CHAPTER 19

JASMINES POV

The crackling of flames and the distant hum of laughter pulled me out of my haze of unconsciousness. My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself sprawled on the cold forest floor. The sharp scent of burning wood mingled with the aroma of the trees.

Shadows danced across my vision, and for a moment, I thought I was alone. But I wasn’t.

“Rise and shine, beauty,” a masculine mocking voice called out, followed by a chorused laughter. I winced in pain, holding my head as I sat on the ground.

“Who are you?” I asked the most relevant question. It was obvious we were in the woods. But doing what? Caine has mentioned how unsafe the pack was. So why would I be in the woods with strangers who stole me from bed?

One of the boys walked up to me and offered to help me stand. I hesitated, but took his hand in the end, “You abducted me from my bed…” I queried, glaring at them one after the other.

But they were unfazed. The once distant laughter and chants were now audible. I recognized most of them dancing around the fire. The were students of the pack's academy.

“You all are students?” I asked, turning to the boy who helped me stand.

“Relax,” he said, his tone dripping with false friendliness. “We’re just having some fun,” he said, collecting a red cup from a friend standing near him and offering it to me.

“The woods aren’t safe. Or haven’t you heard and seen?” I asked. I glanced around, my pulse quickening. The scene felt off, out of my kind of circle. Not like I had a circle, but…it just wasn’t my thing.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a buzzkill. It’s just a bonfire,” a blondie chirped in, taking the drink from the boy and stepping closer. “Have a drink, loosen up. Tonight’s our last night together by the way. Tomorrow, we’ll all be assigned different roles and positions,” she said.

I force a smile, memories of my high school crossing through my mind. She was like Imani. Pretty, confident but dumb. Maybe I didn’t know how to handle her type back in high school, but now, the reverse was the case.

“What’s your name, pretty?” I asked, inching closer. I bet she was shocked by the way I inched closer. I saw it wave past her face in a second.

“Betty,”

“Betty,” I repeated, taking a few strands of her hair in my hand. She moved away, taking them off my hand. “You’re too pretty to be here at this hour, Betty. The woods aren’t safe, the pack either. So if I were you, I’d pack my things and get going,” I said to her.

She was silent, her eyes flicking from me to the boy who had helped me stand. Then I understood what the issue was.

“He’s your boyfriend?” I asked.

“Don’t answer that,” the boy cut in, but he was too late. Betty nodded twice affirmatively. I smiled with a heavy sigh.

“He wants you to stay. I bet you he’d be the first to run when something comes crawling out of those tall bushes. Or even the fire,” I told her.

“That’s enough!” the boy said. He pulled her to a side, whispered something into her ear and I watched her walk away. “I’m Eric. Who are you?”

“Jasmine. Nice meeting you Eric,” I stretched for a handshake.

“Now listen Jasmine,” Eric said, taking my hand and squeezing it in his. His breath fanned against my ear as he held me tightly to his body. “What makes you think you can tell my girl what to do, huh?” He sounded angry.

He had a lot to drink. His mouth reeked of alcohol and weed. His tongue disgustingly slurped my ear, biting its tip and causing me to moan a little.

“Before that…” he pulled away, pressing the red cup against my stomach. “Drink,” he ordered.

Eric looked like a teenager. A perfect replica of the young Caine. Always believed they could get whatever they wanted because of their charming looks and that they had every girl lying at their command.

“I’m not interested,” I pushed the cup away. I turned to leave but the rest of his male friends stood in my way. My wolf growled low in my head, wanting to take them out.

But she and I knew that was impossible. I’d barely met her. The best she could do was growl in my head and have a discussion with me—all in my head, I had never morphed nor had my claws and canines grown before.

“Drink, Jasmine,” Eric said again. I turned to him, forcing a smile.

“Like I said, I am not interested,” I repeated. He forced the drink on me, doing his best to flush it down my throat. In a swift motion, I kneed his dick, leaving him screaming as I raced into the woods.

“Get her!” He cried, ordering his minions,

Then adrenaline surged through me as I seinyee through the dense woods. The sound of pounding feet and angry shouts echoed behind me. My heart raced in sync with my footsteps which went as fast as they could.

“Don’t let her get away!” Eric’s voice echoed. They were hot on my trail.

The forest was dark. The only faint light was the faint glow of the crescent moon. My legs burned, but I didn’t dare stop. The fear coursing through me drowned every other feeling, driving me further with one purpose—escape.

Momentarily, my legs failed me but I wouldn't dare to stop, Eric had that unforgiving look. Their voices drew closer, the pounding of their feet louder until I heard the snapping of their bones.

I turned around, freezing in my tracks when I saw them morphing.

Eric’s wolf was bigger. It has a grey fur glinting in the dark as the faint rays of the moon danced across it. He growled, sending cold chills down my spine.

Now I was facing the wrath of the wolves snarling at me.

Eric burst into a sprint, snapping his teeth as his claws dug into the soil, racing toward me. My heart took a huge leap out of my chest the moment he lunged himself at me. He was in mid-air when a different wolf crashed into him, sending them rolling on the sand.

They both took their stance instantly, snapping their teeth at each other and snarling,

The black wolf growled, sending a surge of familiarity coursing through my veins. It looked back at me, its yellow eyes piercing through the darkness.

“Caine?” I muttered.

*****