Heartbreak in the Making

Jade Nightshade 

The soft murmur of voices reached me through the haze of my fever as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. My mother's voice was unmistakable—firm yet laced with worry. She was talking to the pack doctor, no doubt trying to figure out why I’d been sick for over a week now.

"How could she just fall sick like this?" I heard her ask; her frustration barely masked. "She was fine the night before. This doesn’t make any sense."

"We’ve run all the tests we can." The doctor’s voice was calm but uncertain. " There's nothing physically wrong with her that we can pinpoint. It's... strange. I’ve never seen a case like this."

I closed my eyes, my body aching with a fatigue that was more than just physical. I knew why I was sick, even if they didn’t. It wasn’t a typical illness. It was the bond. The oath Rowan and I had taken... I could feel it tightening its grip on me, like an invisible chain pulling me deeper into this state. But how could I explain that? They’d never understand. My mother will surely kill me before the sickness does.

Was Rowan sick too? It was the only explanation that made sense. He hadn’t come to check on me all this time, and that had to be why he hadn’t visited me in over a week.

I heard footsteps approach, and then my mother’s hand rested gently on my forehead, brushing damp hair away from my face. "Jade," she said softly, her worry evident as she sat down beside me. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

I swallowed hard, my throat dry, and muttered weakly, "No, Mom... there's nothing."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze filled with concern as she studied me. She wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t press. She let out a deep sigh, squeezing my hand. "You’ve barely been able to move, Jade. The mating ceremony is tomorrow. Are you sure you can make it?"

I nodded, though it took all my energy just to lift my head. "I have to," I whispered. "I’ll be there."

She frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. "An Omega will bring your dress tomorrow night." She paused, her hand tightening around mine. "You need to rest. You can’t afford to be this weak during the ceremony."

I gave her a weak smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "I know."

She stood slowly, her eyes still lingering on me as if she didn’t want to leave. After a moment, she finally turned to leave the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

As soon as she was gone, I let out a long breath. I knew what was happening to me—this sickness was tied to the bond with Rowan. It was the price we paid for what we did, the oath we took. And now, the only thing that could cure me was completing the mating bond with him.

I could only hope to make it until then.

********

I did make it.

Tonight was the mating ceremony, and an Omega quietly helped me into my dress with gentle hands. I leaned heavily against the bedpost, my limbs still weak, but I managed to stand on my own.

The gown was soft, a beautiful shade of silver with delicate embroidery, perfect for the ceremony. But it felt heavier than it should, like it was pressing down on my shoulders. My heart raced with every step I took, trying to convince myself that once I saw Rowan, everything would finally be okay. 

This sickness, this unbearable weight in my chest, it would all disappear once we completed the bond. He was my mate. I was sure of it.

As I slowly made my way downstairs, I saw my parents seated at the dining table. They both looked up; my mother’s brows furrowed in concern while my father’s expression was unreadable.

"Do you need help getting there, Jade?" my mother asked, standing up from her chair, her eyes searching mine.

I shook my head gently, the movement making me dizzy, but I forced a smile. "This... this is something I have to do myself."

My father, silent until now, set down his fork and nodded. "I’ll have a warrior follow you; watch over you closely," he said, his voice gruff but carrying the weight of concern.

I gave him a slow nod, too tired to argue. I didn’t want anyone watching me, but I knew they wouldn’t let me go alone. Not like this. 

Taking a deep breath, I stepped outside, the cool night air hitting my skin and reminding me how fragile I felt. But despite the weakness in my body, hope blossomed in my chest. This was the night. The most important night of mine and Rowan's life. We would finally confirm what we both already knew. We were mates. Once that was sealed, I would be whole again.

As I neared the hall, the sounds of music and laughter spilled out into the night, growing louder with every step. My heart raced, but not from the sickness. This was it. Rowan was waiting for me inside, and everything would be fine.

I pushed open the doors, stepping into the large room full of people dancing, their laughter filling the space. My eyes scanned the room, searching for him. Then, in the middle of the room, I saw him.

Rowan.

But something was wrong. My steps faltered, and I stopped in my tracks.

He wasn’t alone. He was dancing with a redhead, her long curls bouncing as they moved in sync, and he was smiling at her. Not just smiling—he was looking at her the way he used to look at me, with that same warmth, that same love.

My breath caught in my throat, and my vision blurred, but not from the fever this time. My heart dropped like a stone in my chest. Rowan didn’t look sick. He didn’t look like he was waiting for me at all. 

He looked... happy. 

With her.

My legs trembled, but not from the weakness that had plagued me for days. It was something else now, something far worse.

Disappointment? Who was she?

The room seemed to hold its breath as I took shaky steps toward Rowan. The music, the laughter—it all faded into a distant hum. All eyes were on me, but the only person I saw was him.

Rowan.

My heart pounded against my chest, each beat more painful than the last as I moved closer. He hadn’t noticed me yet, too wrapped up in the redhead in his arms. But then, as if he sensed the shift in the air, his gaze lifted, and our eyes locked.

For a fleeting second, I waited. Waited for that pull, that connection I’d been so sure of. The bond that would confirm everything.

But… there was nothing.

No spark. No recognition. No bond.

I almost staggered back from the force of disappointment and stomach twisted, a sharp pain lancing through my chest. But worse than that was the sight of his hands resting on her waist, like they belonged there. My throat tightened, tears burning behind my eyes as I tried to steady my breathing.

He noticed. He saw the way my eyes lingered on his hands, and in an awkward rush, he pulled them away from her like he’d been caught doing something wrong. He scratched his chin, avoiding my gaze for a second, then looked at me with a forced smile.

"Oh, uh... you’re here," he muttered, his voice casual, like we were strangers at a party. "I haven’t seen you around."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my voice coming out quieter than I wanted. "Who is she?"

Before Rowan could answer, the redhead stepped forward, her lips curling into a smirk that sent a wave of nausea through me. "I’m Kassandra," she said, the smugness in her voice impossible to miss. 

I barely had time to react before Rowan growled low, cutting her off. "Kassandra, go get me a drink." His tone was sharp and dismissive, and without a word, she spun around and sauntered off, clearly unbothered by the sudden shift in his mood.

When she was gone, he turned back to me, but there was no warmth in his eyes, no concern for the turmoil that must have been written all over my face. Instead, his expression was one of impatience. "Jade," he said, his voice a low warning, "stop acting like a child and go home. I’ll come by later. I’ll explain everything."

I blinked, trying to process the words, trying to make sense of the sudden coldness in his tone. "Acting like a child?" I repeated it in disbelief. My heart was breaking right in front of him, and that’s what he said?

Tears blurred my vision, but I fought them back, refusing to let them fall. I had come here, full of hope, ready to be healed, ready for him to be my mate. But the only thing I felt now was a crushing emptiness.

I stood there, frozen, my mind screaming at me to turn and run, but my body refused to move. "Rowan," I whispered, the hurt seeping into my voice despite my best efforts. "What happened?"

He sighed, glancing around at the onlookers who were still watching us. "Not here, Jade. Go home. I’ll talk to you later."

But I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear anything he had to say. Not anymore. The damage was already done.