Jake Sullivan’s first act upon returning to the Burns pack after his three-year mission was to publicly sever our mate bond.

Rumors swirled that he had met a captivating red-haired Omega named Vanessa Cooper during his hunt for rogue werewolves. They had allegedly bonded over shared struggles, and now, he was determined to claim her as his mate.

I stood in the pack hall, my gaze fixed on the couple before me. Jake, once my closest confidant, now looked every inch the hardened warrior, his broad shoulders and chiseled features exuding an Alpha’s commanding presence. Beside him, Vanessa clung to his arm, her fiery hair and delicate features painting a picture of fragility and allure. Her eyes, a striking shade of amber, met mine with a flicker of triumph that she quickly masked behind a demure smile.

“Journi,” she began, her voice soft and sweet, “I just wanted to say how sorry I am—”

“Don’t,” I interrupted, my tone cold. “We’re not friends, Vanessa. Let’s keep it that way.”

Her lips trembled, and she pressed closer to Jake, who immediately wrapped a protective arm around her. His eyes, once warm and familiar, now bore into me with icy detachment.

“Journi,” he said, his voice low but firm, “this is between you and me. Vanessa has nothing to do with it.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “Really, Jake? Then why is she here, playing the victim?”

Vanessa’s eyes welled with tears, and she buried her face in Jake’s chest. “Jake, maybe I shouldn’t have come. I just wanted to make things right—”

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” Jake reassured her, his voice softening. He turned back to me, his expression hardening once more. “Journi, I’m ending this. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t deny what I feel for Vanessa.”

I stared at him, my chest tightening. This was the same man who had once promised to stand by me, who had shared countless memories with me. Now, he was choosing her.

“Jake,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me, “do you even remember what this bond meant? Or have you forgotten everything?”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, weathered leather pouch—the one I had given him before he left for his mission. Inside was a charm I had crafted, infused with scents meant to protect and guide him.

“Here,” he said, tossing it to me. “I don’t need this anymore.”

I caught it, the weight of it heavier than I remembered. Without a word, I turned and walked to the pack’s ceremonial firepit. I held the pouch over the flames, letting the heat consume it until nothing but ashes remained.

“Jake Sullivan,” I said, my voice ringing through the hall, “I, Journi Burns, reject you as my mate. May the Moon Goddess sever this bond and grant us both the freedom we seek.”

The words echoed in the silence that followed. Jake’s expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a steely resolve. He nodded once, then turned to leave, Vanessa trailing behind him like a shadow.

“Wait,” I called out, stopping him in his tracks. Vanessa glanced back, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.

“Yes?” Jake asked, his tone clipped.

I pointed to the charm bracelet on Vanessa’s wrist—the one I had given him years ago as a token of our bond. “That’s mine. Give it back.”

Jake hesitated, then unclasped the bracelet and handed it to me without a word. As he walked away, I felt a pang of sorrow, but it was quickly replaced by a fierce determination. I had survived worse than this, and I would survive this too.

The news of Jake Sullivan's rejection spread like wildfire through the pack.

Some pitied me, some argued for my dignity, and others simply reveled in my downfall.

But the most prevalent gossip was about how Jake doted on Vanessa Cooper, spoiling her with the resources of the Sullivan family.

Even Rosie Rivera, Jake's mother, adored her, going so far as to gift Vanessa the family’s ancestral silver pendant.

I ignored the rumors.

I was an orphan, taken in by the Burns pack after my father, Kane Burns, a respected Healer, died defending the pack against a rogue attack.

Since then, I’d been on my own, but my father had left me prime hunting territories and trading posts within the pack lands, ensuring my independence.

What I hadn’t expected was the audacity of the Sullivan family, especially Rosie.

When I stepped out of my home, Rosie was standing at the gate with a group of Deltas.

During the three years Jake had been away leading the rogue-hunting mission, I’d visited her often, acting as her future daughter-in-law.

Each time, I’d brought expensive gifts, even extending my generosity to her other family members.

Seeing me, Rosie’s sharp eyes narrowed, and she sneered.

“I heard you accepted my son’s rejection. He acted rashly, didn’t he?”

Her tone was sugar-coated, but I knew her visit wasn’t out of concern.

