LOGINEve looked at him in shock, he couldn't be her mate.
She looked at her side and Tina was looking devastated. She looked at Jude again and felt it, he was her mate, the missing part of her. "Jude, what's going on?" Tina whispered. People were looking at them and whispers were already going round. "I thought Jude and Tina were going to be mates" "Me too, and isn't Eve, Jude's friend and Tina's as well, this is going to be so awkward" Eve looked at Jude, her heart broke, what had she done to deserve this pain, but he didn't belong to her. She couldn't do this to Tina. "Jude, come on, you have to reject me, quickly" she urged him, smiling to reassure him despite the pain in her heart. "Thank you Eve, I will always appreciate this" Tina told her. Eve looked at Jude, he was still unmoving, he hadn't said anything. She cleared her throat, if he didn't do it, she would do it. "I, Eve Johnson, reject..." Before she could finish her statement, he stepped closer to her and leaned down. Before she could stop him, he bit her neck, claiming her as his mate. Eve closed her eyes, she felt like the missing part of her had finally clicked. "No...Jude...No" Tina sobbed and ran away from the arena. Eve pushed Jude away and ran after Tina. "Tina wait!" She beckoned to her. Tina spun around to look at her, "I can't believe you would do that" "Tina, I didn't plan for any of this to happen, I am just as surprised as you" Eve pleaded with her. "And yet his mark is on you" "I was going to reject him, I swear I was" "How long have you been planning this? All those times you said you paraded yourself as his best friend, you have wanted him all along" "Tina, I was going to reject him, I didn't make him do anything" "I am going to get him back, I don't know what you did to bewitch him but he is mine" Tina looked so angry, she had never seen her this angry. "Tina, that's enough, come on" Tate had caught up with them. "Tate, this bitch is a thief, she stole Jude away from me" "That's enough, you need to calm down, let's go" Tate pulled Tina away. "Please Tate, you have to believe me, I didn't plan for any of this to happen" Eve pleaded with Tate. "I have to take care of her Eve" Tate said as they walked away. Eve watched them leave, she went on her knees and ran her hands through her hair. How had this happened? "Eve, are you okay?" She looked up to see Jude. He crouched down to meet her. She pushed him away and stood up. He stood up as well. "What were you thinking claiming me?" she asked. "I was thinking that you are my mate" "Are you even listening to yourself? I cant be your mate, there is clearly some mistake here" "So you are saying the goddess made a mistake?" Eve groaned, "Jude, you and Tina share a bond, everyone could see that, why didn't you just reject me?" "Because you are my mate and a mate bond is sacred, you are a part of me Eve, why would I reject that?" "But what about Tina? You love her" "And I will love you, we share a bond blessed by the goddess herself" Eve closed her eyes when he reached out to touch her cheek. He was right, she could feel the bond between them. But then she remembered Tina's face and how devastated she had looked. She pushed him away. "I need to think" Jude watched her leave, his feelings were conflicted. He had to see Tina and talk to her. He groaned, he didn't look forward to having this conversation at all. He made his way to her house, usually he opened the door and walked in freely but he felt this wouldn't be welcomed today. He knocked on the door and Tate opened up, he didn't look happy at all. "What do you want?" He asked. "I need to see Tina" "Why?" "Tate come on man, I didn't plan for any of this to happen" "Tate, is that Jude, let him in" Tina said from inside. Tate opened the door wider and Jude went inside. Tina rushed to him and hugged him, "you rejected her right, I knew you would do the right thing" she told him. He shook his head and pushed her away from him. "You didn't reject her? But why?" "Tina, she is my mate, I won't reject her" "But what about me?" Tina yelled. "I am sorry Tina, I am really sorry but Eve is my mate and I won't reject her" "Jude, my love, we are perfect together, everyone could see it. Your mom has even trained me to be Luna" "I am really sorry Tina but things between us are over" "It's that bitch right, she must have done something to change our bond, I just know it" Jude's face changed. "Don't ever say anything bad about Eve, I know you are hurting right now, you can say anything you want about me, but I won't take it about Eve" "Can't you see you have changed? You have never spoken to me like this in the past" "Tina, do you know why I never consummated our relationship?" "You said you wanted to wait for us to be blessed as mates by the moon goddess." "Tina, that was one of the reasons but the other reason was that I felt incomplete like something was missing in me. And now with Eve, I can already feel complete" Tina slapped him, "you are the most selfish person I have ever seen" Jude held his cheek, "I deserved that" "Get out" she yelled. Jude walked out of the house. "You have really hurt her, I won't forgive you for this" Tate told him. "I won't forgive myself either" Jude told him.Addie stood before her FULL length mirror, smoothing the fabric of her dress. When she caught her own reflection, she couldn't help but let out a high pitched squeal. Today was the Red Moon ceremony. Today was the day she would finally find her mate.A light knock sounded at the door before it pushed open. Her mother, Sade, stepped into the room. She walked over and gently turned Addie around, taking a moment to look her up and down."You look beautiful, Addie," Sade said softly. "You’re going to make a wonderful mate for someone."Addie beamed, her excitement radiating. "I just hope I find a love story like Alpha Jude and Luna Eve’s. After everything they went through, they’re still so devoted to each other. That’s what I want."Sade’s expression softened, and she shook her head slightly. "You're a sweet girl, Addie. But I want you to be careful and keep your expectations grounded in reality. Not every pairing is an earth shattering romance.Sometimes, a mate is just a comfort
