ALYSSA
I couldn’t meet Jake’s eyes. I kept staring down at the floor, my emotions swirling too much to handle. Everything felt heavy—the uncertainty, the fear of what could happen if Alpha Jerry didn’t approve of me, and most of all, the awkward tension between Jake and Tom. I didn’t know what to do.
Suddenly, I felt Jake’s presence next to me, and before I could react, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a tight hug. His embrace was warm, and I could hear his steady heartbeat as he held me close. I blinked back tears, trying not to fall apart right then and there.
“I love you, Alyssa,” Jake whispered softly, his voice serious but gentle. “Please, don’t think anything else. You’re the one I want.”
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening at his words. It was what I needed to he
