CHAPTER 40: CONFESSIONS AND JEALOUSY

Maybe it was because of all the years we spent together, but even now even when he knew I wasn’t Elena Julian always managed to see traces of her wolf in me.

It was strange.

Whenever he saw me beside another male wolf, especially someone like Lewis, something inside him always snapped.

A bruised ego.

A wounded pride.

A wolf that couldn’t handle being replaced.

How ironic.

Back then, he and Camilla would flirt right in front of me.

Touching.

Whispering.

Acting like their wolves couldn’t stay apart for even a second... all while insisting they were "just pack siblings."

And me?

I stayed silent.

If I showed even the smallest hint of jealousy, they would twist it paint me as insecure, unstable, the problem.

But now?

Now everything was different.

Lewis and I were bound by law and pack.

Our union was real.

Recognized.

Protected.

Far more legitimate than the dirty little "bond" Julian and Camilla pretended was innocent.

And with Elena’s face... her wolf’s aura... I finally had the chance to give Julian everything he once fed me:

Confusion.

Jealousy.

That helpless ache you can’t hide when another wolf takes what you threw away.

Lewis wasn’t stupid. He could feel the tension in the air. His wolf was alert, sharp, trying to read mine.

But he didn’t push me away.

And for me, that was enough.

Julian was still staring at us, his eyes shifting with an emotion he tried to bury.

Then he spoke, tone dipped in mockery:

"Wow. I didn’t realize you two were this close.

If I remember correctly, Uncle Lewis... didn’t you already have someone else in your heart?

Seems like you got over her pretty fast."

Of all wolves, he had the nerve.

He who betrayed me again and again thought he could question another male’s loyalty?

Pathetic.

A spark of anger shot through my wolf, and before I could think, I slipped into Lewis’s lap.

My arms wrapped gently around his neck, my cheek brushing his shoulder.

The reaction was instant.

Lewis went stiff back straight, breath caught, body locked tight under me.

His wolf energy spiked so sharply that the air trembled for a second.

Truth be told... I was nervous too.

I lifted my head slightly, letting my voice come out soft but firm.

"Lewis isn’t a pup. He has every right to move on. He chose to mate with me. That means he’s ready to leave the past behind."

Then I leaned in closer, just enough for Julian to see.

"As for me? I don’t care about what came before. We’re building something new."

His jaw tightened. His wolf bristled. He tried to look unaffected, but the jealousy leaked through his scent, sharp and acidic.

Typical Julian.

I leaned in close to Lewis again, letting my wolf purr softly as I teased,

"I really do love him most. Julian, you’re still standing there? Hoping to stay for the whole show?"

Julian clearly hadn’t expected me to brush him off so easily.

He finally turned away, slipping out of the room and closing the door behind him.

The soft click felt like a victory.

A quiet thrill ran through me.

After everything he had done to me in the past breaking me, ignoring me, crushing me this tiny moment of power felt like nothing...

and yet still sweeter than anything he ever gave me.

Behind me, Lewis’s cool voice cut through the silence.

"Are you finished?"

That’s when it hit me.

I was still sitting on his lap.

Like a wolf pup climbing into the arms of an Alpha.

Heat shot through my face as I scrambled to my feet.

"I I’m sorry, Mr. Hale."

I stood straight, hands at my sides, head lowered like a young she-wolf caught misbehaving before her Alpha.

Lewis gave me a long look.

"You really don’t like him, do you?"

No point pretending.

"I can’t stand wolves like him," I said bluntly.

"Wolves who leave their mates at the altar and act like it means nothing. Who knows who he was with that day or what he was doing. I won’t let him forget it. Every time I see him, I’ll remind him."

Then I realized I’d gone too far.

I quickly added, "But don’t worry, Mr. Hale. I only said those things to get under his skin. He was trying to stir trouble between us. I just gave him a taste of his own poison."

Lewis gave a short nod.

"It’s fine."

But then I noticed it, the faint red flush creeping up the tips of his ears.

His face was calm, but his wolf...

his wolf wasn’t unaffected.

He must’ve noticed how openly I was staring at him because his brows furrowed slightly.

"What is it?"

"Oh!" I blurted. "The needle therapy. I almost forgot."

"You know how to do that?" he asked, skeptical.

"Of course. I’ve practiced on people before."

I smiled. "And they gave good feedback."

His eyes narrowed. "Practiced on who?"

I blinked innocently.

"Well... not many people. You’ll be my first proper patient tonight."

After a little persuasion, he finally agreed and lay down.

I slid the small silver wolf-needles into the points along his neck and shoulders carefully, gently watching his breathing for any sign of discomfort.

He didn’t flinch.

Not once.

Once I finished, I turned off the lamp and quietly stepped back.

But before I could leave

A strong hand closed around mine.

I gasped softly.

Thank the moon it wasn’t my injured hand.

Lewis tugged me toward him with surprising strength, pulling me right into his arms.

My body fell against his chest, warm and solid, his arms tightening around my waist.

His breath brushed my ear as he murmured, voice low and thick with sleep,

"Don’t go."

I tried to pull back, but his grip only tightened.

So I stopped struggling.

It was our wedding night after all. I let my body relax in the safety of his hold.

And slowly... sleep pulled me under.

..

Morning came softly. I shifted, stretching a little and froze.

Lewis’s hand was still wrapped firmly around my waist. His chest was warm beneath my cheek. My legs... somehow tangled around his hips.

We were curled together like a real mated pair.

I lifted my head, dazed

and found him already awake.

He was watching me with calm, unreadable eyes, his wolf steady behind them.

That’s when I realized the worst part:

I was wearing only a thin nightgown. Bare skin pressed to his. His hand on my waist.

My thigh hooked over him.It looked intimate.

Too intimate.

"M-Mr. Hale... about last night "

But I didn’t finish.