~Jasmine~I stood frozen by the door, with confusion swirling in my mind. Why had Violeta been so stunned earlier? Was she pretending to be sick just now? Or was I just imagining things?“Jasmine!” She greeted me with a soft smile, though her expression quickly turned tired as she held her arm. I returned a faint smile as I stepped fully into the room and walked over to the visitor's chair.“Violeta…” I said as I took a seat, feeling conflicted about what to believe. Was I reading too much into things? I don't know. But one thing is certain: she is a good actress.I heard about your accident from the Alpha. I had to come check on you. But… it seems you’re doing much better,” I said, studying her closely. She shifted, sitting a bit straighter as she leaned back against the bed.“Ah... yes.” Violeta began, her voice ten times weaker than when she was on the phone earlier.““I’m trying my hardest to be strong. I’m avoiding anything that could put my baby’s life at risk,” she said, her ex
~Maverick~Squaring my shoulders, I sighed, leaning back as I went through some paperwork in the conference room.Just then, a sweet, familiar scent wafted into my nostrils, and I didn’t need to raise my head to know it was Jasmine. My wolf stirred with excitement, howling as she approached. I glanced up, and there she was.Jasmine! I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips as she strode confidently into the room. All eyes turned toward her, and I could feel jealousy gnawing at my insides, my wolf claiming ownership. She was mine, only mine, to look at.Her gaze finally locked on mine, her eyes flickering with something unreadable as she walked toward me. She pulled out a chair beside me and sat down, her presence consuming me in ways I never expected.“You made it,” I greeted, sliding some documents in front of her. “You need to review these before the assessments. They cover all the vital points you should take note of.”She nodded absentmindedly, her mind clearly elsewhere, as though
~Jasmine~“Um,” clearing my throat, I gently declined his offer. “I would prefer to stay back and get to know the department better.” I knew Alpha Zephyr would probably be there, and meeting him could result in misunderstandings, so I would rather stay back. Rose deserved to hear the explanation from me.Maverick didn’t object. Instead, he nodded. “I understand,” he said, taking my hands into his and placing a soft, lingering kiss on the spot. My heart flipped as I felt butterflies erupt from every corner, my wolf struggling to stay put.“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me,” he said with a smug look gracing his face while maintaining eye contact. I got lost in their vastness for a moment, my lips curling as I refused to back down from the staring contest. “I am not a damsel in distress, Alpha.”“Oh really?” He stepped closer, and I felt warmth spreading from my neck to my cheeks. His eyes flickered, and there was an emotion I recognized, one he wasn’t scared to show—desir
~Jasmine~My mind swirled with questions about why they erupted with laughter as I proceeded through the building. Floor after floor, I searched but still couldn’t find the reserve store. Was this rocket science?When I finally reached the ground floor, I checked the map plastered on the wall for directions. Frustratingly, there was no mention of the reserve room.My eyes widened as I glanced at the clock, realizing I had already wasted fifteen minutes wandering around aimlessly. It began to dawn on me why they all laughed out loud.What creeped me out most was the emptiness of the building. There was no one here to ask for help. Perhaps because it was late. Most departments were shut.I knew Alpha Maverick was in a meeting. Should I call him? I debated for a moment before deciding against it; I didn’t want to be a bother. Instead, I found a spot to sit and sent him a quick text asking where the reserve room was located.Minutes passed, but still no reply from him. Returning to the la
~Maverick~I groaned, walking away from the lab, trying my hardest to hide my arousal. Jasmine affected me in insatiable ways that I couldn’t fathom. Soon, I approached the boardroom where I was supposed to meet the Alpha of the Red Blood Pack.As I entered, I extended my hand. “Glad you could make it, Alpha Zephyr.”He shook it firmly. “Likewise, Alpha Maverick.”I nodded at his beta and motioned for them to have a seat.We delved immediately into the matter without wasting time. Both packs’ properties were at risk due to the unexplained, constant fire outbreaks. We didn’t know yet if witches had a hand in it, if there were supernatural forces lurking in the shadows, or if it was simply arson.A collaboration with his insurance company could reduce costs for both packs and enhance preparedness.Ever since the increase in fire outbreaks, not even one fatal one has been recorded with Red blood pack. Due to their expertise in disaster areas, they seem to have the best mitigation.“Given
~Jasmine~“Argh,” I groaned, clutching my throbbing head with trembling hands, my eyes squeezed shut. My breathing grew shallow; the lack of ventilation was suffocating me. I struggled to concentrate, desperate to activate my wolf and use her strength, but my mind was too clouded by anxiety. The overwhelming panic suppressing my ability to shift.Dark spots flashed across my vision, and just when I thought I couldn’t endure it any longer, the elevator door creaked open.A blurry figure approached, but my ears buzzed, and I couldn’t make out his features. His mouth moved, as if he was trying to speak to me, but his words didn’t register in my brain.I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t anymore, and soon… darkness swallowed me whole.I shifted; every muscle in my body ached, and I felt as if I had been wrecked by a train. My head pounded mercilessly. I tried to sit up, disoriented by the sound of an ambulance’s blaring siren.Wait a minute, am I moving?Panic rushed through me, and I sho
