Jake’s POV
The amber liquid swirled in my glass as I stared blankly at the bar counter. The mansion was quiet, save for the distant hum of activity as the staff prepared for tomorrow’s moonlight party. I brought the glass to my lips, letting the alcohol burn its way down, but it did nothing to dull the storm in my mind.
How did I get here? A few months ago, I didn’t care about anyone least of all any woman. Life was simpler then. No distractions, no attachments. But now? I couldn’t go a day without thinking about her.
Reyna.
Her name haunted my every waking moment. The way she laughed, the way her eyes lit up when she was happy, and even the way she frowned when something didn’t sit right with her. It all consumed me, and I hated myself for it.
The door to the bar creaked open, and I glanced up to see Diane and her assistant step inside. Great. Just what I needed.
Her sharp eyes landed on me immediately. “Jake,” she said, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and disapproval. “Drinking in the middle of the day? Really?”
I didn’t bother to respond. I tipped the glass back, draining the rest of my drink, and set it down with a clink.
Diane sighed dramatically and gestured for her assistant to leave. “Wait outside,” she instructed. The woman hesitated for a moment before nodding and exiting the room, leaving us alone.
Diane walked over to the bar, plucked the glass from my hand, and set it aside. “You’ve had enough,” she said, sitting down across from me.
I let out a bitter laugh. “You’re not my keeper, Diane.”
“No,” she said, folding her arms, “but someone has to keep you in check. What’s going on with you?”
I stared at her for a moment, debating whether to brush her off or let her in. The alcohol made the decision for me. “Have you ever been in love, Diane?”
The question seemed to catch her off guard. Her brows furrowed for a moment before she nodded. “Yes, I have.”
“How was it?” I asked, leaning back in my chair. “Did it hurt? Did it eat at you even before you said anything?”
Diane’s expression softened, a rare moment of vulnerability flickering across her face. “Love isn’t easy, Jake. It’s… complicated. But if it hurts that much, maybe it’s because you’re holding back. Have you told her how you feel?”
I scoffed. “What’s the point? She’s already got her sights set on someone else. Telling her would just make things worse.”
Diane leaned forward, resting her arms on the bar. “You won’t know that unless you try. Feelings don’t just disappear because you ignore them. Sometimes, you have to take the risk, even if it scares you.”
Her words hung in the air, heavy and unsettling. I didn’t respond, and she didn’t push further. Instead, she stood up, brushing off her dress.
“I have to go oversee the final preparations for the party,” she said, her usual air of authority returning. “But think about what I said, Jake. You can’t keep running from this.”
As she walked out of the bar, I let out a long breath and ran a hand through my hair.
Confess my feelings? To Reyna?
The idea was laughable. What would I even say? “Hey, I think I’m in love with you, but I’ve been too much of a coward to admit it.” She’d probably laugh in my face or worse, pity me.
I shook my head, reaching for the bottle of whiskey Diane had conveniently left behind. Pouring another drink, I tried to figure out how I’d let this happen. How did I fall for Reyna without realizing it? Without guarding myself?
Somewhere along the way, she’d broken through the walls I’d spent years building. And now I was left with this mess of feelings I didn’t know how to handle.
The thought of her being with John was like a dagger twisting in my chest. He didn’t deserve her not the way I did. But what did it matter? Reyna had chosen him.
I raised the glass to my lips but paused, staring at the amber liquid. Was this really how I wanted to deal with it? By drowning myself in alcohol and self-pity?
Setting the glass down, I pushed back from the bar and stood up. If nothing else, I needed to get my head straight before the party tomorrow. I couldn’t keep spiraling like this.
As I left the bar, Diane’s words echoed in my mind.
“You won’t know unless you try.”
Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to stop running. But confessing my feelings wasn’t just a risk it was a gamble. And if I lost, I wasn’t sure I’d recover.
___
Diane’s POV
As I walked back toward my assistant, my heels clicking against the marble floor, Jake’s words echoed in my mind. “Have you ever been in love?” The look in his eyes, the bitterness in his tone-it didn’t take long for me to piece together who he was talking about.
Reyna.
The realization hit me like a slap in the face. Jake, of all people, was in love with her. A storm of emotions churned inside me-jealousy, rage, and a deep sense of betrayal.
Reyna. The one who always seemed to capture everyone’s attention, the one who never had to try to be noticed. And now she had Jake’s heart, too? No. I wouldn’t allow it.
By the time I reached my assistant, my anger was bubbling just beneath the surface, but I kept my composure. She stood waiting for me, clipboard in hand, her expression neutral.
“Do you have the contact information for the fake moon goddess assistant?” I asked, my tone clipped.
“Yes,” she replied, nodding. “I confirmed it this morning.”
“Good,” I said, my mind already racing with possibilities. “I need you to reach out to her. Tell her we’ll need her services very soon, and make sure she understands exactly what’s at stake if she fails.”
My assistant hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Understood. What’s the plan?”
I glanced around to ensure no one was within earshot before lowering my voice. “Reyna needs to be discredited-completely. I want her to think the moon goddess has abandoned her, that she’s unworthy of being here. If we can get her to leave voluntarily, it’ll save us the trouble of forcing her out.”
My assistant’s brows furrowed. “That’s… risky. What if someone finds out?”
“They won’t,” I said firmly. “I’ll make sure of it. And if they do, we’ll make it look like Reyna orchestrated the entire thing to gain sympathy. It’s foolproof.”
She nodded, though her hesitation was still evident. “I’ll handle it.”
“Good,” I said, my voice icy. “Because failure is not an option.”
As she turned to walk away, I stayed behind, my mind spinning with the details of my plan. Jake’s words replayed in my head again, and I clenched my fists.
“What if the moon goddess says she’s not your mate?”
If only the moon goddess truly could intervene. But since she wouldn’t, I’d take matters into my own hands. Reyna was standing in the way of everything I wanted Jake’s affection, John’s attention, and my place at the top of this pack. And if there was one thing I’d learned in my life, it was that people who got in my way didn’t stay there for long.
I walked over to the garden, needing a moment to collect myself. The preparations for the moonlight party were nearly complete, and everyone was bustling around, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.
“She makes him feel complete.” Jake’s voice echoed again, and my chest tightened.
Complete? What did Reyna have that I didn’t? She was nothing special. Just another pretty face with a soft demeanor that somehow managed to charm everyone around her. But charm wouldn’t save her this time.
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, a woman’s voice answered on the other end.
“Hello?”
“This is Diane,” I said, keeping my voice calm but authoritative. “I was told you’re the person to talk to about… certain arrangements.”
“Yes,” she replied smoothly. “What can I do for you?”
I glanced around to ensure no one was within earshot. “There’s someone I need discredited. I’ll send you the details, but I need it to be convincing-something that will make her doubt herself entirely. Can you handle that?”
“Of course,” she said. “But it won’t be cheap.”
“Money is not an issue,” I snapped. “Just make sure it’s done right.”
She chuckled softly. “Consider it handled.”
I ended the call and slipped my phone back into my pocket. The wheels were in motion now, and there was no turning back.
By the time the moonlight party was over, Reyna would be nothing but a memory an afterthought in the minds of the pack. And Jake? He’d finally see me for who I truly was the one who had been by his side all along.
The thought brought a twisted smile to my lips.
Let the games begin.