—JASMINEI shriek and shake my head, the exhilarating and burning feeling from the liquor coursing through my veins like a wild animal. I'm a loser when it comes to drinking, I can barely hold my alcohol, and moments like this make me proud that I can't. I just want to drown, to forget, to escape."Another one, Mason," I say to the bartender, my voice slurred and sloppy. We've become friends, I guess. I don't know. I'll probably never come back here again. I've been here for twenty minutes, and I think Mason seems to like me. Maybe only because I'm drinking and paying for the most expensive alcohol, and he would simply want me to drink more because that equals more money.Mason raises an eyebrow, his throat moving heavily as he speaks. "You can't be at the counter and drink so much. Would you like to order a booth?" he asks, his deep voice tinged with concern.I gaze up at him, my eyes squinting slightly. Such a huge Adam's apple. He has nice brown honey skin, and he's really tall and
—HADES—I pull up in front of Judbar, the neon lights of the bar reflecting off the wet pavement. The sun is starting to set, so everything will shine brighter than the day soon.I loosen my grip on the steering wheel, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I can't believe I'm back here, at this place that holds so many memories, so much pain.I used to come here when I learned Jasmine lost her memory when I felt like everything was unfair like something big was taken away from me. I would drown my sorrows in alcohol, trying to numb the pain, trying to forget. But after ending things with Jasmine and settling with Alison, I stopped coming back here. I realized that drinking my problems away wouldn't solve anything, that it would only lead to more heartache.But here I am, back at Judbar, tempted by the familiar comfort of alcohol. One drink won't hurt, I tell myself. I'm tired of breathing the same stuffy air with Alison, tired of the tension between us. She's still asleep,
—HADES.The moment Mason leaves, I turn to Jasmine, and she looks like a lost child waiting for her mother. Her eyes are wide and vulnerable, and I wish I could crawl into her head and know what happened to her and why she's here. I don't say anything and just lay my back on the couch, trying to process everything.Jasmine stands and walks wobbly towards the table where my drink is and starts to open a bottle. I think she's going to drink it, but she doesn't. Instead, she walks up to me and hands me the bottle. "Drink with me," she insists, her voice soft and pleading.I take the bottle, feeling the weight of her gaze on me. I mean, after all, I came here to drink. And I can really hold my liquor.I unscrew the cap and take a swig, the liquor burning down my throat. Jasmine watches me, her eyes never leaving mine, and then she takes the bottle from me and takes a sip herself.We sit there in silence, passing the bottle back and forth, drinking and not speaking. The tension betwe
—HADES.As I kiss her, my heart racing with anticipation, I wait for Jasmine to knock my senses out and smack me for kissing her. But instead, I'm surprised when she kisses me back, her reciprocation slow and tentative at first, but growing bolder with each passing moment.Her lips are soft and inviting, and I can feel her warmth spreading through me like wildfire. I deepen the kiss, my thirst for her taking over, and she responds in kind, her mouth opening to mine, our tongues entwining in a sensual dance.I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer, feeling her body melt into mine. Her hands slide up my chest, her fingers tangling in my hair, and I feel a shiver run down my spine.The kiss is exhilarating, leaving me breathless and wanting more. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, my pulse racing with excitement. Jasmine's body feels like home, like the missing piece I never knew I needed.As we break apart for air, I gaze into her eyes, seeing the desire and passion refle
—JASMINE.—Everything feels hazy, but overall nice, like a warm, fuzzy blanket wrapped around me. Hades' lips on my skin send shivers down my spine, and I feel like I'm floating on air. The amount of drinks I've had has finally kicked in, and for the first time in ages, everything feels wonderful. The tension in my body eases, and my mind quiets, letting go of all the worries and stress.But what's even more wonderful is the way my mind and body respond to Hades' touch. I hate that I'm enjoying this as much as I am. I'm not supposed to feel this way. This is wrong. I shouldn't be doing this. It's all his fault that I'm with Denzel and have to make this short-lived escape. It's his fault that he's not a good husband, that he's not the one I'm supposed to be with.But goodness, his tongue on my skin is like a spark of electricity, making my senses tingle and my heart race. I feel like my senses are about to disappear like I'm melting into his touch. I don't know what it is th
—JASMINE.I want nothing but Hades. I crave him with every fiber of my being. I want all of him, every inch, every touch, every kiss. I want the taste of his lips on my skin, from the curve of my neck to the brim of my body. I want him to absorb me in every way possible, to consume me whole.This bodily desire is driving me insane. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before. I don't know how to explain it, how to put into words the intensity of this longing. It's like my body is screaming for him, begging for his touch, his kiss, his presence.And what is this closeness I feel? This want? It's like my very soul is reaching out to him, yearning for connection. I feel like I'm drowning in this desire, suffocating under the weight of my own longing.But wait, why do I feel and smell Hades? Why is his presence so strong, so overwhelming? I try to make sense of it, but my mind is foggy and unclear.I open my eyes, and the first thing I get is a heavy pang of headache that comes like
—JASMINE -The minute I step back into the pack's territory and its chilly air, I see Denzel standing outside the main pack house, his expression stern and grim. My body immediately wants to twist my leg and go in another direction, to avoid the confrontation that's brewing, but I don't. I stand my ground and face him, my heart racing with a mix of emotions."You missed breakfast," he says, his voice firm and disapproving."Good morning to you too," I mumble, trying to sound nonchalant despite the turmoil inside me.Denzel's expression doesn't change. "Where did you go? Why did you leave?" he asks, his tone laced with concern and a hint of anger.I shrug, trying to appear indifferent. "Why does it matter where I go? I'm here now, aren't I?" I sigh, feeling a sense of resignation wash over me.Denzel's eyes narrow, he says, his voice softening slightly, "but I'm just trying to protect you."I want to say, "Who says I need protection?" but I don't. Instead, I let out a sigh and look
—HADESI jolt awake, my heart racing and my breath coming in short gasps. I throw off the blanket, my skin slick with sweat, and my wolf, Hills, is on high alert, sensing my distress. I hate these nightmares, these shitty, recurring blasts from the past that haunt me every time I close my eyes. I thought I'd finally overcome them, but they linger, refusing to be extinguished.I toss off the covers and get out of bed, trying to shake off the lingering fear and anxiety. The morning sun is still visible in the sky— proof that I haven’t slept more than an hour. Despite the nightmares, I feel a sense of optimism, a sense of renewal. And I know exactly why - yesterday with Jasmine was incredible. It was an unexpected turn of events, but it did what it needed to do. It reminded me that life is full of surprises, and sometimes, those surprises can be— Jasmine.I walk out of the room, trying to clear my head, trying to process my emotions. I don't know why I took so long to mark Jasmine, t