I’ve always convinced myself that I wouldn’t find my mate.
A part of me has come to terms with the fact that I might never experience those sparks, or have the chance to spend my life with someone who was made just for me.
And I certainly never imagined my mate would be an Alpha.
Especially not the Alpha of Devotion.
But there’s no denying what’s happening now. Jasper’s hands cradle my face, his lips meet mine… Sparks fly, and a voice in my head is shouting.
I freeze, trying to comprehend the sensation. Sparks are something I can’t describe. They radiate from his hands, through his lips, and spread across my body, making my limbs weak.
I surrender to the sensation. The tiny jolts, like electricity, are almost soothing, but at the same time, they stir something within me.
Instinctively, I start to kiss him back. It catches the part of me that’s in control off guard, but I ignore it when it tries to resist.
The feel of Jasper’s lips, pressing insistently against mine, elicits a response from me.
His hands move to the back of my head, tangling in my hair, pulling me closer to him, until I’m pressed against his chest, my arms struggling to support me despite being weakened by the sensation of my mate.
It feels like he’s taken my breath away as he gently slides his tongue into my mouth, captivating me in a way only he can.
My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts, trying to make sense of everything, but I can’t. All I want is to rip Jasper’s shirt off and touch every inch of his skin that I haven’t been able to before.
Jasper seems to understand. Or maybe he’s reading my mind and seeing the desire burning there.
It’s intoxicating as I lift my arms, Jasper pulling my shirt up and over my head, as we break our kiss just long enough to do so.
His hands are everywhere, and so are mine. While I run my fingers through his silky black hair, he lets his drift across my bare back, his soft fingertips caressing my skin.
This intoxicating mix of his touch and taste is almost painful, my heart aching from the onslaught of emotions.
I shudder under his touch, but something is creeping into the back of my mind, wrapping around every thought of optimism and desire …
Darkness.
It’s like the shadows that appear whenever Jasper uses his magic.
But these don’t stay; they burrow deeper into my mind, jolting me with a harsh dose of reality that this time, isn’t masked by Jasper’s touch or kisses.
With a forceful push, I shove at Jasper’s chest, causing him to pull back in surprise.
There was no surprise there, which means he’s probably known for a while.
I’m not about to let him off the hook without letting him know how angry I am.
“How could you,” I snap, wishing I could wipe that look of confusion off his face. “You... You...”
“I what?” he asks. “What did I do?”
I clench my jaw, anger surging within me. The way he leans back so casually, watching me with an amused expression is infuriating.
How could he just kiss me out of the blue like that? Reveal that we are mates so far into this... ‘kind of platonic but not really a relationship’?
“You liar!”
He tilts his head, his eyebrows furrowing, despite the half-smile on his face. “When did I lie to you, Thea?”
“You didn’t tell me we are mates... You’ve talked about having one, and all that, yet you didn’t tell me?” I growl, my voice still raised, as adrenaline courses through my veins.
Maybe if he wasn’t an Alpha, I would strangle him... or... something.
“I didn’t lie. Did I ever mention a girl who isn’t my mate? Did you ever ask me if we were mates, and I said no?
“So, I guess I didn’t actually lie, did I?” Jasper says it so smugly it makes me scowl even harder at him.
“No,” I admit. “But you still kept this from me...”
“I didn’t lie though...”
“Well, I get that now. I just hate you for keeping it from me,” I tell him. As I say those words, I notice Jasper’s eyes aren’t on mine, but have drifted down my neck, to my chest.
When I look down, I realize my shirt is missing, seeing it discarded on the couch, on the other side of Jasper. Great …
Quickly, I cover my chest with my arms. “What were you planning to do back there anyway?”
Jasper doesn’t respond for a few moments, instead he communicates with his eyes.
“Well,” he says carefully. “I was planning on making love to you.”
I narrow my eyes at him, and glance over to the other side of the couch, where my shirt lies. If I want to grab it, I’ll have to lean over him.
He follows my gaze, noticing how I’m not responding to his comment that, admittedly, sent a shiver down to my core.
