Jasmine

It’s been a week since Benji told me everything that had happened back then. It left my mind in a spin with no idea what my next step should be, so I told him the truth: that I needed time.

Time to process everything that he told me.

Not only that, I needed to figure out what I want in my life and how to get past all the anger that rages inside me.

It’s my own personal monster, and I swear some days, I feel like one day it will take control of me and lash out at the one who tips me over that invisible edge.

No matter how hard I try to ignore the feelings I have for him, I’m still drawn to Benji. The past is clouding my judgement. All I'm thinking about is what we were and what we could be. What I have to consider, though, is the full effect my acceptance of the mating would have. I mean I don't know much about the mating ceremony wolves undergo, and I don’t know if it would be any different because I'm a witch. Then there's the whole ‘I'd be the Alpha's mate’ situation. Does that mean I have to take on a certain amount of responsibility? Would I want to put that kind of thing on my plate?

And my house? Would I be able to keep it, or would I be forced to sell it because I'd have to stay here the rest of my life?

After my third day sulking in my room, Josh stopped by and dragged me out to meet the pack in the hopes that it would cheer me up. He took me to visit a few of the families who were either celebrating a child's birthday or a pregnancy, and I got to see firsthand the love between each wolf and their mates.

Every day after, he stopped by to take me out among the pack so I can learn more about each of them.

The children were schooled on the pack lands until they could shift. The age of that depended on the power of each wolf. A wolf born of an Alpha or Beta line could shift as early as a year old, but most wolves tended to shift between five and seven years old. The day a wolf shifted for the first time was one of celebration among the pack.

I found myself fascinated with the wolf children, and they were equally mesmerized by me. Apparently, the witches before me hadn't taken the time to learn the names of any of the children, much less spend time entertaining and playing with them.

My magic seemed to be a novelty for them, and three little girls–Sara, Katie, and Whitney were their names–found it absolutely amazing when I made flowers dance around them.

The dozen or so little boys would love it when I'd animate the balls they played with. They would shift and chase after them while the parents looked on smiling.

Many of the parents seemed to find it amusing that I was using my powers in such a frivolous way when it would drain my energy. They didn't understand why I would do something with my magic to benefit the children. It made me sad for them, especially when I learned the witches before me had been charging them for the use of their magic.

Simple things like healing and helping sick wolves could have earned them friends among the pack, but yet again, my people show me how badly the Order has poisoned us, clinging to their selfish ways.

If it wasn't for my own upbringing, and seeing how badly that selfishness affected the people around them, I would probably blindly follow the things they ordered, but that's not how I feel.

It’s not like I can come right out and say, 'Hey, I don't like the shit you demand we do. How ‘bout you back the fuck up?’ No, if I did that, I'd be executed for sure, and I like my head where it is, thank you very much.

I sigh and roll out of the bed and stretch. Today is the day I’m going to sit Benji down and talk to him like a real adult. I admit the last few days I've been acting childish rather than like a woman, but fear has been eating at me. I realized last night during a pack bonfire, that there's no need for fear until we're completely upfront about what we want.

For all I know, he doesn't even want this mate bond, and I've been getting myself all messed up over nothing. But then if he doesn't want anything, then I have to find a way to move on and let him go. I can't be some lovesick fool pining away over her first love. I deserve to find happiness even if he doesn't want to be a part of my life.

Ugh, listen to me! I sound like a teenage girl! I hate that he's reduced me to this!

Even though I feel like such an idiot for feeling this way, I know I can't keep avoiding it forever. I also have to determine whether the Order should be aware of this development with my mate.

I plan to contact them soon regarding my mother’s behaviour. Enough is enough. I put up with all her shit growing up, just so she could keep collecting money for her selfish desires. If she is indeed now married, the guy she's married to deserves to know the type of woman he's with. Not only that, but the Order may not be too happy knowing she kept me from a mate when I could have been pumping out wolf pups to help regrow the species. Not that I was actually planning on doing that, but the Order doesn't need to know that.

