Chapter 3

I am standing in a garden; it is breathtakingly beautiful, with vibrant flowers blooming in every direction and the sweet fragrance of jasmine filling the air. There is a majestic waterfall cascading down moss-covered rocks, creating a mesmerizing symphony as it flows into a crystal-clear river that winds through the garden like a silver ribbon. There is a lovely lady there, bathed in an ethereal white light that seems to emanate from within her very being. She exuded a sense of tranquility that washed over me, giving me a deeply peaceful and comforting feeling that I had never experienced before.

As I wondered about my mysterious surroundings, she spoke to me with a voice like gentle chimes, as if she was reading the questions straight from my mind. She told me to be patient, her words carrying wisdom beyond measure, and mentioned that I would have many questions when the truth finally emerged. I started to ask her about this truth she spoke of, but my words were cut short as a deep, resonant growl ripped through the trees. I turned just in time to see an magnificent all-black wolf approaching us, its fur gleaming like polished obsidian. She smiled softly, her expression serene and knowing, and said, "I bring you no harm, child, and I will explain everything when you are ready." The black wolf continued its low growling, but maintained its distance, as if held back by an invisible barrier. There was an inexplicable pull to this wolf that I couldn't comprehend or rationalize. Though I had never seen him before, I felt strangely comfortable in his presence, as if we shared some ancient connection. He never ventured too close; he simply stood there, his intense eyes fixed upon me with an almost human-like intelligence. As I reached out, drawn by an irresistible urge to touch his midnight fur, I was suddenly jolted from this mystical scene by angry yelling.

It was all a dream, a wonderful, mysterious dream that slipped away like morning mist. Reality crashed back as I quickly realized the source of the commotion - Aliza and Katelyn were engaged in a heated argument with Tyler and Danny, their voices sharp with accusation. Danny, trying to diffuse the situation, wrapped his protective arm around Aliza and said in a placating tone not to be mad at the messenger. "It's what we saw," he added, his voice heavy with reluctance.

Tyler then followed up, explaining that several people were in the group they had encountered; they had seemed friendly enough at first glance. They had no idea Jarred was part of our group, he added, his voice trailing off uncomfortably. The mention of Jarred's name acted like an electric shock, making me sit up instantly. I kicked off my sleeping bag with sudden urgency and stood up quickly, my heart pounding. Katelynn was immediately by my side as I demanded to know what about Jarred. Tyler just muttered, avoiding my gaze, which only intensified my growing anxiety. I knew the sob was no good and walked away, my mind racing with possibilities. I yelled again, my voice cracking with emotion, "What about Jarred?" Katelynn took my hand gently and led me to the campfire, her touch attempting to provide comfort. I was crying by this time, worried sick about Jarred, fearing something terrible had befallen him. Katelynn took a deep breath, her face filled with sympathy, and said, "I am sorry, Zoe. Tyler saw him with another group of people; he was naked and asleep with another woman."

Tyler's protective instincts immediately kicked in, and he stormed after Jarred with unbridled fury written across his face. My mind was reeling, unable to process the devastating information. "This cannot be real," I kept repeating like a broken mantra, my voice barely above a whisper. The words tumbled from my lips over and over, as if saying them enough times would somehow make this nightmare disappear. My thoughts raced frantically, searching for any explanation that could make sense of this betrayal. "Why would he do this to me?" I questioned, my voice cracking with raw emotion. The memories of his declarations of love and his heartfelt proposal now felt like cruel jokes. "He said he loved me; he asked me to marry him." A terrible thought crept into my mind, making my stomach churn. "Is it because I didn't have sex with him?"

Aliza, ever the supportive friend, moved closer and began gently rubbing soothing circles on my back. Her touch was comforting as she firmly stated, "Don't you dare think like that." She paused before adding with conviction, "If he loved you, he would have waited." A small, bitter laugh escaped my lips when she offered, with complete seriousness, to hex him. Katelynn, not to be outdone, chimed in with her own suggestion about magically shrinking his package. My eyes grew wide with shock, and I turned to Aliza with an incredulous expression, silently questioning if such a thing was actually possible. She responded with a casual shrug and a mischievous glint in her eye, declaring, "I am a witch. I am sure I can figure it out." The moment was perfectly punctuated by Beth, who dramatically raised her kitchen knife and announced that she didn't need any magic to cut his balls off. Despite my tears, I couldn't help but laugh at their fierce loyalty and creative threats. These amazing women were doing everything they could to lift my spirits even as my world was falling apart. The harsh reality was impossible to ignore - I had lost my home, my career, and now my finances were in shambles. The thought "Could this year get any worse?" felt like tempting fate itself.

