Jasmine’s POVThe ache in my chest is unbearable, a gnawing hunger that won’t let up. Every time I look at Ramon, I feel the pull of the mate bond, begging to be completed. It’s a fire in my veins, a need that goes deeper than desire. I want him to mark me. No, I need him to.“Ramon,” I plead, stepping closer. My voice is a whisper, trembling with desperation. “Why are we waiting? You know what this would mean for us. For me.”He doesn’t move, doesn’t even flinch, but his crimson eyes flicker with a myriad of emotions. I see pain, guilt, and hesitation. “I know,” he says softly. “And that’s why we can’t.” His words feel like a slap, and I flinch. “Why? Is it because I’m not ready? Because you don’t think I’m strong enough?”His brows knit together, and he steps forward, his hand lifting to cup my cheek. The warmth of his touch soothes the sting of rejection, but it doesn’t dull the ache. “It’s not about your strength,” he says, his voice steady and calm. “It’s about the consequences.
Ramon’s POVThe quiet hum of the mansion feels heavier tonight, as though the walls themselves are bracing for something. I lean against the doorway of my study, watching Jasmine through the window. She’s sitting by the pond, her feet skimming the water’s surface.Around her, the world seems unnaturally alive. Birds perch on branches overhead, chirping in a strange harmony. Rabbits have gathered near the flowerbeds, their tiny noses twitching in her direction. Even the fish seem to swim closer to where she sits, as though drawn to her mere presence.Jasmine, blissfully unaware of the peculiarity, laughs softly. “It’s like I’m some kind of animal whisperer,” she jokes when she catches me staring. I offer a faint smile but don’t respond. She doesn’t realize the weight of what she’s said.Once she retreats inside for the night, I step into the library. The shelves are packed with ancient tomes and scrolls collected over centuries, their secrets waiting to be unraveled. I’ve delved into t
Jasmine’s POVI sit on the edge of the pond, my legs tucked beneath me as a soft breeze stirs the surrounding trees. The air feels alive, brimming with something I can’t quite name. Birds flit around me, their chirps an odd symphony of joy and curiosity. A curious fox peers at me from the underbrush, and a school of koi swims close to the pond’s edge, their glistening bodies reflecting the sunlight as though they are trying to greet me.This has been happening for days now, animals, birds, even the fish in the pond seem drawn to me. At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but the frequency is undeniable.I stretch my fingers toward the water, and the koi rise, their small mouths opening and closing as if they understand me. It’s surreal, but it also feels natural. Like this is how it’s always supposed to have been.“Jasmine.”Ramon’s deep voice cuts through my thoughts. I look up to see him standing a few feet away, his dark eyes scanning the scene with an intensity that makes me sh
Ramon’s POVThe witches don’t even try to hide their approach. I feel their magic long before I see them. An acrid ripple of energy that licks at the edges of my mansion’s wards like oily smoke. My fingers twitch at my sides as I step outside, each movement precise, deliberate. It has been centuries since I’ve allowed the full weight of my bloodthirstiness to surface, but the thought of them threatening Jasmine awakens something primal in me.The sun hangs low in the sky, casting long shadows over the grounds, but even its presence can’t diminish the suffocating darkness I carry. I sense them before they emerge. It is a quartet of witches cloaked in crimson robes, their magic pooling like stagnant water. They are powerful, no doubt, but their power pales against the centuries of death and destruction I’ve wielded.When they finally step into view, they falter. The one in front, a tall woman with streaks of silver in her black hair, takes an instinctive step back. Her eyes widen as th
Jasmine’s POVThe silence is oppressive, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves outside the mansion. I sit on the edge of the bed, my hands gripping the sheets as I struggle to keep my breathing steady. Ramon’s presence is a comforting shield, but with him gone, the weight of my fears presses down on me.I try to reach out, closing my eyes and summoning the wolf within me. Please, I beg silently, my hands curling into fists. Talk to me. Guide me. Nothing.The void where my wolf used to be feels like a gaping wound, one I don’t know how to heal. My Ailuranthrope side stirs faintly, like a whisper at the edge of my mind, but it’s elusive, slipping away every time I try to grasp it. I bite my lip, fighting the tears that threaten to fall. “Why won’t you answer me?” I whisper into the stillness.The truth is, I’m terrified. Ramon tries to hide his worry, but I’ve seen the way his jaw tightens when he talks about the dangers we face. He downplays it, of course, as if I won’t notice. But
Ramon’s POVThe night is still, a fragile silence draping the mansion like a cloak. It’s too quiet. I pace the length of the study, my senses on edge, the faint hum of Jasmine’s aura a constant undercurrent in the room. Her training has gone better than I expected, and yet, I can’t shake the foreboding weight pressing against my chest.She’s asleep now, her breathing soft and even as it drifts to my ears. Her newfound confidence has given her a glow that I can’t help but admire. But with it comes danger.I glance at the darkened corners of the room, my instincts prickling. The witches’ intrusion was no coincidence. They were the first, but they won’t be the last. Jasmine’s awakening will draw attention from every corner of the supernatural world.The thought fills me with a rage I haven’t felt in centuries. They will come for her. And they will die. A sharp knock echoes through the mansion. I’m already moving before the second knock, my senses sharpening as I approach the front door.
