~Maverick~Squaring my shoulders, I sighed, leaning back as I went through some paperwork in the conference room.Just then, a sweet, familiar scent wafted into my nostrils, and I didn’t need to raise my head to know it was Jasmine. My wolf stirred with excitement, howling as she approached. I glanced up, and there she was.Jasmine! I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips as she strode confidently into the room. All eyes turned toward her, and I could feel jealousy gnawing at my insides, my wolf claiming ownership. She was mine, only mine, to look at.Her gaze finally locked on mine, her eyes flickering with something unreadable as she walked toward me. She pulled out a chair beside me and sat down, her presence consuming me in ways I never expected.“You made it,” I greeted, sliding some documents in front of her. “You need to review these before the assessments. They cover all the vital points you should take note of.”She nodded absentmindedly, her mind clearly elsewhere, as though
~Jasmine~“Um,” clearing my throat, I gently declined his offer. “I would prefer to stay back and get to know the department better.” I knew Alpha Zephyr would probably be there, and meeting him could result in misunderstandings, so I would rather stay back. Rose deserved to hear the explanation from me.Maverick didn’t object. Instead, he nodded. “I understand,” he said, taking my hands into his and placing a soft, lingering kiss on the spot. My heart flipped as I felt butterflies erupt from every corner, my wolf struggling to stay put.“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me,” he said with a smug look gracing his face while maintaining eye contact. I got lost in their vastness for a moment, my lips curling as I refused to back down from the staring contest. “I am not a damsel in distress, Alpha.”“Oh really?” He stepped closer, and I felt warmth spreading from my neck to my cheeks. His eyes flickered, and there was an emotion I recognized, one he wasn’t scared to show—desir
~Jasmine~My mind swirled with questions about why they erupted with laughter as I proceeded through the building. Floor after floor, I searched but still couldn’t find the reserve store. Was this rocket science?When I finally reached the ground floor, I checked the map plastered on the wall for directions. Frustratingly, there was no mention of the reserve room.My eyes widened as I glanced at the clock, realizing I had already wasted fifteen minutes wandering around aimlessly. It began to dawn on me why they all laughed out loud.What creeped me out most was the emptiness of the building. There was no one here to ask for help. Perhaps because it was late. Most departments were shut.I knew Alpha Maverick was in a meeting. Should I call him? I debated for a moment before deciding against it; I didn’t want to be a bother. Instead, I found a spot to sit and sent him a quick text asking where the reserve room was located.Minutes passed, but still no reply from him. Returning to the la
~Maverick~I groaned, walking away from the lab, trying my hardest to hide my arousal. Jasmine affected me in insatiable ways that I couldn’t fathom. Soon, I approached the boardroom where I was supposed to meet the Alpha of the Red Blood Pack.As I entered, I extended my hand. “Glad you could make it, Alpha Zephyr.”He shook it firmly. “Likewise, Alpha Maverick.”I nodded at his beta and motioned for them to have a seat.We delved immediately into the matter without wasting time. Both packs’ properties were at risk due to the unexplained, constant fire outbreaks. We didn’t know yet if witches had a hand in it, if there were supernatural forces lurking in the shadows, or if it was simply arson.A collaboration with his insurance company could reduce costs for both packs and enhance preparedness.Ever since the increase in fire outbreaks, not even one fatal one has been recorded with Red blood pack. Due to their expertise in disaster areas, they seem to have the best mitigation.“Given
~Jasmine~“Argh,” I groaned, clutching my throbbing head with trembling hands, my eyes squeezed shut. My breathing grew shallow; the lack of ventilation was suffocating me. I struggled to concentrate, desperate to activate my wolf and use her strength, but my mind was too clouded by anxiety. The overwhelming panic suppressing my ability to shift.Dark spots flashed across my vision, and just when I thought I couldn’t endure it any longer, the elevator door creaked open.A blurry figure approached, but my ears buzzed, and I couldn’t make out his features. His mouth moved, as if he was trying to speak to me, but his words didn’t register in my brain.I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t anymore, and soon… darkness swallowed me whole.I shifted; every muscle in my body ached, and I felt as if I had been wrecked by a train. My head pounded mercilessly. I tried to sit up, disoriented by the sound of an ambulance’s blaring siren.Wait a minute, am I moving?Panic rushed through me, and I sho
