57

Jasper Pov

Something was different. Her scent had faded. I suddenly opened my eyes. Jules wasn't lying next to me. Her side was cold. Did I dream it all?

I ran my fingers over my lips, reliving last night's memories. No, I hadn't dreamed. But where was Jules? Did I go too far ? Did I push her into something? Wasn't she ready yet?

I shook my head such thoughts would get me further now. Maybe Jules was downstairs.

My wolf answered, which gave me a bad feeling. But I didn't want to listen to that. Jules wouldn't leave me alone.

A look outside told me that the sun was just rising. Maybe she was exercising to clear her head. Maybe she just needed time. I couldn't blame her.

I held back yesterday with all my might. Jule's body nestled perfectly against mine. As if we were two lost counterparts.

I choked at the thought of Blake. I just felt that way with her before. Was it really possible to get a second chance? And if so, would it be foolish not to take it?

I definitely needed a cold shower and a tall coffee .

I tensely ran my fingers through my hair. Where the hell was Jules?

The house was completely empty. Also, she must have left the house hours ago, judging by the smell.

An ugly thought manifested itself in my head. What if- no .

I decided on the coffee first, I had to wake up. Get a clear head. After that I would go look for her at the training ground. It would be too early for breakfast now.

I was so deep in thought that I didn't even notice a kitchen drawer not being properly opened.

Please don't miss a knife .

But my prayer was not answered.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Wo ist Jules?

Why didn't I know she was gone? There was no other smell in the house, that means no one came in. Jules left voluntarily, even though she promised me she wouldn't. No, she would not go. Or is it?

I went over the whole evening in my head, but there was no sign that Jules was going on a suicidal trek.

My chest tightened and I found it harder to breathe. My vision blurred and a feeling of panic overcame me.

And then I remembered the letter, which is why Jules was at my door the day before yesterday. I compulsively tried to remember the words.

Clearing in the forest, 10 p.m.

come alone

- J

Jules said it was a trap, but what if it was a test for her? Or a riddle?

My head was pounding, but now I knew where to go. To the clearing . A clue. However, the time worried me. If she left at 10 p.m. yesterday, how long has she been gone? how long were we awake

I informed Luca and Henry via Mind Link that I couldn't go on my own. I wouldn't make it. Be it if there are other wolves in the pack or if something happened to her.

At the same time, shouldn't the patrol have noticed strange wolves in the pack?

I need to have a word with Carter's beta. Although I trained the wolves, I had little to do with the patrol. I withdrew from all pack affairs after Blake's death and my father's.

Luca and Henry are my best men, we've known each other since we were little. Luca would have been my second hand and Henry would have trained the pack. When I had to resign, they also gave up these positions.

When I stormed out the door, they were both already in front of the door. They nodded at me and asked no more questions.

Also, the desire to have introduced Jules to the two rose in me. To talk to them about this possible second chance, if it hadn't already expired.

I would still have the chance .

Carter would kill me if he found out anything happened to her. Jules was like a little sister to him. Glad I didn't share the same thought.

The three of us transformed because every second counted. If we weren't already late.

I shared the large clearing south of the training ground via Mind Link. So that they both knew our destination. We split up to attract less attention.

We weren't there yet, but the smell of blood was in the air. How could that not have been noticed ? A growl escaped my throat and I once again gathered my strength to run faster.

She had to live. She couldn't be dead now. Not so.

I also slowly realized why no one had noticed it until now. There was a trail of guard wolves as far as the clearing. I counted 6 pieces.

What if he took her with him? Why didn't this thought occur to me before? What if she experiences everything from the beginning? But I wouldn't allow that. I made a promise to her and to myself.

Luca informed us that two people were lying in the clearing . My heart stopped. She was still here.

And then I saw the two lifeless bodies.

No.

I didn't notice how slow I was. Luca was already there. Still in wolf form. His eyes were on me.

no .

I felt something inside me break.

no .

I stumbled back into my human form and fell to my knees in front of her.

Her face was smeared with blood. A large laceration adorned her left temple. Her right hand was discolored bluish purple. And also on her neck were several bruises. Her clothes were completely torn.

"Jules" I whispered, there had to be something else. She couldn't be dead. But I couldn't focus on anything other than her wounds.

My eyes went to his dead body and I recognized the knife in his throat. She attacked from the left. She had paid attention during training .

It was all too much. I couldn't lose anyone else. I couldn't let someone into my life just to see that person die again.

Henry squats down next to me and wraps a blanket around Jules. Before I knew it he was already pointing to Luca. At first I didn't understand what he was up to. Until he pointed to his ear.

"Your pulse is weak but there. We should hurry, Jasper."

Jules Pov

Was this what death felt like? I was thinking of a bright light, inner peace and stuff like that. some redemption. But not of the darkness and why did my body hurt so much? Why was it so cold here?

"Jules?" A familiar voice echoed through that darkness. Carter ? What was Carter doing here? I remembered that he was looking for his mate.

Wait, was Carter dead too?

"Jules, hey" Carter's voice echoed through my head. And slowly the darkness disappeared and everything was bathed in a bright light.

It took me a moment to get used to the bright light. Just to realize I wasn't dead at all. I only had my eyes open.

Carter examined me with careful eyes. Behind him was a girl with long brown hair, she gave me his gentle smile. Her hand rested gently on his shoulder.

Carter had found his mate and she was beautiful.

