Chapter 2

Aisha's POV The morning of my eighteenth birthday was here and even though I should be happy, there was a strange feeling gnawing at the back of mind. I was worried because I should be bursting with happiness but all I felt was the dread. I felt off but I brushed it aside, today was supposed to be a turning point in my life. Whatever that would happen should wait till I get my happy ending. The pack clinic was busier than usual. Injured wolves streamed in, the fallout of escalating fight with rival packs. I listened to the patients talk about how much the war was escalating and how it's affecting so many people. Jack had become busier as the future Alpha because of the war. I admired that about him, he was so hardworking and concerned about his pack. I barely had time to think as I moved from one patient to another, patching wounds and offering whatever comfort I could. "Doctor Aisha," a young she-wolf said timidly as I tended to her brother's broken arm. "Thank you for everything you do. We don't know what we'd do without you." Her words warmed my heart, but they also reminded me of the heavy burden I carried. If they ever found out what I truly was what I was hiding, would they still thank me? Or would they see me as a threat? By the time I finished at the clinic, the sun was setting. Exhausted, I wiped my hands on my scrubs and checked my phone. Still no word from Jack. My chest tightened with unease. He had promised to celebrate with me tonight, yet there hadn't been a single message since yesterday. "Maybe he's just busy," April said softly, sensing my worry. "Maybe," I muttered, but her reassurance did little to ease my nerves. I understood he was a busy man but he could have at least sent me a message to ease my worries. As I walked home, my mind wandered to the bond ceremony we would complete now that I was of age. I'd spent years waiting for this day, waiting to be claimed as Jack's mate. The thought filled me with so much excitement. Would he look at me differently after the bond? Would the connection between us change? All this time, he had just been content with just spending time with me. I couldn't commend him enough on his patience and love he had shown all this time. He waited till I was ready and I thought I was. I was ready to take the next step in completing our bond today. I couldn't help myself, my mind drifted off to him and I fulfilling our greatest desires while confessing our love to each other. "Jack and Aisha kissing in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G." April giggled in my head. "Shut up," my face flushed but I didn't deny it. That's exactly what would happen when we see each other. When I reached the house, I hesitated on the doorstep. I was dreading seeing my stepmother and Lisa. They had always found ways to ruin my happiness, and tonight would be no different if I let them. The house was eerily quiet when I stepped inside. I expected the usual sharp words, the cold indifference, but instead, my stepmother was waiting at the table. A plate of food sat in front of her, steam curling from the roasted meat and warm bread. She smiled, an expression so foreign on her face that it sent a chill down my spine. "You must be hungry, Aisha," she said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "Sit. Eat." I hesitated. The woman who had spent years tormenting me, suddenly kind? I didn't believe it for a second. But my stomach ached, and hunger clawed at me. Slowly, I sat down, watching her carefully as I took a bite. "I know I haven't been fair to you," she continued, eyes downcast. "I regret… everything." A bitter laugh almost escaped me. Lies. Every word was a lie. But what was her game? I forced myself to swallow, the food tasting like ash in my mouth. When I finished, I stood to wash my plate, but she grabbed my wrist. "No need," she said too quickly. "You've had a long day. Go rest." Something in her tone unsettled me. My stepmother had never cared about my well-being before. Why now? Unease prickled down my spine as I made my way upstairs. Then, just as I reached my room, I heard sounds. I froze, my mind refusing to process what I was hearing. But then April's voice cut through my shock. "Go," she urged. "Now." I rushed down the hall, my feet moving faster than my thoughts. The sounds grew louder as I approached Lisa's door. My chest tightened, dread pooling in my stomach. The same dread I had been feeling all day. Without thinking, I pushed the door open. The scene before me made my blood run cold. Jack. My Jack. My mate. He was in bed with Lisa, their bodies on full display as he thrust into her relentlessly. My heart shattered.