I watched in disbelief as he scooped Briana into his arms, carrying her away like she was the only one that mattered. My chest tightened, breath catching in my throat. And maybe it was my imagination, but I swore I saw a smirk tug at Briana’s lips.
A bitter sigh escaped me as I looked around at the confused faces of the pack. Some pitied me, others whispered. The weight of their stares was crushing, yet Jasper expected me to endure it.
I ran out of the moon temple, my chest tight with anger, tears blurring my vision. Every step felt like fire under my skin, the betrayal burning deeper with each second. Jasper had never put me first—never. It was always Briana. Briana this, Briana that.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized, maybe this whole mate bond was just in my head. Maybe 'Briana' was his true mate all along. I was just an afterthought, a placeholder while he fawned over her.
I stormed back to my parents’ house and locked myself in my old room, shutting out the world. Mom and Dad followed me from the moon temple, knocking softly on the door, worried. But I was too shattered to respond. I buried my face in the pillow and cried until I felt empty—numb.