The Alpha's Runaway Queen

Chapter 23 - Moving too fast

Jasmine POV

The proposal was a whirlwind. I didn’t realize how Sean took our relationship seriously. He had outdone himself with the romantic dinner. My heart swelled with joy and disbelief as I said yes, and the world seemed to spin with a new kind of happiness. The ring on my finger sparkled with promise as we drove to my apartment, his hand warm over mine.

“Jasmine,” Sean murmured, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “I’ve been thinking…now that we’re engaged, maybe it’s time we moved in together. It would make things easier for both of us, don’t you think?”

The suggestion hit me like a splash of cold water. I glanced at him. He looked serious as his eyes focused on the road.

Move in with him? The idea wasn’t outrageous. It seemed like we were doing it already but not really. There may be times he would sleep at my apartment, but then there were more nights he would go back to his place to paint. He would often say that inspiration was calling on him. If he was supportive of me, then I would give the same support to him. I was not a whiny girlfriend. Well, one thing that would be our problem was that he couldn’t bring his studio to my apartment. My apartment was not that big enough to accommodate his art materials and tools. I was not sure if I would be comfortable in his place. It would definitely be a huge adjustment for me, especially since it was far from my workplace.

Anyway, it felt sudden. Too sudden.

“I—I’ll think about it,” I said finally. Living together was a big step, and even though I had accepted his marriage proposal, I needed time to process this new life that was rapidly unfolding before me.

“Of course,” Sean replied, taking my hand in his and squeezing it reassuringly. “Take all the time you need.”

That night, as I lay in bed, I stared at the ceiling. The excitement of the engagement was overshadowed by a creeping unease. Oh, goodness, was I rushing into this? I could have been desperate, wanting all things to work for me-work, family- just to say I got to be successful. Sean was wonderful, but moving in together felt like another leap I wasn’t ready to make. The weight of the decision pressed on my chest, making it hard to sleep.

The next morning, I woke to the aroma of fresh coffee and the sound of birds chirping. Sean, who had a key to my apartment, was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for the two of us. His smile spread across his face when he saw me.

“Good morning, fiancee,” he greeted as he handed me a cup of coffee.

“Morning,” I replied sleepily. I took the cup and sipped the hot liquid gratefully. “You’re early. My shift isn’t until nine. Didn’t I tell you last night?” I got worried. He could have slept some more. It was only six-thirty.

“I couldn’t sleep,” he admitted as he sat across from me. “I kept thinking about us…and our future.”

I smiled, but the unease from last night lingered. “Me too. I also didn’t have that much sleep. So, tell me, what have you been thinking, Mr. Sean Patterson?”

He took a deep breath, his expression serious. “What if we eloped?”

I nearly choked on my coffee. “What?”

“I mean, think about it. No fuss, no stress. Just you and me, getting married somewhere beautiful and quiet. It would be perfect,” he said with his eyes shining with enthusiasm. “You wanted to travel. We can do that! Wedding and honeymoon in one!”

“Sean, wait. Are you sure about this? But what about your family? Our friends?” I asked as calmly as I could. “And I can’t just disappear.” I wanted to add ‘again’ but controlled myself. “Sean, I have responsibilities, a career to uphold.” Those words hit me like a tidal wave. There was a huge part of me that became embarrassed. How could I talk about responsibilities when in the first place, I initially ran away from them?

Sean laughed softly, bringing me back to reality. “I’m just joking, Jas. I know you’re dedicated to your work. I would never ask you to give that up.”

However, the seed of doubt had been planted. Was Sean really joking, or was it another sign that things were moving too fast? I finished my coffee in silence, the light-heartedness of the proposal night giving way to a heavier, more complex reality.

I was then at the hospital, feeling antsy as I made my rounds. The engagement was still fresh in my mind, but so were the questions it raised. I forced myself to focus on my patients, reminding myself why I loved this job so much. The satisfaction of helping others, the thrill of solving medical mysteries, the joy of seeing a child recover—these were the things that grounded me.

After my rounds, I headed to the break room, craving a moment of peace and a cup of coffee from the vending machine. The room was quiet, a rare respite in the hospital. I pressed the button and waited, the hum of the machine oddly soothing.

Then, it happened.

A scent, faint but unmistakable, wafted through the air. It was a scent I hadn’t encountered in years, one that sent a shiver down my spine and made my heart race. My wolf, Bridget, stirred within me, her voice urgent and insistent.

‘Mate! Mate!’

My coffee cup slipped from my hand, clattering to the floor, and the hot liquid splashed on my foot. I stood frozen, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and denial. It couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not after I had just gotten engaged.

‘Mate is here!’

I turned, scanning the room from the source of the scent, but it was empty. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing Bridget’s cry.

“Dr. Jasmine, are you okay?” One of the nurses, Carla, asked as she walked into the room. Concern was etched on her face.

“Yeah, I…I’m fine,” I stammered as I bent down to pick up pieces of my broken cup. “Just a little clumsy today.”

“Big night, hug?” she teased when she noticed the ring on my finger. “That’s amazing. Congratulations!”

“Thank you,” I managed to say with my mind still reeling.

“Uhm, wait on the side, please. We’ll just have this cleaned up.” Carla got into work, with me helping only a bit. Luckily, there was no damage to my feet. “There you go.”

“Thank you so much, Carla,” I said after she cleaned up everything.

“Do you need another cup?” she asked nicely.

“No need. Thank you. And I’m so sorry for taking much of your time. I know you’re busy,” I said apologetically.

“No need to apologize, Doc. This is like a break for me. I’d rather be in here than back in one of the patient’s rooms.” We laughed together before she left me alone with my thoughts.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The scent, the feeling. They couldn’t be real. It had to be some kind of mistake. However, Bridget’s certainty made it impossible to dismiss.

I left the break room, my senses on high alert. The scent was faint but lingering, teasing me with its familiarity. I followed it down the hallway, my heart racing with each step. It led me to the main lobby, where people bustled about, oblivious to my internal turmoil.

There, among the crowd, I caught a glimpse of a man. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair and a presence that commanded attention. My heart skipped a beat. Hope and dread flooded through me.