Chapter 47

(Jesse’s POV)

I pace the room, wringing my sweaty hands as my heart feels like it might just claw its way out of my chest. For a second, my desperation leads me to think I should have gone along with Layla’s manipulation…claimed her and the child as mine. But the betrayal is just too deep.

All this shit with Isabella didn’t just lose me her pack and assets, but also my own pack. They don’t respect me. I cheated on and tortured my mate. They all judge me for it.

There are rumblings of challengers coming my way. If I had an heir, the pack would be forced to respect me. A legacy born would be even better.

What I really need is the Healing Gem. If I could find it, I’d be able to sire an heir. What I need is to get Isabella back. The packs love her, and our child would be the quintessential legacy alpha-born heir.

No one dares to look at an Alpha in the eye. When one walks through, all eyes set firm to the ground with heads bowed in submission. I walk out and several groups of warrior Gammas stare me down. Challenges are going to start sooner rather than later.

I order four dozen red roses and send them to Isabella with a note:

My Darling, Isabella,

Three dozen roses for three blissful years of marriage, plus a dozen to show you how very sorry I am. We were fated for a reason. I know I have made mistakes; I see the error of my ways.

Let’s meet up and talk things out.

With All My Love,

Jesse

My phone dings, notifying me that I have an email. I hurry to open it to find it's from Isabella.

Jesse,

I received your roses. I want nothing to do with you. We are not fated any longer. Never contact me again.

I am your ex-wife/ex-mate, and nothing will ever change that.

Isabella

I text her: Bella, I won’t take no for an answer. Let me buy you a coffee, and we can talk.

She types back: You may NOT call me Bella! And, No.

I text her five more times and call her about a dozen.

She’s stopped replying, just leaves me on read.

I go to Santiago’s pack territory and tell the guards that I have a date with Isabella. They call her to come meet me.

“How dare you fucking lie to these guards!” she screams as she walks my way.

“It was the only way I could make you talk to me,” I say.

Once she is close enough to grab, I take her arm and try to lead her away.

She pulls back hard, forcing me to lose my grip on her.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Santiago approaching from the courtyard. She is only rejecting me because of him. If he thinks we are reconciling, then he will distance himself.

I grab her from behind, spin her around to face me and kiss her. I need to it to look good for our audience. I force my tongue in her mouth and grab her ass.

She tries to pull back but I won’t let her.

I hear Santiago growl from the gate. My work here is done. I smile and gently release her.

“I love you.” I tell her. “I never should have let you go. I know that now.”

(Santiago’s POV)

The moment I see Jesse’s mouth and hands on Bella, a sword might as well pierce me between my ribs.

My brows furrow. She pushes him away but perhaps she knew I was here. He certainly seems to…

She’s scowling when she pulls back. It could all be mate manipulation. It feels like the situation with Layla.

My wolf growls in my mind.

“Don’t be stupid. We saw that asshole force himself on her!” my wolf yells.

“Know, we saw a kiss. Details aren’t available. I’m cutting ties with her.”

“She’s our second chance mate you idiot!”

“No. She’s not. Mates are a distraction.”

The sound of Jesse grunting pulls me out of the conversation with my wolf and my thoughts entirely.

I look up and he’s doubled over. I cock my head. She punched him in the stomach?

“The answer is no, Jesse! How can you think any of this is okay?”

“I am sorry, baby, for everything I put you through. I was wrong…so wrong. Please give me another chance.”

Tears build up in her flushed face as she shakes her head. “No. I don’t care if you are sorry. You lost the right to call me baby a long damn time ago. You don’t get a second chance after all the atrocities you have put me through! Fuck you!”

She storms back inside the gate, right by me, like she didn’t even know I am standing here.

Jesse dares to step up to me. “She’s my mate. Mine. And we are getting back together.”

He acts like he might punch me.

I stand up to my full height, unflinching.

He thinks better of it and takes off, screaming obscenities at me as if I did something wrong.

I roll my eyes and go back inside.

Bella’s waiting for me outside my study. By the moon goddess, this woman is beautiful Her hair is down, parted down the middle, framing her olive complexion. Her chocolate brown eyes hold tears that have me resisting the urge to kiss away.

“I didn’t invite him here,” she says.

I shrug, “Okay,” I say coldly. “It doesn’t matter.”

Her eyes widen like she’s surprised.

“We aren’t getting back together, Santiago,” she says.

“It’s none of my business if you are,” I say. “I just advise you to wait if that’s the plan until we reach the end of our contract.”

“The contract is all you’re worried about?” she asks.

“Of course,” I say.

“Of course,” she repeats as her face contorts into a contemplative frown.

“Exactly, we have resolved your pack issues. Once we solve my going feral state then we can cut ties completely. In fact…” I stop as the words I am about to say sting my soul. “I haven’t had a feral episode in quite a while, so you could go back to Ariana’s if you really wanted to,” I say.

She turns and leaves without another word.

“You are so fucking stupid!” my wolf growls.

“Why?”

“There is manipulation afoot, Santiago, but not from Isabella.”

“She’s using me,” I say. “I have decided cutting ties is for the best.”

“Jesse wants that Healing Gem! He needs Bella to get it. Think about this, Santiago! He’s unable to take over her pack and his doesn’t trust his judgement or strength anymore. He’s becoming increasingly isolated.”

“So what,” I say.

“At this point, the only way his pack will respect him is if he has a legacy alpha-born heir. He needs Bella for the Healing Gem to cure his infertility, then he wants to impregnate her.”

I growl at the thought of her carrying his pup.

“Santiago, she firmly rejected him. He is pursuing her…relentlessly. Did you see her face? She looked genuinely hurt by his repeated advances and embarrassed. He has put that woman…our woman through hell.”

I shake my head. “No, She may be manipulating me the way Layla had. We can’t afford to make the same mistake.”

“Our mate is nothing like that two-timing whore,” he growls.