CH 4 – Best Sex Ever

Jake Lewis

I stormed out of Ashley’s room, slamming the door so hard the walls rattled. My chest burned as if I’d just run ten miles. I couldn’t get her scent out of my head—the sweet, warm pull of her skin under my hands, the way she’d trembled against me.

Disgust twisted in my gut as I ripped off my shirt and stepped under the cold shower. I scrubbed my skin until it turned red, but it didn’t erase the memory. It didn’t erase the way my heart pounded when I touched her.

I braced my hands against the tiles, water streaming down my face.

You felt it too, Brad, my wolf, murmured through our mind link. You can lie to yourself, Jake, but you can’t lie to me. Ashley’s wolf, Carrie, called to me. She’s ours.

“No,” I growled out loud, shaking my head furiously. “She can’t be. She’s—”

Desirable, Brad cut me off. Last night was the best Sex we’ve ever had. Admit it.

I slammed my fist against the wall. My wolf wasn’t wrong. No one—not even Marian—had ever made me feel the way Ashley did. But it was Ashley. Fat. Ugly. Disgusting. The mate I’d never wanted.

I shut off the water and dragged a towel over myself, trying to erase the truth gnawing at my chest.

When I stepped out into my room, my mother was waiting. Leonor, tall and elegant, her eyes sharp as a blade.

“Jake,” she said smoothly, “now that your father’s gone, you’re the new Alpha. Before the official ceremony with the elders, this is your chance to get rid of Ashley. She will never worth to be your Luna.”

I stiffened. “Mom—”

She lifted a hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you. We can bring Marian here. She’s the mate you deserve. You like her most right?”

I kept my face blank, but my heart twisted.

“Why are you hesitating?” she pressed, crossing her arms. “Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind.”

I looked away, heat crawling up my neck.

Her eyes narrowed. “Jake, don’t wait until that ugly girl demands you to mark her. I will not have ugly grandchildren ruining our bloodline.”

My chest tightened. Images from last night flashed in my head—Ashley’s soft whimper when I bit her, the way her body fit mine like it was made for me.

“I…” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. “But Dad wanted the packs united. If I cast her aside now, the alliance breaks. I can’t risk that.”

Leonor’s lips curled in distaste. “You sound like you care about her.”

“I don’t,” I snapped quickly. “Don’t twist my words.”

But even as I said it, Brad’s growl rumbled in my head. Liar.

I clenched my fists, pretending her words didn’t cut as deep as my own thoughts.

Because the truth I couldn’t admit—not to my mother, not to anyone—was that last night had been the greatest night of my life.

And it had been with Ashley.

“What do you think the other packs will say when they see Ashley?” my mother asked, her tone sharp enough to cut stone, her eyes piercing into mine. “The Shadow Fang Clan will become a laughingstock.”

I pressed my lips together, my jaw tightening.

Before I could answer, Ryan walked in, his usual smirk in place. “Aunt Leonor is right. Our pack will be the main topic of gossip. Everyone’s already whispering about how the great Jake Lewis ended up with… well, her.”

Heat flared in my chest, though I didn’t let it show.

Mother leaned back, her eyes cold. “Don’t worry about Alpha George. I’ll personally speak with him. I’ll explain that your marriage to his daughter will never work. He’ll have no choice but to understand.”

My throat felt tight. I thought about Ashley—her smile, small and shaky, the way she tried so hard even when she knew I hated her. The memory of last night still haunted me, no matter how much I tried to erase it.

Finally, I let out a sigh. “Fine.”

The next morning, I sat at the dining table across from Mother. The chair beside me, Ashley’s chair, was empty. I stared at it, frowning.

“Where’s Ashley?” I asked one of the maids as she cleaned nearby.

The maid bowed her head. “Alpha, Luna Ashley said she’s not feeling well. We already brought food up to her room.”

Something twisted in my gut.

Mother snorted. “Not eating for a day won’t reduce her fatness. Let her sulk. If she wants, she can leave and run back to her Moon Crest Pack where she belongs.”

“Mom…” I warned, my voice low.

She met my eyes without flinching. “I’ve already spoken with Marian. She agreed to come stay with us. She’ll arrive any moment now.”

I froze. “What?”

Mother lifted her cup and sipped tea, her lips curving. “What? If Ashley sees you and Marian so in love, maybe that ugly pig will finally realize she’ll never be part of this family. Maybe she’ll leave without us lifting a finger.”

Before I could answer, the door opened. Marian walked in, her beauty as dazzling as ever, her smile wide and warm—for my mother, not for me.

“Marian, my darling,” Mother said, standing to embrace her. Marian kissed her cheek, the two of them laughing softly like old friends.

“Put Marian’s things in the guest room where Jake stays,” Mother told the maid.

“Wait—” I started, but the maid had already rushed upstairs.

Marian turned her bright eyes on me, a teasing smirk on her lips. “So, where’s the pig?”

Mother rolled her eyes. “Sick, apparently. Probably just missing her kitchen at the Moon Crest Pack.”

Marian giggled, covering her mouth. “I wouldn’t be surprised. She always did love food, didn’t she?”

They both laughed, but I couldn’t breathe.

Without another word, I shoved my chair back and stood. “Excuse me,” I muttered, my voice rough.

They both stared, startled, as I walked out before I said something I couldn’t take back.

I walked upstairs, my steps heavy, my mind a storm I couldn’t quiet. Something about the maid’s words wouldn’t leave me alone.

Ashley wasn’t feeling well.

Is it because I marked her?

Did I become too rough?

When I reached my room—the one she stayed in—I knocked. The door creaked open.

“Ashley?” I called softly. No answer.

The room was quiet, too quiet, until I heard it— the sound of someone vomiting. My chest tightened. I followed the noise into the bathroom.

There she was, bent over the sink, her hands gripping the porcelain. Her face was pale, her body trembling.

“What happened?” The words came out rougher than I intended.

She lifted her head weakly, meeting my eyes for a moment before looking away. “N-Nothing. I just… don’t feel well.”

I took a step closer, unsure what to do, when a familiar scent drifted into the room.

“Jake,” Marian’s voice sang softly. She appeared behind me, her hand sliding around my arm like it belonged there. “Why are you here? Come on, let’s go to our room.”

Ashley’s eyes flicked from Marian’s hand on me to my face, confusion and pain shining in them.

“Why… why is Marian here?” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Marian giggled, her tone cruel. “Why? Well, starting from now, I’ll be living here. With Jake.”

I felt Ashley’s blood drain from her face, her already pale skin turning even paler. She lowered her gaze, shoulders shaking.

“No,” I said quickly, pulling my arm away from Marian.

Marian blinked at me, shocked. “What do you mean, no? Let’s be real here, Jake. You only married her because of your father’s dying wish. But he’s gone now. That arrangement doesn’t matter anymore.”

Ashley’s lips trembled as she whispered, “Please… leave.”

Marian smirked, standing taller. “No, Ashley. You’re the one who needs to leave. Not us.”

That was it. Something inside me snapped. I grabbed Marian’s arm firmly and pulled her back.

“Enough,” I growled, surprising even myself.

Ashley’s eyes filled with tears, and before I could say anything more, she shut the bathroom door with a soft click. I heard the lock turn.

I stood there, staring at that closed door, my chest twisting in a way I didn’t understand.

Marian pouted beside me. “Jake, don’t tell me you’re actually worried about her?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. All I could think about was the way Ashley had looked at me—hurt, broken, like I was the one holding the knife that cut her.

And I hated the way it made me feel.