2

Jude

I was going to kill that fucking asshole.

The thought pounded through my head in rhythm with the bike's engine as I drove down Main Street, hyper-aware of the girl pressed against my back. She was shaking from cold or shock or both, and my wolf was losing its goddamn mind.

Mate,The word echoed through every cell. Protect. Keep. MATE.

I gritted my teeth and focused on not crashing.

I'd only come back to Highland Creek for Christmas because my mother had guilt-tripped me. One week with the family. Instead, I'd walked out to escape another dinner argument when my wolf caught her scent and I'd run straight into another pack mocking a crying girl in the snow.

The punch had been instinct. The need to protect her, to get her away from them, to make sure she was safe-that had been instinct too.

The mate bond had hit me like lightning. This girl, this stranger whose name I didn't even know yet, was mine. The one person in the entire world meant for me.

And she had no idea.

I pulled up in front of Jack's Tavern, the only bar in Highland Creek open on Christmas Eve. Jack was a pack member, and his bar was safe.

"We're here," I said, killing the engine.

She climbed off with shaky movements. Her lips were tinged blue. My jacket hung off her shoulders and I could see she was curvy beneath it all-soft and perfect.

Mate. Perfect mate.

Down, boy. Not the time.

I led her inside. Jack looked up from behind the bar, his scarred face creasing into a frown.

"Didn't expect to see you tonight," he said and added young alpha through the mindlink.

"Change of plans." I guided her to a booth in the back. "Coffee? And food."

Jack's eyes flicked between us, taking in her tear-stained face and my protective stance. "Sure thing."

She slid into the booth and I sat across from her. For the first time, I got a good look at my mate.

She was beautiful.

It wasn't just the bond talking. She had brown hair that fell in waves past her shoulders, currently tangled and damp with snow. Blue eyes that were red-rimmed from crying. Full lips that were currently pressed into a thin line. Warm brown skin that made me think of summer despite the winter outside.

And curves. God, the curves. Soft and generous and perfect for holding, for-

Stop. Jesus Christ, get your head together, Winters.

"What's your name?" I asked softly.

"Rosie." Her voice was hoarse. "Rosie Martinez."

"Rosie." I tested it out, let it roll over my tongue. Perfect. Of course it was. "I'm Jude. Jude Winters."

We sat in silence before Jack silently delivered coffee and she wrapped her hands around the mug.

I could hear her heartbeat, still too fast, and smell the salt of her tears under the borrowed scent of my jacket. My wolf whined, desperate to comfort her. To claim her. To make sure she never felt this kind of pain again.

Patience, I told it firmly. She needs time.

"If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me what happened?" I asked.

She laughed humorlessly. "My boyfriend-ex-boyfriend-it was all a bet. Three months of dating, all just entertainment. And the video..."

"The video?"

"They recorded us. Having sex. My first time." She stared into her coffee. "Posted it online."

White-hot rage flooded through me. I felt my canines extend slightly and gripped the table edge, forcing my wolf back.

Kill him, my wolf snarled. Go back and kill him.

Later, I promised. After that, we take care of our mate.

"Where do you go to school?" I managed, through clenched teeth.

"Silverwestern." She laughed bitterly. "By tomorrow, everyone there will know."

"Stop." My voice came out rougher than intended.

She looked up, startled.

"Don't talk about yourself like that," I said, alpha tone bleeding through. "He's the worthless one. Not you."

"You don't know me."

"I know you didn't deserve what happened tonight. I know you're brave as hell. And I know that guy was a fucking idiot."

Her eyes filled with fresh tears. "Why are you being nice to me?"

Because you're mine. Because my soul recognizes yours.

"Because someone should be," I said instead.

She broke then. Really broke. Tears streamed down her face as she hunched over her coffee, shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

I moved without thinking, sliding to her side of the booth and pulling her against my chest. She stiffened-then collapsed into me, crying so hard I thought she might break apart

"I've got you," I murmured, stroking her hair. It was softer than I'd imagined, damp from the snow and smelling like vanilla and something sweet. "You're safe."

My wolf was purring-a sound meant to comfort mates. I couldn't quite stop it, but she didn't seem to notice. She just cried and cried.

I didn't move. Just held my mate through it all. Eventually, her sobs slowed. She pulled back, wiping her face. "Sorry. I got your shirt all wet."

"Don't care."

She looked up at me and something shifted in her expression-awareness of how close we were. How my arm was still around her shoulders. The way I was looking at her.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

"Don't thank me yet." I checked my phone. It was nearly midnight. "It's late. Do you have somewhere to stay?"

"I... no. I was supposed to stay at the lodge with Josh." Her face twisted.

