Chapter 3 The Rising Storm

Standing before the mirror, Jessie's fingers outlined the new healed scars on her skin. Bruises and cuts, from constant torment by her pack, had subsided; however, the wounds emotionally ran deeper. Every day, she told herself the truth-that she wasn't that broken girl who had been rejected by her mate and wasn't even that weakling Vanessa tried to make her become.

But still, she had in her corner one much stronger-Lucas, her second-chance mate. A strong Alpha who looked at her for what she was, and not for what she lacked.

Of course, that didn't mean her nightmares had ceased to haunt her.

Whispers and sneers. it was all still echoed within her mind from her old pack: the cold, hollow look Cade had given her when he chose Vanessa over her, marking her sister as his Luna; Vanessa with her smug smile, the way she'd reveled in Jessie's suffering, almost as if every moment of Jessie's pain brought her some sick form of joy.

Jessie's knuckles whitened on the edge of the sink. She would not go back there-not to the pain, not to the rejection. Not to Cade.

But in fact, Vanessa had not let go. Already, word had spread through the territories that Jessie was now mated to Lucas, one of the most powerful Alphas in the region. And Vanessa was furious. Here she was with everything Jessie could ever have wanted-a mate, the Luna title-but even that wasn't enough. Vanessa wanted to be on top, always.

Now that Jessie had found her second mate, Lucas, jealousy at Vanessa burned hotter.

Vanessa stared through the office wall of Cade, curling up her lips as she read the reports from the scouts. It had barely been weeks since Jessie left after being brutally rebuffed, yet her stories about her life were spreading faster.

The outcast of the group now mated to the Alpha of one of the most formidable packs out there. The papers began to crumple in her hands as she tightened her grip on them.

"How could she have ended up with Lucas?" Vanessa spat, venom lacing her tone.

Cade looked up from his desk, his eyebrows furrowing. He hadn't spoken much about Jessie since the day of the rejection, but Vanessa knew that bond wasn't as severed as she'd like. Having marked Vanessa did nothing to diminish the connection Cade felt with Jessie.

"You're still thinking about her, aren't you?" Vanessa said sharply, her eyes narrowing on Cade. "Even now, with everything we have, she's still in your head.

Cade's jaw hard-set, but he said nothing. Vanessa's temper flared, her hands slapping down onto his desk. "You chose me. You made me your Luna. And now she's moved on with Lucas, a better mate than you'll ever be!"

Cade's eyes flashed, and a dangerous growl rumbled from his chest. "Enough.

Vanessa did not stop being angry. She stood tall, her eyes burning with fire. "I won't let her win, Cade-not after everything she's taken from me. I'll make her regret ever crossing me.".

She stood at the pack's training grounds and watched Lucas spar with his warriors. His movements were smooth, powerful, the sort of strength she could feel through the mate bond. It was a comfort, a sense of safety she hadn't known in years.

He looked up at her, his mouth tugging upwards in a smile. Jessie couldn't help it-she smiled back, and her heart lightened at just the sight of him. In him, she had found peace-something she never thought possible since Cade's betrayal.

But peace never lasted long.

Later that night, in the dimly lit office, they were together when a messenger came to deliver a message. He was puffing, obviously from running.

"Alpha, I bring news from the northern border. Cade's pack. Vanessa is spreading word that Jessie is undeserving of her new position."

Lucas's face darkened and the air around him thickened with power. Jessie straightened, her gut twisting.

"What did she say?" Lucas growled.

The messenger swallowed hard as his eyes darted to Jessie. "She says Jessie has no place being the mate of a powerful Alpha such as yourself. She's calling her weak and broken, saying if she can't handle her first mate, then how would she handle you?

Jessie's heart sank, her throat constricting. Vanessa's words-cutting, meant to dig into the scars Jessie had worked so hard to heal-hit their mark. The memories of Cade's rejection, of Vanessa's cruel laughter, all came rushing back in a torrent of pain.

But before the tears could surface, Lucas rose to his feet, his fists clenched at his sides, his presence like a storm, the air crackling with his rage.

Send word back to Cade's pack," he growled, low and deadly. "Tell Vanessa that Jessie is my mate, and any attack on her is an attack on me. She would do well to remember that."

The messenger nodded quickly, hurrying from the room.

Lucas turned to Jessie, his eyes softening at the hurt in her expression. He crossed the room in three strides, pulling her into his arms. "Don't listen to her. She's jealous. She's angry because she knows you have moved on to better. To someone better."

She closed her eyes, letting the heat from Lucas's hug seep into her bones. But even in his arms, part of her hurt-to hear Vanessa's words, to remember how she would never-ever-be able to outrun her past, no matter how far she ran.

Later that night, Jessie lay in bed next to Lucas, staring up at the ceiling. All the events of her day replayed themselves in her brain, over and over, until she just couldn't take it anymore. Carefully, she got out of bed and stepped out onto the balcony.

The cool night air hit her skin, and she inhaled deeply, trying to douse the storm of emotions that was inside her. But it was no use. Vanessa's words burrowed deep, opening up wounds she had thought had healed.

Jessie closed her eyes, leaning against the railing. The night was quiet, the pack house still. But far away, she could hear the faint howl of wolves-Cade's pack.

She didn't want to think about him, about what they once had. But no matter how hard she tried to forget, the thought of Cade lingered in her mind, like a ghost in every thought that crossed her mind.

"What are you doing out here?"

The sound of Lucas's voice startled her, and turning, she found him standing in the doorway, his eyes pegged with concern. Jessie forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I couldn't sleep, she whispered.

Lucas stepped out onto the balcony, wrapping his arms around her from behind. His chin lay on her shoulder, and Jessie leaned into him, finding solace in his touch.

"I know today was rough, Lucas whispered. "But you are so much stronger than that, Jessie. What Vanessa said doesn't give you value. You are more important than what she says you are."

Jessie nodded, her heart still sore. "I just. I don't want to be weak anymore."

"You're not weak," Lucas whispered, his lips grazing her ear. "You've survived things that would have broken most people. And now you're with me. I'll never let anyone hurt you again.

Jessie turned in his arms, her eyes meeting his. There was something in his gaze, something that made her feel like she finally could breathe again. She reached up, cupping his face in her hands as her heart started to pound in her chest.

"I love you," she whispered; the words slipped out before she could catch them.

Lucas's eyes gentled and he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. At first, it was a soft kiss, tender and slow, but rapidly grew in intensity as his arms drew her close, clinging tightly to her.