Chapter 720 Our mate doesn’t want us
Jasmine felt the pull too, stronger than the love and lust bond. It was a force that gripped her heart and squeezed, that sang in her blood and whispered in her ear.
She was strongly expecting to see Kael when she heard the growl of a wolf beside her, rough and primal. “Mate.”
Her wolf responded just as much, dancing with excitement, spinning and leaping within her chest. “Mate.”
She removed her blindfold at the same time the man before her removed his, but it wasn’t Kael as she expected.
It was Alpha Jasper.
’He’s our mate. You’re going to be Luna.’ Her wolf said excitedly, the beast’s voice filled with joy and triumph. But Jasmine was not moved by any of that. The words fell in her mind like stones, heavy and cold.
Her joy died and not even the strength of the mate bond could warm her heart which had turned cold. The warmth that should have flooded her chest was replaced by ice, by disappointment, by the bitter taste of dreams deferred.
“Alpha Jasper.”
She forced a smile, the expression brittle on her face, cracking at the edges. But Jasper’s wolf could already feel it, the rejection radiating from her like heat from a fire. ’Our mate doesn’t want us.’
It was like a knife to Jasper’s chest, though he never expected to be paired with Jasmine. However, the bond was strong enough and he was ready to accept her. Ready to love her. Ready to build a life with her.
“I’m sorry, Alpha Jasper.”
Jasmine’s voice was thin, barely above a whisper. The moon goddess had indeed blessed her because Alpha Jasper was very respectable.
Most of the she-wolves were already wishing for him to be their mate after the love and lust bonds were broken. He was kind, wise, and powerful, everything a she-wolf could want.
However, Jasmine could not bring herself to accept him.
“Let me guess.” Jasper said calmly, his voice steady despite the ache in his chest.
“You are in love with Beta Kael.”
Jasmine paled instantly, the color draining from her face like water from a cracked vessel. Was it that obvious? Could he see the longing in her eyes, the way her heart still beat for another?
“How did you know?”
Jasper smiled, though it was bitter. He never expected the blood moon to bring him pain. He had hoped for joy, for love, for the beginning of something beautiful.
“It’s all over you, and I see the way you look at him. Not even the mate bond is enough to make you look at me like that.”
Jasmine felt guilty. The weight of his words pressed down on her shoulders, heavy with truth she couldn’t deny.
“He’s the only one who ever loved me for who I am but I fell in love with him too late. I hope you can understand.”
Jasper nodded, disappointment flashing in his eyes. The pain was raw, fresh, a wound that would take time to heal.
“I won’t be the one to initiate the rejection, Jasmine. I won’t bear the consequence.”
Jasmine’s reason for rejecting him wasn’t strong enough to grant her mercy from the moon goddess. There would be dire consequences.
Had Jasper offended her in some way, then her rejection of him would be justified. But he had done nothing wrong. He was innocent in all of this.
“I understand.” Jasmine said with a forced smile, ready to initiate a rejection when Jasper stopped her.
“Are you sure he’s worth it? What if…”
He didn’t get to finish when Kael spoke behind Jasmine, his voice cutting through the night like a blade. “Jasmine, don’t reject him because of me. I already accepted my mate.”
Jasmine’s heart stopped. The world tilted, spun, and crashed. She turned to see Kael holding the hand of a blonde woman, Cleopatra, the daughter of the Alpha of the Western Tribe.
The Western tribe did not have a young Alpha like other packs because the Alpha and his Luna did not have a son.
Cleopatra would soon be the first female Alpha, or she could give that position to Kael, and be his Luna if they both accept each other.
Jasmine smiled, even as her heart shattered into a thousand pieces. The fragments cut deep, bleeding pain she couldn’t express.
“Congratulations, Kael, you are a good man, and you deserve to be happy.”
Kael let go of Cleopatra’s hand and took a step closer to her. He took her hand and smiled, his eyes soft with something that looked almost like regret.
“It seems to me that we weren’t meant to be but Jasmine, you will always be special to me. I see the moon goddess gave you a better man. You deserve it too.”
Jasmine pulled her hand away and wiped a tear from her face, the moisture hot against her skin.
“You made your choice Kael, and I get to make mine. This time, I live for myself, and no one gets to decide for me.”
She turned around and looked at Jasper, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Alpha Jasper, I can’t make you happy because I’m a broken woman.”
“I can wait.” Jasper assured her, his voice gentle and patient. “It’s a shock to me too, but the moon goddess knows best.”
Jasmine shook her head, feeling both overwhelmed and undeserving of Jasper. He was too good, too kind, too much of everything she didn’t deserve.
“Alpha Jasper. I’ll be selfish to have you wait for me. I, Jasmine Sam, reject you as my fated mate.”
“No.” Kael said, his eyes and voice teary, but it was too late.
Jasmine felt a pain that sent her to the floor, a pain that ripped through her chest and tore at her soul.
The pain of rejection was greater than any pain she ever bore and that was the true reaction of the real mate bond. The fake one brought no pain but the new bond was the real deal.
“You deserve happiness, Alpha Jasper.” Jasmine said through tears, the pain unbearable. If Jasper refused to accept the rejection, then she would have to live with the pain until he did. “Please, accept my rejection.”