—HADES.-I am seriously trying to put my shits together. Jasmine looks so good, way too good. It's taking more than self-control to just quietly hold my kids and not kiss her, or do worse. I'm struggling to maintain my composure, my eyes fixed on her radiant smile.Azrael pokes his little finger in my neck, stealing my attention away from his mother. "Hey," I grin at him, my heart melting at his innocent gaze. "Cake," he mumbles, his voice barely audible."Oh right," I say, realizing I stole them from their merriments. I glance around the room, taking in the festive atmosphere. As much as I hate Denzel to the core, I have to admit he's done well. The party is impressive, and Jasmine and the kids look happy.Who knows what would have happened to Jasmine and my kids if Denzel hadn't taken them in and made them feel safe? Maybe they wouldn't be thriving like this. So maybe, just maybe, if I'm destined to finally end him, I'll make it simple and not make it agonizing. I'll spare him a sl
—HADES contd.I take Jasmine's hand, and we make our way out of the party, leaving the noise and chaos behind. I'm seething with anger, but as I glance down at Jasmine, I feel a surge of protectiveness towards her. Holding her hand always feels good, but tonight it feels especially right. Her hand is soft and delicate in mine, and I find myself not wanting to let go.As we walk, I can see the panic setting in on her face. She looks frightened, and I know it's because of the necklace she's wearing. I want to remove it, to take it away from her, but I know I need to focus on getting her to the wearer.We arrive at the main pack house of the Bluemoon, and I storm inside, my anger and frustration boiling over. The servants who are unfortunate enough to not go to the party but working inside become startled, looking up at us with a mix of fear and wariness.Jasmine immediately steps forward, her voice calm and soothing. "Guys, please don't be frightened," she says, her presence seeming to
—HADES.I tighten my hand around Anna's neck, my grip firm but controlled. She taps my hand frantically, gasping for air. "I'll take it off," she panics, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please," she taps my hand again, this time with a hint of aggression.I beckon Jasmine to come closer, my eyes never leaving Anna's face. When Jasmine approaches, I release Anna, my glare intensifying. I guess she values Denzel more than her own life.Jasmine moves her hair to one side and bends her knees, matching Anna's height. I stand behind Anna, my eyes fixed on her as she hesitantly reaches for the necklace."Give it," I order, my voice firm.Anna hesitates, taking a step back. "You're making the wrong choice again," I warn, my voice echoing around the washroom."You don't know how hard it was to obtain this necklace," Anna protests, her eyes darting between Jasmine and me."Ah," I say, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "That's why you decided to entrap it around Jasmine's neck." I watch as
—JASMINE-I'd be a liar if I said I am not glad Hades is here, holding me, consoling me, and assuring me. What would I have done if he hadn't shown up and taken that horrible necklace from my neck? The thought sends a shiver down my spine. That thing scared the freak out of me and gave me even more reason not to trust anyone here. Anna was the kindest person I thought I knew, and look where that got me. I almost became a puppet, a mere pawn in Denzel's twisted game.And I'm scared, scared of how they'll manipulate Enora too. She'll have to follow Denzel's orders because we live here, and that will become a problem. I know Denzel has been cooking up something with her, and I fear for what that might be. He's been spending too much time with her, whispering in her ear, and I can sense the darkness brewing.I know I said I couldn't trust Hades, but he's seriously the only person I can trust right now. I'm just being stubborn, refusing to admit that he's the only one who's shown up for
—JASMINE.-I know that Hades often takes pleasure in the misfortunes of others, reveling in their suffering with a wicked sense of delight. But when it comes to Denzel, his fascination goes far beyond mere enjoyment. It's an all-consuming obsession that captivates him, sending his satisfaction into a frenzy of ecstasy and euphoria. The mere sight of Denzel's eyes fixed on us, his ears flushing crimson with rage as he witnesses our kiss, should be enough to make Hades release me from his grasp. Yet, instead of letting go, Hades tightens his hold around my waist, pulling me closer to his chiseled body.As I'm drawn nearer, I'm enveloped by his intoxicating scent - a sweet, irresistible aroma that's like the richest icing, making me want to indulge and savor every morsel without hesitation. It's a heady, seductive fragrance that leaves me breathless and wanting more.Denzel's voice cuts through the charged atmosphere, his tone heavy with authority. "What is this?" he demands, his eyes
—JASMINE-As the ruckus outside continues to escalate, Denzel, seemingly fed up with the distraction, storms out of the room to investigate the commotion. Hades and I, however, don't waste any time standing around and watching. We quickly exit the room and hurry back to the party, eager to escape the tension.Meanwhile, Denzel stops one of his maids aggressively, his grip on her arm tightening as he demands, "What is going on?" The maid, clearly shaken, catches her breath and steadies herself before replying, her voice heaved and breathless. "The fireworks, Alpha Denzel... they were supposed to go off when you announced your new Luna, but they went off early and in the wrong place, destroying everything!"Denzel's expression doesn't betray any surprise, his voice calm and collected. "What?" he asks, as if seeking clarification.The maid nods frantically, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes! The fireworks were meant to be a grand display, but they malfunctioned and caused chaos!"De
—JASMINE.—As I open my eyes, I realize I've been asleep for quite some time. My body feels sore and stiff, and I desperately want to get out of this uncomfortable party dress that's been constricting me for hours. Just as I'm trying to gather my bearings, Astria's warm hand touches my face, and I become aware that we're still in the Jeep that Ezra has been driving. We've finally come to a stop, and I can sense that we've arrived at our destination.As I step out of the car, the bright lights of the surrounding buildings hit me like a tidal wave. The night is old, but you wouldn't know it from the dazzling display of lights that makes the area brighter than day. I blink in the harsh glare, trying to take it all in.And then, it hits me - the familiarity of where I am. The Silvermist pack. I recognize the buildings, the streets, and the atmosphere. It's a place I thought I'd never set foot in again, yet here I am.I look around, trying to take it all in. The Silvermist pack is ju
—JASMINE.—I watch as Alison's words hang in the air, her gaze fixed on my twins. She takes another step forward, her movements hesitant, as if drawn by an unseen force. Hades decides to water her curiosity, a knowing smile spreading across his face. "Meet my kids, Alison, if you'd like to let your gaze leave them for a few seconds," he says, his voice low and smooth.As Hades excuses himself and heads into a corner to talk to Ezra, Alison's eyes remain fixed on my twins. She sucks in a deep breath, her chest rising and falling, and glances at Enora, who looks away. "But you never claimed to have kids," Alison begins, her voice barely above a whisper.I see the realization dawn on her face, the absurdity of her statement sinking in. Alison's eyes dart back to my twins, her voice laced with a mix of fear and curiosity. "And they're Hades' kids?" she asks, her tone almost hushed.I feel a pang of amusement at Alison's questioning. She's the one asking herself these questions a