When their mate turned away Chapter 03
Jason Cole didn’t hesitate. He shoved Maya aside, ignoring her bleeding palms and unraveling pheromones.
He snatched Mia Bennett up and ran wildly for the pack healer’s den.
Derek Reed quickly lifted me into his arms and followed.
The healer’s hands shook as he spoke.
“This powder triggers forced heat. It freezes your core and destroys your omega origin. Only one top‑tier suppressant exists.”
“Who do you choose to give it to?”
Derek Reed’s fingers trembled as he held me, conflict flashing in his eyes.
But when Jason Cole snapped, “Save Mia first,” Derek went silent.
I’d always known he’d choose her.
The pain of forced heat burned through me, my limbs ice‑cold, my heart stabbed with a million frozen needles.
Tears slid down my cheeks, and Derek Reed finally looked guilty.
“Iris, I’m sorry.”
“I have a spare suppressant at the consul’s. Wait here, and I’ll go get it right away.”
He turned and galloped off on horseback before I could reply.
Mia Bennett took the suppressant, her heat calming.
She watched me curl on the cot, sweating and shaking in agony, and smiled faintly to herself.
“You were never his choice, princess.”
She leaned weakly into Jason Cole’s arms, pulling at his sleeve with fake worry.
“Jason, let’s go check on Derek. I’m scared he’ll get hurt.”
I laughed bitterly. I knew the truth better than anyone.
Derek Reed wasn’t coming back.
Moments later, Maya stumbled in, shaking with rage.
“Derek said he was getting your suppressant, but Mia claimed her old illness flared. She demanded a healer from the lower pack.”
“He left with Jason and took a boat downstream. No note, no goodbye.”
Maya couldn’t finish, her voice breaking.
I only shook my head calmly and swallowed the royal top‑tier suppressant my guard had fetched from our mother.
The pain faded, and my pheromones stabilized.
“I always knew. And I don’t care anymore.”
Maya stared at me, her tight fists relaxing, the red fading from her eyes.
That night, she chose five of the ten Alphas from Moonwolf Hall to stay with her.
She sent the other five to my chambers.
I didn’t refuse them.
When sunlight filled the room the next morning, I met a pair of bloodshot eyes.
Derek Reed loomed over me, his alpha pheromones wild with rage and hurt.
“Iris, I know you’re mad I took Mia downstream, but I came back at once to apologize.”
“Why would you hurt me like this? Is this your revenge?”
I glanced at the marks on my skin and smiled softly.
“I’m not your mate. I’ll never accept your bond. This isn’t revenge.”
I waved a hand. “See him out.”
“From today, we are nothing to each other.”
Derek Reed froze, stunned.
Before he could speak, the guards dragged him out of the palace.
I planned to clean up and go with Maya to ask the alpha to grant us gentle mates for bonding, to live quietly.
But as I stepped outside, the sharp, thick smell of blood hit me.
The five Alphas Maya had just taken in lay beheaded, their bodies brutal.
A maid trembled, nearly collapsing.
“Princess, it was Jason Cole. He saw the second princess with those men and went mad. He killed them all.”
“Maya? Where is she?”
Panic seized me. Jason Cole was violent and unpredictable.
I feared he’d hurt my omega sister.
“He took the second princess to the alpha’s hall!”