Mate

Mia's POV

Why do I care? Seriously, why do I care about how that bastard sees me? I had promised myself countless times to forget about him, treat him like he doesn't even exist and also forget about that night. But I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried.

I paced around my room, Jasper's cold words stabbing at my heart like a dagger.

"An investment" he had called me that. All I had done for him, all I'd risked—it had all been reduced to a business transaction. Maybe it was a business transaction, after all he did cleared my debts and paid for my mom's surgery fee to become his pet.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I replayed the conversation. "A pet you can throw money at and expect submission." The words tasted bitter in my mouth. How dare he?

A soft knock at the door drew me out of my thoughts. The door creaked open to reveal Elise, my personal maid. She was a kind woman with a warm smile that often masked a sharp tongue. We've gotten close in the past months that I had lived here. She was the only person I shared my burden with, aside Jayden.

“Mistress Mia,” Elise said, her tone gentle but firm as she stepped inside. “Don’t let Master Jasper’s words wound you so deeply. The man’s heart is as stubborn as his head.”

I sank onto the bed. "He sees me as nothing, other than a pawn, Elise. How am I supposed to keep living here and risking my life, when I knows he would always see me as his pet."

"You don't see it, do you?" Elise began softly, sitting beside me. "Master Jasper doesn't allow just anyone stays in his mansion for this long. You being here means you are different from the other ladies."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "Different? If that’s his way of showing it, I’d rather he keep his distance.”

Before Elise could say more, a deeper familiar voice broke the tension.

"She's right, you know," he said, stepping into the room, his arms crossed and a small smirk playing on his lips. His piercing green eyes held a soft expression—concern, maybe. Jayden has always been a shoulder to lean on.

After uncovering my secret identity, we had grown undeniably closer. He often accompanied me into the woods for my runs, strolled with me during evening walks, and joined me on shopping trips. His steady presence was a constant comfort, though I couldn’t help but wonder how someone as kind and gentle as Jayden could endure working for someone like Jasper.

Jasper had a talent for drawing people into his orbit, using whatever leverage he had to keep them close. Only God knows what hold he had over Jayden—just as he had over me.

"Jayden," I called softly. Elise squeezed my hands before leaving the room.

“Don’t take Jasper’s words to heart,” he said, taking a seat beside me. “The man has been through so much, that he doesn't know how to handle emotions, so he lashes out.”

I let out a bitter laugh. "That doesn't excuse him."

"Yes he doesn't. But it doesn't mean he doesn't care, either."

As he spoke, his hand brushed against mine. The simple touch sent an unexpected jolt through me. Our eyes met and the air between us seems to shift.

"Jayden," I began, my voice faltered.

He leaned closer, his gaze flickering to my lips. "You deserve someone who sees your worth, Mia. Someone who—”

Without finishing his statement, his lips met mine in a heated, desperate kiss.  But reality crashed down on me like a cold wave. I pulled back abruptly, my heart racing as I stared at him. “I— I can’t,” I whispered, bolting towards the door.

"Mia," I heard him calling after me. But I didn't wait.

The night air was crisp as I sprinted into the woods, my emotions a tangled mess of anger, confusion, and guilt. What? What just happened? My did I keep messing up? One moment I'm attracted to Jasper's dark intensity and the next, I'm captivated by Jayden's quiet kindness.

I barely registered the shift happening within me as I shifted into my wolf form. I ran around the clearing, and for the first time today, I felt alive.

I shifted back, my body still buzzing with energy. Hidden behind the hollow of a tree, I found a dress Jayden had stashed for emergency moments like this. Grateful for his thoughtfulness, I quickly slipped it on and began making my way back to the mansion.

Just I stepped inside, a name echoed in my ears.

Sabina.

It wasn’t my voice—it was hers. My wolf, fully awakened and undeniably real. Another mystery unraveled: someone else was within me. The thought sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t wait to find that strange woman again; there were so many questions I needed answers to. I’d ventured into the woods countless times, searching for her, but it was as if she had vanished into thin air.

“Mate,” Sabina growled, the single word reverberating through my consciousness.

But just as I turned towards my room, Sabina's voice came again.

Mate. Mate.

Mate? What the hell is that? I frowned, unfamiliar with the term, but Sabina’s instincts seems to be stronger than my confusion.

The wolf surged forward, guiding me and I found myself standing outside Jasper’s room. The door was wife Open, and I could hear muffled voices inside.

Mate. The voice in my head grew louder and I stepped inside.

There I saw them both— Jasper and Jayden staring at me.

"Finally," Jasper said, his voice low and dangerous. "We have been waiting for you."

My voice faltered, but I managed to choke out. "What.... What's going on?" My eyes darted between them.

Jayden stepped forward, his hand brushing my arm protectively. “Leave her out of this, Jasper. She doesn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess.”

Jasper's lips twisted into a dark smile. "She's already in it."

My breath hitched in my head as Sabrina roared in my head, her voice commanding and raw: He's ours.

Jasper's next word sent a chill down my spine. "Welcome to the game, Mia. Let's see how long you would survive."