The Alpha's Runaway Queen

Chapter 21 - Telling Sean

Jasmine POV

It had only been two months since I met Sean Patterson, but it seemed like I had known him forever. Every day with him felt like a dream, one I never wanted to wake up from. I would have never thought we would be that close, our lives weaving together in ways I hadn’t thought possible. A doctor and a painter together? We still had a lot to go through, but who knew right?

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had happened, but he became my best friend. After a few dates, he started to drive me to the hospital and would also pick me up after my shifts. Sean was truly amazing. His thoughtfulness and kindness were a refreshing change from the chaotic hospital life I was accustomed to. He seemed to understand the demanding nature of my job and never once complained about the odd hours or the missed plans.

One evening, after a particularly grueling shift, I stepped out of the hospital to find Sean leaning against his car with a warm smile on his face. I felt my exhaustion melt away at the sight of him. “Hey there, Dr. Jasmine,” he greeted me, holding out a steaming cup of coffee.

“Hey, Sean,” I replied before taking the cup of coffee from him, grateful for the gesture. “You have no idea how much I needed this.”

“Long day?” he asked as he opened the passenger door for me.

“You have no idea,” I replied as I dropped into the seat. “More births today, and then a mountain of paperwork. Well, I love babies. What I hate is when there are complications. It burns my heart.”

Sean nodded before turning and walking around the car. He got in and then glanced over at me with a look of concern. “You need to take it easy, Jas. You’re going to burn yourself out.”

I smiled at his concern. “I know, I know. It’s funny how doctors know how toxic these shifts are, but we still do it.” I shook my head at the thought. “But it’s hard to slow down when there are so many people who need help.”

He reached over and squeezed my hand. “And that’s one of the things I admire about you. But remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup.”

As we drove, Sean filled the silence with stories about his day, his soothing voice helping me unwind. By the time we reached my apartment, I felt a sense of calm that I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

“Thank you for the ride,” I said as I stepped out of the car.

“Anytime,” he replied. “Wait. So stupid of me, but I haven’t asked if you already had your dinner. We can go somewhere. Better yet, I can cook dinner for you. You look like you could use a good meal and some relaxation.”

I hesitated for a moment, but the thought of not having to cook was too tempting. “That sounds wonderful,” I admitted. “I don’t want to go out anymore, so you’re the cook for the night.”

In no time, Sean was in my kitchen, chopping vegetables and humming to himself. I watched him from the living room, marveling at how easily he had weaved himself into my life. It was a little unnerving, but also incredibly comforting.

“You’re quite the chef,” I remarked. I leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching him.

He looked up and grinned. “Just a hobby of mine. I find it relaxing. Plus, it’s a great way to impress a beautiful doctor.”

I laughed, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. “Consider me impressed.”

Dinner was a delicious pasta dish with salad on the side that Sean whipped up with ease. We ate, talked, and laughed. After we finished, we moved to the couch, where Sean wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close.

“This is nice,” I murmured as I rested my head on his shoulder.

“It is,” he agreed. “I could get used to this.”

As the night wore on, I found myself fighting to stay awake. Sean noticed and gently coaxed me to lie down. “You need sleep, Jas. I’ll stay on the couch tonight, okay?”

“Okay,” I easily agreed. “Thanks, Sean.”

Over the next few days, Sean continued to show his devotion. He drove me to work, picked me up, cooked for me, and even helped with household chores. It was almost too good to be true. However, I knew I was still holding back.

One Saturday afternoon, we decided to spend the day at the park. The weather was perfect, and it felt good to be out in the sun. We spread a blanket on the grass and settled down with a picnic basket Sean had prepared.

“This is perfect,” I said before taking a bite of the chicken sandwich he handed me.

“I’m glad you think so,” he replied. “I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

“Me too,” I admitted. It was one of those days where I could really enjoy my off day. “It’s nice to have a break from the hospital.”

Sean looked at me thoughtfully. “Jas? I want to talk to you about something.”

My heart skipped a beat. Sean’s tone was concerning. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath and then looked at me with so much care. “I know it’s only been a couple of months, but I really like you. I care about you a lot, and I can see a future with you. I know you have your reservations, and I respect that. I just want you to know how I feel.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been so focused on my work and my own doubts that I hadn’t realized how serious Sean was. I took a moment to gather my thoughts before responding. “Sean, I…I really like you too. But I need to be honest with you. I’ve been through a lot, and there are parts of my past that I’m not ready to share yet.”

He reached out and took my hand. “I understand, Jas. I’m not asking for all your secrets. I’m telling you this for you to know that I want to be here for you, to support you. Whatever you’re comfortable with, I’m okay with that.”

I couldn’t help but hold my breath as tears welled up in my eyes. “Thank you so much, Sean. For everything. For all the things that you do and for your honesty.”

Despite my reservations, I couldn’t deny the growing feelings I had for Sean.

One evening, after another long day at the hospital, I came home to find Sean in the kitchen, cooking dinner as usual.

“Hey, Sean,” I greeted him. “Everything okay?”

He turned to face me with a sweet smile on his face. “Yeah, everything is okay. How’s work?”

“The usual. Anything I can do to help?” I called out as I dropped my bag on the couch.

“How about you relax while you wait for dinner?” he replied. “This won’t take long.”

“Okay then.” I left him and went to freshen up.

Dinner was great as usual and we hung out in my living room, each of us holding a glass of wine. My heart pounded in my chest as I turned to Sean. It was a random thought, but I thought it was probably time to put it out in the open with him. “There’s something I need to tell you,” I said in a voice barely above a whisper.

He looked at me with so much concern in his eyes. “Anything bothering you? I’m all ears, Jas.”

I took a deep breath and steeled myself for what was to come. “Before I met you, even before I came to this city, I was part of a pack. A werewolf pack. I left because I wanted more out of my life. I didn’t want to be confined in a place and never experience the world beyond the pack borders. I felt suffocated by the responsibilities like I was doing them just because it was something I was born with.”

“A werewolf pack?” Sean’s eyes widened in shock, but he didn’t pull away. “Wait. You’re a werewolf?”

I nodded. “Yes. It’s why I’ve been so secretive. I didn’t want to bring you into that world.”

He took my hand and then lifted it to his lips for a kiss. It took him a while before he could say anything more. Though his gesture was reassuring, I still wanted to hear what he would say. “Jas, thank you for telling me. I know that wasn’t easy. But it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

It was not really a secret in that modern society that there were other creatures living in the world and we were everywhere.

Tears filled my eyes as I looked at him, overwhelmed by his acceptance. “Thank you, Sean. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

He pulled me into his arms and held me close. “You don’t have to be alone anymore. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

For the first time, I felt like I could face my past and move forward. With Sean by my side, I knew I could overcome anything. My future became brighter and lovelier.