44- accept me

Rosie

I knew what I saw before I fainted. A wolf saved me.

The wolf who was Jude.

Jude was the wolf.

There was no need for someone to tell me that the wolf who’d come after me and saved me was Jude. Because they had the same golden irises I knew so well—the ones I tried to convince myself I was imagining, that my brain was playing tricks on me.

The wolf was magnificent, precise, and beautiful. The silver fur had shimmered under the moonlight, catching the light like glitter. And even though I was on the verge of death, careening toward the bridge’s edge with my sister’s hands on the wheel, I felt ease wash over me the moment I saw him.

Because he was there. He was there for me. He was there to save me.

And when the wolf hit the car with the full force of its body, the entire vehicle rattled so violently that Sophia cursed repeatedly under her breath, her grip on the steering wheel faltering for just a moment.

That was when I stopped fighting her for control of the wheel; I unlocked the door and jumped out because I had it fixed in my mind—he’d save me. He’d not let anything happen to me.

And I was right because he really did save me.

***

I blinked my eyes open, staring at a white ceiling, and blinked again in confusion. The fluorescent lights were so bright that they made me squint my eyes.

I was in the hospital. An IV was attached to my hand, the tape itching against my skin. I looked around the room slowly, my head pounding with every small movement, and noticed I was alone.

No Jude, no Maya, no one.

I groaned and sat up carefully, my body protesting every movement. Everything hurt—my ribs, my head, and my arms where I fought with Sophia. But I needed to find Jude, and I needed to see him.

I stood up from the bed, grabbing the IV pole and wheeling it along with me as I shuffled toward the door. When I opened it, I saw him immediately.

Jude was sitting in a chair outside my room, his head in his hands, and he looked like he hadn’t slept at all—his hair was messy, his clothes wrinkled, and red rims were under his eyes.

His head whipped toward me at the sound of the door opening; for a moment, our eyes met, and then he quickly turned away, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“You’re awake?” He said gruffly, still not looking directly at me.

“Yes.” I smiled and nodded my head but grimaced at the end because of the sudden sharp pain in my head.

He jolted up, walked closer to me, but stopped a few feet away, maintaining distance. “You’re not supposed to be moving around right now,” he said, and his voice was strained with worry.

He looked skittish and jumpy. So unlike him.

What did he think I was going to say?

“Come in,” I said softly, turning to shuffle back toward the bed.

“Let me go call the doctor,” he said quickly, already backing away.

“Wait, Jude.” I reached out and grabbed his arm, and he stilled, his entire body tensed under my touch, shoulders going rigid. “How is your rib?”

I asked because I didn’t think he should be standing yet—I heard the cracking sound last night when he hit the car, protecting me.

He flinched. “It’s—it’s fine.”

“Jude.” I squeezed his arm gently. “There’s no need to feel nervous. I won’t reject you or scream or run away screaming up the mountain.” I paused, then added with a small smile, “Although the thought of having a werewolf boyfriend is pretty exhilarating and exciting.”

I could see his shoulders visibly relax, some of the tension bleeding out of him.

“Though I’m quite disappointed, actually,” I continued, trying to lighten the mood. “I thought you’d be an alien with all my calculations and theories. But a werewolf boyfriend is better, I suppose.”

As soon as the words tumbled out of my mouth, he moved and pulled me into his arms so fast I gasped, and he buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply like he was trying to memorize my scent. His arms wrapped around me carefully, mindful of my injuries, but holding me like I was the most precious thing in the world.

“Thank you,” he whispered into my hair, his voice rough with emotion. “Thank you for accepting me.”

I patted his back gently, feeling him tremble slightly against me. “Of course I accept you, you idiot. You saved my life. You’re my boyfriend. Wolf or not, you’re still Jude.”

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his amber eyes flashing golden as they searched my face as if he was looking for any sign of fear or disgust. When he found none, he smiled brightly. His face could light up a room.

“There’s more,” he said softly, guiding me back to sit on the hospital bed, and he sat beside me, taking my hand in his. “Things I need to tell you. About what it means that I’m a werewolf and about what you are to me.”

I nodded, squeezing his hand encouragingly.

“In my world, the wolf world, there’s something called mates,” he began, his thumb rubbing circles on my palm. “It’s... it’s like soulmates, but it’s deeper and stronger. The Moon Goddess—the wolf god—pairs wolves with their perfect match, the one person in the entire world meant for them. And when you meet your mate, you just know.”

My heart started beating faster. “And?”

