KASMINE.I sat in front of the mirror, staring at my gorgeous reflection.I looked stunning tonight. Except it was for the wrong man.My little black dress hugged my curves in the right proportion. The fabric stretched over the swell of my hips, traced the dip of my waist, and framed my breasts with a deep V-cut that ran deeper than the turmoil I felt inside me, exposing my cleavages, which were full and firm.Mum had made sure every detail was perfect, down to how my hair had been styled.She made sure to tell the maids the exact hairstyle I should wear that would compliment my light makeup and dress style.They had gathered my curls into a loose updo, full and elegant as if the strands had been caught mid-motion and pinned in place by the wind itself.Soft tendrils slipped free, lazily framing my face, their curls brushing against my skin in delicate spirals. At the nape of my neck, wisps of hair teased my bare shoulders, adding softness to the otherwise sultry look.It looked effor
KESTER.The thought of not talking to Kasmine for two days plagued me. I could barely live a normal life. But I had to stay away from her before I'd do something we both would regret.I didn't want to hurt her. So, this was for the best.I made an Inquiry from the hospital and found out that she was truly there – my curiosity had got the better part of me, but that was as far as I let my curiosity take me. I refused to ask what she went there for. I'd want her to tell me herself.A part of me felt I wouldn't like what her reason would be. But I still wanted to know."Babe?" I heard a voice whisper to me while soft fingers grazed my thigh, pulling me back to the reality displayed in front of me.It was June.I had zoned out again. Fuck.I was there with them, but my attention was with someone else. Mine.I lifted my gaze, and the dimly lit dining hall of the Mellors' estate came back into focus, the heavy scent of roasted meat and aged wine pressing against me.Across the long table, A
KESTER.The long-awaited meeting had finally ended, yet my mind was nowhere near at ease.June had begged me to spend the night in their pack, but I refused. I needed to go home. Needed to see her. Even if from a distance. Even if I didn't speak to her.I just needed Kasmine.My life, which was once so neatly arranged, so ruthlessly in my hands, was quickly spiraling out of control, and I, the master of control, almost had no control over it.I clenched my jaw and redialed.The fucker finally picked up after what felt like the hundredth call."You could pass for a certified asshole, you know that, right?" I snapped the moment Norlan answered.He just laughed, "Yeah… I recognize that tone. Dude's pissed."Norlan's laugh grated on my nerves."Go on," he drawled. "Spit it out. What's got your panties in a twist?"I exhaled sharply. "I picked a date."A beat of silence followed. Then, "For what? Your funeral?"I didn't answer. He was sharp. He'd figure it out.Another pause, and then a lo
KASMINE.Jaden had begun our "date" with questions and answers. No one told me I was coming for an exam."So, tell me, Kasmine..." He leaned back against his chair, swirling the wine in his glass like he was some aristocrat about to interrogate the help. "You're what now? Twenty-two?"I blinked, fork freezing midway to my mouth. "I'll be Twenty-one in two weeks."He smirked. "Ah, still a baby."My jaw tightened. "I wouldn't call myself that."He let out a short, amused breath. "Of course, you wouldn't. You probably think you're all grown up, don't you?"I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.'It's just dinner. Get through it and go home.'Was he always this arrogant, or was he was just excelling at it tonight?I adjusted the napkin on my lap, keeping my expression neutral as I took a sip of water. This was our first meeting, and within ten minutes, I already wanted to leave.I stared at him, debating the best way to answer. With words? Or by throwing my drink in his face?Instead, I for
KASMINE.The drive was cold. Tense. Nerve-wracking. Not because of the silence—but because of him.Kester sat beside me, a storm barely contained beneath his skin. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles pale against the leather, and though his gaze stayed fixed on the road, the tension in his jaw and the rigid line of his shoulders told me exactly how pissed he was.My fingers twitched all the way home.Kester, in his usual character, didn't say a word to me throughout. He was just seething beside me, driving at a speed that almost made me say my last prayer.We drove into the parking lot, and he jammed the car door shut, but before he'd walk over to my own side of the car, I was already out and walking toward the house.I didn't wait for him.A part of me was happy he'd saved me from that jerk. But the other part of me was angry with him for so many reasons.He didn't speak to me for two days. And now, suddenly, he thought he had the right to storm in, play hero, and act
KASMINE."Fuck..." A curse ripped from his throat as his hands snapped to my waist, holding me in place, his fingers digging in just enough to make me gasp."You don't get it, do you?" His voice was lower now, a bit darker. "This isn't fucking easy. You think I don't want to bury myself in you right now? Take you exactly the way I know you need?" His fingers flexed again, and my breath hitched. "But I won't do it like this. I won't do it when I'm too fucking furious to control myself."I leaned in, brushing my lips against his jaw, letting my voice drop to a whisper. "I don't care."His breath hitched.I pressed closer, feeling the heat rolling off his body, the tension crackling between us like a live wire. "Unless you want someone else to fuck me," I murmured, my lips grazing the shell of his ear, "then walk away."His entire body went rigid.Bingo! I got him.A muscle jumped in his jaw, his fingers tightening on my hips in a way that sent a delicious thrill up my spine. "Kasmine."