~Jasmine~As I walked back to the department, my phone pinged, signaling a notification. I glanced at the screen to see Alpha Zephyr’s text:“Sorry I left you alone. There was a health crisis I needed to attend to. Hope you’ll understand. I’ll call Rose right away.”Why was he—? Oh. My mouth formed an ‘O’ as realization dawned on me. Alpha Zephyr… was he the one who saved me? Flashes of the elevator incident replayed in my mind. I had been the one who called him in the first place.But why didn’t Alpha Maverick believe me? He claimed he was only one call away, yet the first to respond was Alpha Zephyr. My heart tugged painfully at the thought. Why hadn’t Alpha Maverick trusted me?I sighed, pushing the heavy weight of sadness from my chest as my mind returned to Alpha Zephyr’s message. What health crisis was he talking about? I hoped it wasn’t serious. Wetting my lips, I thought about Rose. How was I supposed to explain all this to her? Sooner or later, I’d have to tell her everything
~Maverick~Turning back toward Grand Prime, I paused briefly when I heard murmurs and laughter echoing from Jasmine’s department. What could they be talking about?"You’re just a nobody, Punk," a voice roared.As soon as I entered the room, the sight before me made my legs go numb. The mocking was aimed at my mate? How dare they? Rage surged through me, and my wolf stirred, eager to break free. Stay down, I commanded him, knowing that releasing him now would end poorly for everyone. But he remained stubborn, insisting this was our mate. I fought to stay calm.“What’s going on here?” I boomed, my voice reverberating off the walls. The room fell silent as her eyes snapped to mine. I took in her disheveled appearance; her hair was a tangled mess, and she looked pale and dehydrated. My fists clenched. But for Jasmine’s sake, I would keep my composure.“Alpha Maverick, I was just trying to caution Jasmine,&rdquo
~Maverick ~“Good!” I exclaimed while doing the Alpha’s nod. “And let me be clear: If I find out this was a ploy, I swear I will fire everyone involved and ensure you’re punished for defamation.” My eyes landed back on Jasmine, my hard heart softening immediately.I dismissed everyone, wanting to be alone with Jasmine.As they scurried out of the room, I turned my full attention to her. She was still angry with me, avoiding my gaze. Then, she uttered, “I’m not a damsel in distress. I can fight for myself! You’ve made it clear through your expressions that you didn’t believe me, so what are you trying to prove now? That you care?”I tried to suppress the smile that threatened to take over, unaffected by her words. I stepped closer, until our bodies were flush and our breaths mingled. “First of all, it’s Maverick to you,” I said, my voice low. I didn’t need to tell her
~Jasmine~“Should we involve the nurse, ask her about this intrusion? Why would she let him in?” I asked, my tone barely above a whisper. Concern laced my words. Beaded sweats trickled down my skin, my face gradually wearing a mask of worry.Maverick waved dismissively at my suggestion, “That won't be necessary, Jasmine. I've got this.” His piercing gaze locked onto mine. “Logan is gradually getting on my nerves, daring me, trying to bite off more than he can chew.”As he spoke, I noticed a subtle shift in his demeanor. The calm he had previously displayed began to wear off, revealing new feelings beginning to take over. He gritted his teeth, and his fists tightened into a knot as he paced the living room. What was going on in his mind?“What if we stop all of these, Maverick? This whole fate with you seems to be a mistake. Let me leave and save the pack from all of these troubles. This isn't worth this fight.&rdq
~Jasmine~I tried to shrug it off, to mask the surprise that threatened to blow off my cover and play it cool. This was the moment Logan would scrutinize me, dissecting my every expression, trying to read between the lines and search for any ounce of truth.Where he’d gotten this information shouldn’t be a bother to me. I needed to stand firm, to prove that I was not pregnant.“Logan, I know the depths of your manipulative nature,” I stated, my voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and accusation. “Is this another one of your twisted ploys to reel me back into your life? To fabricate a pregnancy, to claim I’m carrying your child? Absolutely not.”Logan blinked rapidly, his face a mask of feigned uncertainty. “Jasmine, stop pretending like you don’t know what I’m talking about. I can see right through your cunning games. Once bitten, twice shy.A harsh, sarcastic laugh escaped my lips as
~Alpha Maverick~Violeta, visibly distressed, dabbed at her teary eyes. “My maternity leave will start in a few months. I only want to ensure I’ve set the groundwork before I go, so please don’t be offended,” she said in a sadly resigned tone.The more she spoke, the more my heart ached because, truthfully, Violeta had been working as hard as she should have. I would commend her for that. She had always been a dedicated and valuable asset to the research efforts at Grand Prime, possessing a sharp intellect and commitment.She was still bandaged from her accident, and even though the doctor emphasized to me that she was in a state of shock and that now was the best time to give her attention and emotional support, I had let my anger sway me a bit, overshadowing his advice, and now I regret it a little.“It’s fine, Violeta. I must have misunderstood your actions. However, be mindful of how you use your wording in the futu
