Fated Luna

Chapter 10 – Without a doubt

Alyssa



I shifted in my seat, glancing over at Jake as he focused on the road. The quiet inside the car was starting to make me anxious, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Where are we going, Professor Thomson?” I asked impatiently. “I need to go home. Aunt Jane is waiting for me, and I have a ton of homework to finish. Plus, I need to study for my quizzes.”

Jake turned to me, flashing a quick smile before looking back at the road. “We’re just going to have dinner, and then I’ll take you home,” he replied smoothly.

I sighed, shaking my head. “No, I really need to go home. I can’t stay out late.”

Jake glanced at me again, his expression turning more serious. “You still don’t feel it, do you?”

“Feel what?” I asked, confused by the question.

“The bond,” he said, his tone softer. “We’re mates, Alyssa. What is your wolf telling you about us?”

His words took me by surprise, and I stared at him for a moment, my heart suddenly heavy. I hadn’t thought about my wolf, Amy, in a long time.

Ever since I caught Tom cheating on me, Amy had been... quiet. It was like she had disappeared, gone into hiding, as if she didn’t want to deal with the heartbreak either.

I turned away, staring out of the window as I tried to avoid Jake’s eyes. “Nothing,” I muttered, not knowing what else to say.

Jake let out a deep sigh, the sound filling the car. “Jerome, my wolf, is eager to mate with Amy again,” he said, his voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place.

I froze at his words. Amy? He knew my wolf’s name? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I didn’t even remember telling him her name, let alone... I rubbed my temple, feeling the tension build in my head. “I don’t remember us... you know, doing that.”

Jake chuckled lightly, but there was a seriousness in his voice when he spoke again. “You were pretty drunk that night. But our wolves weren’t. They mated, Alyssa. It was... it was real.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I squeezed my hands together, trying to process what he was saying. “But Tom and I... we never...”

Jake glanced at me, his smile returning. “I know,” he said. “I’m happy about that. Even though you were with him for a long time, you two never mated.”

I felt a sudden rush of heat to my cheeks. It was true. Tom and I had been together for years, but I always wanted to wait until we got married. Looking back now, maybe that’s why he cheated. “Maybe that’s the reason,” I muttered, more to myself than to Jake.

Jake frowned, clearly hearing me. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe that’s why Tom cheated on me with Elvie,” I said bitterly. “Because I kept putting it off.”

Jake was quiet for a moment, and I could feel his eyes on me. “Did you and your wolf ever feel like mating with Tom and his wolf?”

I shook my head without hesitation. “No. I always thought it was better to wait until after we got married.”

Jake sighed, but it wasn’t in frustration—it was more like understanding. “That’s because Amy didn’t want to mate with Tom. He wasn’t your fated mate, Alyssa. When Jerome and Amy saw each other, they didn’t have any doubt. That’s why they mated instantly.”

I could feel my face turning even redder. The way Jake kept saying “mated” made my chest tighten. I didn’t know how to respond. All I could think about was how complicated everything had become since that night.

“I’m not ready to get pregnant,” I said suddenly, my voice cracking with worry. “I have to finish my studies first. I can’t...”

Jake reached over and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. I controlled myself that night,” he said softly. “You’re not pregnant.”

Relief flooded through me, and I let out a long sigh. “Thank you,” I whispered, my heart still racing from the conversation. I stared out of the window, trying to calm my thoughts.

We were driving through a park now, the trees lining the road casting long shadows. A human-made lake came into view, its surface shimmering under the light from a nearby restaurant. I hadn’t noticed where we were until Jake slowed the car and parked in front of the building.

“My friend owns this place,” Jake said as he turned off the engine.

I blinked in surprise, looking around. The area was beautiful, peaceful in a way that made me feel like we were in another world. “It’s... stunning,” I said softly, still taking it all in.

Jake got out of the car and walked around to open my door. He held out his hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, I took it, stepping out of the car.

As soon as my hand touched his, a familiar warmth spread through me, the bond between us pulsing gently in the background. It was hard to ignore.

We walked towards the restaurant, hand in hand. I glanced around nervously, worried that someone might see us together. But before I could voice my concerns, Jake squeezed my hand and spoke as if reading my mind.

“There’s no one here. The place is closed for the night.”

I relaxed a little at that, feeling silly for worrying. As we entered the restaurant, a man about Jake’s age came into view. He was tall, handsome, and had a smile that instantly put me at ease.

“Well, well,” he said, grinning at Jake. “I didn’t know you’d found your mate.”

I blushed furiously, pulling my hand away from Jake’s as quickly as I could. I wasn’t ready to deal with any public attention about this. Jake, however, just laughed, clearly amused by my reaction.

The man gave me a friendly nod, but I could still feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I wasn’t sure how to handle this new part of my life—this connection with Jake, this bond between our wolves. Everything was changing so quickly, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for any of it.