KASMINE.Heat leaked through me, pooling between my thighs.A palm slid down my spine, pushing me further into the bed making my arch my back, before gripping my hips and positioning me the way he liked.His other hand nudged my knees apart, parting my thighs with an ease that sent another wave of need crashing through me.I felt his arousal so thick and hard, poking my entrance.A dark chuckle vibrated against my skin. "Oh, baby... You have no idea what you've just asked for." And that was all the warning I got before I felt him sink himself deep and hard into my wetness.I screamed, but thanks to the gag, it was well muffled.Kester didn't think I deserved to adjust to the brutal force at which he had plunged into me because he continued immediately, sliding in and out of my pussy without a care in the world.He fucked me. Hard. Fast. Unapologetically."This is what you wanted, huh?" he groaned, his voice laced with lust and a hint of dark satisfaction before pulling back until just
KASMINE."She doesn't need to be disturbed. Bring her breakfast here. Clean the room later." I thought I heard those in my subconscious.My body ached, every inch of me sore and sluggish as if I had been wrung dry and left to mend on its own. A sharp ache pulsed through my temples, cutting off the remnants of sleep.My body felt so foreign.The door clicked shut, but the sleep still kept me under until I heard another set of words from the same voice."Lock him up in the basement."With those words, my lashes immediately fluttered, forcing my vision into focus.Kester.He was strolling back into the room, bare-chested, wearing only his trousers, the dim morning light casting shadows across the ridges of his toned frame. He looked every bit the man who had unraveled me last night.He had his phone in his hands."Who are you locking up in what basement?" I whispered, as that was all my voice allowed me to do.My heart picked up speed at once.I tried to sit up, only for a sharp, searing
KESTER.June's laughter followed after the silence.I didn't react.But I felt the slow burn crawling up my spine. It wasn't anger or fear. Just a quiet, dangerous fucking fury that pressed like cold steel behind my ribs."You think I'm stupid?" she asked, lifting her head, chin tilted with a smirk that told me she thought she'd won.I didn't answer. I just looked at her."I've seen the signs for months, honey," she continued. "Hell, I saw the signs long before you can ever even imagine. But I said nothing."I tilted my head just slightly. "What signs?"She laughed again, slowly walking away from the table, pacing like she was giving a TED talk about betrayal. "Don't play dumb, Kester. You know exactly what the fuck I'm talking about."My silence was its own kind of answer.She turned sharply. "You've been fucking your stepsister."I didn't flinch. I didn't give her the satisfaction. But my hand curled into a fist by my side."I saw you," she continued, almost as if she was cutting he
KESTER."What's going on, Kes?" June's heels clicked on the marble floor as she walked toward the mini bar, her reflection glinting off the glass cabinetry as she poured herself into the room like she had truly become a part of the home.I didn't even turn to face her. I didn't look up. My fingers curled around the crystal glass of whiskey, my eyes fixed on the ice slowly melting inside it with lethal quietness.I was thinking of when would be the best time to go and get my mate and take her back home. When would the best time be to shatter the illusion of freedom she thought she had? This afternoon? Or tonight?June was just one final piece on the board. One final checkmark before I cleaned the house.Karina - check.Wescor and Belinzo - check.Kex and the fake Elvris - double-check.Ongoing deal with the real Elvris - check.Alpha Mellors' irrevocable contract - check.June - about to be checkmated."I just saw the news about Karina. This is... Who would have ever thought?" She drop
KESTER.Her eyes darted from the screen to Jorja, to Dad, to me. Searching for a reaction or for someone to tell her this was all just a bad dream.No one said a word.Not even Jorja—Queen of Constant Commentary. She stood frozen, one manicured hand on her chest, the other under her chin as she watched the show."Here." She said, regaining some boldness. "You can check my phone. I never sent such a text to anyone." She handed the phone over to Lance, who navigated through her text messaging app. After a few seconds, he flashed the screen in her direction, and I swear, her eyes almost fell out of their sockets.The text messages were there on her phone. The dates showed that she had sent the text just two days ago."No. No." She shook her head, "There is... There is a mix-up here. I can't recall doing any of these... No." She was trembling, taking slow steps backward. "Someone must've… drugged me or set me up or something. This isn't—this isn't fair."Fair?I almost laughed.She looked
KESTER.I didn't waste a single second. The moment Jorja spun on her heel, I was right behind her.She was fuming, and that said a lot.Jorja valued image above breath itself. Her obsession with appearances had governed every move she'd ever made. She hated anything that would ruin her image or that of her family.So, if she looked like she wanted to throw someone through a window, I knew the situation was beautiful.No wonder Kasmine was really scared about our secret. With a mother like this? Shame was a goddamn religion."Good morning, Alpha," The five men greeted in unison.I peeped outside and caught sight of two matte-black vans and a Hilux parked on the driveway.A few more men flanked the vehicles, securing the perimeter. And, of course, a curious audience who wouldn't miss the spectacle for anything in the world had begun to form.The icing on the cake? The news reporters were here to cover the spectacle. I'm certain her mate, Alpha Wes, would have a wonderful time watching h
