Jasmine's POV
A soft rustling sound pulled me from sleep, my body still heavy with exhaustion.
The first sensation that hit me was the tender ache between my thighs, a physical reminder of what Jayden and I had shared. My skin still tingled where his hands had touched me, where his mouth had claimed me.
I turned my head and found Jayden sitting on the edge of our makeshift bed, his back to me as he pulled on his clothes. The moonlight caught the defined muscles of his shoulders as he worked his arms through his shirt sleeves, hiding the scratch marks I had left on his skin from view.
A knot formed in my stomach as I watched him dress with mechanical precision, but underneath that unease was a warm glow of contentment. We were mates now. The bond hummed between us, stronger than anything I had ever felt.
I couldn't help but smile as memories of our coupling flooded back. The way he had whispered my name, the desperate hunger in his touch, the moment when our souls had finally connected. My cheeks burned at the intimate details, but my wolf purred with satisfaction deep inside me.
From the position of the moon still hanging in the dark sky, I estimated we had been together for over an hour. After we had both reached that shattering peak of pleasure, Jayden had collapsed beside me and drifted into light sleep. I had done the same, feeling more complete than I ever had in my life.
The euphoria of being mated to my best friend, my first love, was intoxicating. After years of longing, I finally had everything I had ever dreamed of. Despite the soreness in my body, both my human side and my wolf felt utterly fulfilled.
But as I studied Jayden's rigid posture, it became clear that I was the only one celebrating our newfound bond. His movements were quick and efficient, like he was eager to escape this place, to escape me.
When he finished buttoning his shirt, he turned to face me. His expression was carefully blank, his lips pressed into a thin line.
His dark eyes swept over my half-naked form. My dress was still bunched around my waist, leaving my breasts exposed to his gaze. I watched his pupils dilate slightly as he took in the sight, and I smiled hopefully, waiting for his expression to soften with the same tenderness he had shown me earlier.
Instead, Jayden's frown deepened. He leaned down, and my breath caught in anticipation of his touch. But instead of caressing me, he roughly pulled his tie from where it had gotten tangled beneath my dress.
Disappointment crashed over me like a cold wave.
"Get dressed," he said gruffly, straightening his tie around his neck with sharp, irritated movements.
I nodded mutely, my throat too tight to speak. Sitting up slowly, I pulled my dress back into place, trying to ignore how my hands trembled. I noticed a small tear in the fabric near my shoulder, but it was barely visible in the dim light.
When I was decent again, I reached for Jayden's hand. He hesitated for a long moment, his jaw clenched, before allowing me to intertwine our fingers. He didn't pull away, and I clung to that small victory like a lifeline.
Maybe he just needed time to process this revelation. Hours ago, we had been nothing more than childhood friends reunited after years apart. Now we were mates, bound by forces beyond our control.
And then there was Sylvia. His intended bride.
This had to be overwhelming for him. That explained his distant behavior, the coldness in his touch. Once he had time to think everything through, he would realize what this meant for us.
We walked back toward the palace in silence, my fingers still locked with his. I limped slightly, the ache between my legs making each step a reminder of our intimacy. Jayden kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, his face a mask of stone. He didn't speak, didn't acknowledge my discomfort, just walked beside me like a stranger.
As we approached the palace grounds, I noticed the change in atmosphere immediately. The lively music that had been drifting from the party earlier had stopped, and an unsettling quiet had settled over the estate.
Before we could reach the main entrance, a group of palace guards appeared, marching in formation until they stopped directly in front of us. They dropped into respectful bows.
"Your Highness," their leader said formally.
I saw the way his eyes flickered to our joined hands, noting the intimate connection but saying nothing. When Jayden moved forward, still holding my hand, the guard stepped aside without comment.
A thrill of satisfaction ran through me. He wasn't hiding our connection from his people.
The guards fell into step behind us as we entered the party, though it had clearly transformed from celebration to crisis management. Worried guests clustered in small groups, their voices hushed with concern.
Jayden maintained his grip on my hand even as we stepped into full view of his family and friends. This was it, I realized with a flutter of excitement in my chest. This was the moment he would announce our mating bond to everyone.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I imagined his declaration, the shock and joy on his family's faces, the beginning of our new life together.
But before Jayden could speak a word, the crowd parted like water, and Sylvia came running toward us. She threw herself into his arms with such force that our hands were wrenched apart.
Rage blazed through me, hot and immediate. I had never felt such intense dislike for anyone in my life.
She was intruding on something sacred, something that belonged to me now.
To my horror, Jayden didn't push her away as I expected. He stood perfectly still as Sylvia cupped his face in her hands, her eyes wide with worry as she examined him for injuries.
"I searched everywhere for you," she gasped, pressing herself closer to him. "Thank the goddess you're safe. I was terrified something terrible had happened."
"I'm fine," he replied softly, his voice gentler than it had been with me.
Sylvia finally released him, and Jayden moved toward his family. He stopped in front of his parents and his sister Ebony, who stepped forward with relief written across her features.
"Brother," she said, her voice warm with affection.
Jayden smiled reassuringly. "I'm sorry for worrying you."
Ebony swatted his arm playfully, making him chuckle before he turned to face the King and Queen.
Queen Jaelyn opened her arms wide, and Jayden stepped into her maternal embrace without hesitation.
"You had us all frightened," she scolded gently. "Your father and I knew you could handle yourself, but Ebony and Sylvia were beside themselves. Your sister even called out the palace guard to search for you."
"I noticed," Jayden said with a wry smile.
He turned to his father and bowed respectfully. The King clapped him on the back with paternal affection. "Next time, inform your family before disappearing," he said simply.
Queen Jaelyn's gaze moved past her son and landed on me. Her face lit up with genuine pleasure and surprise.
"Jasmine!" she exclaimed.
Before I could react, I was swept into a crushing hug that squeezed the breath from my lungs. The familiar scent of lavender and vanilla that clung to her brought tears to my eyes. Years of loneliness and longing poured out as I slowly returned her embrace.
I had missed her so much, this woman who had been the only mother I had ever known.
But our reunion was cut short when Queen Jaelyn suddenly pulled back, a small frown creasing her brow.
"Why can I smell Jayden all over you?" she asked, her voice sharp with suspicion.
"We were together," Jayden answered quickly, too quickly. The Queen raised an eyebrow at his rushed response, and Jayden began explaining with an uncharacteristic stammer.
"I saw Jasmine heading toward the forest. I followed her because I was concerned about the hunting traps I had set earlier today. I didn't want her to get injured."
Queen Jaelyn's penetrating gaze moved between us, clearly unconvinced by his explanation. I looked away, afraid she would see the truth written on my flushed face, afraid she would read the intimacy that still lingered between us.
The surrounding guests murmured their approval of Jayden's protective instincts, but the praise tasted bitter in my mouth. His lie felt like a betrayal, a denial of what we had shared.
I was still reeling from his deception when Sylvia attached herself to his side again, her eyes bright with anticipation.
"Tell them now," she urged, practically bouncing with excitement. "Share the wonderful news."
My stomach plummeted. What news could possibly make her so happy?
Jayden smiled, but his gaze was fixed on Sylvia, not on me. With a voice that carried clearly across the silent room, he declared, "I have chosen Sylvia as my mate and future Queen of this realm!"
The words hit me like a physical blow, leaving me gasping and broken.