~Jasmine~As I walked back to the department, my phone pinged, signaling a notification. I glanced at the screen to see Alpha Zephyr’s text:“Sorry I left you alone. There was a health crisis I needed to attend to. Hope you’ll understand. I’ll call Rose right away.”Why was he—? Oh. My mouth formed an ‘O’ as realization dawned on me. Alpha Zephyr… was he the one who saved me? Flashes of the elevator incident replayed in my mind. I had been the one who called him in the first place.But why didn’t Alpha Maverick believe me? He claimed he was only one call away, yet the first to respond was Alpha Zephyr. My heart tugged painfully at the thought. Why hadn’t Alpha Maverick trusted me?I sighed, pushing the heavy weight of sadness from my chest as my mind returned to Alpha Zephyr’s message. What health crisis was he talking about? I hoped it wasn’t serious. Wetting my lips, I thought about Rose. How was I supposed to explain all this to her? Sooner or later, I’d have to tell her everything
(Jasmine's POV)My hand quivered uncontrollably as I clutched my husband's phone. Its screen showed a naked photo sent by an unknown number: a woman wearing only one piece of underwear, her chest towering high and her cleavage exposed. Naked.But that wasn't the part that shocked me the most. My gaze fell on the embroidery on her underwear—it had my name and his on it. I looked more closely to confirm my suspicion.It was the same lingerie couple set I bought that Logan, my husband had supposedly misplaced during a business trip. The same one I had picked out specifically for a special occasion. I was so certain because it was custom-made for us, with our initials embroidered on it: J & L.My mouth hung open, and I hadn't even realized how much my tears had spilled until I felt them on my chin.I zoomed in to try to find out why this woman looked oddly familiar, and then a crescent-shaped mole on the woman’s cleavage hit me like lightning. My stomach twisted. Only one person I knew ha
~Jasmine~As I walked back to the department, my phone pinged, signaling a notification. I glanced at the screen to see Alpha Zephyr’s text:“Sorry I left you alone. There was a health crisis I needed to attend to. Hope you’ll understand. I’ll call Rose right away.”Why was he—? Oh. My mouth formed an ‘O’ as realization dawned on me. Alpha Zephyr… was he the one who saved me? Flashes of the elevator incident replayed in my mind. I had been the one who called him in the first place.But why didn’t Alpha Maverick believe me? He claimed he was only one call away, yet the first to respond was Alpha Zephyr. My heart tugged painfully at the thought. Why hadn’t Alpha Maverick trusted me?I sighed, pushing the heavy weight of sadness from my chest as my mind returned to Alpha Zephyr’s message. What health crisis was he talking about? I hoped it wasn’t serious. Wetting my lips, I thought about Rose. How was I supposed to explain all this to her? Sooner or later, I’d have to tell her everything
~Jasmine~“Argh,” I groaned, clutching my throbbing head with trembling hands, my eyes squeezed shut. My breathing grew shallow; the lack of ventilation was suffocating me. I struggled to concentrate, desperate to activate my wolf and use her strength, but my mind was too clouded by anxiety. The overwhelming panic suppressing my ability to shift.Dark spots flashed across my vision, and just when I thought I couldn’t endure it any longer, the elevator door creaked open.A blurry figure approached, but my ears buzzed, and I couldn’t make out his features. His mouth moved, as if he was trying to speak to me, but his words didn’t register in my brain.I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t anymore, and soon… darkness swallowed me whole.I shifted; every muscle in my body ached, and I felt as if I had been wrecked by a train. My head pounded mercilessly. I tried to sit up, disoriented by the sound of an ambulance’s blaring siren.Wait a minute, am I moving?Panic rushed through me, and I sho
~Maverick~I groaned, walking away from the lab, trying my hardest to hide my arousal. Jasmine affected me in insatiable ways that I couldn’t fathom. Soon, I approached the boardroom where I was supposed to meet the Alpha of the Red Blood Pack.As I entered, I extended my hand. “Glad you could make it, Alpha Zephyr.”He shook it firmly. “Likewise, Alpha Maverick.”I nodded at his beta and motioned for them to have a seat.We delved immediately into the matter without wasting time. Both packs’ properties were at risk due to the unexplained, constant fire outbreaks. We didn’t know yet if witches had a hand in it, if there were supernatural forces lurking in the shadows, or if it was simply arson.A collaboration with his insurance company could reduce costs for both packs and enhance preparedness.Ever since the increase in fire outbreaks, not even one fatal one has been recorded with Red blood pack. Due to their expertise in disaster areas, they seem to have the best mitigation.“Given
