Jasmine’s POV I have always wished I could read minds. Not for any particular reason other than to know what others were thinking sometimes. I hadn’t seen Sooni since our encounter in the pack house at the coming of age ceremony and when I had asked Lena, she had simply shrugged and said. “It’s better that you do not know”. That had done nothing to ease my curiosity but I knew better than to ask again. However, the topic everyone had started to ask about and discuss was my mating ceremony to the Alpha. Shortly after the incident with Sooni, Nana had started to insist the we pick a day for our mating ceremony and so, left with very little choice on the matter, we had. Regan had insisted on me choosing the day, saying that if I wanted to become his mate the very next moment, it would still be perfect for him. So, I had talked with Lena and we had finally decided on a date for the mating ceremony to take place. After announcing the date, I had barely heard any sentenc
Regan’s POV It was the day of my mating ceremony and I had been informed that Luke had disappeared with my mate to be for a while. Of course I knew it was due to her training sessions but other than Nana and Lena, no one else had any knowledge about that. I had noticed that Jasmine and Luke had grown closer. It was clear as day to see. Luke had even gone as far as calling her by a new name he had coined from her name. I had known him all his life and had yet to get the same treatment. It caused Rage to growl in jealousy each time we heard him call her ‘Jazzie’. Partly because we had not thought to do something like that, but also because it showed just how close they had become. However, seeing the smile on Jasmine’s face each time Luke called her that was enough to make me endure the annoyance and jealousy it brought. I was anxious for some reason. One reason if I was being honest. And that reason was simple. ‘What if Jasmine changed her mind?’ That though
Regan’s POV The mating ceremony passed by in a blur. I could barely pay attention to anything else that happened and I honestly did not care. My entire being was simply ensnared by the beauty that was my mate. She was beautiful. More beautiful than I had ever seen her before and Rage howled with pride that she was now ours. The thought of someone else having Jasmine as their mate made me want to go on a rampage. She had on her ceremonial dress and her hair was styled perfectly. She was perfection and I could barely take my eyes off her. “You will burn a hole through her if you keep staring at her like that”, Luke said from where he was seated to my left. The truth was, I could not help it. “Be quiet”, I told him, absent minded as I continued to stare at her. “If I had known you would behave like this, I would have helped her escape”, I heard him say and whipped my head around so fast that he moved away. “What did you say?” I asked, Rage already growling in
Jasmine’s POV I woke up alone in bed the next morning. The space where my mate once occupied was now empty. I knew for certain that something was wrong. My mate was keeping something from me. I looked around at the room I was in. I had never been in his room before and I took a deep breath to inhale the masculine scent that was all him. The room was masculine and practical with only the essentials needed. It would have been completely masculine if it wasn’t for the few of my things that now occupied a space in the room. I stood up from the bed to further inspect the room. Noticing the designs and furnitures in the large space. It was three times the size of my own room. Or former room rather. I went to what looked to be the wash room, realizing that I was right when I pushed the door to the space open. Seeing some of my things already there, I decided to wash up and make my way to the Lena’s room as I did each day. I knocked once on her door before pushi
Regan’s POV I knew exactly what she was doing. And I only knew because I knew who exactly would advise her to act like that. Jasmine had started to avoid me. And rightly so. I knew I had not behaved too well. But I didn’t deserve to be avoided and ignored. The reason I knew the game she was playing was because I knew the person who invented it. Nana. And since Lena was quite similar to Nana In almost every way, I could only conclude that she had been the one to insist my mate start treating me in the manner she was. But her avoiding me made me realize the error of my ways. I had always told Lena to never allow a mate treat her in an undeserving or disrespectful manner. I had taught her to know her worth and not stand to receive anything less. So if Lena was advising my mate to act in that manner, it simple meant that she believed I had not treated my mate as well as I ought to have, and it made me feel guilty, sad and ashamed. I should have just explained to h
Jasmine’s POV When I woke up from my exhausted sleep, it was already dark outside. I felt sated and spent. Completely and utterly satisfied and unable to move due to how comfortable and exhausted I was. I turned to the other side of the bed to find it empty once again. Once again, I had woken up alone in our bed. However, I was too tired to think deeper on what that could mean. Regan had explored every inch and dip of my body and had brought me to heights I had never known existed time and time again. I had lost count of how many times I had cried out his name as I ascended new heights. I had never imagined that anything would have felt like that. And if that had felt incredible, I wondered what fully mating with him would be like. I felt a blush heat my cheeks as the memory of earlier in the day flooded through my mind. Before I could think on it further, I heard the door to our room crack open to reveal my mate. He came in with a tray filled with food and