Needing space to process everything, I pushed myself up from the ground. My legs felt unsteady as I walked down to the small creek near our camp, seeking solitude and clarity. The cool water felt refreshing as I splashed it on my tear-stained face. Finding a comfortable rock, I sat down and tried to make sense of how my life had become such a complicated mess. That's when I heard it - his unmistakable laugh mingling with a woman's giggles. Looking up, I witnessed Jarred playfully splashing water at her while she called him "childish" between fits of laughter. My heart, already broken, seemed to shatter into countless pieces at the sight.

Fresh tears began rolling down my cheeks when I heard Tyler's apologetic "I'm sorry" behind me. His voice caught the attention of both Jarred and his companion, who turned to stare at us. The woman's face held a look of manufactured pity, while Jarred's expression was one of smug satisfaction, as if he took pleasure in my pain. They approached us with casual confidence, and I watched in disbelief as the woman turned her attention to Tyler, giving him what she clearly thought was an alluring smile. My blood boiled - not content with destroying my engagement, she was now openly flirting with my brother. She addressed Tyler directly, asking if he'd considered "Jason's offer." The mysterious reference to Jason and some unknown offer piqued my curiosity despite my distress.

When Jarred reached out to touch my arm, I opened my mouth to question Tyler about the woman's cryptic words. Jarred's unwanted contact made me recoil as he insisted, "We need to talk." Tyler moved threateningly toward him, but the woman quickly grabbed my brother's arm. Her sickeningly sweet voice dripped with false concern as she said they really should talk, adding condescendingly, "We don't need any weirdness in our group."

Her words struck me like physical blows. "Our group?" The phrase echoed in my mind, raising countless questions. Before I could voice any of them, Tyler's protective declaration cut through my thoughts: "Bullshit; he was not being left alone with her."

Despite my brother's concerns, I knew Jarred wouldn't physically harm me, and I desperately needed answers. I made a quick decision - I would start with Jarred and then confront Tyler about this mysterious woman and her cryptic comments.

I held my hand out to Tyler, my voice steady despite my inner turmoil. "It's okay. I have to talk to him. Go back to camp. Jarred won't hurt me." I needed this moment, needed to understand how everything had fallen apart so completely.

Tyler's protective instinct was evident in his aggressive stance as he grunted, his words coming out as a menacing promise, "He better not, or I will skin him alive." The threat hung heavy in the air between them, Tyler's eyes blazing with barely contained rage.

Jarred merely rolled his eyes at the threat, displaying an arrogance that made my stomach turn. He walked casually to a nearby rock as if this were just another ordinary conversation. I followed behind him, my feet feeling like lead with each step, and lowered myself to sit beside him, maintaining a careful distance.

The question that had been burning inside me burst forth the moment he sat down. "Why?" The single word carried the weight of all my pain and confusion. To my disbelief, he actually chuckled, the sound grating against my already raw nerves. His response was delivered with an air of entitled justification that left me speechless. "You couldn't expect me to wait for you forever, right? I am a man; I have needs! You wouldn't give it to me, so I got it elsewhere. You cannot be mad at me for meeting my needs, can you?" I sat there in complete shock, my mind struggling to process his words. Was he really trying to blame me for his infidelity? Was he actually attempting to justify betraying our relationship by placing the responsibility on my shoulders?

Did he honestly think I would fall for such a blatant manipulation? That I would somehow accept his twisted logic and excuse his betrayal?

That I would simply nod and agree that yes, it was perfectly acceptable for him to sleep with another woman while we were engaged.

I forced myself to meet his gaze, my voice trembling with barely controlled emotion as I asked, "Were you even going to tell me if Tyler had not caught you?" The question hung between us like a heavy curtain.

His response came as he turned to stare at the water, avoiding my eyes in a way that made my heart sink even further. "I would have had to tell you; she is my mate, and I cannot just leave her." The words hit me like physical blows, each one driving the air from my lungs.

My face must have reflected the absolute shock I felt, my mouth opening and closing without sound like a fish gasping for air. Tears began streaming down my face, hot and unstoppable. Through my increasingly violent sobs, I managed to choke out, "She is your what?"

His response was calm, almost cruel in its simplicity: "Jennifer is my mate."

Jennifer. Finally, a name to attach to the face of the woman who had shattered my world. I sat there, my body wracked with sobs, my mind trying to process this devastating revelation. The love of my life, the man I had planned to spend my future with, had found his true mate in another woman. The cruel irony of it all was that I couldn't even properly hate him for it. Aliza's words about mate bonds echoed in my memory - the undeniable pull, the impossibility of resistance, the all-consuming nature of the connection. I remembered her describing how Danny became her entire world, how other men ceased to exist for her. The way he had spoken about only having eyes for her, about other women becoming invisible to him.

My emotions were a confusing storm of anger and guilt. How could I be furious at something that was supposedly destined? If they were truly mates, chosen by the moon goddess herself, what right did I have to stand in their way? Through my tears, I barely registered when Jarred left me alone on the rock, abandoning me to my grief.

Eventually, I slipped down from my perch, my legs shaky but determined. I wiped my face, splashed some cold water on it, and made my way back to camp, trying to hold myself together.

Katelynn immediately rushed to embrace me, wrapping me in a comforting hug. Just when I thought I had no tears left to cry, fresh ones began flowing freely. As she rubbed soothing circles on my back, Ryker approached, offering to break Jarred's jaw. Despite everything, I managed a weak laugh and shook my head.

His next words froze everyone in place: "She is his mate."

Katelynn's body went rigid against mine, and Ryker just stared at me, both of them processing this unexpected revelation.

Katelynn finally broke the heavy silence that had settled over us. She looked at me with such tender compassion in her eyes, embodying the maternal instinct she'd always shown towards me despite being my sister. Sometimes, I wondered if she had inherited more of our mother's nurturing spirit than any of us. With gentle fingers, she brushed away the tears that had carved paths down my cheeks, her touch as soft as her words were firm. "Mate or not, what he did was a betrayal of trust, plain and simple. He had choices, and he chose deception. He could have approached you honestly before things escalated." Deep down, I knew the truth in her words, but admitting it felt like accepting the final death of all my hopes and dreams.

In that moment of clarity, Jennifer's earlier cryptic exchange with Tyler suddenly resurfaced in my mind. I turned to Ryker, my voice still slightly hoarse from crying, and inquired about Tyler's whereabouts.

Ryker's response was casual but curious. "He's sitting by the fire with Eric, Danny, and Chris," he said, his eyebrows lifting slightly. "Is something wrong?"

I shared Jennifer's strange behavior at the river and recounted her mysterious words to Tyler, watching as understanding slowly dawned on their faces.

Katelynn's expression shifted to one of deep contemplation as she murmured, "Hmm, and they are mates." Before I could ask her to elaborate on what seemed like a significant observation, she turned and walked purposefully toward Azira and Beth, who were busy preparing our midday meal.

Ryker's face was a canvas of sympathy as he gave me one last meaningful look before following my lead toward Tyler's location.

We found Tyler exactly where Ryker had said, seated by the crackling fire. Upon seeing me, he patted the empty space beside him invitingly. As I settled down, he wrapped a protective arm around my shoulders, pulling me close in a gesture of brotherly comfort.

I nestled my head against his chest, finding solace in the familiar position. When he asked about my well-being, his fingers automatically went to my hair, tousling it playfully like he used to do when I was younger. The familiar gesture gave me the courage to voice my question.

"Tyler, what was Jennifer implying earlier about our group?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Tyler's throat worked visibly as he cleared it, his expression turning somber as his eyes met mine, heavy with unspoken concerns.

"They've requested to join our group," Zoe and Tyler explained simultaneously, their voices carrying equal measures of resignation. "They were aware of our destination from the start."

"I understand your reluctance to travel with them," Tyler continued, his voice gentle but firm. "But Jason, who leads their group and happens to be Jennifer's brother, has crucial information. He has a contact within the alpha king's inner circle who provided him with the exact coordinates."

Lifting my chin with his finger to ensure I understood the gravity of the situation, he added softly, "Little one, I wish we had another option, but joining forces with them is our best path forward."

The old nickname struck a chord in my heart - he hadn't used it in years, not even during my childhood. I'd always assumed it was a reference to my petite stature, standing at just 5ft 2. In our family of giants - Katelynn at 5ft 10 and my brothers towering at 6ft 4 - I was notably small, though I shared my mother's height exactly.

The reluctance in his expression was clear; he hated causing me any additional pain. I managed a small smile, trying to show more strength than I felt. "I understand the necessity. If this gets us to our destination faster, then we should do it. Once we arrive, I can keep my distance from them."

Tyler nodded approvingly, a hint of mischief entering his eyes. "If he dares say anything to upset you, I won't hesitate to punch him again. I must admit, that black eye suits him rather well."

His comment drew a genuine laugh from me, and I rose to my feet, heading over to help Katelynn and Azria with lunch preparations.