ra'

days. That's how I felt today. The things I'd gone through at the office a few days ago left me lying motionless on

ending nights with random men. I wasn't the kind

back in college, everyone wanted to know what Bel

but we were clearly di

ice staff reminded me of our college years. Everyone knew who Jude was, idolizing

ust because of their meeting at the inauguration night-the same night I first slept with J

ant coldness, I, ever naive, just ended up loo

heir than me. She was rich, captivating, loved by so many-even by all the pack members-

aw Jude and Bella, the more the pain I h

n't been drun

my father's firstborn, who was unremarkable to most Alphas in the bigg

situation now, and maybe the pa

and made me cautious. But I admit, I was stupidly naive. Just as everyone admired Jude for all his vir

hat mistake and would ne

g, that I wouldn't face the same fate as my mother. I believed Jude would love me, that aft

id the word "mate." I thought he was speaking to

with me. Even at the climax, he whispered the word "mate" again. I

been on his mind from the start, that they'd probably been involved for a long tim

s side. She never looked out for me and just let

ing left to hope for, and I understood t

e blanket after sex. Even if I was not his mate, every time I imagined him with Bella, loving her the way every w

ged to another woman, and she'd even stolen our p

*

asked if I could pick her up at the airport after her return from Greece. She was an artis

ntings, and I would gift her handmade jewelry. She was the only person I had l

p a sign with her name. That's when I s

but stopped when Bella appeared. Mirielle hugged he

ammed hard. It hurt, but I just c

n she pulled out a moonstone necklace, and together, Jude and Mirielle fastened it a

s her name implied, and they lo

ntly. But I had to let go of that, because this was my destiny, and that was Bella's. I would never be mea

I tore my gaze away from Jude to Rhea, who was looking at me with furrowed brows.

She rubbed my shoulder, and from her face, I

kids who always supported each other," she said. I nodded and helped with her luggage. My gaze inadvertently

herlands, as usual, but this time he br

uk

ng. I checked my elbow, which I'd hit pretty hard, but foun

n a hand reached out to help. In the other hand,

e me, opening his mouth as though to say something, but waiting for the right moment. I didn't wa