Regan’s POV I could hardly recall the times in my life that I felt fear. The one that stood out the most was the terrible memory I shared alongside my pack on the day of the massacre when I was younger. Ever since then, I could barely recall a time when I felt afraid. After all, I was Alpha. But the second I had heard Lena’s shaky voice mind link me and simply caught the words ‘Jasmine’ and ‘attacked’ in the same sentence, I had once again felt the icy hands of fear claw down my spine as they had only done once before. I had been on a run with Rage and had just settled down under the tree in his sanctuary when Lena had mind linked me. Since I was still in my wolf form, I ran as fast as could towards the pack house. As soon as I approached the clearing just outside the woods, I saw Luke already standing there with a small pile of clothes in his hands. He said nothing, his face completely devoid of emotion. Something I knew for certain did whenever he was worried. De
Jasmine’s POV The darkness that surrounded me was familiar. I knew for certain that I had, not for the first nor second time, passed out once again. However, this time was different. As I gained consciousness, the first thing I noticed was the pain in my head. It wasn’t so bad that it was unbearable, but it was quite easy to notice. I tried to observe if I could feel pain anywhere else on my body but other than the ache in my head, I felt completely fine. Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking at the brightness from the windows that illuminated the room I laid in. I was in a strange room, although something about the room looked familiar. Slowly, I moved my head to the side to see that the room was indeed familiar. I was in one of the rooms in the healing house. I looked towards my other side to see my mate still asleep, holding onto my hand with both of his. A smile pulled at my lips as I watched his handsome face while he slept. It was my first time seeing hi
Jasmine’s POV It was a surprise to everyone at breakfast the next morning to see Luke seated to Regan’s left, and the two thoroughly engaged in conversation. I am sure Luke’s mate was surprised as well because we shared a glance of astonishment before turning back to watch our mates interact. It was as though Luke had never left. The only difference was, when before it would be very obvious that they were both mind linking the other, it had now become that they would openly speak to each other. I secretly believed they did that so that Lena could see. If she saw and was affected by it, she hid it well, keeping a blank and almoubored expression on her face and only interacting with the ladies and her mate throughout the meal. It was the bored expression that let me know that she was indeed affected. Lena was never bored. If she was, she created something to entertain herself and others. On the other had, the two friends who had obviously resolved whatever issues the
Regan’s POV It had been three days since Luke came home and I could still feel the awkwardness between us. Lena had still not relented in her mission to pretend he did not exist and for the most part, I felt sorry for him. Lady Zara was getting along famously with the ladies, who went out of their way to include her in every activity they performed. They had even taken her to their favorite place at the stream and it was clear to see that Lady Zara was thoroughly enjoying her stay in our pack. For my part, I was mostly confused. I did not know whether to have Luke perform duties around the pack, just as I normally would. But it was not the same. I did not even know if o could still refer to him as my Beta. We had not had a single meaningful conversation since his return. On one hand, his mate was the last relative of the deceased Alpha of Redclaw pack, which meant that he could take up the leadership of the pack as its Alpha if he chose to remain there with her. O
Jasmine’s POV If I had expected Lena to have forgiven Luke once she sore him, I and everyone else who had had similar thoughts were proved wrong. I had been surprised to look around and find her absent, only to return to the house to see that she had never left in the first place. I had known that Lena’s feelings had been hurt by Luke’s refusal to respond to the several letters she had sent him while he had been away. However, I had assumed that all would be forgiven once he returned home. I had assumed wrong. She had avoided seeing him all day and had remained in the privacy of her room until it was time for Supper. Then, she had emerged in all her cold beauty and proceeded to sit as far away from Luke at the dinner table in the pack house. Despite her avoidance of Luke and her ignoring of his existence, her cold treatment was never given to Luke’s mate, who she had pulled into a hug and gushed over how beautiful she was the moment Nana had introduced her. She had g