“You’re my mate, Rosie.” His eyes were intense, golden, and earnest. “You’ve been my mate since the moment I touched you on Christmas Eve. That’s why I couldn’t stay away from you, why being near you feels like coming home, and why the thought of you in danger makes me lose my mind.”

I stared at him, processing. “So... we’re soulmates? Like, destined?” I said slowly. So I wasn’t crazy when I felt electricity or a spark within me whenever we touched and how I quickly liked Jude.

“Yes.” He looked nervous again. “I know it’s a lot to take in, and I’m sorry I hid it from you. Humans aren’t that welcoming with the idea of what they don’t understand.”

I hummed, “I understand.” and he kissed my palm.

“Also, I’m the alpha’s son,” he added sheepishly. “So technically you’re going to be a luna one day, the heart of our pack.”

I blinked repeatedly. “I’m sorry, what?” I tilted my head in confusion.

“We’ll ease you into it,” he said quickly. “No pressure.”

I shook my head, smiling despite everything. “My life has gotten so weird.”

“But you’re okay with it?” His voice was hopeful and vulnerable.

“I’m okay with it,” I confirmed, then a thought came back, “Wait—your rib! You broke your rib saving me. Should you even be sitting up?”

He lifted his shirt to show me his side, which had completely healed. No bruising, no swelling, just smooth skin and muscle. “Werewolves have insane healing abilities,” he explained. “What would take a human a week to heal takes hours for us.”

“That’s... actually really convenient,” I admitted.

He grinned and pulled me closer, wrapping me in a cocoon of his warmth. Then he kissed me—slow, savoring the moment between us.

The door burst open, and we broke apart to see Maya and River limping in. River’s leg was bandaged, and Maya looked exhausted but relieved.

I knew immediately they were the other two wolves running beside Jude last night.

“River, Maya—thank you,” I said earnestly. “Thank you for saving me.”

“That’s what family does,” Maya said with a tired smile, coming over to hug me carefully. “Welcome to the pack, future sister-in-law.”

“Maya,” Jude groaned.

“What? It’s true!” She grinned at me. “You’re stuck with us now.”

River gave me a small salute. “Glad you’re okay. And glad you didn’t freak out about the whole werewolf thing. That could’ve gone badly.”

We joked around for a bit, the tension easing as we all just existed together—alive and safe and whole despite everything.

Eventually Maya and River left to let me rest, promising to visit again soon. A few minutes later, there was a tentative knock on the door.

Josh entered, looking haggard and ashamed. His jaw was bandaged—probably from where Jude had ripped out his fangs—and he didn’t meet my eyes.

I wanted to recoil, and I wanted to tell him to leave, but Jude’s hand on my back soothed me even as a low growl rumbled from his chest.

“I’m sorry,” Josh said quietly, his voice slightly slurred from the injury. “For everything. I know it doesn’t change anything, but I’m sorry.”

I just watched myself and couldn’t say anything. I didn’t even know how to process everything about Sophia’s manipulation and Josh’s cowardice. The betrayal, heartbreak, humiliation... sorry, I couldn’t cancel out what had been done to me mentally, physically, and even emotionally.

I nearly killed myself because of them.

Sophia... Her name pressed against my mind, and it felt like something heavy was sitting on my tongue.

“Jude?” My voice came out small. “How about Sophia?” I felt him tense beside me, and his hand stilled on my back. “Is she okay?”

“Rosie—”

“Please,” I whispered. “I need to know.” I said, “She’s still my sister.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “She fell from the car when it crashed. She... she didn’t make it. I’m sorry.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, and I blinked. Before I knew it, tears came—hot, fast, and uncontrollable. But Jude pulled me close immediately, letting me cry into his chest while he stroked my hair and murmured soft, comforting words.

Sophia was my sister.

And that was the thing, wasn’t it? Despite everything Sophia had done to me—the video, the bullying, the kidnapping, trying to kill me—she was still my twin sister. She’d been my shie ld when we were young, my partner, my other half before everything went wrong.

I cried for the sister I lost years ago, for the girl who’d been assaulted and not heard, for the relationship we’d never get back, and for all the pain and hatred that had consumed her until there was nothing left but hatred.

Jude just held me through it all, his arms strong and steady around me, letting me grieve for the complicated, painful love I had for my sister.

***I

dint want to drag it unnecessarily... Rosie already had a hunch... So she’s happy with it. And Josh... No spoiler so... Cough... Drum ... Be prepared for...

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