~Alpha Maverick~I walked back to my office, but Violeta’s harsh words kept replaying in my head. I felt a tightness in my chest like I couldn’t breathe. My tie felt like it was choking me, so I loosened it. I was furious, not just from Violeta’s words but also from the pressing issue of the Lycan virus.I dialed my phone to call Kaiden and check on the progress of the situation, as he had been delaying in submitting the reports.On the second ring, he picked up. “Greetings, Alpha.”“Yes, Kaiden, the reports—why are they late?” I said directly.“My apologies, Alpha. We encountered a setback, but... The parasite carrying the Lycan Virus gradually shuts down the organs, leaving the patient in a vegetative state. The victim has stopped speaking and responding to external stimuli.”I sighed, pressing my temple. This was an alarming sign of deterioration. Although we are trying our best,
~Maverick~I noticed Jasmine’s discomfort when I brought up Samantha in the conversation. Although she tried to avoid discussing what had transpired that day, she simply said it was nothing she couldn’t handle, and I nodded, dropping the subject.We continued eating before she dropped another bombshell, asking about my decision regarding Logan’s position at the company.I sighed, unsure if my plan was a good idea. I told her I was planning to transfer him to one of our branches, though I withheld the fact that it was the most remote one.She nodded, clearly pleased that I was considering her input.After some lighthearted conversation, I turned serious again. “About Samantha… I heard you were good friends. What happened between you two? Why did she suddenly turn against you?”My words had a visible impact. She paused, her eyes fixed on a distant point, lost in thought. I could tell she was hesitant before
~Jasmine~He offered a warm smile, and only then did I notice the glint in Zeph’s eyes. How had I ignored the signs for so long? They’d been right in front of me the entire time.The way he looked at me I had previously attributed to simple politeness. Even with the way he spoke to me, his voice softened ever so slightly when addressing me. His kind gestures, even offering help with the smallest tasks—everything pointed to one thing: that Alpha Zeph was interested in me.Instead of outright dismissing Zeph’s offer, I politely appreciated his effort.“Thank you very much, Alpha Zeph,” I said, my voice sincere. “I appreciate your kind offer, Zeph, but I’m afraid I have a lot to work on right now. I’m currently under scrutiny.I explained the recent accusations briefly and the query I was getting. I can't get my head straight, not until everything falls into place.“I need to rectify some situations at the office, so I wouldn’t be able to honor the date… not now, though.He nodded, shovi
~Jasmine~Violeta’s eyes were downcast, her posture slumped with a mixture of shame and fear. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, nervously twisting her fingers.Before finally summoning the courage to look up at Alpha Maverick, she took a shaky breath. “Alpha, I…” she began, her voice trembling. She attempted to apologize, to offer some semblance of an explanation for her behavior, but the damage had already been done.She couldn't turn back time, nor could she retract her hurtful words. He raised a hand to silence her. “Dare you say another word, Violeta…”Violeta nodded her head frantically, her eyes wide with fear, understanding the gravity of his unspoken words. She knew she had crossed a line, and the consequences would be severe.With that, Mav turned sharply and walked out of the office, leaving just Violeta and me in the tense silence. I glanced one last time at her broken frame, her shoulders slumped, her head bowed in defeat. I felt a pang of something akin t
~Jasmine~“Well done, Jasmine. This concludes your interview.” Professor Gabby extended his hand for a handshake. His words were accompanied by a warm smile. I could see the genuine satisfaction in his eyes.“Thank you for having me,” I replied politely, returning his handshake and then turning to acknowledge the other professors seated around the table. They offered small nods and smiles.Leaving Professor Gabby’s office, I expected to find Mav waiting eagerly in the lobby, waiting to hear every detail of how the interview went, but he wasn't there. The lobby was empty, save for a few workers milling about.I went outside, scanning for his car in the parking lot, but it was also absent. I reached into my purse for my phone to call him and inquire about his whereabouts; a notification caught my eye. It was a text message from Maverick sent minutes earlier.“There’s an emergency I need to attend to. A driver in a green Porsche will pick you up. Good luck with your interview—you’ve got
~Jasmine~Her eyes widened in surprise. “Seaweed?” she repeated.“Mrs. Martha, I can smell it. Rare seaweed has a distinct, pungent odor.”She nodded, understanding dawning on her face. “I’m only administering Dr. James’s prescription. I wasn’t given any specific information about the contents.”“What’s happening? Is there a problem?” Mav asked, his gaze shifting between us.“No, everything’s fine. I just need to rest,” I said, offering a tight smile to both him and Mrs. Martha.As soon as she left, Mav approached me, a smile on his face. “Shall we?” He gestured towards the wheelchair. I sighed.“I can walk back to my room, Mav. It’ll be better for digestion,” I protested, but he wasn’t having it.“Don’t argue, Jasmine. Climbing the stairs is too much. Relax and let me take you to your room.” I knew arguing was pointless. Mav was determined to abide by Dr. James’s instructions about not straining myself and getting bed rest.I allowed him to guide me to the wheelchair and wheel me bac