Chapter 5

It's been over two months since my scandalous getaway. I'd practically walked on eggshells for the first two weeks after that night, hoping that the stranger wouldn't show up at my parents house. Because how do I explain that I've already fucked a guy before I found out he was my mate?

And gratefully, the mysterious wolf hadn’t come knocking at my door to claim me as his fated mate— or, worse, reject me. Honestly, I wasn’t sure which one I prefer.

At least the pregnancy tests were negative. I’d taken three. Or was it four? I lost count after the third panicked pee stick. And every single one came back negative, I nearly threw a party. The last thing I needed was popping out pups for a faceless mystery man. Nope, hard pass.

I scrubbed at a stubborn plate in the sink, watching soap bubbles swirl down the drain. Meanwhile, Jenna’s giggles floated in the air like some poisoned fairy dust.

“Yes, he’s an Alpha. A very powerful one,” Jenna said.

“Oh, sweetheart, just tell me his name!” Marina cooed, her laughter bubbling up with Jenna’s.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Of course, Jenna bagged an Alpha. Meanwhile, here I was, scrubbing plates like a glorified Cinderella knockoff, without the glass slippers nor fairy godmother. 

Somewhere deep— okay, really deep— inside, I half-hoped my mate would show up for me too and sweep me out of this misery just like Adolph had done. Almost done.

Thinking of him twisted something sharp in my chest. The memory made tears burn in my eyes. I sniffed, blinking fast, when a voice dripped behind me.

“Well, look who’s getting emotional. Missing me already, huh?”

I jumped, nearly flinging the plate. Spinning around, I faced Jenna, her arms were crossed over her chest and her lips curled up into a scowl.

“Prepare chicken broth and asparagus,” she ordered, like a queen commanding her peasant. “My mate is visiting today.” 

And with a dramatic hair flip, she waltzed out of the kitchen. I glared daggers at her retreating back. “Sure, Your Highness,” I gritted my teeth. 

A few minutes later, she came back and leaned over the pot, inhaled deeply, then made a face like I just cooked poison.

“This is bland,” she snapped. 

Girl, you haven't even tasted the food yet.

She grabbed a spoon, slurped a taste, and then—whap!—flunked the spoon at me. Metal clattered off my shoulder.

“You want to embarrass me in front of my mate?!” she shrieked, lunging forward.

“Only if he’s got the palate of a Gordon Ramsay judge,” I muttered.

The words had barely made it out of my lips when she grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked so hard that stars burst behind my eyelids. “What did you say?!”

“I said ouch, Jenna… oh moon goddess! Jenna—”

I struggled against her grip for a minute, before I felt it. Heat. A creeping, searing warmth against my side. I glanced down. My sleeve was… glowing?

“Oh shit.”

Jenna shoved me backward, and the cupboard behind me ignited with a whoosh. Fire raced across the kitchen, swallowing wood and crawling toward the door.

“Jenna! Fire!” I shouted, coughing as smoke curled around us.

She stopped, eyes wide, and mouth gaping. The flames roared, sealing off the exit in a wall of flaming heat. Smoke quickly filled my lungs making it hard to breathe. My eyes stung, watering as I squinted through the heat. I stumbled against the kitchen cupboard desperate to find the tap, the water, something to douse the fire devouring the kitchen.

But Jenna? Oh, spoiled Jenna. 

She sat sprawled on the floor in the middle of the chaos, wailing and kicking like a toddler that was denied candy. “Get up, Jenna! We’re about to become barbecue and you’re throwing a tantrum!” I shouted hoarsely, but she just shrieked louder, thrashing uselessly beneath the table.

Of course. Typical.

I crawled, dragging myself toward the sink, the heat blistering against my skin. My fingers fumbled blindly for the faucet. I was so close—so damn close—when the door exploded inward with a deafening crash.

A figure stepped inside, tall and broad, almost blending with the smoke. For a moment, I felt relief flood my chest. Someone had come to save us. Finally!

But then… he walked right past me.

Without hesitation, he strode straight to Jenna, kneeling beside her crumpled body. His hands scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest like she was some fragile porcelain doll.

“Are you okay?” he murmured, his voice low and rough-edged.

Something in that voice… it slid against my memory, familiar in a way that made my skin prickle with goosebumps.

“Hey!” I coughed hard, waving weakly. “Over here! Burning alive, thanks for asking!”

He didn’t look at me. He didn’t even glance my way. He just carried Jenna like she was the only thing that mattered, and headed straight for the door. As if I wasn’t even there. Panic coiled in my chest. 

“Wait—” My throat cracked, the word barely a rasp. And then, he stopped right at the doorway, with Jenna still in his arms. Slowly, he turned to look back at me.

And then it hit me.

That pull. Strong, undeniable. It felt magnetic. Like a black hole pulling me in.

No. It can’t be.

But my lips betrayed me, whispering the word that I should've swallowed with the smoke.

“M… mate?”

His eyes locked onto mine, dark and intense, holding something I couldn’t read. And then, without a word, he turned away and carried Jenna out of the fire.

Leaving me behind.