Chapter 4

Jace.

It's been two years of living in the dark hole of anguish. Two whole years without the woman I love, or even a mere glance at her.

Mum talks to her every day through phone calls though. I make sure to eavesdrop every time it happens so I would at least hear her voice.

I was so stupid to think I was protecting her. I hurt my mate in a very crucial way that no one would ever imagine doing.

I didn't intend to. I was being threatened, and my stupid brain thought it would be the best way to protect her.

The bitch I came with was nothing close to my girlfriend. At the alpha's training, she would always try to seduce me but I stayed clear.

I had a girl waiting for me at home, and I knew even if she didn't turn out to be my mate, there was no way I was going to let Ana go. I could have made her mine anyway. Ana had always been mine from the beginning.

Two months to the end of the training, I don't know how it happened but I found Lisa lying naked beside me. To make the matters worse, I was naked too and that got me sprinting out of that bed like a crazy person.

I had never touched a woman in my life, leave alone looking at them twice. If I did that, I would be betraying Ana.

Ana and I loved each other for a long time and It was obvious to everyone. But we still kept our hands and everything to ourselves until we were mated.

I never kissed her either. The further we went was flirting and sharing a bed every night.

We had hoped that one day we would be mates, and the goddess was kind enough to fulfill our long-term dream.

When Lisa woke up, she claimed we had a night together but I didn't believe her. I didn't feel any different. I'm sure a man will know if he fucked a woman even in his unconscious state.

I should have known she was up to something. She undoubtedly had sick games under her sleeve.

Days later, she showed up again with a pregnancy test in her hands claiming it was mine. I was stupid to believe her.

The bitch clung to me since then and up to now, I still don't recollect what transpired between us that night. Not even little fragments that I can make something out of.

Then I started receiving threatening notes from the unknown. Claiming that if I didn't take my responsibility they were going to hurt Ana. That was when everything fell into place.

It was a setup.

The notes were accompanied by countless photos of Ana. From our young age until the period I was in training.

I used to stare at them in tears.

She was a happy soul and full of life. We didn't even realize someone was stalking us for a very long time.

The stalker took countless photos of us in her bed at night, at school, and the times she accompanied me to the game. Everywhere she went that person was there.

I wasn't going to let them harm her. I wanted to buy us time as I tried to find that person. It was clear that they were close to us.

The bitch completely denied that she didn't know anything. The notes had warned me not to act stupid with her either. So out of fear, I decided to research on my own and keep her at a distance. I hated everything about Lisa and I couldn't imagine my hands on her.

Our pack has very tight security and there was no way a person would keep sneaking in without being caught. I still don't know who and the motive behind those threats.

The silver pack is one of the largest and it tops the most powerful and wealthy packs around. We have gold mines in our land and it has been serving as a great source of wealth to us.

So I used every possible means and resource to find this stalker but to no avail. They must be really smart.

The notes stopped appearing when Ana left, and the only thing keeping my sanity is the frequent phone calls Mum always makes.

The night Lisa tried to mark me, I was so frustrated. I had no lead and my mate was hurting. My mind completely stopped working when I saw Ana in that hospital.

She was pregnant and almost out of life. That sight made me spend every second of my life looking harder. When I told Dad, it was too late and I still regret keeping the burden to myself.

And it was a stupid mistake confronting her because Lisa couldn't accept losing. She wanted to make this person so proud to the point of forcing her mark on me.

My wolf could not have it, he took control, snapped her neck, and tore her pathetic heart out.

He was always repelled by her presence, and having another woman's mark on us who was not Ana, was something I couldn't allow no matter how much they threatened me.

I should have talked to Dad or Mum sooner. Fuck! It would have been safe if I just explained everything to my mate.

I could have saved a lot.

I won't forgive myself for hurting her. The moment I entered the pack, I knew it was her.

Ana's scent for some reason used to calm me from the start and it was the first thing I smelled when I drove in on our pack borders.

My joy knew no bounds but then again, I had to pretend to hate her to keep her safe.

She is the last person I would want anyone to take away from me.

I can never take the image of her teary eyes out of my mind. I never made my Ana cry, but that night I did. I used to beat up any idiot who made her sad or overstepped their boundaries with her.

I hate myself for being so stupid.

The night I took her innocence, I hate myself more when I remember that night. My wolf took complete control and claimed her and I knew I would cause her trouble if I stayed.

That's why I dragged the bitch to the pack house and gave her the furthest room from mine.

When Ana left, my soul completely gave out. That day killed me. My pup's blood remains stained on my hands. I still see its trail every time I descend those stairs.

It consumes me every moment of my life.

The image of broken and bleeding Ana making unsteady weak steps toward the door. Those images haunt my dreams to this day. She lost our baby because of my stupid choice.

My parents were more mad and the relationship between us is still strained. I don't blame them, I hate myself too.

My mum is holding her 40th birthday party soon and she's making a big deal out of it. She has been on a video call with Ana for the last hour begging her to come home.

I can feel it in her voice. Her hesitancy.

She is happy wherever she is. I was supposed to be a better man for her. Ana trusted me so much but I broke her.

We had countless dreams that I ruined.

"Mum, I have work. Maybe next time" she whispers. Her voice is so calm and beautiful. It makes me yearn for her so badly. I love Ana so much and my heart strains every moment I spend without her.

"You missed the last two Ana, don't I mean anything to you anymore?" Mum adds with her most vulnerable voice. The one she always uses to manipulate you into agreeing with whatever she wants.

" Of course, you do Mother, you know I love you" Ana speaks in a soft and promising voice. I close my eyes listening to her. This is all I can get right now.

Goddess knows that I regret everything I ever did.

I pray she forgives me.

"Then prove it baby, please come home" The line goes silent. The two women remain quiet for a while before a sigh breaks from the other end.

"Okay, I will book the next flight" she whispers in a defeated voice.