Jasmine’s POVThe abyss is waking. The air hums with unseen power, pressing against my skin, burrowing into my bones. Every breath feels heavy, like I’m inhaling something ancient, something that remembers.Ba-dum.Ba-dum.The heartbeat of the entity beneath us rattles through the cavern. The ground trembles, cracks like spiderwebs spreading outward. The chains holding the abyssal force flicker with eerie red runes, but they are failing.Something within me knows what this means. It has slept long enough. Ramon’s fingers tighten around mine. His presence grounds me, his power merging with mine like two flames twisting together, burning brighter instead of consuming each other.I look up at him, my chest rising and falling with the effort to contain what’s changing inside me. My body is reacting, shifting, but it’s not just the Ailuranthrope. It’s something more. It’s him. My mate.My very own ancient vampire lord. Our connection is not just a tether, it’s a catalyst. The longer I rema
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
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 In the context of alpha-omega dynamics, the impact of an alpha's pheromones on an omega can be significant. When an alpha releases pheromones, they can affect an omega's behavior, emotions, and even physiology.An alpha's pheromones can draw an omega in, making them feel an intense attraction and arousal. This can be overwhelming, making it difficult for the omega to resist the alpha's advances.Not only that but an alpha's pheromones can also induce a sense of submission and compliance in an omega. This can lead to a decrease in the omega's assertiveness and independence.Alphas can use their pheromones to manipulate an omega's emotions, making them feel calm, relaxed, or even euphoric. However, this can also be used to control or manipulate the omega's emotions.An alpha's pheromones can trigger physiological responses in an omega, such as increased heart rate, dilated pupils, or even a sudden onset of heat. In some cases, an alpha's pheromones can facilitate bonding and im
Jasmine The scent of blood is faint now, but it lingers. This blood is no one else's but, Mine. All thanks to my scumbag Alpha mate, Ryker Wolverine. I am his to toy with, his to abuse and his to break. My body hurts but my mind has become numb to the pain. It's been going on for too long that I've lost count. I sit on the cold, damp floor of the dungeon, my knees drawn to my chest, arms wrapped around myself. The chains are unnecessary. I don’t even have the strength to fight. My wrists are raw, and the silver cuffs have bitten into my skin. Each movement sends a fresh wave of pain coursing through me, but I refuse to cry. Not again. I have cried the first time Ryker threw me down here, his eyes burning with anger and disgust. “Don’t think being my mate makes you special,” he spat. “You’re just an omega. A nuisance.” I begged for his mercy then, foolishly thinking the mate bond would sway him. But it did not and still doesn't. To him, I am nothing more than an inconvenience. A c
Jasmine Finally, Ryker seems happy enough to upgrade my living conditions. So, in this rate moment of luxury, I have been moved to the attic. The attic is no sanctuary, but at least it is not the dungeon. Damp and suffocating, the air clings to my skin, wrapping around me like a second skin of despair. The cold is relentless, the kind of chill that burrows deep into your bones and refuses to leave. It lingers regardless of the season, indifferent to the sun or storms outside. Above me, a small, grimy window provides the only connection to the outside world. A thin sliver of moonlight streams through the filthy glass, casting faint, silvery streaks across the wooden beams and broken furniture. It does little to banish the shadows or the memories that haunt this place. I sit on the creaky cot, pulling the tattered blanket tightly around my shoulders. Unfortunately, it does nothing to keep the cold at bay or to soothe the throbbing pain radiating from my ribs and arms. Ryker’s "lesso
Ramon The air tonight carries an ominous weight, the kind that prickles at the edges of my senses like a warning. The moon hangs low, its light dimmed by clouds that seem reluctant to let it shine. I stand at the eastern border of the Eclipse Pack’s territory, my presence cloaked by shadows as I observe the stillness of the night. Rumors have reached the Council. Whispers of dark rituals and forbidden practices within this pack. I volunteered to investigate, though my true motives are far more personal. I have felt drawn to this pack for a while but tonight it feels as if something is urging me forward. For five centuries, I have wandered this world alone. Not for lack of options. No, many have sought my favor, lured by my status as a vampire lord and a respected member of the Universal Council. But none have been my mate. None have stirred the fire that once consumed me before I was cursed to live without love. I still see her face, my first mate. The memory is as vivid as the ni
Jasmine Warmth. Not the oppressive, suffocating heat of fever, but something soft and comforting is what I feel the moment I come to. My fingers clutch at the texture beneath me, silk, smooth and cool against my skin. I open my eyes slowly, blinking against the soft glow of lamplight. I’m lying in a bed. A real bed!The sheets are the finest I’ve ever felt, a deep crimson that contrasts sharply with the stark white of the plush pillows. The room around me is unlike anything I have ever known. Luxurious yet imposing, with dark wooden furniture polished to a mirror-like sheen. Ornate carvings adorn the walls, depicting scenes of wolves, forests, and battles, their intricate details almost alive in the flickering lamplight.Above me hangs a chandelier, its crystals catching the light and scattering it in a thousand tiny rainbows. It looks like a piece of the night sky, captured and frozen. This isn’t the pack house. Panic surges through me, a cold rush that sends my heart racing. Where
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