I walk out into the hall, closing my door behind me. As far as guest quarters go, I feel happy knowing Benji tried to give me the space I needed. He put me at the other end of the pack house and gave me a room with my own adjoining bathroom. It made the transition a little easier, and I didn't feel suffocated.

As I make my way down to the office that I know Benji spends his early morning in, I hear a door slam at the front of the house. I freeze as a man turns down the hall, looking like he's on a mission. When he lifts his head to meet my eyes, my own widen in surprise.

He pauses, and a spark lights up the space between us.

I haven't seen the violet-eyed wolf since the first day I arrived. I thought I felt his presence over the past few days, but when I looked, he was nowhere to be seen.

My breath escapes me in a small gasp as he takes a step forward, breaking the moment. Within seconds, he's within touching distance and reaches a hand out, lifting my chin and claiming my lips in a spine-tingling kiss that leaves me surprised and breathless. Before I can react, however, it’s over.

"My name is Liam Sage, and I'm officially claiming you as my mate."

WHAT THE FUCK?

I throw my hands up, my initial shock immediately replaced with anger. "What is wrong with you wolves? Do you think this is some kind of sick game you can play on me?!"

My shouting draws someone’s attention and I hear the sound of footsteps. Benji comes marching out of his office and sees our proximity and the way I'm standing, ready to kick a wolf between the balls.

He looks between the two of us before his gaze settles on my violet-eyed wolf, Liam "What are you doing in here? You're upsetting my mate!"

I roll my eyes and glare over at Benji before pointing back at Liam accusingly. "This wolf just kissed me and told me he was claiming me officially as his mate. That's what's going on here! So tell me, Benji, which one of you two is lying to me, huh?!"

I push past both men, my shoulders bruised instantly by the impact against their rock hard arms. It felt like smashing my shoulders into solid bricks. Stupid fit men. Why couldn't they be all soft like marshmallows? I push a little magic into my shoulders and feel the pain ease instantly. With that I continue, storming into the dining room.

I pace back and forth, with my eyes on the floor, waiting for them to follow after me and offer up some kind of explanation. I feel both of their presences when they enter the room, but they remain silent. I finally snap, unable to take it anymore.

My anger is directed at Benji first, my heart breaking all over again. This is exactly what I didn't want!

"You told me I was your mate, Benji! You gave me this bullshit story about why you left and how much you cared about me! And you," I growl, turning my ire on Liam. "Where do you get off kissing me out of nowhere and then claiming me as your mate? You haven't said two words to me since I got here, but you thought it was okay to just waltz right up and kiss me?! I don't even know you! If I wanted to, I could have killed you!"

I close my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm the swirling magic inside me. After a moment, I opened my eyes to stare at both of them, my magic a little steadier.

I speak calmly, knowing if I get worked up, I may not get the answers I need. "I may not know much about wolves, but I know they only have one mate. ONE! So, tell me the truth, is one of you actually my mate, or is this some sick twisted game you two cooked up to fuck with me? I want you to be warned, if either one of you lies to me, I will use my magic to curse you for all eternity!"

I won't actually use my magic to curse them. I'm not that dark, but I will use it to get to the truth. I weave my magic around them, keeping it light, so they don't sense its presence. It won't harm them, but it will assure nothing but the truth can pass their lips.

If they lie to me, however, their bodies will spasm as if being tasered.

Benji takes a step close to me, holding out his hands in a passive manner. "Jazzy, please believe me. I am your mate. I wouldn't lie to you about something so sacred."

I nod, and my heart is relieved that he didn't trick me. If he had lied, I doubt I would have been able to handle it.

I turn my gaze to Liam who looks confused by the whole situation. He nods slowly. "I, too, am your mate. I don't know how this could have happened, but I swear to you I speak the truth."

My eyes dart between Benji and Liam, utterly confused. Neither of them lied, yet they both say they're my mate. I shake my head adamantly. "No, that's not possible. How did you do it? How did you both work around my magic?"

Benji smirks, "If you used a truth spell on us, Jazzy, then you know we didn't lie. As strange as it sounds, we must both be your mates."

I stagger back a step, feeling oddly faint. Why did this happen to me? I swear when I meet whatever fates are out there, I'll be giving them a piece of my mind!