Chapter 7: I want U

Cora's POV

Just as I’m nearly scared to death by that voice, a tall, handsome stranger slowly steps out of the shadows.

This man is strikingly beautiful — sharp cheekbones, messy hair, and muscles that ripple beneath his clothes. But what catches my attention more than anything is what he just said.

“I’ve been waiting for you, mate.” 

His words echo through my mind as my heart races. 

I must have misheard him, right? 

My mate is Liam.

I know this to be true, because the agony of my mate bond with Liam combined with the heartbreak of his betrayal is damn near tearing me apart. 

So why is this stranger calling me his mate? 

After all, there’s no way I could have two mates. 

Right? 

Has something like this ever happened before, Moon Goddess?

“Might I ask what you’re doing trespassing on my territory?” 

His words don’t just echo in the air. They vibrate through me, making the hair on the back of my neck stand. I barely hold myself steady.

The scent hits me first — fir, fresh rain, something untamed and primal that pulls at my very core. Then, I feel it — the undeniable presence of an Alpha. His aura is powerful, overwhelming, impossible to ignore.

His every movement radiates authority, strength. Every muscle in his frame is designed to command.

And now, standing before me, I recognize the truth.

This man isn’t just any Alpha. 

He’s Jasper Calloway. The Alpha of Moongrove Pack.

The stories whispered about him in every corner of the werewolf world are nothing compared to the force of nature he is in person.

The moment that thought crosses my mind, my instincts scream at me to run. But I hesitate, rooted in place by fear and something else — something even more dangerous.

I can't afford to be caught by him. Not now. Not like this.

But I don’t have the luxury of running.

“I–I’m so sorry,” I stammer out, raising my hands in trepidation as I step away from Jasper. “I had no intentions of intruding. I seem to have lost my way, is all…” 

Jasper raises an eyebrow. 

“Are you a rogue?” He asks, stepping closer towards me. 

My mouth falls open. I can sense the danger crackling through the air still, that vague sense of foreboding and warning. 

My instinct is to deny the claim, but I don’t want anyone linking me to the Snowcrest or Bloodthorn packs. And so, after a brief moment’s hesitation, I nod. 

“I am,” I confirm. 

“Name,” he says coolly.

“Cora Montague,” I answer, swallowing nervously.

Jasper’s brow furrows. Before he can react, though, a sharp pain suddenly shoots through my lower body. 

I gasp as a wave of inexplicable heat rushes through my body. My limbs begin to spasm and quake uncontrollably. I shudder as my legs start to shake, growing weaker and weaker by the moment. 

Just as I’m about to collapse, Jasper rushes towards me and catches me in his arms. 

I swoon, body fitting perfectly in the crook of his strong grasp. Tucked against his body, the scent of pinewood fills my nose instantly, completely overwhelming my senses. All at once, I’m utterly entranced, lost in his eyes. 

There’s something so simply endearing about being held–the strength and comfort of him, the easy way he grasps me…

I’m wholly unable to resist that intoxicating fir scent. 

My vision has gone somewhat blurry, but I can still make out Jasper’s wary expression as he frowns down at me, gaze tinged with concern. Whatever suspicion he’s feeling has been quickly overshadowed by worry about my clearly-deteriorating condition. 

“What’s wrong?” He asks. 

I bite my lip. This has to be related to the fact that I’m pregnant. I can’t let Jasper find out about my pregnancy, though–especially if I’m trying to get a fresh start. That would ruin everything. 

“I haven’t… haven’t eaten in days,” I murmur weakly. “I’ve no strength left.” 

But deep down, I know the truth. 

Alpha bloodlines are incredibly strong, more so than those of any other werewolves. As a result, she-wolves carrying an Alpha’s child are prone to feeling physically drained as the babies draw energy from our bodies over the course of their development. As a result, pregnant she-wolves crave our Alpha mate’s scent–it helps to keep everything stabilized. 

And I’ve just gone through an utterly harrowing escape that’s left me completely exhausted. 

Now, more than anything, I need the warmth and reassurance of an Alpha mate. 

“What happened to you?” Jasper asks quietly. 

I can tell by the set of his brow that he knows there’s more to my story than I’ve let on by now, but I’m feeling weaker and weaker by the second. Waves of pain continue to shoot through my lower stomach as I cling desperately to Jasper’s neck, fingers curling. 

I bury my face in Jasper’s chest, greedily inhaling his heady fir scent. Somehow, this handsome stranger from the woods is exactly what I need. 

I need to feel him completely. 

I need to feel him as close as possible. 

I bury my face in his chest, inhaling deeply, unable to resist any longer.

“I want you…”

The words slip from my lips before I can stop them, raw and desperate, a whisper of need that feels almost foreign coming from me.

Jasper’s body goes still, his chest tightening beneath me. There’s a moment of silence — a beat of hesitation. Then, he brushes my hair back gently, his touch surprisingly tender.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he murmurs, his voice thick with something that could be desire... or something darker.