"Most places are closed for Christmas Eve." I hesitated. "Look, I know you don't know me, but I can get us a room at the Winter Pine Inn. Two beds," I added quickly. "I just don't want you alone tonight."

She studied me for a long moment. "You're either genuinely kind or a serial killer."

"Definitely the first one."

"That's what a serial killer would say."

Despite everything, I grinned. "Fair point. But Jack here has known me since I was a kid. Jack-am I a serial killer?"

"Nope," Jack called from the bar.

"See? Certified non-murderer." I waited. "What do you say?"

She took a deep breath. "Okay. But if you try anything-"

"I won't. I swear."

"Okay," she whispered.

The Winter Pine Inn was two blocks away. I checked us in while she waited, then led her upstairs to a room with a queen size bed, that was what was available.

"Bathroom's there if you need it," I said.

But she was already kicking off her boots and crawling into the nearest bed, still wearing my jacket and wrapped in the comforter. Within seconds, her breathing evened out.

I stood there watching her breathe, fighting every instinct that told me to climb in next to her.

Instead, I grabbed the spare blanket and settled into the chair by the window, knowing I wouldn't sleep.

The bond was already forming-I could feel it, a golden thread connecting us, fragile but growing stronger.

She was my mate.

But in the morning, she was gone.

3

Rosie's POV

Christmas Day Evening

I took the communal bus back to Silverwestern, dreading what I would face when I got back.

God, I wasn't ready. I wasn't prepared for any confrontation.

I rubbed my face as the bus passed familiar roads, and I could feel my heart picking up at what was to come. I wanted to turn and run away, but I couldn't do that. I had a life here.

But even if I ran away, where would I go? Nowhere.

Then amber eyes flashed in my mind, and I felt a warm feeling sink into me and I wondered what that was. I'd stared at Jude's peaceful face this morning and felt something pulling at me not to leave him, but I couldn't do that.

That was why I left him a note : Thank you for everything last night. I'm sorry I can't stay-I need to figure things out. You're a good person, Jude Winters. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. - Rosie

I couldn't be more shameless in overstaying his kindness.

As the bus pulled up to my apartment building, I breathed deeply. If anyone had told me I'd be here alone when I'd traveled to enjoy a vacation with my twin sister and boyfriend...

I carried my duffel bag inside with a grunt as I entered the shared apartment. Sophia's room door was closed-either she wasn't back or she was keeping to herself. I unlocked my door and entered my room, dropped the bag down, then collapsed onto my crumpled bed and sighed.

God, what could I do now?

I rubbed my hands over my face and pulled out my dead phone. I grabbed my charger and plugged it in to see what was happening. When the phone lit up showing it was charging, I switched it on.

As soon as wifi connected, thousands of notifications bombarded my screen. My throat tightened. One message stood out.

A text from Josh.

My hands trembled, my throat bobbing at seeing his name. In one swift motion, I opened the message, and my heart plummeted. My phone shook in my hands.

Josh:

How's it feel to be famous overnight?

I read and reread the message before my phone rang out. I saw Kira's name flash on the screen. I wiped my sweaty hands and swiped to answer.

"Hello, Rosie, are you there?" Kira's frantic voice filled the phone, and I had to pull it away from my ear.

"Hi," I managed.

"Thank fuck!" she breathed out. "I've been trying to get to you since last night. Your number was unreachable."

"Oh, my phone was off. I'm just charging it now. I'm in my room."

"Good... Rosie," she called softly. "Have you seen it? It's everywhere."

My chest constricted. I could feel myself hyperventilating.

It was everywhere?

"Don't look at the comments. Please don't look," Kira's worried voice came through, but it didn't help. My brain went foggy as I rushed to the school forum.

It was everywhere.

Silverwestern subreddit, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter. Every platform had it-my face, my name, my shame.

My hands shook as I clicked the video.

There I was. Face flushed, eyes half-closed, mouth open. The sounds-my sounds-echoed from my phone speaker. Moans. Gasps.

The humiliation was unbearable, but what broke my heart apart was that Josh's face was blurred.

The betrayal cut deeper. I was the only one visible, fully exposed. I watched myself be violated all over again, as tears stung my eyes, my lips trembling.

When I scrolled down, my eyes caught the comments. With every word I read, blood drained from my face.

"Isn't that Josh Carter's girlfriend?? What a SLUT"

"She's cheating on Josh??? He's too good for her"

"Fat bitch doesn't deserve him anyway"

"Hope Josh dumps her disgusting ass"

"She really thought someone like Josh would stay with HER. "

"Yo if she needs another man I'm available."

"Fat girls are the freakiest"

"Hit me up I got time"

"She desperate enough, I'll volunteer"

"Know your place"

"Attention whore"

"Desperate fatty"

My stomach twisted. The room spun as I read those comments, and bile crawled up my throat. My stomach churned, and through hazy vision, I rushed out of the room to the shared bathroom. I barely reached the toilet before I vomited.

