JadeThe brief silence that followed felt agonising, my heart hammering in my chest as I scrambled to pull on my shirt, my face burning with embarrassment.Darius, lounging on the bed with that infuriating smirk still etched on his face, caught the pillow I’d thrown at him effortlessly. His eyes flicked back up to meet mine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw something there—hesitation, mixed with a flicker of heat—that made my pulse race. His ears, flushed pink, betrayed him, but that damn smirk was still there, making the whole situation even more unbearable.“You’re impossible,” I muttered, trying to sound confident, though my voice wavered as I fought to fix my clothes.He chuckled, running a hand through his dark hair, the smirk widening. “You’re the one who jumped into bed without checking if someone was waiting for you,” he teased, his eyes lingering on me a little too long.“And in my defence, I wasn’t expecting you to strip the moment you walked in."he said, raising his hands i
JadeAs I nestled deeper into Darius' arms, savouring the warmth of his body pressed against mine. There was something so comforting in the way he held me, like I was the most precious thing in the world. I wished this moment could last forever.His breath warmed my ear, and his voice, low and full of quiet authority, stirred me from my thoughts. “Open your eyes, Jade.”Reluctantly, I blinked my eyes open, slowly adjusting to the scene in front of me. When my vision cleared, my breath caught in my throat.We stood in the most beautiful garden I had ever seen. Soft lanterns illuminated every corner, casting a golden glow over the vibrant reds, purples, and pinks of blooming flowers. The sweet scent of blossoms filled the air, and fairy lights twinkled like stars between the trees. In the centre of it all was a small table with two chairs, set under an ancient oak tree with vines winding around it like something out of a fairytale. On the table sat a candle flickering gently beside wha
JadeMy body stiffened as the reality of what Darius was asking me sank in. The Ritual of Possession... It was the most dangerous thing a woman could go through. One out of nine survived.The thought alone made my blood run cold.The idea of lying on a cold slab, surrounded by witches chanting spells over my drugged body while they tore the bloodline of another man from within me—it was a nightmare too horrific to even imagine. And now, he—my mate—was asking me to go through it. He might as well have held a knife to my throat.“You’re insane,” I whispered, stepping back, my voice shaky. “Do you even hear yourself?”Darius's jaw tightened, his eyes burning with desperation. "You don’t understand, Jade. If there’s even the smallest chance that Rowon is the father—what happens to us? What happens to me?"His words slapped my face so hard that I blinked, shocked by the selfishness of it. My stomach churned, not from nausea this time but from a deep, growing anger.“Stop talking nonsense!”
Jade Althea tied a tourniquet gently around my arm, her fingers pressing just firmly enough to make my vein stand out. I watched in silence as she prepared the needle, my heart thudding in my chest. She caught me staring and gave a brief, reassuring smile—one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.“This won’t take long,” she murmured, more to herself than to me, as she slid the needle into my arm, drawing blood. I barely felt it; my mind was already racing, tangled in a hundred thoughts I couldn’t seem to sort.After filling a small vial, she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball against my skin, motioning for me to hold it in place. She sealed the vial, then looked back up at me with the slightest hint of amusement."Just ten minutes," she said, tucking the vial into her lab coat pocket. “I’ll run it in the lab. You can... take a seat, if you’d like.”I nodded stiffly, watching her disappear down a hallway. The room seemed to close in around me the moment I was alone. Ten minutes.
