Chapter 39 Unclear vision
Jeremy's POV
I sat in my office. Alone.
The priest's words echoed in my mind.
"I cannot see a clear vision about her, Alpha.
It's like something shields her from my sight... Perhaps. Or perhaps something else entirely."
His eyes had been clouded. Uncertain. "I cannot say for certain. The vision is unclear."
Unclear.
Shields her.
What did that mean?
That's all I had. Uncertainty. Confusion.
Questions with no answers.
But one thing was clear.
When Lady Margaret touched me... my body
woke up.
Just like with Zoe.
The curse broke. My wolf came alive.
Everything worked again.
If this Margaret could make me wake up again like Zoe did...
Maybe the goddess had finally smiled at me.
Maybe she'd given me a second chance mate.
A second chance at breaking the curse.
I leaned back in my chair. Ran my hands through my hair.
If I missed this opportunity... I might never get another chance again.
This could be it. My last hope.
My only hope.
But Zoe...
I still felt the same way about her. Still mourned her death.
Every day. Every night.
Her face haunted me. Her last words. The sound of the gun.
"Just do it now, Jeremy."
I'd killed her. My own mate. The one person who could save me.
And now... another woman appeared. With the same power. The same effect.
Was this the goddess's mercy? Her forgiveness?
Or was it something else?
And Mia...
My chest tightened thinking about her.
Three years. She'd waited three years for me.
Loved me. Supported me. Stood by me.
Even knowing I couldn't give her what she deserved.
Even knowing my body didn't respond to her.
I couldn't help but think... I'd wasted her time.
All those years. All that waiting.
For nothing.
Because now... now there was someone else.
Someone who made me feel alive. Who broke the curse. Who my wolf called mate.
And it wasn't Mia.
"What do I do?" I asked the empty room.
No answer came.
I wasn't sure how to go about this yet. Wasn't sure what to say. What to choose.
But I knew one thing.
I needed to make a decision.
Soon.
Before I lost my chance. Before Lady Margaret left Lakewood.
Before everything fell apart again.
I stood up. Grabbed my cloak.
Made up my mind.
I needed to see her. To talk to her. To understand what this was.
What we were.
...
The inn was quiet when I arrived.
Evening had fallen. Most guests were at dinner or in their rooms.
"Alpha Jeremy." Thomas greeted me nervously.
"What brings you here?"
"Is Lady Margaret available?"
"I... I believe she's in her room. Would you like me to send for her?"
"Please."
Thomas nodded. Sent a maid upstairs.
A few minutes later, Lady Margaret came down.
She wore a simple green dress. Her hair loose. No mask tonight.
Just her. Beautiful. Elegant. Mysterious.
"Alpha Jeremy." She smiled. Surprised. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I apologize for the intrusion." I stepped forward. "I was wondering... would you join me for dinner?"
"Dinner?"
"Yes. There's a small restaurant nearby. Quiet.
Private." I hesitated. "I'd like to talk. If you're willing."
She studied me for a moment. Her green eyes searching.
Then she smiled. "I'd love to."
...
The restaurant was small. Cozy. Away from the main pack areas.
We sat at a corner table. Candles flickering between us.
Ordered food. Wine.
"Thank you for coming," I said.
"Thank you for inviting me." She sipped her wine. "Though I'm curious. What did you want to talk about?"
"You. Me. This... connection between us."
"Connection?" She tilted her head. Playing innocent.
"Don't pretend you don't feel it." I leaned forward. "Every time we touch. Every time we're near each other. You feel it too."
She was quiet for a moment.
Then nodded. "Yes. I feel it."
"What is it?"
"I don't know." She looked down at her wine.
"I've never felt anything like this before."
"Neither have I. Except..." I stopped.
"Except what?"
"Except once. With someone else." I met her eyes. "Someone I lost."
"The person you mentioned before. At the inn."
"Yes."
"Were you close?"
"We were mates." The word hurt to say.
"Chosen by the Moon Goddess. But I... I lost her."
"I'm sorry." Her voice was soft. Genuine. "That must be difficult."
"It is. Every day." I took a breath. "But then you appeared. And you make me feel... the same way she did."
"Is that good or bad?"
"I don't know." I admitted. "Part of me wants to run. To hide. To pretend this isn't happening."
"And the other part?"
"The other part wants to know more. Wants to understand. Wants..." I reached across the table. Touched her hand. "Wants this."
Heat flared where our skin met. Electric. Powerful. Undeniable.
She didn't pull away. Just looked at our joined hands.
"I'm engaged to be married," I said quietly. "To Mia. You've met her."
"I have."
"I don't love her. Not the way I should." The truth spilled out. "I've tried. For three years. But I can't. My wolf won't accept her. My body won't respond to her."
"Then why marry her?"
"Duty. Obligation. She's waited so long for me." I pulled my hand back. "But now... with you here... I don't know what to do."
"What do you want to do?"
I looked at her. Really looked at her.
"I want to know who you really are. I want to understand why you affect me this way." I leaned closer. "I want to know if the goddess sent you. Or if this is just cruel fate playing games."
She was quiet. Thinking.
Then she spoke. "What if I'm neither? What if I'm just... me?"
"Then who are you?"
"Someone searching for answers too." She smiled sadly. "Someone trying to figure out her place in this world."
We talked through dinner. About everything. About nothing.
The conversation flowed easily. Naturally.
She was smart. Funny. Engaging.
Everything I could want.
But something still felt... off. Hidden. Wrong.
Like she was wearing a mask even without the physical mask.
After dinner, I walked her back to the inn.
The night was cool. Clear. Stars bright above.
We reached the inn door. Stopped.
"Thank you for tonight," she said.
"Thank you for coming."
We stood there. Close. Too close.
I should leave. Should go home.
But I couldn't move.
And then...
From the shadows...
A voice.
"Jeremy?"
I turned.
Mia stood there. Twenty feet away.
Her face... heartbroken. Betrayed. Sad.
"Mia..." I started.
But she turned. Walked away fast.
"Mia, wait!"
I looked back at Margaret. "I'm sorry. I have to..."
"Go." She nodded. "She needs you."
I ran after Mia. Caught up to her down the street.
"Mia. Stop. Please."
She spun around. Tears on her face.
"Why did you go to dinner with her? Without me?" Her voice shook. "Why, Jeremy?"
"I needed to talk to her..."
"About what? What could you possibly need to talk to her about alone?"
"It's complicated..."
"Is it? Or is it simple?" She stepped closer. Angry now. "You like her. You want her. Just admit it."
"Mia..."
"Three years, Jeremy. Three years I've waited for you. Loved you. Stood by you." Tears fell faster. "And now some stranger shows up and you can't stop looking at her."
"It's not like that..."
"Then what is it like? Explain it to me. Make me understand." Her voice broke. "Because right now it feels like I'm losing you. And I don't know how to stop it."
I stood there. Silent.
Because she was right.
She was losing me.
To someone she thought was a stranger.
To someone who made my wolf howl and my curse break.
To someone who might be my only chance at a normal life.
And I didn't know how to stop it either.