I sat on the cold floor, the disgusting taste of vomit in my mouth. The humiliation and betrayal overwhelmed me as I started crying, my body shaking.

At that moment, the front door opened. Sophia strode in, her face scrunched in disgust when she saw me on the bathroom floor surrounded by my own vomit.

My face burned with humiliation.

Sophia walked closer, her nose wrinkling as she chewed her gum nonchalantly, eyeing me with contempt.

"Oh, you're still here?" Sophia's voice dripped with mock surprise. "Thought you'd have run home by now." She examined her nails casually, as if this were the most normal thing in the world.

"Josh is mine now, by the way." she said casually, "and has been for a while."

My breath hitched, and she took in my shocked expression.

"Oh, you didn't know?" She laughed mockingly. "The whole thing? The bet? It was my idea."

Fresh tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

"Lasted three months. God, it was exhausting watching you make a fool of yourself." She laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "But so worth it."

"Why?" The word fell out. "You're my sister-"

"Sister?" She scoffed. "Please. We might share DNA but that doesn't make us the same. I'm the pretty twin, remember? The one Mom and Dad are actually proud of."

She blew on her nails, bored. "You're always so proud, Rosie. Walking around with your good grades like that makes up for how you look." She mocked in a high voice. "So pure. So innocent. So sweet." She leaned closer. "Well, look at you now. Not so pure anymore, are you?"

"Why?!" I screamed, body trembling. She was my twin sister. We'd shared a womb. We grew up together.

"I wanted to see all that innocence destroyed. You know what's funny? I hate you because you are always there to share mom and dad's attention but we both know that's a lie. They always loved me more. And now everyone else can see why." She flicked my forehead. "This is exactly where you belong-on the floor. Fat pig." she popped her gum, "It's so humiliating and embarrassing if people know you are my twin."

Sophia stood up with a disgusted expression and spat on the floor. "Clean up before you go. You're disgusting."

She slammed the door in my face, and the click of her heels receded down the hall.

Something inside me shattered-not just heartbreak, but everything. Even though the bond between me and Sophia was broken since childhood, I still held her close because she was my other half, even though I was always self conscious and hid behind her shadow and wished her good, I didn't think I would be planning to destroy my life. Used the revelation about my crush on Josh to break me.

The person who was supposed to understand me better than anyone had betrayed me in the cruelest way possible.

A sob tore through my throat. My ribcage squeezed my lungs, and I couldn't breathe. It was getting hard to breathe as I wheezed, my brain getting fuzzy, my chest heaving.

I didn't know how many minutes or hours passed while I sat in the bathroom, wallowing in self-pity, before Kira showed up and helped me up.

"Rosie?" Kira's frantic voice. "Rosie, where are you?" She appeared in the doorway, and her face shifted from shock to horror.

"Oh my God." She dropped beside me, not caring about the vomit. "Rosie. I've got you."

Her hands were gentle as she helped me up, half-carrying me past Sophia's closed door where cheerful music played. Into my room. She sat me on the bed.

"I'm going to clean you up, okay?"

I didn't respond. I couldn't, it was like my brain stopped functioning.

Kira wiped my face with a damp towel, helped me clean my pajamas and I barely registered it happening. She disappeared maybe to clean the bathroom and when she came back, she pressed a glass of warm water into my hands.

"Drink it. It'll help the queasy feeling."

I stared at the glass, but I didn't comprehend her words. The ringing of my phone pulled me out of the fog. With weak hands, I picked it up.

"Come home. We have something to discuss." My mother's voice was ice cold before she hung up.

And I smiled. No, I laughed maniacally without humor, tears streaming from the corners of my eyes, because I knew why they wanted me home.

They'd seen it.

4

Rosie

I stared at the door of my parents' house and took a deep breath. Christmas Day was supposed to be a joyous day of people laughing, exchanging gifts, and pleasantries, but for me, since yesterday, it has been a nightmare.

I could still hear those comments in my head, still see that video playing on loop every time I closed my eyes.

I looked at the snow falling to the ground, uncaring of what the humans were feeling, whether they were happy about the snow or not. The chiming sound from the bells and the Christmas lights from the neighborhood lit up. Everything looked so normal, so festive, like my world hadn't just ended.

With a deep breath, I pressed the doorbell. My mother opened the door, and upon seeing me, her mood immediately soured. She scoffed and left the door open, turning her back like I was a stranger.

As I entered, the house never felt so small and constricted. Home was supposed to be comfortable and warm, but now it felt so distant and suffocating. Everything felt different. The familiar scent of cinnamon from Mom's Christmas candles made my stomach turn.