Jasmine’s POVThe days since Ramon told me about the Supreme Council have passed in a blur of tension and training. Every morning, I wake with the weight of his words pressing on my chest. The Council will come for me. Others will come for me.And yet, Ramon never falters. His confidence in his ability to protect me is unwavering, but I can see the strain in his eyes when he thinks I’m not looking. I know he’s carrying the burden of keeping me safe, of keeping the world’s attention off me, but I can’t let him bear it alone.That’s why I’ve thrown myself into the training with everything I have. Ramon doesn’t go easy on me, and I wouldn’t want him to. Each drill pushes me past what I thought I was capable of, and I can feel the changes in my body.Today is no different. The sun barely peeks over the horizon when Ramon leads me to the training grounds he’s set up in the mansion’s expansive garden. The air is cool, the grass damp with dew, and the chirping of birds is the only sound as w
Ramon’s POVThe audacity of these puny creatures!Barely a week has passed since I sent the first coven fleeing, and yet here I am again, facing another pack of witches who think they can trespass on my territory. My private mansion is not marked on any map. It’s cloaked, hidden from prying eyes by wards centuries in the making. And yet, this new batch has found me.As I step into the open courtyard, the cool night air prickles against my skin, carrying the faint scent of ozone and earth, the calling card of witches. Their magic thrums in the distance, a low, persistent vibration that sets my teeth on edge.There are four of them again, just like the last time. But these witches are not like the previous ones. They are younger, brash, their magic chaotic and untamed. I can sense their nervous energy as they linger at the edge of the woods, their figures barely visible in the moonlight.“Come out,” I call, my voice echoing in the still night. It’s not a request. The witches hesitate, b
Six Months Later.....A celebration unlike any before, shook the Ailuranthrope realm as the cries of two newborns pierced the night. The twins of Jasmine and Ramon, the first of their kind, Ailuranthrope-Vampire hybrids, had arrived.The air was filled with the scent of blooming silvermoon flowers, their petals glowing under the celestial sky. The land, once known as the Obsidian Expanse, had flourished into a paradise, and now, it had heirs.Ramon stood by Jasmine’s side, gazing at their newborns, Zephriel and Selaphina. He had spent centuries believing he could never have children, that his undead nature had robbed him of that joy. But now…He was a father.Jasmine, cradling their daughter, looked at him with a soft, knowing smile. "You didn’t know, did you?" she whispered. Ramon exhaled a slow breath, shaking his head. "No. I never even thought it possible." His voice was hoarse, filled with awe.Jasmine laughed lightly, placing a gentle kiss on their son’s forehead. "The realm chose
Jasmine’s POVThe warm twilight bathes the realm, casting golden hues over the beautiful landscape. The once desolate Obsidian Expanse now breathes with life, a land reborn through our bond.As I absorb the sheer magnitude of what has happened, a disturbance stirs the air. A shift in energy, something familiar yet distinct. Then, I see them. Tharros. Arinthal. And Victor.The three figures emerge from the distance, their expressions unreadable. Yet, beneath their calm exteriors, I sense a change. Something profound is about to happen.The Ailuranthropes react before I even realize what’s going on. Gasps echo through the gathered pride. Some exchange knowing glances. Others stand still, eyes wide in recognition. Then, it happens.A pulse, a soft, golden glow, radiates between Tharros, Arinthal, and Victor. It travels through the space between them and three women standing among the Ailuranthropes. Women who, moments ago, were simply part of the crowd. But now… Their breaths hitch. Thei
Jasmine’s POVThe storm rages around us, wild and untamed, but I no longer fear it. The Obsidian Expanse trembles beneath our feet as darkness fights to reclaim its dominion. Shadows creep toward me, whispering, beckoning, and urging me to give in. I feel the pull, the intoxicating allure of the abyss, Kaiden’s will pressing against my own. He wants me to surrender, to embrace my darkness and become his perfect counterpart.But what he doesn’t understand is that I am not just darkness. I am light. And that light comes from the one beside me.Ramon’s presence is my anchor. His love, steady, fierce, and consuming, grounds me even as power surges within me. He is the calm in my storm, the unshakable force that refuses to let me drown. I turn to him, my heart hammering. His midnight-blue eyes burn with an intensity that sends shivers through me."Jasmine," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion, with need. I don’t hesitate. I choose him.Throwing caution to the wind, I step into his a
