Jake’s POV
The sunlight streamed through the large windows of the council chamber, illuminating the old elder sitting across from me. Elder Gregor was the oldest in the clan, and his advice often carried more weight than anyone else’s.
He leaned forward, his silver eyebrows furrowing as he spoke. “Jake, the Moonlight Party isn’t just a celebration. It’s a calling, a chance for the Moon Goddess to guide us. John must choose a mate, but…” His voice trailed off, his gaze piercing mine.
I knew where this was going.
“But what?” I asked, my tone guarded.
“But you need to consider your future too,” Gregor said firmly. “The clan cannot thrive with only one strong leader. You, as the beta, must also find a mate. The elders have been discussing this, and it’s time you took it seriously.”
My chest tightened. I’d avoided this conversation for too long. Every mention of a mate felt like a noose tightening around my neck.
“I’ll think about it,” I said curtly, rising from my chair.
“Think quickly, Jake,” Gregor called after me. “The Moonlight Party is an opportunity, not just for John, but for you as well.”
I left the room, his words ringing in my ears. My mind was spinning, my emotions clashing. I hadn’t thought about finding a mate-not seriously. And yet, one name, one face, kept resurfacing in my thoughts.
Reyna.
I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought. She wasn’t my problem. She wasn’t my anything.
And yet, before I knew it, my feet were leading me through the halls, straight to her room.
I stopped outside her door, my hand hesitating just before it could knock. What was I even going to say? That I couldn’t stop thinking about her? That the idea of her standing beside John made my blood boil?
No. I wasn’t that kind of man.
Before I could decide, the door swung open, and there she was. Her dark eyes widened in surprise.
“Jake?” she said, her voice laced with curiosity.
For a moment, I just stared at her. She looked softer than usual, her hair cascading down her shoulders, her expression unguarded.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
I cleared my throat, trying to gather my thoughts. “I… I wanted to talk to you.”
Her brows furrowed slightly, but she stepped aside, letting me in.
The scent of her filled the room, making it harder to think. She closed the door behind me and leaned against it, crossing her arms. “Well, what is it?”
I hesitated, my usual confidence slipping away. “The Moonlight Party,” I started. “It’s a big deal.”
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “I’m aware.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling more awkward than I ever had. “I was going to ask if you’d be my date,” I blurted out.
Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, she just stared at me.
Then she sighed, shaking her head. “I can’t, Jake.”
“Why not?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
“John already asked me,” she said simply.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I knew I was failing.
“Oh,” I said, my voice hollow.
“I’m sorry,” she added, her tone soft. “I didn’t know you’d-”
“Forget it,” I interrupted, turning on my heel.
“Jake, wait-”
But I didn’t wait. I left her room, her voice calling after me, and I didn’t look back.
The hallway felt colder, emptier as I walked away. My chest was tight, and I hated myself for how much it hurt.
Reyna wasn’t mine. She never had been. But the thought of her standing beside John, laughing with him, dancing with him under the moonlight…
It was unbearable.
___
Reyna’s POV
I watched Jake leave, his broad shoulders tense as he walked away from my room. The words he had spoken, his tone filled with something I couldn’t quite place, echoed in my head. I didn’t understand what had just happened.
I should have been upset or angry, but instead, I felt an unfamiliar emptiness. He had come to ask me to be his date for the Moonlight Party, but it wasn’t like I had any say in it. John had already asked me. I wasn’t about to refuse him, not when it was expected of me, not when it was such an important event for the clan.
But why had Jake looked so… disappointed?
I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the thoughts that plagued me. I couldn’t afford to get caught up in emotions, not now, not when everything was changing so rapidly. John was my responsibility, and I needed to focus on that. Jake wasn’t my concern.
Still, my heart couldn’t help but twist a little when I thought about him. There was something in his eyes when he’d asked me, something that made me second-guess my decision. He had been different, vulnerable even. It wasn’t like him.
I paced the room, trying to push the thoughts of Jake out of my mind. I needed to focus on the party. It was the only thing that mattered right now.
I couldn’t let myself get distracted by feelings.
There was a knock at the door, and I quickly straightened up.
“Reyna?” It was John’s voice, calm and commanding as always.
I opened the door to find him standing there, his expression neutral but unreadable.
“John,” I greeted him, stepping aside to let him in.
He walked in without a word, his gaze immediately sweeping over the room before landing on me.
“You’ve been quiet,” he noted.
I shrugged, forcing a smile. “Just thinking.”
John raised an eyebrow. “About the party?”
I nodded, hoping to distract him. “Yes. There’s a lot to prepare.”
He studied me for a moment, his eyes searching, as if he could see through me. “Reyna, you’re acting distant. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I hesitated before answering, unsure of how to voice the conflicting feelings inside me. “I’m fine, just… tired. This is a big responsibility.”
John nodded. “I understand. But you don’t have to do it alone.”
I looked at him, trying to read his expression, but he was as unreadable as ever. I knew he meant well, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit suffocated by his constant presence.
“I know,” I replied softly. “But this is my responsibility, John. I need to get it right.”
He stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder, his touch firm but reassuring. “You don’t have to carry this weight by yourself, Reyna. We’re in this together.”
His words should have comforted me, but instead, they made me feel even more cornered. He was right, in a way. We were in this together, but I wasn’t sure it was what I wanted.
I looked away, feeling the tension in the room rise. I needed space.
“Thanks, John,” I murmured. “But I think I just need some time to process everything.”
He nodded, though there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “Of course. Take the time you need. But remember, I’m here if you need anything.”
As he turned to leave, my gaze followed him to the door. I watched him walk away, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. John had been nothing but kind to me, but there was a part of me that longed for something more, something different.
But that wasn’t an option.
When the door closed behind him, I sank down onto the bed, staring at the empty space in front of me. My heart was a mess of conflicting emotions. I couldn’t figure out what I wanted, or why the thought of Jake’s disappointment gnawed at me.
He was just a distraction. That’s all he had ever been.
So why couldn’t I shake the feeling that I had just made a huge mistake?