Chapter 274: Chapter 274 She Has a Child
Phoebe’s POV
I couldn’t process what I’d just witnessed. My gaze shifted to Timothy, who stood transfixed by Jude, his expression bordering on madness.
Jude had come here to learn how to brew a concoction for Harlow—that’s why she was present. But I never anticipated this turn of events.
"Mate," Timothy repeated, his voice thick with wonder as he moved toward Jude with deliberate steps. She remained frozen in place, equally shocked.
"Impossible..." Wade whispered beside me. "He’s found his mate. Actually found her?" His eyes sparkled with excitement—for these young warriors, witnessing someone discover their destined partner was unprecedented.
Even as an observer, I could sense the invisible thread binding them together. The connection pulsed with overwhelming intensity. I found myself equally stunned by its power.
That same magnetic pull had consumed me when I discovered Kevin was my fated mate. No wonder losing my wolf spirit had devastated me after his rejection—it felt like being dragged beneath churning ocean waves, swept away by relentless currents. This type of love ran deep and wild.
At least Timothy wouldn’t endure the agony of rejection like I had.
Or so I believed...
"Mate..." Timothy called again, quickening his pace. The desperate need to hold her seemed to drive him forward with maddening urgency.
But Jude retreated, shaking her head as if fighting against some internal spell. When Timothy continued advancing, everyone present held their breath, sensing the tension.
"No," Jude said weakly, and Timothy stopped abruptly. "No, I can’t." She shook her head again, more forcefully this time.
Alarm bells rang in my mind as I recognized the signs. I knew exactly what would happen next—the gesture and its devastating aftermath.
"Jude!" I called out before she could speak those damaging words. "Jude, can we talk..."
She turned to me in surprise, as if noticing my presence for the first time. But she continued shaking her head, her entire frame trembling with fear.
The terror in her eyes made Timothy’s heart visibly clench. He wanted to understand her fear, but the possibility that he himself might be its source would be unbearable.
"Please, what’s wrong?" Timothy didn’t even know her name, yet he already ached for her. The urge to touch her, embrace her, and promise her safety consumed him entirely.
"No... please, no..." Jude whimpered, looking frantically between Timothy and me before making her choice—she ran.
"Wait!" Timothy’s shock was palpable as Jude shifted into her wolf form and bolted. He moved to follow, but I intervened.
"No! Stay! Timothy!" I commanded. He hesitated momentarily before choosing to ignore me, forcing me to invoke my luna authority. "Timothy! Stay!"
He froze instantly. Even Samuel and Wade bowed their heads under the weight of my commanding voice.
"Sorry," I apologized briefly to Samuel and Wade before approaching Timothy. "Let her go."
"What do you mean, let her go?" Timothy spun around, pain etched across his features. For the first time, he looked at me with harsh accusation. "Why did you stop me?!"
His raised voice toward his queen was inappropriate, but I understood his anguish. Watching his mate flee had shattered something inside him.
"If you follow her now, she’ll reject you. Is that what you want?" I asked sternly, choosing not to punish his disrespectful tone.
"She won’t," Timothy said through gritted teeth, though we both knew I spoke the truth. That woman had been seconds away from saying those devastating words.
"You know I’m right." I placed my hand on his shoulder, and he relaxed slightly, drawing a deep breath to compose himself.
"Why? Why did she do that? I don’t even know her name!" Timothy’s frustration was raw as he kept glancing toward where Jude had disappeared, silently willing her return.
I nodded at Samuel and Wade, signaling them to give us privacy.
They withdrew to a respectful distance, remaining close enough to provide security but far enough to allow private conversation.
"Why?" Timothy rubbed his face roughly.
"Her name is Jude," I said gently. "There’s something you need to understand, Timothy."
"What?" His emotional turmoil made controlling his temper difficult, but I chose to overlook his sharp tone.
"She’s an omega in this pack."
"I know." His teeth clenched in annoyance, which quickly transformed into burning rage.
Every omega, especially the women, had endured horrific abuse from the men in this kingdom. Someone had violated her. Multiple men had touched his mate.
The thought ignited fury beneath Timothy’s skin.
"I should have executed them all slowly, agonizingly. I should have tortured every person here until they begged for death!" Timothy’s rage consumed him. "I understand that part, I can accept that reality, but I don’t understand why she’s avoiding me!"
I drew a steadying breath, grateful that Perry wasn’t here to witness Timothy’s disrespectful outburst toward his mate—it would have triggered his own protective fury.
"Can you stop yelling at me so I can explain?"
"Fine, fine. I’m sorry."
I took Timothy’s hand and delivered the crucial information. "She has a child."