Jasmine’s POVThe storm within me rages, a tempest of magic and raw power that threatens to tear everything apart. I feel the wind whip around me, my heart beating in time with the chaos that I’ve unleashed. But beneath the ferocity of the storm, there is something else, something stronger. I can feel Ramon beside me, his presence like a steady anchor in the wild sea of my transformation.Despite the overwhelming power coursing through me, I’m not alone. The bond between us, the mate bond, is an anchor, holding me together even as I push the limits of what I thought was possible.I can feel it in the air, a hum of energy that connects us, like invisible threads weaving our fates tighter. Every heartbeat, every breath, I am more aware of him, of us. His strength, his warmth, it floods through me, calming the chaos that threatens to overtake me. His power complements mine in ways I never expected, creating a balance that grounds me in the face of the unknown.“Jasmine…” Ramon’s voice i
Jasmine’s POVI stand on the edge of the precipice, an electrifying energy building around me as if the very air itself is alive. Ramon is beside me, his presence grounding, but even his strength cannot silence the power swirling inside me. It has a life of its own, raw, untamed, and terrifying. I can feel it beneath my skin, thrumming through every fiber of my being. The storm inside me is not something I can ignore any longer. “Jasmine,” Ramon whispers, his voice tinged with worry. “Please, don’t do this. You don’t have to face this alone.”But I know better now. I can no longer pretend I don’t feel it, don’t feel him, the force that’s been clawing at the edges of my soul, trying to break through. Kaiden’s voice echoes in my mind, always present, like a shadow I can’t escape. "You will understand soon, Jasmine. The vampire is nothing. You are everything."I take a deep breath, clenching my fists as the power surges within me. It’s time to stop running. To stop pretending I’m just s
Kaiden's POVI'm observing from a distance. Watching the drama unfold before me. It's almost too easy. The vampire and his precious mate, trapped in a web they don't even understand. It's almost laughable how predictable their reactions are, how they cling to their fragile illusions.Ramon believes he can protect her, believes the bond they share is the anchor keeping her grounded. He doesn’t realize that the more he clings to her, the closer she gets to her true destiny. The inevitable.Jasmine's powers are untapped, dangerous and they are the key to unlocking a power so ancient that even the oldest of beings fear it. But she's still naive, still unaware of the gravity of the situation. She believes she can control it. But she can’t. None of them can.She was never meant to be just an omega. She was never meant to live a life of peace and safety. I know that now. And I’ll make her understand that soon enough.Ramon’s presence is a minor inconvenience. He has his uses, of course, keep
Ramon's POVEverything feels oppressive, as if the very walls are closing in on us. Jasmine’s presence beside me is a constant reminder of everything that’s at stake. I don’t know what Kaiden’s game is, but I can feel it in the pit of my stomach: this isn’t just a battle for Jasmine’s freedom. This is a war for everything.I take a steadying breath, my vampire instincts at war with the protectiveness swelling inside me. There’s something Kaiden hasn’t told us, something bigger than the power he’s trying to unleash. It gnaws at me.Jasmine’s grip tightens around my hand, and I can feel the subtle pulse of her power, faint but growing stronger, like an untamed force pushing against the walls she’s built around it.I have to act fast before that power consumes her. “Jasmine,” I say, my voice low, urgent. “We need to leave. We can’t fight him here. We need to find a way to sever this connection, before it’s too late.”Her eyes meet mine, and I can see the conflict warring inside her. She’
Jasmine’s POVThe air thrums with energy, a suffocating presence hanging between us like a storm about to break. Kaiden stands before us, grinning, his aura dark and almost tangible. Despite the weight of his words, I try to steady myself, pulling the remnants of my strength together. But it’s hard to focus with the disturbing reality of his intentions curling around my thoughts like a snake.He said I was meant to be a vessel. A key. The very idea of it makes my blood run cold. “Stop,” I breathe, my voice trembling. “You’re lying. I’m not...”“You’re not what, Jasmine?” Kaiden interrupts smoothly, his smile widening. “You’re not the weapon that will change the course of everything? You’re not the one meant to unleash what’s been locked away for millennia? Ah, I can see the doubt in your eyes, but it’s there. It’s already part of you.”His words sink into my chest like icy daggers, but I refuse to show weakness. I am not his puppet.Ramon’s hand tightens around mine, and I can feel t
Jasmine’s POVIt’s over. At least, that’s what I want to believe. But deep in my chest, a cold knot tells me otherwise. The darkness may have been sealed away, but there’s something else lurking just beyond the veil. I feel its presence. Like a shadow slipping through the cracks of the universe.Ramon senses it too. He stands beside me, his posture tense, every muscle coiled with readiness. His vampire nature thrums beneath his skin, and I can feel the ancient power he carries, a stark contrast to the energy now swirling around us.But for all the strength he exudes, his silver eyes flicker with concern when they meet mine. “Jasmine…” I glance up at him, trying to steady my breathing. “What is it, Ramon?”He shakes his head. “The abyss is sealed, yes, but Kaiden isn’t finished. He’s been playing a deeper game than we realized.”His words echo in the silence that follows, weighing on me. I know he’s right. The darkness is gone, but Kaiden—our enemy, the one who has manipulated and mani