~Jasmine~My mind swirled with questions about why they erupted with laughter as I proceeded through the building. Floor after floor, I searched but still couldn’t find the reserve store. Was this rocket science?When I finally reached the ground floor, I checked the map plastered on the wall for directions. Frustratingly, there was no mention of the reserve room.My eyes widened as I glanced at the clock, realizing I had already wasted fifteen minutes wandering around aimlessly. It began to dawn on me why they all laughed out loud.What creeped me out most was the emptiness of the building. There was no one here to ask for help. Perhaps because it was late. Most departments were shut.I knew Alpha Maverick was in a meeting. Should I call him? I debated for a moment before deciding against it; I didn’t want to be a bother. Instead, I found a spot to sit and sent him a quick text asking where the reserve room was located.Minutes passed, but still no reply from him. Returning to the la
~Jasmine~“Um,” clearing my throat, I gently declined his offer. “I would prefer to stay back and get to know the department better.” I knew Alpha Zephyr would probably be there, and meeting him could result in misunderstandings, so I would rather stay back. Rose deserved to hear the explanation from me.Maverick didn’t object. Instead, he nodded. “I understand,” he said, taking my hands into his and placing a soft, lingering kiss on the spot. My heart flipped as I felt butterflies erupt from every corner, my wolf struggling to stay put.“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me,” he said with a smug look gracing his face while maintaining eye contact. I got lost in their vastness for a moment, my lips curling as I refused to back down from the staring contest. “I am not a damsel in distress, Alpha.”“Oh really?” He stepped closer, and I felt warmth spreading from my neck to my cheeks. His eyes flickered, and there was an emotion I recognized, one he wasn’t scared to show—desir
~Maverick~Squaring my shoulders, I sighed, leaning back as I went through some paperwork in the conference room.Just then, a sweet, familiar scent wafted into my nostrils, and I didn’t need to raise my head to know it was Jasmine. My wolf stirred with excitement, howling as she approached. I glanced up, and there she was.Jasmine! I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips as she strode confidently into the room. All eyes turned toward her, and I could feel jealousy gnawing at my insides, my wolf claiming ownership. She was mine, only mine, to look at.Her gaze finally locked on mine, her eyes flickering with something unreadable as she walked toward me. She pulled out a chair beside me and sat down, her presence consuming me in ways I never expected.“You made it,” I greeted, sliding some documents in front of her. “You need to review these before the assessments. They cover all the vital points you should take note of.”She nodded absentmindedly, her mind clearly elsewhere, as though
~Jasmine~I stood frozen by the door, with confusion swirling in my mind. Why had Violeta been so stunned earlier? Was she pretending to be sick just now? Or was I just imagining things?“Jasmine!” She greeted me with a soft smile, though her expression quickly turned tired as she held her arm. I returned a faint smile as I stepped fully into the room and walked over to the visitor's chair.“Violeta…” I said as I took a seat, feeling conflicted about what to believe. Was I reading too much into things? I don't know. But one thing is certain: she is a good actress.I heard about your accident from the Alpha. I had to come check on you. But… it seems you’re doing much better,” I said, studying her closely. She shifted, sitting a bit straighter as she leaned back against the bed.“Ah... yes.” Violeta began, her voice ten times weaker than when she was on the phone earlier.““I’m trying my hardest to be strong. I’m avoiding anything that could put my baby’s life at risk,” she said, her ex
~Jasmine~After Alpha Maverick left, I stayed back for a while, thinking about anything and everything, my mind full of unanswered questions.I opened the ride-sharing app on my phone and booked a cab. When it arrived, I gave the driver Alpha Maverick’s home address without thinking too much about it. His home was home to me now.The house felt cold and empty without him. I walked straight to my room and fell on the bed, still wearing my clothes. I felt drained and upset.“Calm down, Jasmine. It’s too early to feel this attached to him,” I whispered, trying to convince myself. But it didn’t help at all. The feeling refused to go away.I couldn’t stop thinking about what Alpha Maverick was doing. The thought of him remained in my mind. Frustrated, I sat up and groaned loudly, covering my face with the pillow.“Why in this forsaken world do you have to feel this way, Jasmine?” I whispered angrily at myself for caring so much.Just when I closed my eyes to rest my mind, my phone rang lou
~Jasmine~He looked like he didn't have a single care in the world. My heart suddenly felt heavy as I was overwhelmed by rage. How could he be happy in another woman’s company? My wolf was also furious, fighting to take control and tear the other she-wolf apart. “Let me out,” she scratched at my mind, but I refused to let her take over.Sensing my presence, Alpha Maverick turned his head in my direction, surprise flickering in his eyes. I wanted to scoff at him, but I tried to maintain my composure.“Jasmine,” he called, standing up and walking toward me as I took in his appearance, his dark hair neatly styled, and his perfect jawline highlighted by the light. He had taken off his coat and was now wearing a rolled-up white shirt, which showcased his large arms and the veins bulging beneath the fabric. A wristwatch adorned one of his wrists. He looked… spectacular.As he stood in front of me, he enveloped me in a hug, his scent overwhelming my senses. My wolf, which had previously been