INICIAR SESIÓNJolene The sound of their footsteps faded into the trees, but I stayed on the swing long after they were gone. My heart still raced, stubborn and loud in my chest. The evening air had turned cooler, yet my skin felt too warm. I pushed the swing gently with one foot, listening to the familiar creak of the chains, and let the last few minutes replay whether I wanted them to or not.Seth’s voice. The way he had said my name. The way he had remembered the old reading sessions with the younger kids. For a second he had almost sounded like the boy I used to know,the one who used to smile at me across the training field, the one I had stupidly believed might one day look at me the way I looked at him. Then the alpha mask had slid back into place and he had left too quickly, as if staying any longer might cost him something.I pressed my palms against my eyes. Aurora’s little arms around my waist still lingered like a brand. I had softened for her without thinking. I always did. She made it
SethThe moment stretched longer than it should have. Neither of us spoke. The porch swing creaked softly under Jolene as the evening breeze moved through the trees. Aurora’s small hand was still in mine, but I barely felt it. My pulse hammered in my ears. Horror and something sharper, something I didn’t want to name, locked me in place.Jolene’s eyes held mine, wide with surprise that slowly settled into careful caution. She looked different up close in the fading light. Softer than the controlled teacher from the classroom, yet stronger than the girl I had rejected seven years ago. The freckles across her nose were still there. The same ones Cal used to talk about.Aurora broke the silence first.“Miss Falls....Jolene!” She pulled free of my grip and ran straight up the steps, throwing her arms around Jolene’s waist. “We were walking and I saw you! Can I swing with you?”Jolene’s entire expression shifted the second Aurora touched her. The careful distance melted. She smiled, real,
SethThe evening light filtered through the windows of my office as I reviewed border reports. The knock was familiar. Cal stepped in without waiting, looking unusually energized. He dropped into the chair across from me, rubbing his hands together.“Hey, man. Got a minute?”I set the papers down, leaning back. “What’s up?”He hesitated, then dove in. “I wanted to talk to you about Jolene. I asked her out. After the park the other day… we clicked. I was wondering if you’re okay with it.”I stared at him, the words landing heavier than they should. “Why are you asking me for permission? She’s not pack property.”Cal shifted, looking uncomfortable but determined. “Because she was your rejected mate, Seth. You’re the alpha. I don’t want to step on our friendship or create drama. I respect the history there, even if it was years ago.”The reminder of that night hit like a fresh wound. I forced a smile, the expression tight on my face. “I don’t own Jolene, Cal. She’s free to do whatever sh
Jolene The weekend came as a much-needed breath after the emotional storm of the week. I needed normalc, something soft and uncomplicated to push the memory of Seth’s eyes out of my head. So I texted Jessica: Coffee at the park with the boys? I want to meet my nephews properly. Bring Aurora if she’s free. Girl time plus kids.Her reply was almost instant. YES. I’ll pack snacks. See you at 10?The park was bustling with weekend energy when I arrived, blankets spread under a shady oak. Jessica was already there, chasing two energetic toddlers while Aurora sat nearby drawing. My nephews, little carbon copies of Jasper with Jessica’s bright smile, toddled toward me the second I approached.“Auntie Jo!” the older one squealed, latching onto my leg. I laughed, scooping him up despite not being fully used to the title yet.Jessica pulled me into a warm hug. “You look like you need this as much as I do.”“I really do,” I admitted, settling onto the blanket. Aurora immediately crawled closer,
The morning after the dance, I moved through my classroom on autopilot, arranging crayons and wiping down tables that didn’t really need it. Sleep had been almost nonexistent. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Cal’s frustrated face or heard Aurora’s quiet sobs against my shoulder. The weight of it all pressed on my chest like a stone I couldn’t shake off.I was still rattled when the first students started trickling in. Then Aurora appeared in the doorway, her usual bounce missing. Her eyes were a little puffy, and she clutched her backpack straps like they were a lifeline. My heart twisted.“Good morning, sweetheart,” I said softly, crouching to her level as she approached my desk.She looked up, and just like that, her face lit up. The transformation was instant. “Miss Falls!” She threw her arms around my waist in a tight hug. I hugged her back without thinking, breathing in the faint scent of strawberry shampoo.“Did you have fun after I left?” I asked gently, guiding her to her s
Jolene The name hit me like ice water. JoleneI froze mid-step, the air suddenly too thick to breathe. Jolene Falls. The girl who was never meant to be my mate. The one I’d rejected without a backward glance all those years ago. My chest tightened painfully. Jessica,my little sister,couldn’t stop talking about how happy she was to have her best friend back. Mad at first, sure, but they were working through it. And Aurora? She wouldn’t shut up about ‘Miss Falls this’ and ‘Miss Falls that.’ The clay wolves, the stories at circle time, how she helped with the dress tonight.Cal watched me carefully. “Yeah. She’s back in Crove. Been teaching at the school for a bit now. Aurora’s completely taken with her.”I sank back into my chair, staring at the photo again but seeing something else entirely. Jolene. Back after seven years. The girl who used to blush every time I walked into a room in high school. I’d thought it was just a stupid crush back then,harmless, fleeting. Then the mate bond s
Jolene The drive to my parents' house felt shorter than it used to.Or maybe I spent too much of it trying not to panic.The roads were familiar. Every tree, every turn, every cabin hidden between the woods carried memories I never asked to keep. Some good.Most are painful.I kept both hands tigh
By the time I got home, exhaustion sat heavily in my bones.The porch light was already on.Aunt Clara opened the door before I even reached it."You’re late.""There was a goodbye dinner." She stepped aside to let me in before immediately pulling me into a hug.I melted into it quietly.My aunt h
Jolene We get to the school grounds around 7:15 am and we still have half an hour before the first period. I grabbed my bag and followed Jess out. We talked all the way to our lockers and the place was loud as always. Everyone talking and the voices overlapping with each other. "I hope the coac
Jolene. "Jo!! Hurry up the bus will be leaving. And I will not be driving you to school today too" my mum yells from the stairs and I groaned "I know ma! I'm just fixing my hair" I yelled back, still looking in the mirror, trying to pull my hair into a ponytail."You've been 'fixing' your hair fo