After Chyna was officially exiled from the territory, Tina began packing her things.She felt she didn't deserve to stay in the same pack as the people she had hurt. However, Eve and Tate wouldn't hear of it. They sat her down and convinced her to stay, at least until the next Red Moon ceremony, promising her that she was still part of their family.Nine months later, the pack house was filled with the sound of a crying infant. Eve gave birth to a healthy, beautiful daughter. They named her Laura, in honor of Eve’s mother. Holding her child, Eve felt a sense of peace that she was finally fulfilled. After some time, the night of the Red Moon ceremony arrived. Tina stood near the edge of the clearing, watching Jude and Eve dance with baby Laura. She didn't even bother to stay in line with the other girls, she felt she wouldn't get a mate. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around, her heart nearly stopping. Standing there, looking handsome, was Chris.The air between them
Tina walked slowly toward the center of the platform. The defiant look she had tried to maintain for weeks was gone, replaced by sadness. She stopped a few feet away from Jude and Eve, her hands clasped tightly in front of her."I am so sorry," Tina whispered, her voice cracking. She looked at Eve, tears finally spilling over. "For everything. My mother... I should have known better. I should have been stronger. I let her use me to hurt the two people who have been my best friends since we were children. I don’t know if you can ever forgive me."Eve didn't hesitate. She stepped away from Jude’s side and pulled Tina into a tight, warm hug. Tina sobbed into her shoulder, her body shaking with relief and guilt."None of this was your fault, Tina," Eve said firmly, pulling back to look her in the eye. "She manipulated all of us. She even used magic to forge a bond you thought was real. You were a victim of her obsession just as much as we were."Tate stepped forward then, leaving Ry
Jude walked out onto the wooden platform overlooking the clearing, his arm wrapped firmly around Eve’s waist. A collective gasp rippled through the pack. The pack members who had been prepared to see him mate with Tina were now staring in total confusion."The ceremony is over!" Jude’s voice boomed, carrying the full weight of his Alpha power. The murmuring died down instantly. "My mind was not my own. I was misled, and my feelings were manipulated by dark magic."At that moment, Tate and Ryan emerged from the side of the house, dragging a struggling Chyna between them. They marched her up to the platform and handed her over to the guards.Chyna turned her head, spitting words at her son. "You are a disappointment, Tate! A traitor to your own family!"Tate didn't flinch. "I’m exactly who I’m supposed to be, Mother," he replied calmly. He turned to Ryan, and right there in front of the entire pack, they shared a deep, lingering kiss.The crowd erupted in shocked whispers. Ryan br
It was in the evening when the pack gathered at the platform. Jude stood at the front, his expression vacant, while Tina stood beside him, her head bowed. Chyna stood behind them, a triumphant glint in her eyes.Eve stood at the edge of the crowd, her heart beating fast. She looked toward the trees and saw Ryan and Tate in position.As Beta Johnson stepped forward to begin the rites, a loud crash echoed from the back of the pack house nearby. Then came the sound of an alarm, the signal for a rogue attack."Rogues at the north gate!" Ryan shouted, sprinting toward the woods.The crowd panicked. The warriors instinctively turned toward the noise. Chyna looked around, her eyes wide. "Ignore it! Stay here! The ceremony must continue!" she screamed, but the distraction was too great. Beta Johnson paused, looking toward the Alpha for a command.In the confusion, Tate stepped in front of Chyna. "Mother, the storage is open! Someone is taking our supplies!""What?" Chyna turned to
Evena returned just as the sun was setting. He looked tired. "I found the one who sold the potions," he said, setting a bundle of dry roots on the table. "I know exactly what was used on both you and your mate.""Who was it?" Eve asked hopefully.Evena shook his head. "You don't need to know who. In the Everglades, some secrets are better left buried. What matters is that I can fix it."Eve sighed in relief. "Will you help me?""I will," Evena replied. "I can brew a counter potion that will strip the magic from his mind. But the delivery is specific, you must get him to drink this, and then you must kiss him. The magic was anchored through his senses, it must be broken the same way."Eve nodded, memorizing his instructions. "How much do I owe you for this? I don't have much with me."Evena leaned back and shrugged. "You will owe me a favor. I don't need payment now, but one day, I will come to collect it."A chill ran down Eve’s spine. To owe a favor to a powerful witch was a