Sure enough, her expression darkened, and she added, “Even though the mate bond is broken, those hunting territories and trading posts should be transferred to Jake’s name.”

Melany Lewis, my personal guard, bristled and looked ready to snap, but I stopped her with a raised hand. Calmly, I asked Rosie for her reasoning.

“A lone she-wolf like you, holding onto such valuable resources—it’s like a child parading around with a treasure chest. These past years, it’s the Sullivan family that’s kept you safe. Handing over those territories is only fair. Don’t worry, we’ll still protect you as we always have.”

Her crimson lips moved with practiced ease, her words dripping with entitlement. Did she really think I, Journi Burns, was so easily intimidated?

Just as she reached the peak of her tirade, I unleashed a surge of my alpha aura, a dominant force that left her trembling and her skin pale.

“You—”

She choked on a gasp before collapsing in a heap.

I thought that would be the end of my dealings with Jake, but fate had other plans. We’d cross paths again sooner than I expected.

A few days later, the Lycan Queen’s ceremonial visit to the Burns pack was in full swing. The packhouse was alive with activity, the air thick with the mingling scents of werewolves from all ranks. I stood at the entrance, adjusting the collar of my formal attire, when I spotted Jake Sullivan approaching with Vanessa Cooper at his side.

Vanessa was dressed in a striking red gown that clung to her figure, her hair cascading in perfect waves. She looked every bit the Omega who had clawed her way into the spotlight. Her scent—sharp and cloying—hit me before she even spoke.

“Journi, are you here for the Queen’s ceremony too?” she asked, her voice sweet but laced with mockery. Her eyes glinted with something I couldn’t quite place—jealousy, perhaps, or just plain spite.

I ignored her, stepping past her to enter the packhouse. But Jake’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist with enough force to make me wince. I turned to face him, my lips pressed into a thin line, and yanked my arm free.

“Journi,” he said, his tone cold and commanding, the kind of tone that made my wolf bristle. “Vanessa was speaking to you. Show some respect. Apologize.”

I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Get lost, Jake.”

Vanessa clung to his arm, her face the picture of innocence. “It’s okay, Jake. I’m sure Journi didn’t mean to be rude. She’s just… struggling with everything that’s happened. Maybe she’s here because she’s still hoping you’ll take her back.”

Jake puffed out his chest, his Alpha aura rolling off him in waves. “Journi, I know you’re still hung up on me, but I’ve moved on. I’m with Vanessa now, and I won’t let you disrupt that. Leave. And don’t show your face around me again.”

His words were a slap, but I refused to let them land. My wolf growled softly in the back of my mind, a reminder of the bond we’d once shared—or at least, the bond we’d been promised. But now, all I felt was disgust.

Vanessa, ever the manipulator, added, “Jake, maybe I should have encouraged you to keep Journi as your secondary mate. Then she wouldn’t feel the need to embarrass herself like this.”

Before I could stop myself, my claws extended slightly, and I swiped at her cheek, the sharp crack echoing in the air. She staggered back, her eyes wide with shock, tears welling up almost instantly.

Jake’s expression darkened, and he stepped forward, his hand raised as if to strike me. But before he could, a strong arm shoved him aside, and Jonas Chavez, the Lycan Prince, stepped between us. His scent—rich and grounding, like the earth after a storm—was a welcome relief.

“Alpha Sullivan,” Jonas said, his voice calm but laced with an Alpha tone that even Jake couldn’t ignore. “Is there a problem here?”

Jake straightened, his jaw tightening as he tried to regain his composure. “Prince Jonas, Journi assaulted Vanessa. I was just—”

“I saw what happened,” Jonas interrupted, his gaze flicking to me before returning to Jake. “And I suggest you take a step back before you do something you’ll regret.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed, but he knew better than to challenge a Lycan Prince, especially in front of the entire pack. He took Vanessa’s arm and led her away, though not without a final glare in my direction.

Jonas turned to me, his expression softening. “Journi, are you alright?”

I nodded, though my hands were still trembling. “Thank you, Prince Jonas.”

He gestured toward the packhouse. “Shall we? The mark ceremony is about to begin.”

As we walked inside, I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on us. Jake and Vanessa’s whispers followed, but I held my head high. My wolf stirred, a quiet reminder that I was stronger than they thought. And with Jonas by my side, I felt a flicker of something I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.