Chapter 2 - Jared

“Come on in!” I call from the dining room when I hear a knock at the door.

The door swings open, followed by the sounds of my best friends—Jai Vlk, Rowen, Alexander, and Jacob Vegter—bickering as usual.

“No way, man,” Jacob says. “I bet one of you trio kids is going to be Chris’s mate. No chance it won’t happen. Same with Jared. Too much mystical mumbo jumbo around you guys. The Moon Goddess isn’t letting any of you escape fate.”

Jacob carries my Aunt Arya and Uncle Dev’s last name, but he isn’t their biological kid. His parents died during the wolf war—his father, Isaac, as a spy, and his mother, Lacey, in childbirth. Aunt Arya took him in because Isaac had meant so much to her. They were in the same pack before Matthias—our very own homophobic villain—lost his damn mind over who was sleeping with who and started a war with my parents for being gay. Real original.

Jacob’s always known he was different. Aunt Arya and Uncle Dev never hid anything—they told him who he was, who his parents were, and what his place was in their family. But I think the hardest part for him is that everyone else in his family can visit the Goddess Realm... and he can’t.

Aunt Arya and Uncle Dev got that gift after their third mate, Xander, died, and the twins—Alexander and Rowen—were born in the realm itself. They visit every full moon, even talk to his birth parents. Jacob can’t. It’s something he, Chris, and I struggled with for a while. Felt unfair. We lost people too—why not us?

That’s when Aunt Meredith stepped in. The Big Oracle. Selene’s personal mouthpiece. She told us it wasn’t punishment—it was protection. The twins were born between realms, and that gave them a foot in both worlds. Aunt Arya and Uncle Dev were allowed to see Xander again because it made them stronger, helped them move forward.

But my dads? Seeing Mom once a month would’ve wrecked them. Selene worried they’d become stuck, living for those visits instead of living for us. As for Jacob—he needed a full, grounded family here. Two sets of parents and conflicting worlds wouldn’t have helped. The Goddess saw that. It all made sense… eventually.

“I don’t know, man,” Alexander cuts in. “I think Selene’s bringing in fresh blood. Maybe one of those new paranormals popping up lately.”

“Dude,” Jai says, “I heard selkies can partially shift and grow gills so they don’t even need to breathe through their mouths. Imagine what that means for a blowjob.”

“Oh, come on,” I groan, lobbing a pillow at him as they walk into the living room.

He catches it, smirking. “I’m just saying—”

“I’m just saying you desperately need to get laid,” Rowen interrupts, winking at me. Thank the Goddess—someone shut him down.

They start roasting Jai about his dry spell since breaking up with Sadie two months ago. He’s been dying of blue balls ever since. We drink a little, eat some steak the omegas sent up, and then head to the club.

The Claw is a shifter-only club on the edge of Artemis territory, popular for a reason. Between the red rooms, alcoves, and balconies, it’s basically hookup central. Not that alphas and betas-in-waiting like us can partake, but watching? Entirely allowed.

As soon as we walk in, the bouncer must alert management, because a tall, stunning woman with deep brown skin appears instantly.

“Welcome to The Claw, future alphas and betas,” she purrs. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

Rowen slings an arm around my shoulders. “Jared’s turning 21 in two days. We’re celebrating his last moments of freedom.”

Her eyes light up. “Future beta! We’re honored to have you. Let me escort you to a private balcony and set up bottle service.”

I open my mouth to respond, but Jai cuts in like a damn freight train. “We’ll take anything you want to offer, gorgeous.”

She grins, biting her lower lip, clearly eating it up. Her already-tight shirt gets mysteriously tighter, her cleavage suddenly taking up most of my field of vision. “Of course, future beta. I’d be happy to show you... everything we offer.”

She takes Jai’s hand—he’s practically vibrating with excitement—and leads us upstairs to a huge balcony overlooking the dance floor. Easily fits three times our group. She shows us the call buttons, promises bottle service, and exits—Jai’s hand still in hers.

“We’re not seeing him again tonight,” Rowen mutters in my ear.

“Hey! Isn’t that Roxie?” Jacob calls, pointing to the floor.

“Where?” Alexander scans the dance floor, then freezes. “Holy shit, it is her!” He spins toward us, eyes wide. “Guys. Guys. This chick is wild. Does things with her mouth that break the laws of physics.”

Jacob raises a brow. “She’s got friends.”

And just like that—they’re gone.

Rowen and I look at each other, then burst out laughing.

“Well, damn. Happy birthday to me.” I drop onto the plush sofa. “Want something from the bar?”

“Yeah, let’s do some shots!” Rowen grins.

I turn to the intercom and realize I’ve completely forgotten the button sequence.

“Here, let me.” Rowen leans over me, his chest brushing mine. I catch a lungful of his scent—clean, woodsy, Rowen—and suddenly, my brain stops working.

Here’s the thing: I don’t care if my mate is male or female. I come from a trio with two dads. I’ve had girlfriends, boyfriends—even tried polyamory. Love is love, and chemistry is chemistry.

And right now? Rowen is radiating chemistry.

We’ve flirted before, sure. Nothing serious. But tonight, something’s different. It’s not just want—it’s need. Like if I don’t touch him, I’ll break.

When he pulls back from the panel, his face close to mine, he hesitates. His gaze flickers between my lips and my eyes. Mine does the same. The tension hums like electricity.

I lift my hand, cupping his jaw. His breath catches.

“Tell me to stop, Rowen. Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll back off.”

He moans softly. My pants tighten.

“Don’t stop,” he whispers.

Goddess, who could resist that?

I close the gap, kissing him, my tongue pushing past his lips, desperate to taste him. He moans, pulling me in, fingers threading through my hair as my hands slide to his back and then his ass.

He straddles me, and for a breathless moment, we break apart, panting, staring at each other.

That’s when it hits me.

I’m making out with one of my best friends.