DariusI watched her storm away, her shoulders tense, each step quickening with each passing second as if she couldn't get away fast enough. Every instinct in me screamed to run after her, to apologise, to undo the hurt I’d caused. My wolf clawed at me, restless and desperate, but I stayed rooted in place, every muscle tight with restraint. Going after her now would only make things worse. She deserved space. And after what I’d just said to her, I didn’t deserve her forgiveness—not yet.When I finally sank back into the garden chair, the romantic setup I'd spent hours preparing mocked me under the dim light. Candles flickered uselessly beside the cold, untouched plates of food. I reached for the bottle of wine, pouring a glass, and took a long, bitter sip, swallowing down the ache in my throat. The alcohol burned, but it was a dull relief compared to the guilt tearing at me.“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, clenching the glass so hard I thought it might shatter. My mind replayed
JadeI entered the room with my chin held high, sweeping my gaze across the sea of surprised faces. All eyes were on me—exactly as I’d planned. My father’s head jerked up, his brows knitting together, a glint of suspicion flickering in his eyes as he rose slowly from his seat."Jade," he said, his voice holding a carefully controlled edge. "What do you mean by ‘another candidate,’ if not Darius? Surely, you don’t mean…” His gaze hardened as it shifted to Rowon, who lounged in his chair, an annoyingly smug smile on his face. “It better not be who I think it is.”Rowon looked like he’d already won, his eyes glinting with unspoken challenge. The sight of it made my stomach twist, but I forced my expression to remain neutral as I approached the table.“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” I replied with the faintest smile."And sorry to burst your bubble, Alpha, but I meant exactly what I said,” I continued, lowering myself into the empty chair beside him, offering a small, almost apologetic s
JadeThe moment the meeting adjourned, I rose swiftly from my seat, keeping my gaze averted from Darius. I could feel his eyes burning into the back of my head, but I refused to look back. I kept my head high, determined to ignore the painful pull of our bond. My heart pounded as I approached the door, the ache of leaving him weighing heavily against my ribs.I was almost at the door when Rowon stepped directly into my path, his smirk as infuriating as ever. “Jade,” he began, tilting his head as if he’d caught me in some game, “please give me a minute of your precious time.”I raised a brow, folding my arms across my chest, refusing to show even a hint of intimidation. “If you’re going to waste my time, make it quick. I don’t have time for whatever... you think this is.”He didn’t seem fazed; if anything, my annoyance only seemed to amuse him. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a slim, cream-coloured envelope. “Just take this,” he said, holding it out to me. “Please, Jade. Just h
JadeThe walls of my room felt like they were closing in, shadows creeping over me as the Omegas moved around in silence. One carefully pulled a traditional robe over my shoulders, its heavy fabric grounding me, while another swept away the mess I’d allowed to pile up these last two days. I’d been living like an animal, wallowing in heartbreak, until every inch of this room seemed soaked in my misery.My wolf was silent, buried so deep I could barely feel her warmth anymore. I missed her. I missed him…in a way that left a hollowness gnawing at me.I forced my gaze back to the mirror, barely recognising the girl staring back. Then, one of the Omegas cleared her throat, drawing me out of my haze. “Alpha Jade,” she murmured, glancing over at her partner nervously. “I was going to take out the trash, but I found this envelope in the bin.”Rowon’s letter. My stomach twisted at the sight of it, lying in her hands as if waiting to haunt me. I had tossed it in a moment of anger and disgust, b
Jade After the unexpected attack on the pack, Darius and I wasted no time organising meetings with scientists. Now, five days later, we found ourselves in a secret laboratory that seemed more like a fortress than a workplace.The lab was bathed in cold, sterile white light, the kind that left everything sharp and cold. It stretched wide, with rows of polished metal counters lined with vials, wires, and gleaming weapon prototypes that looked as deadly as they were sophisticated. Scientists in pristine lab coats moved around like ghosts, focused and determined, their heads bent over blueprints or screens flickering with code, adjusting equipment that hummed quietly with raw power. This place was a fortress of secrets, a weapon lab hidden from the world—a sanctuary of destruction waiting to be unleashed. Darius and I had sworn the scientists protection, wealth, and land in return for their work, promises that would be fulfilled once we won the war. Darius was right—we didn’t know what
Darius The air in the interrogation room was thick with tension, and the sharp scent of blood clung to everything. I studied the two captives before me, both battered, bruised, and visibly shaken. Their faces were pale, and their bodies trembled, every twitch betraying the fear simmering beneath their defiance.They’d seen what I was capable of; they knew this was far from a game.I leaned against the wall, letting the silence stretch uncomfortably, intensifying their fear. The taller of the two men shifted, glancing nervously at his partner before muttering."Please... spare our lives. We don’t want to die.” he stammered.I allowed a cold smirk to spread across my face. “Oh, now you care about your lives?” I muttered with cold amusement, twirling a blade between my fingers. Its edge glinted under the dim light, catching their wide, terrified eyes every time it spun. “If that’s true, all you need to do is talk. Doesn’t sound too hard, does it?”They said nothing; they just sat there s