Regan’s POV It had been more than ten days since my warriors and I returned from our successful journey. I had received several letters from the Alpha and Luna of Nighthowl pack. Alpha Regan kept me informed on his progress with the Council of Elders while his Luna wrote to ask about my well being as well as that of my mate and our unborn pup. She also wrote to inform me that she had written to her distant nephew, the Alpha of Moonrock pack, and encouraged me to write to him, assuring me of his acceptance to hear of my request. After receiving that particular letter, I wasted no time in writing to the Alpha of Moonrock pack, convincing Alpha Gaiu to do the same on our behalf. He readily agreed, if for nothing else but for his mate sake, I suspected. However, despite writing and receiving letters, I had yet to receive a letter from the one person I had not realized I had wished to hear from the most. Luke. I had written and destroyed several letters I had meant to send
Jasmine’s POV Regan’s return brought a new light to my days. Once they had been welcomed and fed, each warrior returned to their respective homes. With his arm around my waist, my mate led us back to our home after our evening meal with the rest of the pack to welcome our warriors back. Mira had done an absolutely marvelous job at cooking up the most sumptuous meal for our supper. Everyone had eaten their feel and the mood was very merry. However, throughout the meal, Isla remained quiet as usual, only lightly conversing with Lena or other wise quietly watching and smiling to some antics the warriors did. Most of them were somewhat drunk and were obnoxiously loud. One thing that was clear to anyone with eyes was how much and how often most of the warriors who had returned -most of which were unmated - tried to gain Isla’s attention. At first, they had simply stared at her or passed her admiring glances. But once they started to drink, they grew bolder with trying to g
Regan’s POV Not long after we had taken our morning meal, after we had put Alpha Zolan to rest under the full moon the night before, my warriors and I were ready to continually our journey home. Lady Zara came to bid us farewell, expressing her gratitude for our presence and assistance. And though she did not say it, I could see her gratitude for me allowing Luke remain with her. I waved away her thanks, taking her hand and bowing over it before bidding her farewell. Then I turned to Luke. Our goodbye was a very casual affair as we both knew each other well enough to know that we did not want to get affectionate or create a scene. So we limited our goodbye to a nod and a brief handshake and patting of shoulders. As I turned around and began to walk away to join our warriors who were already gathered and waiting with our horses and supplies for our return home, I caught sight of Emry break away from the group and run past me to Luke. I did not turn around to watch what
Jasmine’s POV When I received another letter from Regan soon after the one telling me about his journey home, I knew it was not good news. The ladies and I were seated in Lena’s room, taking a much needed break from our daily activities when I received the letter. As I tore it open and began to read, I could feel the curious silence that took over the space. Disappointment settled in my stomach when I heard that their journey home had been delayed once more. But when I heard the reason, the feeling of disappointment instantly changed to that of concern and worry. As I finished reading the letter, I lifted my head to face the three pair of eyes already on me, no that eager to hear the news. “Their journey has been further delayed”, I announced. Both Lena and Amy sighed in disappearing but Isla did not look the least upset or even affected about the news. I could not blame her, it was impossible to miss people you had never even met. She did rest a sympathetic hand o
Regan’s POV No matter how eager I was to go home, I did not have it in me to deny Luke’s request to see his mate one more time before we went home. After all, it was still on our path home and would cost us no major discomfort or set back. That had been the right choice to make, for as we approached the entrance into the pack, a white cloth was spread across the entrance. Seeing that could only mean one thing. That Alpha Zolan of the Redclaw pack had passed into the world beyond. Upon seeing this, Luke pushed his horse to go faster, disregarding the normal protocol and I did not have it in me to stop him. I understood how he felt. He had thought only of his mate. I followed closely behind him, and once their pack warriors saw that the intruders were us, they did not make any further move to stop us. I watched as Lady Zara come out of the pack house alongside other pack members. Upon seeing Luke hastily dismounting from his horse, she ran towards him and straigh
Jasmine’s POV Considering how worried I had been about her being accepted into my pack, Isla had fit in quite well. She and Lena had finally started to get along, seeing that they had some things in common. I would even go as far as saying that they had become close friends. Well, as close as one could be as a friend to someone who was used to being alone and valued her alone time over all else. Isla and Lena could not be more different if they were light and day. With Isla’s cool beauty and reserved demeanor, and Lena’s bright attitude and attractive features, they were very different. But somehow, thanks to efforts from mostly Lena who was determined to find something in common with my cousin, they had become good friends. Isla still disappeared to my garden or Nana’s garden whenever Lena became too much for her to cope with, but other than that, she seemed to have gotten used to Lena’s company and even seemed to have grown fond of her. Nana and Gaia had also gro