KESTER."Kester? Aren't you concerned that your sister just left without a word?" My father said to me as soon as I stepped into the house.I'd spent the night in my office, tying up every thread, smoothing out every wrinkle in my plan. Today was execution day. Every piece was falling neatly into place—Karina included. And once that was done, my company and my Alpha title would be secured, solidified, and untouchable. Then I can go get my mate and take her back to our home, and we'll live in peace.Things had never been this perfect before.Everything was aligned, gliding forward on greased rails.Suspiciously perfect? Maybe.But perfection isn't impossible—not when you have the right brain and a flawlessly loyal right-hand man like Norlan. With Norlan, even impossibilities get scheduled and signed off.The intervention team should be pulling up any minute now. And June proposed to visit tomorrow. I didn't stop her. She had to be here for me to end things with her."She's fine. No one
KESTER.The one thing the Moon Goddess had ever done right was chaining Kasmine to me with something she couldn't undo. Something she didn't choose and didn't have a choice in.Fate.I should worship the Moon Goddess for it. For once, she wasn't playing games. She gave me the one thing I ever wanted, the one thing that was mine.And Kasmine… sweet, confused, little Kasmine… she still thought she had a say in all this.I know exactly what's spinning in that pretty head of hers. She thinks the next step is rejection. She thinks that the bond we share is something she can sever with a few muttered words and teary eyes.That has to be the funniest fucking thing I've ever imagined. Because let the world split open, and the Draegor himself crawl out of the pit of hell to rule this earth—I would never reject my fated mate.Fuck.'My. Fated. Mate.' The sound of it made a dance erupt in my stomach.I couldn't believe this was happening, in all honesty.I didn't plan on telling anyone yet. We
KASMINE.My legs propelled me before my brain had the time to think. I ran as fast as I could into the crowd.All I could feel was him. That magnetic, horrifying pull closing in like a vice around my ribs.I reached for Jake and pulled him by his arm. He was the closest person I could find. Claire was nowhere to be found."Jake. Jake. Come." I couldn't even form the words I wanted to say."What—babe, what's going on?" he stammered, confused, half-turning toward me.I didn't answer. I just yanked him with everything I had, dragging him out of the crowd and into the parking lot like the devil himself was behind us.Because he was.I felt Kester's presence closing in on us like smoke. It was so fast that my heart almost jumped out of my mouth.His scent grew stronger, too. And it was mixed with fury and danger.Panic clawed up my throat."Jake!" I practically threw myself into the passenger seat of his car—the old, beat-up piece of junk his uncle barely lets him drive. I didn't care. I s
KASMINE.The crowd grew still.I tilted my head back and stared up at the sky. The moon was almost there—gliding slowly and painfully toward the center of the heavens. It wasn't full tonight. Just a gentle crescent. But that didn't matter. Everyone knew—on your twenty-first birthday, the second the moon touched the center of the sky, the magic awakened. The wolf either came—or it didn't.My chest rose and fell quickly.Almost there.Almost.Then—It happened.A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my spine like lightning. My legs buckled. I hit the ground hard, knees slamming into the grass as my hands dug into the earth.A scream tore from my throat before I could stop it.It felt like fire was eating me from the inside out. Like my skin was being peeled, my bones shattered and glued back together wrong. I could hear them—cracking, shifting, snapping—over and over again like a thousand sticks breaking at once.I couldn't breathe.I couldn't even think.I was writhing and gasping, my body
KASMINE."Hey babe," A voice sounded behind me as a warm hand wrapped around my waist from behind.I almost jumped out of my skin."Jake! You scared me!" I sighed, placing my hand against my chest.He chuckled softly, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. "Why would you be scared in a hall full of people?" he teased, cocking his head with that soft smirk he always wore when he was trying to make me forget how broken things really were. "No one can hurt you here. Relax."I tried. I really did.He looked cute tonight, in that signature Jake style—white trousers, snug black T-shirt... Casual. Clean. Boy-next-door handsome. The kind of look that once made me feel butterflies just from catching his scent.Now? The butterflies were barely breathing. Limp-winged. Exhausted.I forced a smile. Forced the ache in my gut to turn into warmth, to find something—anything—in me that still fluttered for him."Cheer up, babe," he said gently, his thumb brushing the side of my arm. "You look go