Chapter 294: Chapter 294 Stop Running Away
Jude’s POV
I didn’t even realize when I spun around and bolted. My legs pumped as fast as they could carry me, anything to escape the burning shame clawing at my chest.
God, I was such an idiot. Why did I let myself hope for something impossible? I should’ve known better—I’d always be damaged goods, too dirty for someone like Timothy.
The royal gamma deserved better than being stuck with me as his mate. I’d only drag down his perfect reputation, stain everything he’d worked for.
I should have rejected him the moment our bond snapped into place. Should never have fooled myself into thinking a used woman like me could have a happy ending.
Now I couldn’t even look him in the eye. What must he think of me?
I wouldn’t blame Harlow—she was just a kid. But if I stayed with Timothy, this wouldn’t be the last time something slipped out. What if it happened again? What if next time, he finally came to his senses and regretted everything?
The poisonous thoughts kept spiraling, eating me alive from the inside out.
Even when my legs gave out and I stopped running, the shame wouldn’t stop. It consumed every corner of my mind.
If I felt this wrecked, imagine how everyone else would react...
All that joy, that stupid flutter of hope—it had been nothing but a fantasy. Time to wake up and remember where I belonged.
I ran without looking back, no clue where my feet were taking me. All I knew was I needed distance between us before I had to watch realization dawn in his eyes—the moment he’d see me for what I really was.
"It’s okay. It’s okay..." I pressed my palm against my chest, trying to slow my racing heart and ease the ache that felt like it might split me in half.
But this pain cut deeper than any beating I’d ever taken. Deeper than every cruel thing that had happened to me.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks and stumbled toward the forest. I knew these trees well—this was near my old hut, before they’d moved me back to the omega quarters.
I had nowhere to go. Part of me wanted to vanish completely, but I knew I’d have to face reality eventually.
For now, though, I needed space. Time to brace myself for the worst.
Hours passed before exhaustion forced me to stop by the river. I crouched at the bank and splashed the cold water over my face.
The icy shock jolted my nerves awake, grounding me in this harsh reality.
"Who is there?" I whipped around, sensing someone nearby. "Who is there?" My eyes locked onto the spot where I was certain an intruder lurked.
I tried to catch their scent, but my tears had screwed up my senses.
It didn’t take long to figure out who’d tracked me down. Timothy emerged from behind the bushes in his wolf form.
He shifted back to human as he approached, and that’s when I snapped.
"Jude..." His voice was gentle, desperate. He reached out to touch me, but I scrambled to my feet, staring at him with wide, fearful eyes. The look on his face crumpled.
"It’s okay, Jude."
Timothy always knew what to say. He was smooth, charming—hell, he’d even managed to get close to Phoebe from day one without breaking a sweat.
But now? He looked as lost as I felt. Like he was terrified of scaring me off, of making me feel worse than I already did.
"No, please leave..." My voice cracked. My throat felt like it was closing up, bile rising as fresh tears threatened to spill.
I didn’t want to cry anymore, but holding back felt impossible.
"I’m not going anywhere without you," he said, his tone rock-solid with conviction. "I’ll stay here if you don’t want to come back to the pack house."
"No, please... gamma Timothy." I dropped my head in shame. "Please, just go and forget about me... it would be better if..."
The words died in my throat. How could I reject him when I couldn’t even finish a damn sentence? But what choice did I have?
"I... Jude..." My voice shook as I fought to get the words out this time.
Before I could speak, his feet appeared in my line of vision. The royal gamma moved lightning-fast, and suddenly he was right there, inches away.
I lifted my head just as he stopped moving. My breath caught at how close he was.
"I—"
His fingers caught my chin, tilting it up as he leaned down. His lips crashed against mine, cutting off my words. He bit my bottom lip like he wanted to punish me for even thinking about what I was going to do.
"I told you to call me Timothy, right?" His words brushed against my lips as his hand slid to the back of my head, deepening the kiss. "I want you, Jude. No one else. Stop running from me."
