A few days later, the Lycan Queen’s ceremonial visit to the Burns pack was in full swing. The packhouse was alive with activity, the air thick with the mingling scents of werewolves from all ranks. I stood at the entrance, adjusting the collar of my formal attire, when I spotted Jake Sullivan approaching with Vanessa Cooper at his side.

Vanessa was dressed in a striking red gown that clung to her figure, her hair cascading in perfect waves. She looked every bit the Omega who had clawed her way into the spotlight. Her scent—sharp and cloying—hit me before she even spoke.

“Journi, are you here for the Queen’s ceremony too?” she asked, her voice sweet but laced with mockery. Her eyes glinted with something I couldn’t quite place—jealousy, perhaps, or just plain spite.

I ignored her, stepping past her to enter the packhouse. But Jake’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist with enough force to make me wince. I turned to face him, my lips pressed into a thin line, and yanked my arm free.

“Journi,” he said, his tone cold and commanding, the kind of tone that made my wolf bristle. “Vanessa was speaking to you. Show some respect. Apologize.”

I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Get lost, Jake.”

Vanessa clung to his arm, her face the picture of innocence. “It’s okay, Jake. I’m sure Journi didn’t mean to be rude. She’s just… struggling with everything that’s happened. Maybe she’s here because she’s still hoping you’ll take her back.”

Jake puffed out his chest, his Alpha aura rolling off him in waves. “Journi, I know you’re still hung up on me, but I’ve moved on. I’m with Vanessa now, and I won’t let you disrupt that. Leave. And don’t show your face around me again.”

His words were a slap, but I refused to let them land. My wolf growled softly in the back of my mind, a reminder of the bond we’d once shared—or at least, the bond we’d been promised. But now, all I felt was disgust.

Vanessa, ever the manipulator, added, “Jake, maybe I should have encouraged you to keep Journi as your secondary mate. Then she wouldn’t feel the need to embarrass herself like this.”

Before I could stop myself, my claws extended slightly, and I swiped at her cheek, the sharp crack echoing in the air. She staggered back, her eyes wide with shock, tears welling up almost instantly.

Jake’s expression darkened, and he stepped forward, his hand raised as if to strike me. But before he could, a strong arm shoved him aside, and Jonas Chavez, the Lycan Prince, stepped between us. His scent—rich and grounding, like the earth after a storm—was a welcome relief.

“Alpha Sullivan,” Jonas said, his voice calm but laced with an Alpha tone that even Jake couldn’t ignore. “Is there a problem here?”

Jake straightened, his jaw tightening as he tried to regain his composure. “Prince Jonas, Journi assaulted Vanessa. I was just—”

“I saw what happened,” Jonas interrupted, his gaze flicking to me before returning to Jake. “And I suggest you take a step back before you do something you’ll regret.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed, but he knew better than to challenge a Lycan Prince, especially in front of the entire pack. He took Vanessa’s arm and led her away, though not without a final glare in my direction.

Jonas turned to me, his expression softening. “Journi, are you alright?”

I nodded, though my hands were still trembling. “Thank you, Prince Jonas.”

He gestured toward the packhouse. “Shall we? The mark ceremony is about to begin.”

As we walked inside, I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on us. Jake and Vanessa’s whispers followed, but I held my head high. My wolf stirred, a quiet reminder that I was stronger than they thought. And with Jonas by my side, I felt a flicker of something I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.

Jake Sullivan had been gone for three years, and in that time, the dynamics of the pack had shifted in ways he couldn’t possibly understand. So, when I found myself surrounded by the pack’s elite warriors and their mates, his expression turned sour, as if he’d bitten into something rotten.

He had probably expected to find me struggling, but instead, he walked into the last scene he wanted to see. His jaw tightened, and he stormed over, pulling me aside with a rough grip.

“What are you doing?” he hissed, his voice low but sharp. “If this backfires, I won’t be able to protect you.”

I didn’t need his protection. Not now, not ever.

I yanked my arm free, glaring at him. “Jake, our mate bond is over. You’re you, and I’m me. What I do is none of your concern.”

His eyes narrowed, and that familiar arrogance crept into his tone. “You’re a rogue now, Journi. Don’t act like you don’t need someone to watch your back.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, cold and biting. “Maybe you should focus on why, after three years of hunting rogues, you’ve returned with no recognition or promotion. Isn’t that curious?”

He faltered for a moment, then smirked, clearly trying to mask his unease. “Curtis Roberts is retiring soon. The position of Head Healer will be mine. It’s only a matter of time.”

Oh, he was delusional.

“Of course, Journi,” Vanessa chimed in, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “Jake will be the Head Healer soon. Everyone knows it’s his destiny.”

The Head Healer was a position of immense power, second only to the Alpha himself. If someone like Jake took that role, it would spell disaster for the pack.

Jake’s chest puffed up with misplaced confidence. “When the time comes, I might even find you a place in the healer’s den. You could clean the tools or organize the herbs. It’s the least I can do for you.”

Vanessa giggled, her small frame leaning into him. “After all, your father was just a rogue healer, wasn’t he? This would be a step up for you.”

My hand moved before I could think, the sharp crack of my palm against her cheek echoing in the room. She stumbled back, clutching her face, and Jake caught her, his eyes blazing with fury.

He raised his hand to strike me, but I was faster. I caught his wrist, twisted it sharply, and then slapped him with enough force to send him staggering. My palm stung, but it was worth it.

Jake stared at me, shocked. He hadn’t expected this—hadn’t expected *me*. Before he could recover, I kicked him hard, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“Listen carefully, Jake,” I said, my voice icy. “We’re done. If you keep trying to humiliate me, I won’t hold back.”

Thankfully, no one had seen the altercation, or it would have caused a scandal.

Later, during the pack’s mark ceremony, Vanessa tried to stir up trouble again. She had noticed I hadn’t brought a gift and made a show of pointing it out.

“Journi, surely you didn’t come empty-handed?” she said, her voice laced with false concern. “It’s such an important occasion.”

Jake, standing beside her, added fuel to the fire. “She’s a rogue now. What could she possibly offer?”

The Alpha and Luna watched silently, their expressions unreadable. I stepped forward, holding out a small pouch I had crafted. It was made from rare leather, stitched with gold thread in intricate patterns, and filled with herbs I had personally selected for their calming and protective properties.

“Alpha, Luna,” I said, bowing my head slightly. “This is a pouch I made for you. It’s designed to enhance focus and clarity during pack runs and hunts.”

The Luna smiled, her eyes softening as she accepted the gift. But Vanessa, ever the opportunist, scoffed.

“A pouch? On such a significant night? Journi, this is an insult.”

I turned to her, my voice calm but firm. “This pouch is made with materials that are difficult to source and requires skill to craft. It’s worth more than you could imagine.”

The Alpha’s expression darkened, and he gestured toward Vanessa and Jake. “Leave. Now.”

They were ushered out, their faces pale with humiliation. The message was clear: the pack’s leadership had no tolerance for their antics.

The ceremony continued, but the tension lingered. It was obvious where the Alpha and Luna’s loyalties lay—and it wasn’t with Jake Sullivan. His desperate attempt to reclaim relevance had only cemented his downfall.