Jasmine’s POVThe abyss is waking. The air hums with unseen power, pressing against my skin, burrowing into my bones. Every breath feels heavy, like I’m inhaling something ancient, something that remembers.Ba-dum.Ba-dum.The heartbeat of the entity beneath us rattles through the cavern. The ground trembles, cracks like spiderwebs spreading outward. The chains holding the abyssal force flicker with eerie red runes, but they are failing.Something within me knows what this means. It has slept long enough. Ramon’s fingers tighten around mine. His presence grounds me, his power merging with mine like two flames twisting together, burning brighter instead of consuming each other.I look up at him, my chest rising and falling with the effort to contain what’s changing inside me. My body is reacting, shifting, but it’s not just the Ailuranthrope. It’s something more. It’s him. My mate.My very own ancient vampire lord. Our connection is not just a tether, it’s a catalyst. The longer I rema
Ramon's POV The Obsidian Expanse shudders beneath my boots. I feel her, my sweet Jasmine. Her presence calls to me like a flame flickering in an endless void. She is close, so close, but something is trying to swallow her whole. Not a chance! Not when I still roam this world.Victor keeps pace beside me. His two daggers gleaming under the eerie glow of the prison realm. " I hope you have a plan, lord Kovah." He mutters. I bare my fangs as I respond. "Yes, we will just kill everything that stands in our way." Victor shudders and exhales slowly. "Lord Ramon, this is not a plan but a suicide mission!"I ignore him. No one, absolutely no one can talk me out of this. My fingers tighten around the hilt of my sword and dark energy crackles along the blade. I let my power surge through me. It's ancient, ruthless and unrelenting. I have spent centuries ruling the night, bending shadows to my will. However, none of it means nothing if I cannot protect my mate. My sweet Jasmine needs me and I
Jasmine’s POVThe darkness devours me. One moment, I’m standing in the heart of Kaiden’s prison realm. The next, I’m yanked into the abyss. Cold air rushes past me as I plunge downward, my stomach flipping with the force of the fall. Shadows coil around my limbs, twisting, writhing, whispering..."She awakens…" "The Ailuranthrope stirs…" "She does not belong… and yet… she is ours." A sharp pang of pain lances through my skull as something slams into my mind. Visions, fragmented and ancient, flash before my eyes.A battlefield drenched in blood and moonlight. A figure wreathed in silver fire, standing before an unfathomable void. Chains. So many chains, binding something that should have never been awakened. I gasp, my lungs burning, and suddenly, I stop falling.The shadows unravel, depositing me onto solid ground. My knees hit the floor, my palms scraping against what feels like cold stone. I push myself up, heart pounding, eyes darting around. I’m no longer in the Obsidian Expanse.
Kaiden’s POVJasmine stares at me with defiance in her golden eyes, her breath sharp, her body coiled like she’s ready to strike, even though she can’t. Not here. Not in my realm.A smile tugs at the corner of my lips. Even stripped of her power, she refuses to yield. That fire… that spirit… It’s why I always knew she was mine."Where are we?" she demands again. I study her for a long moment before answering. “The Obsidian Expanse.” Her brow furrows. She doesn’t recognize the name. Good.I take slow steps toward her, deliberate and unthreatening, watching her every move. “This place was once a battleground during the wars of old. A place where the most powerful beings were sent when they were deemed too dangerous to roam free.” Jasmine’s jaw tightens. “A prison.” I incline my head. “For some.”Her fingers flex, as if reaching for strength she no longer has. I see the flicker of alarm in her expression, the realization that whatever connection she once had, to her Ailuranthrope side, t
Ramon’s POVThe moment Kaiden vanishes with Jasmine, the world tilts.I don’t think. I react.A feral roar rips from my throat as I lunge forward, but they’re already gone. The scent of ozone and ancient magic lingers in the air, a mocking trace of the portal he used. My chest heaves, rage pulsing through my veins like molten fire. My sweet Jasmine… gone.The arena erupts. The Supreme Council members jump to their feet, shouting orders, while warriors scramble in confusion. Some call for an immediate pursuit. Others, those who have always wanted Jasmine eliminated, pretend to be outraged while barely concealing their satisfaction.The two remaining ancients, Tharros Blackfire and Arinthal Starweaver, stand frozen, their expressions unreadable. This made me snap. "You fools let this happen," I snarl, turning on them, my fangs elongating. "You spoke of honor, of connection, but one of you just proved that all he cares about is possession."Tharros steps forward, his golden eyes troubled
Jasmine’s POVThe arena hums with energy, thousands of eyes locked on me as I stand in the center. The Supreme Council sits high on their throne, their expressions unreadable, while the gathered packs and supernatural factions whisper amongst themselves.Across from me, Ryker stands tall, his golden eyes filled with uncertainty. He had expected to fight Ramon, to prove his dominance through strength. But I refuse to let him dictate my fate. This is my fight. My choice.The air grows thick with tension as the Head Warlock of the Council raises his hand. His voice echoes across the arena. “The challenge is set. Let it begin.”The moment the words leave his lips, Ryker moves, swift and powerful. His Alpha strength is undeniable, but I have something far greater, the will to break free.He strikes first, his movements sharp and precise, but I evade him, dodging at the last moment. My instincts sharpen, my body knowing exactly how to move before my mind even registers it. I meet his next a
Jasmine’s POVAt the center of the battleground stands Ryker. His posture is stiff, his jaw locked in determination, but there’s an unease in his golden eyes as he watches me step forward, flanked by Ramon.The Vampire Lord walks towards me with slow, deliberate grace, his very presence commanding the respect of everyone present. His crimson eyes flicker with restrained fury, though his expression remains unreadable.We were summoned here because Ryker went to the Supreme Council and reported that Ramon was hiding me. The Council, desperate for control, had wasted no time calling us forth.The Head Councilor, an old warlock with sunken eyes and robes woven with silver symbols of rank, leans forward. His voice booms across the arena.“Ramon Kovah, The vampire lord of the Crimson Clan, you are accused of concealing the existence of the Ailuranthrope, an entity whose power belongs to the supernatural world, not a single individual.” His sharp gaze slides to me. “Jasmine Darkbane, the la