Emotion-triggered?
Jessica could hear private links.
Jessica heard my private links.
The blood in my veins turned to ice.
She heard every time Suzette mindlinked me.
She heard every promise I whispered to someone else.
She heard the call on our marking night.
She heard me choose Suzette over her.
The room tilted sideways.
“My God… she knew,” I whispered. “She knew from the beginning.”
Everything I had tried to hide, she already knew.
My wolf lowered himself in my mind, ears flat, tail tucked, shaking.
She refused to be the mistress in my marriage.
That was why she walked away.
That was why she didn’t want me anymore.
I collapsed onto the sofa, covering my face with both hands.
“Why didn’t you come to me?” I whispered, voice cracking. “If you already knew, why didn’t you ask? I would’ve told you everything. I stayed with her out of guilt. She once saved my life. She was dying. I just wanted to ease her final days. But you…” I pressed a hand to my chest, “you’re the only one I ever loved.”
But was that really the truth?
If it was only pity, why did I entertained Suzette when she came back to pursue me?
Because I stupid truth was…
I thought Jessica would never leave.
No matter I knew I was already hurting her.
Jessica’s POV
The first thing I felt was a thick, throbbing ache that wrapped around every inch of my body.
“Ah!”
I let out a cry, more like a croak, and immediately a woman in white ran into the room.
“Miss Jessica! Thank the goddess, you’re awake.”
My mouth was dry, my lips cracked. I tried to ask who she was, but all that came out was a whisper of a gasp.
She rushed to my side and held a bottle with a straw to my lips.
“Careful. Don’t speak yet Here have some water,” she said gently. “Your throat was damaged in the fire. You need time to heal.”
The cool water hit my tongue like a blessing. I drank slowly, tears leaking from my eyes as my body screamed at me.
“W-Who are y-you?”
“My name is Lara, your private nurse. You’ve suffered severe burns, and eventually, you’ll need skin grafts,” she said, gently brushing my hair away from my face. “But for now, we need to let your body rest and recover. Your healing is slower than normal because your wolf is still in shock. The trauma from the fire suppressed your natural regeneration. We need time for your inner wolf to fully awaken again.”
I blinked at her, trying to process her words.
“Where… am I?” I managed to rasp.
Lara gave a small smile. “You’re safe, Miss Jessica. You’re in the Hawthorne Pack.”
That name didn’t make sense. Hawthorne?
“You were saved by our Alpha,” she added.
I stared at her.
“Your Alpha?”
Who would save me? I didn’t have allies. I wasn’t part of their pack. Suzette had influence. I had isolation.
Lara began checking my vitals. She nodded proudly. “Yes, our Alpha. You might’ve heard of him. They call him the Rogue King.”
The Rogue King?
I’d never met anyone with that title.
“I… I don’t know him,” I whispered.
The words scratched my throat like broken glass, but I had to ask.
Lara’s eyes sparkled. “Oh Miss Jessica. Our Alpha, William, he’s the one who showed up at the LunaPharma event. The one who shared extra footage to back up your claims. He’s the one helping push your case to the High Council.”
My eyes widened.
A memory surfaced.
William was the name Charley called out when she thought I’d been taken.
The same name from the last moment I remembered before the fire took me. He was the last face I saw.
He was the one who found me after the car crash when Johan chose Suzette.
He was the one I promised a custom perfume.
He was the man whose touch I remembered, even as flames consumed me.
The one I had slept with.
My face flushed, even under the pain.
“Where is he now?” I asked, voice shaking.
Lara stiffened.
“Please,” I said again, struggling to lift my arm. “Where’s your Alpha?”
Lara hesitated. Then her face fell, and she spoke softly.
“He was coming for you again. But he got ambushed. Our enemies, rogues from the western region.”
I felt my pulse spike. No. No, that couldn’t be.
“Please tell me he’s okay.”
“His father recovered him. He made it out, but…” Lara’s eyes shimmered. “He hasn’t regained consciousness.”
Terror wrapped around my chest like a vice. The pain in my body suddenly didn’t matter.
He came back for me.
He risked everything.
And now… he might be dying.
“I want to see him,” I said. I pushed against the bed, trying to sit up.
The pain hit so hard I nearly blacked out.
Lara lunged forward. “Miss Jessica, please! You mustn’t move! Your injuries are still raw. You could reopen your wounds, or worse, get an infection. If our Alpha knew you hurt yourself trying to see him, he’ll punish me in the dungeons.”
Just then, footsteps echoed outside the room.
Lara stepped in front of me quickly, her body tense. Her claws slid from her fingers instinctively.
“Who is it?”
The door opened, and an older man stepped inside. His eyes were sharp, but tired.
“I see she’s awake,” he said.
Lara straightened quickly. “Elder Bohan.”
Every muscle in my body tightened.
He took one step closer. “If not for you, my son wouldn’t still be unconscious.”
His accusation cut straight through me.
I hadn’t even gotten out of the bed, but I felt the force of his hatred as clearly as claws against my throat.
So this was William’s father.
My fingers curled, gripping the sheets so hard my knuckles trembled.
Lara exhaled shakily. “Elder Bohan, please put on sterile gear. If Jessica catches an infection, the Alpha will-“
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply