Chapter 3
Jayden's POV
The moment I stepped into my room. I exhaled, finally feeling the tension from the alpha gathering rolling off my shoulders. It had gone well—better than i had expected.
I began to unfasten the buttons on my coat, shrugging it halfway off when I heard soft footsteps approaching behind me.
"You did not even wait for me to come and help," Sarah said with a very sweet and teasing smile, her voice low and warm, just like it always was when she was trying to fuss over me.
I smiled and allow her take over, arms falling limp as she gently slid the coat from my shoulders. Her touch so softly lingered slightly, and she leaned in close to me and kissed the side of my neck. The scent of rose petals and honey which clung to her skin made me feel at ease.
"How did the party go?" she asked, hanging the coat neatly by the door. Her belly wasn't growing much but it was stretching the soft material of the pale dress she wore. Every time I looked at her, I felt that calm awe all over again. She was carrying our child. The miracle of that never really faded. Arthur was so proud web he found out.
"It was fine," I said, easing into the chair behind my desk. "Actually. it was better than fine and we received awards."
Sarah's eyes lit up. "Really?"
I nodded. "Most feared Alphas in the region. That title is official now."
She let out a soft laugh, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You say that like it's something to be proud of."
"It is," I said, grinning. "Fear keeps packs in line. Respect comes after. You know how it works."
She rolled her eyes affectionately. "Still. I wish they gave awards for 'Most Peaceful Alpha' or 'Best Dancer at the Alpha Party.' You'd win those too."
I smirked. "Maybe next year."
"Lunch will be ready soon," she said, patting my shoulder before heading toward the door.
It opened just as she reached it, and Arthur walked in, his scent hitting me before his voice did. He always carried a distinct mix of pine and steel—calm, grounded, with a current of danger underneath.
Sarah's face lit up again. "Arthur," she greeted warmly, and I could see the way her posture softened around him.
"Hey, love," Arthur said, kissing her gently.
She ran a hand over his chest, eyes narrowing just a little. "And how was your day?"
Arthur and I had Lesrned to share Sarah respectively and we've been doing our bests so fat
Arthur hesitated for half a second—long enough for me to notice.
"Well," he said, scratching the back of his neck, "I saved a girl."
Sarah stilled. "A girl?"
He nodded. "Yeah. She was being harassed—molested, actually. I intervened."
That instant, the warmth in Sarah's eyes dimmed, just a shade. Her lips pursed, and she took a step back. "Why would you do that?"
Arthur blinked, confused. "She needed help."
"You're a ruthless Alpha," Sarah said sharply. "You don't just stop to help every damsel in distress."
My brow furrowed. "Sarah—"
"No," she said, cutting me off gently but firmly. "I just don't understand why Arthur is suddenly playing hero. We have enough on our plate. We don't need outsiders."
Arthur exhaled. "I know how it looks. But it wasn't just about being nice. There was something… strange about her."
Sarah crossed her arms, but she didn't say anything.
"She smelled familiar," Arthur went on. "Not familiar like I'd met her before—familiar in the way you feel when you hear a song you forgot you loved."
I frowned.
Arthur looked at me now. "Jayden, I'm telling you. I felt something. A pull. Like a mate bond."
The silence in the room thickened. My eyes darted toward Sarah, but she was already turning away.
"Dinner will be ready soon," she said, her tone clipped. "Come down when you're done here."
She left without looking back, and the soft sound of her footsteps faded down the hallway.
I leaned back in my chair and stared at Arthur.
"You felt a mate bond?" I asked, keeping my voice steady even though my mind was already racing.
Arthur sat down across from me. "Yeah. Her name is Maya. She looked… scared. Broken. I didn't feel like an Alpha saving a pack member. I felt like something in me recognized her."
I shook my head slowly and laughed under my breath. "Arthur. Come on. We already have Sarah. She's our mate. You know how rare that is—to share a mate, to have this balance between the three of us. You think fate is going to throw someone else in now?"
Arthur didn't laugh with me. He just kept looking at me with that serious, quiet intensity of his. "I know how it sounds. I didn't expect it either. But it wasn't just a feeling. It was like my wolf was trying to claw his way to the surface just to get to her."
I watched him, trying to figure out whether he was losing his mind or if something deeper was happening here.
"You didn't mark her," I said..
He shook his head. "No. I walked away."
"Good," I replied. "Look, Arthur, I get it. You're a protector. It's in your nature. But you need to remember where your loyalty lies. Sarah's carrying our pup. She's sensitive. Hormonal. And right now, she's terrified you're slipping away."
Arthur lowered his gaze. "I'm not. I wouldn't do that."
I sighed. "I know. But the girl—you helped her. That's fine. But next time, don't overstep."
"I won't," he said quietly. "I promise."
I studied his face for a moment longer, trying to read what was behind those gray eyes of his. Guilt? Confusion? Something deeper?
"Do you want to see her again?" I asked finally.
He looked away.
"Arthur."
"I don't know," he said. "A part of me does. But I know what's at stake."
I nodded. "Then trust me. Let it go. Don't dig into it. Don't seek her out. If it's something real… it'll come back around. But we don't chase fate. We hold the ground we've already earned."
He gave a small nod.
We sat in silence for a moment, the tension between us cooling into something quieter. I could still smell Sarah's scent lingering in the room, sweet and sharp.
We had a life. We had a future. And whatever this Maya girl was, she couldn't be the beginning of something new. Not when we already had everything we were supposed to.
Still… something in Arthur's expression made my gut twist.
I didn't believe in fate showing up twice. But maybe… just maybe, it had..
And that scared the hell out of me.