“Yeah, sorry, that was really embarrassing. I just needed to be alone for a minute.” We stayed like that, just looking into each other’s eyes. Finally, Jasmine broke the silence. “So, what now?”
I knew exactly what she was asking. She wanted to know if I would break up with Lucy, her best friend and my long-term girlfriend, to be with her. It should have been an obvious answer—the Moon Goddess had fated us to each other. But I found myself paralyzed—unable to answer. While new feelings had emerged for Jasmine, I couldn’t push the love and affection I felt for Lucy away.
After considering how to reply, I finally said, “I don’t know.” She removed her hands from mine. The sparks were replaced with a feeling of immense emptiness without her touch. I spoke again. “Can you please just give me some time? I honestly don’t know what to do. I need time to think.”
“Time to think?” she asked, her eyes penetrating mine. “Time to think about what?”
“About this,” I replied. “About the fact that we’re mates.”
“What about it?”
“You have to agree that it’s a lot to find out that my mate is my girlfriend’s best friend.”
I could see that tears were threatening to fall from her eyes. I rubbed her knees with my hands, seeing that it was having a calming effect on her as she closed her eyes. She finally opened her eyes and asked, “Are you going to tell Lucy?”
“Not yet,” I replied, not knowing how I would explain what happened to her. I knew I couldn’t keep this from her forever, but I needed time. This had been sprung on me so suddenly, and I had trouble deciding the right course of action.
“We can’t keep this from her.”
“We won’t. Let’s just give it some time before we throw this curveball at her. You know she’s not going to take it well.” I couldn’t help but cringe at the thought. I could already envision the impending car crash, and knowing Lucy, it was going to be bad—five-car pileup bad.
“Okay,” she replied, looking unsure, a sadness in her eyes. I felt like I could almost read all of her emotions now, being connected to her. “I need to go home. This is too much for me.”
“Okay, I’ll let everyone know you didn’t feel well.”
Frustration played across her face as she sighed. “Damn it, I don’t have my car. I got a ride here. It’s okay. I can just walk.”
“I’ll drive you home. I’ll mindlink Lucy to let her know.” I put my hand out to help her up. She took it and I pulled her to her feet. I put my arm around her, leading her to my car, loving the feeling of having my arm around her shoulders. I quickly mindlinked Lucy to let her know that I was taking Jasmine home because she didn’t feel well, adding that she had probably drunk too much, giving an excuse for her ill feelings.
I drove through the pack toward her house, remembering vividly where she lived. When we got closer, she asked, “Do you mind dropping me off down the street? I don’t want my parents to see you, and I don’t want them to know about this.”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Look, I’m really sorry about this. If I knew you were my mate, I never would have started the relationship with Lucy.”
Jasmine glared at me. “Isn’t that the point though? You knew all along that you had a mate somewhere out there. But you still chose to get involved with someone else, not even considering how your mate would feel once they found you.”
I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Jasmine was right. I had been a complete idiot and now I found myself immobilized when forced to make a choice. We drove the rest of the way in silence. She didn’t say anything as she exited my car and walked away down the street. I sat there baffled by the situation, unable to drive back to the party and face Lucy. As if reading my thoughts, I saw a text come through.Hey is everything ok, baby? Everyone’s heading home now. I can meet you at the packhouse.
After reading and rereading her text, I finally replied,I have some pack business tonight so go home and get some rest. Love you.
A text came back almost immediately.Ok love you too.
Chapter 25
Jasmine
AssoonasIentered my house, my parents came over to give me hugs. I told them I wasn’t hungry after having eaten at my party. They still forced me to have birthday cake with them. I had to find the strength to act normal as I made strained conversation with them, wanting to be anywhere but there. This had to be the worst birthday I’d ever had.
After I was finally excused from the table, I went up into my room and shut the door, so many emotions flooding me. How did I end up in this situation? I sighed and lay back in my bed, subconsciously playing with the bracelet on my wrist. I needed to talk to someone about this, to organize all of the thoughts floating through my mind. I couldn’t talk to my usual confidant, my best friend. I also couldn’t talk to my parents or grandparents, not that I ever really went to them about anything. I didn’t feel close enough to Emma or Madison, them being more Lucy’s friends than mine. Either way, I couldn’t trust they wouldn’t say anything to Lucy. I knew I had to tell her, but I didn’t want to without Luke’s agreement to do so first. Either way, I wasn’t exactly sure what I would say, imagining the awkward conversation.
Hey, you know your boyfriend? Yeah, the one you’re in love with and want to be your mate? Well, funny thing about that—he’s actually my mate!
This was a huge mess.
It was so ironic. For two years, I had secretly longed for Luke to be my mate. Now that he was, he didn’t even want to be with me. Then, I realized something else. Maybe all that time that I had a crush on him wasn’t a coincidence at all. I had felt the connection, my inner wolf pulling me toward him. I just wasn’t able to confirm the reason for the feelings until now. That’s why no matter what I did, I couldn’t push him from my mind for all of that time. That’s why his relationship with Lucy upset me. But what about him? Had he ever felt the same way I did?
I put the back of my wrist to my forehead, the charm of my new bracelet landing on me before my hand did. Realization hit me—I could talk to Blake. Okay, maybe he wasn’t the best person to speak to in this situation, but I didn’t have many options, and I felt I could at least trust him. He’d been a friend to me all summer, and plus he had confided in me about how he had lost his own mate. I turned to my side and picked up my cell phone.
Me: I know it’s short notice but any chance you’re free now? I need to talk to someone.