Chapter 11: The Choice He Made

When Jason came to her cabin that night, he felt it immediately. Something had changed. He could not name it. Julia still looked fragile—pale skin stretched thin over sharp cheekbones, dark circles beneath her eyes. She looked smaller somehow. Frailer. As if the wind could knock her over. But that wasn’t what unsettled him. It was the stillness. The Julia he had known for three years—soft, warm, quietly devoted—was gone. Even in her sadness, she used to react. Used to ache visibly. Used to look at him with something—love, longing, hurt. Now there was only quiet. And it made him uneasy. Inside his mind, his wolf growled low. This is your fault. You are hurting our mate. Jason clenched his jaw. “I have told you many times,” he replied internally. “We need Willow for the alliance. Our pack needs a strong luna. A stable future. The pack will never accept Julia as luna. If she would just accept our situation, she would be better.” His wolf’s presence pressed against him. Would you accept it if it were reversed? Jason stilled. If Julia had chosen another alpha for duty—if she bonded and mated with another male for “the pack”—would he endure it? Would he adjust? Would he survive watching another male touch her? The answer rose instantly in his chest. No. He would burn the world down. He would tear apart any male who dared claim what was his. But Julia… Julia was an omega. Her life had always required acceptance. Acceptance of hierarchy. Acceptance of commands. Acceptance of situations beyond her control. So why couldn’t she accept this? He pushed the thought away and looked at her again. “Julia,” he said firmly. “You have to stop this.” She did not respond. “This is my final warning,” he continued, his voice sharpening. “Tomorrow, Willow and I will leave to visit her family. We will return the following day.” He stepped closer. “If you are still neglecting yourself when I return… if you are still not back to the Julia I know… I will take you to the healer myself. Do you understand me?” A hint of alpha power laced his tone. Subtle. But unmistakable. Julia remained motionless. “Look at me when I am speaking to you,” Jason commanded, this time allowing more authority to bleed into his voice. “And answer me.” The alpha power rolled through the small cabin. Julia’s body reacted before her mind could resist. Her head lifted against her will. Her eyes met his. “Understood, Alpha,” she said through gritted teeth. The title stung him. “Why do you keep doing this?” he demanded. “I am your mate. At least when we are alone, you should call me that. I’ve told you many times—what I have with Willow is for the pack.” He reached out and gently held her face. He did love her. That had never changed. But he was alpha first. Duty before desire. The pack before personal happiness. This was the best compromise he could offer. He could not reject her. He will not reject her. His wolf would never allow it. And he would kill anyone who helped her leave. His beta had orders to remain in the territory while he was gone. Kirk would monitor her condition. If she worsened, Kirk would take her to the healer immediately. If necessary, the healer would restrain her. Medicate her. Stabilize her. He would force her to recover if that was what it took. He would not lose her. Not even to her own despair. Julia’s voice broke into his thoughts. “What will you do,” she asked quietly, “if the luna and I are with pup at the same time?” Jason froze. The question struck deeper than she could know. “Who will you stay beside?” she continued. “Who will you give your energy to? Will you sacrifice my pup for the pack the same way you are sacrificing me?” Silence filled the room. For a brief, unguarded second, his expression faltered. A pup with Julia. He had imagined it once. Her carrying his true heir. Their child. But— The pack would never accept it. An omega-born heir? Unthinkable. The stability he was trying to build would crumble. He opened his mouth. No words came. “You don’t have to answer, Alpha,” Julia said softly, looking away. “I already know.” Her certainty unsettled him. “Julia,” he said more quietly. “I admit I cannot give you the life you deserve. I cannot publicly recognize you as my mate. But you must understand—this is for the pack.” He swallowed. “My pup with Willow will be the only heir this pack accepts.” The words felt heavier than he expected. “When I return,” he continued, “we will see the healer.” Julia’s brows knit faintly. “We will remove your womb,” he said plainly. “We cannot risk you becoming pregnant. Willow will not tolerate that.” The cabin seemed to grow colder. “I understand, Alpha,” Julia answered calmly. Too calmly. He mistook it for submission. For acceptance. Relief eased into his chest. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We can be happy again,” he murmured. “If you accept what is. Forget what will never be.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “When I return, I expect to see my mate again. The one who loves me. The one I miss.” He lingered a moment longer. Then he left. The door closed behind him. The silence that followed felt different. Heavier. But steadier. Julia remained seated for a long time. Her hand slowly moved to her abdomen. Remove your womb. The words echoed. f she had not gone to the healer. If she had not known. If she had waited— He would have stolen her last choice. She inhaled slowly. Tomorrow. He and Willow would leave in the morning. They would return the following day. If she waited too long, he would bond with Willow again by evening. The betrayal pain would surge stronger. She and her wolf would weaken further. They needed every ounce of strength for what was coming. Inside her mind, her wolf stirred. We do it tomorrow afternoon, Julia said quietly. Her wolf nodded. When they are far enough away. The rejection would be violent. It would hurt. It might break her. But staying would destroy her anyway. She stood slowly and began gathering what little she owned. Clothes. A small pouch of coins she had secretly saved. A thin blanket. The healer’s herbs for strengthening pregnancy. Each movement was deliberate. Careful. She would leave before sunset. Before the bond could flare again. Before he returned to her bed and called it love. Her heart ached. She still loved him. That was the cruelest truth of all. The bond still lingers. But love was no longer worth her life. And it was certainly not worth her pup’s. Julia tied the small bundle tightly. Tomorrow. She would choose survival. Even if it meant tearing the bond apart.