Chapter 43 She's on my bed
Jeremy's POV
I sat at a corner after I watched her leave. Alone in the dark.
Margaret had pushed me away. At the center of the hall. I don't know if people saw, but I'm sure a few around would have.
The rejection hurt. More than I wanted to admit.
I pulled something from my pocket. Small. Cold. Metal.
An earring.
Tiny. Simple. Just a small silver hoop.
I'd looked at this every night my wolf missed her.
It was the only thing I had of her.
Of Zoe.
It had dropped in the dungeon from her ear, I guessed. I saw it on her the first day she was brought before me after she was caught trying to shoot me. And I still saw it on her before the execution.
After she died... after I disposed of her body... I couldn't stop going back there.
To the dungeon. To the place where I'd condemned her.
I'd go there to cry. Whenever I felt a part of me missing my mate.
Whenever the guilt became too much.
One day, I saw it on the floor. Just lying there in the corner.
A tiny little earring. Nothing special. Nothing expensive.
But it was all I had. All I needed.
The only piece of her left in this world.
I kept it with me. Always. In my pocket. Close to my heart.
A reminder. Of what I'd lost. Of what I'd destroyed.
Mia had seen it on my desk the other day. Started asking questions
"Whose is this, Jeremy? This earring. It's not mine. Whose is it?"
I'd panicked. Lied.
"It's my little sister's. She came over and complained of itching and removed it, she forgot it."
Mia had looked suspicious. But she'd accepted it. Eventually.
Because what else could she think? That I kept a memento of the woman I killed?
I held the earring up to the light. It glinted. Small. Insignificant.
But to me... it was everything.
"I'm sorry, Zoe," I whispered. "I'm so sorry."
My wolf stirred. Sad. Broken.
MATE. LOST MATE.
"I know." I closed my fist around the earring. "I know I lost her. I killed her."
But now there was Margaret. Who felt the same. Who made the curse break.
Was she the goddess's forgiveness? Or punishment?
I didn't know anymore.
I put the earring back in my pocket. Stood up.
I needed a drink. Maybe several drinks.
Needed to forget. To numb the pain. To stop thinking.
...
The pack celebration was still going. Music. Dancing. Laughter.
I went straight to the bar. Ordered whiskey.
"Alpha, are you sure..." The bartender started.
"Just pour."
He poured. I drank. Fast. Hard.
Ordered another. And another.
The world started blurring. Softening. Getting easier.
"Jeremy?" Someone touched my shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Mia. Her voice. Her perfume.
"I'm fine." My words slurred slightly.
"You're not fine. You're drunk."
"Not drunk enough." I ordered another drink.
"Jeremy, please. Let me take you home."
"Don't wanna go home."
"You need to rest. Come on." She pulled gently.
"Let's go."
I let her lead me. Through the crowd. Out of the celebration.
The cool air hit my face. Made everything spin more.
"Woah..." I stumbled.
"I've got you." Mia wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "Just a few more steps."
We walked. Slow. Unsteady.
To the pack house. Up the stairs. Down the hallway.
To my room.
"Here we go." She opened the door. Led me inside.
I collapsed on the bed. The room spinning. Tilting.
"Sleep it off, Jeremy." Mia's voice sounded far away. "You'll feel better in the morning."
I closed my eyes. Everything went dark.
...
I felt hands. Touching me. Unbuttoning my shirt.
"Wha..." I tried to speak. Couldn't.
My body was heavy. Unresponsive. Trapped.
More movement. Someone moving around me.
Then... warmth. A body pressed against mine.
Skin against skin.
I tried to open my eyes. Couldn't. Too heavy.
Too tired.
Tried to push away. Couldn't move.
Everything faded. Slipped away.
Into darkness. Into nothing.
...
Morning light hit my face. Bright. Painful.
I groaned. Opened my eyes slowly.
My head pounded. My mouth was dry.
Everything hurt.
Where was I?
My room. I was in my room. In my bed.
But something was wrong.
I felt... weight. On my arm. Warmth.
I turned my head. Slowly. Carefully.
And froze.
Mia.
Lying next to me. Her head on my arm. Her body pressed against mine.
Naked.
She was completely naked.
And so was I.
"What..." My voice came out rough. Confused.
What happened? How did she...?
I tried to remember. Tried to think.
The celebration. The drinks. Mia helping me to my room.
Then... nothing. Blank. Gone.
Did we...?
No. I would remember. I would feel it.
Wouldn't I?
My wolf was silent. Confused. As lost as I was.
I started to sit up. Carefully. Trying not to wake Mia.
But movement at the door caught my eye.
I looked up.
And my heart stopped.
Margaret.
Standing in the doorway. Staring at us.
At me. At Mia. At the scene.
Her face... shocked. Hurt. Betrayed.
Her green eyes wide. Her mouth slightly open.
Taking it all in.
Me in bed. Naked. With Mia sleeping on my arm.
"Margaret..." I started.
But she just stood there.
Staring.