“Want this?” he asks, holding up the shirt. I look at it, then down at my chest, which aside from my bra, is showing too much skin.
“Yes,” I say, through gritted teeth.
“Then come get it,” he challenges, his voice full of defiance.
At over 400 years old, you’d think he’d act more mature. But no, he’s not taking this seriously. Why can’t we have a grown-up conversation about this instead of acting like a couple of love-struck teenagers?
“Fine,” I grumble, my words barely audible. I lean on one arm, reaching across Jasper’s body with the other, trying to snatch the shirt he’s holding.
My cheeks heat up as my half-naked body presses against his fully clothed one. Why don’t I just take his shirt off and save myself the embarrassment?
“You’re so beautiful,” Jasper murmurs, his voice low and intimate. I turn my head to look at him, giving him a full view of my flushed cheeks.
I manage to take the shirt from his hand after he loosens his grip. If I stay this close to him any longer, I might fall under his spell and kiss him again. Then his earlier comment might come true, and my curiosity would be satisfied.
The moment I sit back on the couch, I realize he’s been using magic on me.
My body sinks into the cushions, all my anger evaporating. I’m left with a giddy sense of happiness.
Jasper’s hand lands on my thigh, and a wave of calm washes over me. I jerk away, trying to stop it.
“You can’t just use magic on me like that,” I snap, searching for some anger to throw at him. But it’s gone, vanished into thin air.
I make a mental note to bring it up later, when he can’t touch me to calm me down.
He gives me a soft smile. “But you’re my mate.”
I run a hand down my face, taking a deep, slow breath.
“Look, I’m going to die tomorrow... because of this,” I say, pointing to my thigh after I pull my shirt back on. It hasn’t been bothering me, thanks to all the distractions Jasper has provided.
At least I have something to thank him for.
He looks at my thigh, which is covered. “I had to tell you before that.”
“I just need some time,” I say, standing up. Jasper’s face falls, and I want to tell him he should have seen this coming. He’s thrown this at me, and now I need some time to regain my composure.
I get to my feet.
My mate is an Alpha …
Despite Jasper’s magic, I find it hard to believe.
“I understand,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper, as he stands up too. “I’ll give you time.”
“Until tomorrow. Once you turn me into a Phantom, we’ll talk about this again.”
The water trembles slightly as the last drop falls from the tap before Malik turns it off.
Who knew a bathtub full of water could be so terrifying?
This is it... the moment where my life ends forever, and Jasper brings me back as a walking, heartless being.
If I hadn’t found out he was my mate, I might be more apprehensive about this. But at least now I know he’ll bring me back.
“It’s going to be okay,” Jasper whispers in my ear, and it does make me feel a little better.
The thought of being held underwater until I drown doesn’t seem as daunting with my mate behind me. What am I thinking? Clearly, I’m not...
I’ll worry about it when I wake up.
Jasper helps me into the bath. The water is warm, soaking my clothes and my skin. I sink into the silky water. Malik stands at the bathroom door, looking nervous.
He’s obviously not used to witnessing death. But as an Alpha, he has to be there, to watch.
“What if this goes wrong?” I ask, holding Jasper’s gaze as he kneels beside the tub.
A wave of fear washes over me as doubts creep into my thoughts.
No matter how hard I try to convince myself that everything will be okay, the dark thoughts keep coming back, and my rash starts itching again.
It’s bad. It’s almost covered my entire leg, and I know if we don’t do this, I’ll face a more painful death that Jasper can’t save me from.
“Trust me,” Jasper says gently. “I’ll be here the whole time, okay?”
I nod, letting go of his hand. His jaw is clenched, and despite his reassurances, I can tell he’s worried. He’s the one ending my life, after all, and it’s clearly taking a toll on him.
In the end, it’s my decision. I lean back slightly, dipping my shoulders under the water, my head just above the surface.
Jasper places his hands on my shoulders, his expression grim. When I look at him, he tries to look more optimistic, but I can see the worry in his eyes.
Pushing all thoughts out of my mind, I wonder if I should take a breath …
“I love you,” Jasper whispers, and before I can respond, he pushes my shoulders under the water, submerging me completely.
