All Chapters of My Best Friend's Fiancé is Fated my Fated Mate: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Jamie Vale stared at his reflection and wondered how convincing a lie could become if he repeated it often enough.“I’m happy for him.”He adjusted the collar of his shirt.“I’m happy for him.”He smoothed down the front of his jacket.“I’m happy for him.”The words sounded almost believable now.Almost.Jamie lowered his hands.The man staring back at him looked nothing like the miserable wreck he felt like inside.His dark hair had been carefully styled, the soft waves pushed away from his forehead. His shirt was a deep charcoal, fitted neatly across his narrow shoulders, and the black trousers made his legs look longer than they were. He had spent twenty minutes deciding whether the silver watch on his wrist was too much.It wasn't.At least, he didn't think it was.He looked good.He looked composed.He looked like someone who was perfectly capable of attending his best friend's engagement party without falling apart.That was the goal.Tonight, Ethan was getting engaged.Tonight,

Jamie didn't wait for Ryan to say another word.He turned and walked.Not quickly.Not at first.He forced himself to move like nothing had happened.Like his wrist wasn't burning.Like his wolf wasn't screaming inside his head.Like the man standing behind him hadn't just looked into his eyes and called him—Mate.Jamie pushed through the balcony doors.The moment he stepped outside, he broke into a run.He barely noticed where he was going.He crossed the terrace, hurried down the stone steps and disappeared into the garden.Cold night air struck his face.He kept going.Past the fountain.Past the rows of white roses.Past the trees lining the edge of the property.Only when the music from the house became distant did he finally stop.Jamie bent forward, bracing his hands against his knees.His lungs burned.His heart was pounding.His entire body was shaking.“No.”He squeezed his eyes shut.“No, no, no.”His wolf answered.Mate.“Shut up.”Mate.“Stop.”Mate. Mate. Mate.Jamie pr

Jamie returned to campus the following afternoon.He told himself he had survived worse.Six years ago, he had walked away from his childhood home with nothing but a backpack.He had survived university.He had survived discovering he was an Omega.He had survived heats, loneliness, heartbreak, and years of pretending that the person he loved most in the world was nothing more than his best friend.He could survive Ryan.The thought should have made him feel better.It didn't.Jamie stepped out of his car and looked toward his apartment building.He had barely taken three steps when he stopped.Ryan was standing beside the entrance.Jamie stared at him.Ryan stared back.He was dressed simply, in dark jeans and a black shirt, his hands tucked into his pockets.He looked like he had been waiting for a while.Jamie immediately turned around.“No.”“Jamie.”“No.”Ryan pushed away from the wall.“Please.”Jamie kept walking.“I don't want to talk to you.”“I need to explain.”“I don't car

EthanThe drive to the address Ryan had given him felt longer than it should have.Ethan barely remembered leaving Jamie's apartment.He remembered standing in the doorway.He remembered looking back at Jamie on the couch, still holding the container of food Ethan had brought him.He remembered Jamie's sleepy smile.I'll see you later.Those had been his last words.Now they felt strangely distant.Ethan tightened his grip around the steering wheel.Ryan had said it wasn't about the engagement.It was about Jamie.That was all he had given him.Ethan had spent the entire drive trying to convince himself that there were dozens of explanations.Maybe Ryan had noticed something between them.Maybe he wanted to talk about Jamie's behavior at the engagement party.Maybe Jamie

JamieJamie stared at the door.Ryan stood on the other side.He could feel him.That was the worst part.He could feel him without seeing him.The bond had gone strangely quiet the moment Ryan arrived, but Jamie's body remained alert, every nerve tuned toward the man standing just beyond the door.A knock sounded.Once.Jamie didn't move.Another knock."Jamie."Ryan's voice.Low.Controlled.Too close.Jamie closed his eyes."Go home.""I will."Jamie frowned.Ryan continued."Just give me five minutes.""No.""Five minutes.""I don't want to talk to you.""I know.""Then leave.""I will."A pause."After five minutes."Jamie a