The family photo on the wall mocked me-the perfect twin daughters, side by side, both smiling. Except only one of us was truly wanted.

I reached the living room and my dad was seated on the couch, he was reading a newspaper and my mother beside him. The Christmas tree stood in the corner, still beautiful, still lit up.

"Sit down," my mom said, her voice sounding so distant. And I sat on the edge of the armchair across from them, my hands clasped in my lap

A long silence passed-before my dad folded the paper and removed his reading glasses, then faced me. His expression morphed into controlled anger as he spoke in a cold voice.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" I flinched from how his voice came out.

I rubbed my hands together again as I opened my mouth to talk, but nothing came out. My mother glared at me, and I could see the disgust written all over her face.

"How could you do this to us?" my mother asked. "Everyone has seen it. Everyone," she added, her voice rising. "The neighbors, people from church, your dad's colleagues." She listed them, and I wanted the ground to swallow me.

"Because of you, we became a laughing stock when we went to church today. Everyone was talking about it. Do you know how humiliated I was?" Her voice cracked on the last word, and for a second, I thought she might cry.

"We can't show our faces anywhere," my mother said. "How could you be so stupid? So careless?"

"It wasn't like that." I managed to whisper.

"And how is it?" my father's voice boomed out and I nearly jumped from my seat.

"I didn't know he was recording-" I said.

My dad stared at me in disbelief as he cut me off. " You expect us to believe that?"

"Yes-"

Mom whispered, "Even if it's true, you still chose to-" She shook her head in disappointment. "You gave yourself to him like a cheap whore. On camera."

Did my mom just call me a slut?

"I didn't know about the camera!"

"You should have been smarter."

"I was lied to! I was used! I'm the victim here!"

Mom stood, face twisted with rage. Before I knew it, she slapped me hard across the face.

Silence. My cheek burned. Tears stung my eyes. I touched my face in shock. They'd never hit me before. Maybe they'd been saving their anger, comparing me silently to Sophia all these years

"We raised you better than this."

Dad stood, staring with disgust. "We raised both of you the same and look how differently you turned out." He shook his head. "Your sister would never do something like this. Sophia has always known how to conduct herself with dignity."

My mouth hung open but it was Sophia that planned everything but the words won't come out.

"We held both of you up as examples," Mom said bitterly. "Our beautiful twin daughters. Everyone knows about your scholarships, your grades. And Sophia's achievements, her beauty, her grace. And now? Now you're the joke of the town while your sister has to live with the shame of being associated with you."

Dad clasped his hands behind his back. "We can't have you here."

"What?"

"You need to leave."

"You're kicking me out?"

"Don't come to church. Don't come to family events. Sophia will represent the family from now on. You've lost that privilege. Until we figure out how to handle this, you're not welcome here."

"I'm your daughter-"

"Right now, we have one daughter. The one who didn't humiliate us."

Dad looked at me coldly. "We're ashamed of you. Sophia is everything we hoped for in a daughter. You... you're a mistake."

I ran to him, knelt, and grabbed his legs. "Please don't do this to me."

"You should have thought of that before."

He walked out. Each step felt like a nail in my heart.

Mom pointed to the door. "Leave. Now."

I stumbled toward the door, crying. My mom threw my bag at me, and it hit my chest before falling on the ground.

"I don't even want to see you. I don't have a whore as a daughter. From today on, you are dead to me." she sneered, "Sophia is my only daughter."

The door closed behind me with finality and I stood on the porch, shaking, the snow coming down heavily, like it was mocking me too.

I had nowhere to go. The sky was darkened. Even the moon wasn't out to shine light. The night was as dark as my world right now.

My world was crushed like the snow under my feet.

I didn't know how many hours passed as I stood outside in the pouring snow, staring at my parents' house as the light of the room went out. One by one, the windows went dark

Kira came. "Rosie? How did it go? You're freezing," she said the obvious, because I was already covered with snow. My face was white and pale. My lips were trembling and my nose was blocked. Frostbite.

My legs gave out as she wrapped her arms around my cold body and crouched down to my level. My body trembled as I cried harder than ever.

Not crying. Sobbing. The kind of sobs that tore through my chest, that made my whole body shake, that felt like they'd rip me apart from the inside out.

"They kicked me out," I gasped between sobs, my words barely coherent. "They didn't-they didn't believe me-"

"Everything will be okay," but I didn't believe her. How could anything be okay ever again?

After seeing I'd calmed down, Kira pulled me to her car, ushered me inside and turned up the heater, removed my soaked gloves, and handed me a coat as I shivered.

As Kira drove in silence, I just stared out of the window. I felt completely empty. Tears had dried on my face. My chest felt heavy, like there was a blockage. I just felt numb.