Jade"Darius, please," I whispered, though I knew he could hear the tension trembling in my voice—it was impossible to hide my anxiety. "Tell me... what kind of woman is Lilian? No—better yet, who exactly is her father?"Darius looked up from the documents, pausing mid-turn of the page, his brows knitting together as he studied me. “Why the sudden interest in my ex-mate?”I pressed my lips together, clenching my fists, frustration and anxiety mixing uncomfortably in my chest. I knew I should let it go, and I also didn't want to tell him how much Lilian’s words had haunted me since our run-in, the way they clung like thorns. “Urgh!” I huffed, throwing up my hands, my pulse a drumming I could feel everywhere. “Can’t I be curious? Why are you acting so defensive?”He sighed, setting the papers down as his eyes softened. “It’s not about that. It’s just…” He hesitated, his gaze searching, as though the right words were somewhere hidden between us. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about he
JadeI stirred from sleep, feeling a warmth settle over me, like a soft glow pulsing at the edge of my consciousness. Slowly, I blinked away the remnants of sleep, my eyes adjusting to the morning light, and there he was—Darius, his gaze burning into me with such intensity it stole my breath. The depth in his eyes was something I’d never seen before—an unguarded tenderness and love so fierce that it tightened something in my chest. I realised, with a thrill, that I could feel him now—his emotions mingling with mine in the bond we’d created, a vivid, unmistakable presence in my heart.“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low, barely breaking the stillness.Unable to hold back a smile, I snuggled closer, pressing my face into his chest and letting myself breathe him in. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer, his touch gentle but steady. I felt… safe. Truly safe.I had just begun to relax again when my mother’s voice rang up from downstairs. “Jade! Come down for b
JadeI looked into Darius' intense, burning eyes; my heart swelled with emotion. I’d always been drawn to them—that deep, captivating gaze that seemed to see right through me. Now, knowing he’s loved me for so long, his sincerity is almost overwhelming in its purity.It was time to sever any bond or oath I had left with Rowan for good, just as Althea had warned. I could take that risk now, and with the two of us alone at my house, this was my chance. It was now or never."I want you, Darius," I whispered. "Not just now, but for always. We've wasted so much time, and I don't want to delay our bond any further."His brow furrowed, a look of anxious concern flickering across his face. “Jade, are you sure? I know learning about my feelings has been sudden... and after everything with Rowan, I don’t want you to feel pressured or obligated.”I tilted my head, clenching my fists at my sides. “Don’t you understand, Darius? There’s no confusion. I’ve wanted you for a long time; I just didn’t r
JadeAs we walked away, I clutched Darius's hand tightly, my mind spinning in a thousand directions. The image of Liliana lingered—she was effortlessly beautiful, the kind of woman any man would dream of. Even I, a woman, could see it. And yet… Darius had rejected her. He’d turned down that perfect, goddess-like creature—for me?Crazy.The silence between us was heavy, but I couldn't bring myself to break it. A knot formed in my stomach as anger bubbled up, not because of Liliana’s beauty but because Darius had kept her existence a secret. Why didn’t he tell me? He knows how much I hated secrets and couldn't stand them. And now with Rowan lurking, circling like a vulture waiting for any chance to tear us apart... to pounce on any weakness... he let Rowan get under my skin by handing him this opportunity on a silver platter.I didn’t even know where I was leading him, only that I needed to be somewhere private, somewhere I could yell at him without an audience. When we reached my house
Darius If someone had told me Jade would one day look at me with that spark in her eyes and say she was beginning to feel something for me... God, I wouldn’t have believed it. Hell, I would’ve laughed in their faces. But hearing those words... knowing she’s finally falling for me... nothing in this world could compare. The sound of her voice, the softness in her gaze—all I could think was how lucky I was. She said she cared deeply for me, and those words made me feel like the happiest man alive.Funny how my mother’s madness ended up bringing out this side of Jade, forcing her to reveal her loyalty and her feelings. And now, hearing her say she feels something for me... I’d give her the world. No—I already promised myself. I’d rather break every bone in my body than break her heart. I’d fight for her, for us, with everything in me.I wanted to hold her, protect her, and make her laugh for the rest of our lives. But of course, my happiness barely had a chance to settle before that sm
JadeMy gaze was locked on Darius’s mother, and for a second, she looked shocked, as if I’d slapped her across the face, and then anger simmered to the surface. Her hand slammed down on the table with such force that all the dishes rattled, some even lifting briefly before settling back down. I felt the jolt through my whole body, but I held my ground, refusing to look away.“Don’t you ever call me ‘mother-in-law,’” she spat, her eyes narrowing with venom. “I would never want someone like you for my son. You might be his mate, but that means nothing to me. You’ve hurt him, and you’re risking his life. If you had an ounce of decency, you’d end this relationship before it drags him down any further.”Heat crept up my neck, and I clenched my fists at my sides. I wanted to snap and fire back, but I took a deep breath, knowing that lashing out would only feed and fuel her disdain. Still, I couldn’t stop the small, mocking smile tugging at my lips as I raised an eyebrow.“Then, I suppose it
JadeWe gathered around the breakfast table, and I could feel the tension hanging in the air—so thick I could almost taste it, and it made my skin prickle. Everyone was seated, but no one spoke, and the silence pressed down on me. I was acutely aware of Darius’s hand brushing against mine under the table, his touch a small comfort in this unnerving atmosphere. I sat beside him, holding onto that small touch, drawing strength from it as his family’s unreadable faces seemed to study my every move, especially his mother’s. She sat at the head of the table with a regal authority that made my stomach twist.Stanley, his brother, was the first to break the silence. "Mom," he said, forcing a smile, “your food is delicious."“Yes, Mom, it’s really amazing,” his sister chimed in, nodding enthusiastically.Their words seemed to hang in the air, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as though everyone was holding their breath, unsure what to say next. The silence that followed felt even more loade