
My wolf suddenly becomes restless, and I know what that means. We need to get out of here.
I get up very quickly, filled with sudden strength from the meal I'd just had. I look down at the dress I still have on and slide my fingers between the satin, ripping off the hems and throwing it into the dying fire.
There's no time to cover my tracks, no time to put out the fire; they'd still track me through my foot imprint on the forest ground. There are people headed this way, and their unfamiliar scent lets me know that none of them are from my pack.
Without wasting any more time, I break into a quick run, feeling the midnight wind against my face as I continue to run, not caring where I go, so far as I am as far away as possible from my potential assailants.
I am filled with terror as two indistinctive bodies emerge behind me, their much bigger and longer legs covering more ground than mine.
“There she is!” An unfamiliar voice growls. “Get her!”
PrologueJenna’s POVThe house is a haven of warmth and calm, filled with the low hum of contentment. Outside, the world continues to bustle—the sounds of children’s laughter echo through the air, accompanied by the chatter of pack members as they go about their tasks. We’ve built something here, something beautiful, and I never imagined it would feel like this. I sit in a sturdy chair by the window, my feet propped up and my swollen belly cradled gently in my hands. It's almost time—our child is growing inside me, and the thought brings a mixture of joy and anticipation. The days are passing slowly now, each one bringing us closer to the arrival of our little one. And with Jack by my side, I know we can face whatever the future holds. I hear footsteps approaching and look up to see Mia standing in the doorway, a soft smile on her face. She holds a bowl of warm water and a cloth in her hands, her expression a mix of eagerness and affection. “Jenna,” she says, her voice light. “I wa
Jenna’s POV The next morning, I find Veronica standing by the edge of the clearing, her silhouette framed by the soft light of dawn filtering through the trees. The previous day had been filled with lots of hugs of goodbye. I had witnessed people cry as they'd embraced and promised to stay in touch. Greta had decided to return to her inn and rebuild it again. She had enjoyed the thrill of fighting and was glad that she was on the right side of history, but she needed to rest, and she couldn't think of a better place to do it. Raina and Caleb, though, had chosen to stay with us. And I was more than happy to still have them. Veronica looks serene despite her exhaustion, her posture as graceful as ever. It’s a sight that brings a pang of nostalgia to my chest, a reminder of the countless hours we’d spent together training, laughing, and sharing dreams of a better future. I approach her slowly, hesitant for reasons I can’t quite articulate. She notices me immediately, her lips curvi
Jack’s POV “Are you both joined together by the hip?” Raina asks as she approaches Jenna and I. Jenna lets out a low chuckle as she disentangles from me and moves towards her friend to warmonger in a hug. “We did it!” I hear her say as she continues to stay in her embrace. Raina rubs her back fondly, returning Jenna's hug with a soft, sad smile. “We did it, even though we're no longer complete.” Jenna steps back and looks at Raina, whose eyes are now wet with tears. “The last thing I expected was Eleanor's betrayal.”Jenna's shoulders slump in sadness as she nods. “At least we still have Greta and Caleb.”Raina smiles again as she clasps Jenna's hands in hers. “At least we still do.” As they continue to talk, Caleb and Greta join them, and I decide to step away and give them the privacy to talk and reunite. As soon as I am a considerable distance away from the group, Zephyr approaches me with a calm but deliberate stride, his golden eyes steady and unreadable. He stops a few f
Jack’s POV Jenna has returned to the women, helping them with whatever she can and rationing the last of our supplies. I watch her, marveling at how far she’s come. She’s not the same woman I foolishly rejected all those years ago. Jenna has always been brave, but now she’s a force to be reckoned with—a leader in her own right. Her quick wit and relentless courage have saved me more than once, and I know, deep down, that I owe her more than just my life. As she laughs softly at something Raina says, my chest tightens with a mix of pride and longing. Maybe I needed to be stupid enough to let her go back then to realize what I’d lost. Maybe my reckless decision to reject her wasn’t just a mistake but a painful lesson I had to learn to truly see her worth. And gods, she’s worth everything. I watch her for a moment longer, my wolf pacing restlessly within me, yearning to be close to her. The thought of spending the rest of my life with her—of building something lasting when all this
Jack’s POV The forest is quiet, save for the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional crackle of the embers still smoldering behind us. The air feels heavy, laden with the scent of ash and smoke from Violet’s pyre, and though her flame has burned out, the weight of her memory lingers. I catch sight of Jenna standing with Raina and a few of the other women. They're all talking and laughing, their voices ringing out steady and true. The sound of it makes my heart warm. We might have experienced our own loss, but we had emerged victorious. Jenna is beautiful in a way that makes my chest ache, her blonde hair catching the light and her shoulders held high despite the exhaustion I know she’s feeling. She’s always been like that since we met again—strong, unwavering. My anchor in a storm I was too blind to see for years. As I watch her, my mind drifts back to the look in her eyes earlier, when I spoke about Violet. It wasn’t judgment or anger I saw there, but confusion. Maybe even
Jenna's POVThe trek through the forest is quiet, somber. Jordan carries Violet’s body in his arms, his face set in a grim mask of determination. None of us speak, but the weight of what we’ve endured is palpable. Every step away from the battlefield feels heavier than the last.We find a small clearing as the sun begins to rise, its pale light filtering through the trees. The others gather around, their expressions weary but resolute. Zephyr and his people—no longer strangers but allies—stand a respectful distance away. Even Veronica, her frailty evident as she leans against Zephyr for support, watches silently.Jordan kneels, carefully laying Violet’s body on the grass. He brushes a strand of her hair away from her face, his hands trembling. “I’m taking her home,” he says, his voice raw. “She deserves to rest where she belonged.”For a moment I wonder whether he even remembers that there is no home for now. “Jordan…” Jack steps forward. “Carrying her all that way isn’t practical. I