"How are you doing?" Carter asked carefully as I tried to sit up. Carter support me a little. The girl behind him handed me a glass, which I gratefully accepted.

"Oh" Carter laughed and shook his head. "This is Mia, my mate." A real smile graced his lips, which infected me. He took her hand and gently kissed the back of her hand.

"Jules" I briefly introduced myself, even though she probably already knew my name. Carter must have explained to her who I am somehow.

"How long-" Before I could finish Carter cut me off.

"Four days" he replied, which made me choke . Now I would die from a glass of water.

Four days? What the hell have I been doing for four days? What happened? I didn't remember much. I remember how he went down before everything went black. He just had to be dead.

As if Carter could read my mind, he nods.

"E-he's dead?" I asked for confirmation. My heart threatened to explode. I had killed my mate. I stuck a goddamn knife in his neck. I ended his life .

Why did I feel so awful? And so empty? Why wasn't I doing friend jumps? I was free from him. I had made it. I would never have to go back to him.

"Take it easy, Jules," Carter tried to calm me down, but I barely heard his voice. My thoughts were all just about the evening. To sneak out the hours before.

Jasper.

Why wasn't Jasper here? Where was he?

who found me anyway How did I get here? The thought that Jasper might have brought me here made me sick.

"I already told him you were awake," Carter answered my unspoken question. "I just don't know if he's coming. He was very exhausted. He blames himself for everything."

Jasper wasn't to blame. What else should he blame himself for? That I left without saying goodbye? That I just left him alone? That he thought he found my body?

Carter's eyes dropped to the floor and he ran a hand through his hair tensely.

"He found you. Henry brought you here. He's one of Jasper's closest friends in the pack," he explained to me, which made me swallow. "I was only gone for three days, why has so much happened?"

I shrugged, unable to say anything.

i was alive He was dead and Jasper was alive. Jasper was alive and I had nothing to fear . If Jasper wants to disown me because of this, he can. At least he could. He could because he was alive too.

"Does he hate me?" I asked carefully, to which Carter shook his head.

"I think you're the only person he doesn't hate outright," he replied with a gentle smile. If he knew .

I still don't know when I grew so fond of Jasper. Most of the time he ignored me or bullied me at practice. But he never made fun of me. Nor did he treat me like I was a fragile toddler.

Maybe it was the moment when we danced together or maybe it was the small moments in which I grew over myself every time. I wouldn't be where I am now without Jasper.

Before I could say anything, I felt his presence.

Jasper was here.

He stood in the doorway.

The sight of him broke my heart. He has dark circles under his eyes and his eyes looked sunken and empty. Had he slept at all the last few days?

Carter cleared his throat and patted his brother on the back. Mia gave me a small smile before taking Carter's hand and leaving the room with him.

However, even after Carter left the room, Jasper didn't move. He just stared at me. As if he just wanted to check that I'm really alive.

"It-" Before I could apologize, Jasper cut me off.

"Not." His voice was broken. "I thought you were dead. I thought I'd lost you too. If Henry hadn't been there I wouldn't have noticed that your heart was still beating."

I barely managed to keep eye contact. But I couldn't let the guilt win.

"You're alive," I countered while trying to get up. I didn't want this distance between us. "I don't have to worry about him hurting you anymore."

I carefully placed my feet on the floor, trying to suppress the pain completely. But this was harder than expected.

"Jasper, I'm alive," my voice was louder than I intended. "Dont you see it?"

"It could have turned out differently," he replied, shaking his head.

"You were talking about second chances. Don't you think that one sign is enough?" I asked him, causing him to take a deep breath in and out. And before I knew it he was standing in front of me.

"Don't ever do that crap again," he breathed against my lips.

"You know-" Before I could continue, Jasper cut me off again.

" Jules , I'm serious."

"Jasper, I won't leave your side anymore. Also, I won't go alone on suicide missions anymore," I promised him. Something flashed in his green eyes. Also, I was so close to him again that I could see the yellow sprinkles in his eyes.

Without warning, Jasper pressed his lips to mine and I allowed myself to feel the warmth and tingling.

It was my second chance and I would take it.

2 weeks later

"What if you don't like me?" I prompted nervously, causing Jasper to roll his eyes.

"I guess I'll have to find some new friends then," Jasper joked, and I playfully punched him in the arm.

"That's why it's so important to you that I get to know them both," I countered, whereupon Jasper pulled me into his arms in one movement.

He didn't want to admit it, but I knew how much it meant to him that I met Henry and Luca. He talked non-stop about her, I was almost jealous.

"You're officially a member of this pack now, you should know their members," Jasper breathed against my lips as he pressed his forehead against mine.

I had to smile at his words. Official Member . Only problem, Carter referred to me as his little sister and Jasper referred to me as his girlfriend. I gave up the discussion after a week.

"You worry too much, Jules."

"Maybe you're right, it's all just so new," I replied, and Jasper's green eyes regarded me intently. "You know two weeks ago I was still on the run from my mate and now I'm standing here with you. This whole relaxing and not thinking about life and death is new."

In response, Jasper pulled me even closer and planted a kiss on the top of my head.

"Shall we? You can always say no" Jasper asked me softly.

I reluctantly pulled out of his embrace and finally took his hand.

"Jasper, I want to meet your friends," I said softly as we walked toward the door. "Let's see what secrets I can get out of you."

end