~Jasmine~
Quickly, I threw off the luxurious bed cover and began dressing up. As I glanced around, I noticed the opulent high chandeliers and exquisite artwork adorning the walls. It didn't take a genius to deduce that I was in a presidential suite. I read the inscriptions on the unique pieces of furniture closely. This was not just a suite in a random hotel but one in the exclusive Crimson Blood hotel.
Oh gosh! I held my throbbing head as I realized that my fated mate might be a man of immense wealth because not just anyone could afford such a suite. It was only patronized by the elite.
I shrugged off the thought of his status; it should be the least of my problems. I shouldn't be bothered about a mate who obviously ran off the first night with no explanations.
Besides, I still had to finalize my divorce with Logan, and being seen here was risky enough and could be used against me. I had to keep it low.
Hurriedly, I grabbed my belongings, and soon, I was out of the hotel. I flagged down a cab and slid into the back seat.
“Where to, ma’am?” the driver asked.
For a moment, I froze. Home? That place no longer felt like home. Swallowing back my emotions, I gave him Rose’s address instead.
“No. 7 Royal Blue, West Side,” I murmured.
As the cab pulled away, I unlocked my phone, only to be bombarded by a flood of missed calls and messages from Rose. My stomach churned as I read through her frantic texts, sent since last night:
“Where are you? Are you okay? I’m calling the cops!”
Last night’s events replayed in pieces as I tried to fix the puzzle. My pulse quickened when I remembered Samantha’s smirk from across the barroom. Could she have had something to do with this?
Ping!
A new email notification snapped me out of my thoughts. It was from the pack registry notifying me that my divorce with Logan will be finalized by 10:00 a.m. prompt at the werewolf hall. The registry couldn’t contact me without someone starting the process.
The werewolf city hall? My stomach knotted. Did this mean the new Alpha had returned? Did Logan contact him? What was Logan up to?
After three years, Logan ’s uncle, Alpha Maverick , might have finally returned to reclaim the Gold Pack. He had left it under the watch of Beta Kazeem while he pursued his business.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, knowing I would likely be back to square zero if he took sides with his blood. A divorced, former housewife, expelled with nothing from her previous pack? I didn’t know how I’d survive, but I was certain I would. Giving up was not one of my attributes.
“We’re here, ma’am,” the driver announced, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.
I handed him cash, muttered a quick thank you, and rushed inside Rose’s house. She was wiping down her coffee table when I entered.
“What the hell, Jasmine? You had me worried sick! Where did you disappear to?” Sophie’s voice rose as she followed me into the kitchen. “Are you even listening to me? The waiter said you left with a man.”
Ignoring her barrage of questions, I chugged down a glass of water. “I think Samantha set me up, but I will explain everything later, okay?”
“How? That bastard,” she yelled.
“Right now, I need to get dressed. It seems my request for divorce was approved. Not sure, sort of. But I have to be at the head registry before 10:00 a.m.”
Her eyes darted to the clock. “It’s already 9:07! I’m driving you.”
“Thank you,” I muttered. All I wanted now was to freshen up and get the divorce over with.
Rummaging through Sophie’s wardrobe—since I hadn’t retrieved my things from Logan s house—I searched for something appropriate to wear.
After some digging, I settled on a formal gown that would suffice for the occasion. A concerned Rose insisted on accompanying me to the ‘Werewolf City Hall’ to ensure the process went smoothly.
When we arrived at the registry, Logan and Samantha were already waiting for me, with smug expressions plastered across their faces.
Logan’s eyes raked over my body, lingering on my curves. His jaw tightened before he quickly looked away. I recognized that look all too well—jealousy.
Samantha, on the other hand, wore her usual smug expression. And something in her eyes told me she had a hand in whatever happened last night. After all, she has proven to be a foe, not a friend, and spiking my drink was not far from what she could do.
“Oh, see who finally graced us with her filthy presence,” Samantha sneered, her lips curling with malicious hatred. “The shameless whore, pointing her fingers at others when hers aren’t clean either. You're here.”
Ignoring her like she was nothing—because, frankly, her words no longer affected me—I turned my gaze back to Logan. “Shall we?”
But it was as if my silence drove her over the edge, and I was hell-bent on not giving her the attention she craved.
Stomping her feet like a child, she moved inches closer to me and continued, “How did you spend your night with your lover? It’s going around town that you were whoring around. You’ll never win against us, so cut this act and drop the case.”
Rose and I shared a knowing look. Her words confirmed what I’d suspected. Samantha had spiked my drink last night. Fury flooded through me, but I couldn’t retaliate without solid proof.
Logan scoffed, his anger barely contained. I knew it wasn’t just about the divorce but also his bruised ego. “I demand 100% of marital assets and ninety percent of your financial shares in the bank. Not only have you invaded my privacy and defamed my character, but you’ve also caused me emotional trauma by disregarding our mate bond. I curse the day we bound our souls under the holy watch of the moon goddess.”
I almost laughed out loud. The audacity of this man! Trying to encroach on my meager shares? How could he twist the truth when his infidelity was the real issue? But then again, I shouldn’t be surprised by his greed. After all, one woman had never been enough for him.
I didn’t care anymore. Let him have everything if it meant I could finally sever ties with the Gold Pack without facing a humiliating expulsion. I agreed to leave the pack with nothing of his, signing away my rights.
Logan couldn’t hide his surprise. I knew he hadn’t expected me to concede without a fight. But I was done.
As I reached for the papers, about to sign them, a familiar scent stopped me dead in my tracks.
“Logan,” a sultry voice cut through the tension, “My pack, my rules. You cannot commit such atrocities under my reign and expect to go scot-free. It is you who will be leaving the pack instead.”
The room fell silent as a tall figure strode in, his royal blue suit fitting perfectly over his broad shoulders. My eyes slowly traveled up, meeting his face.
His ocean-blue eyes locked onto mine, freezing my world.
No. This can’t be! I thought he fled without a word. What was he doing at the registry? With a presence commanding attention, like he ruled here.
My senses heightened at the scent of his power mixed with the richness of leather, sending a shiver down my spine.
My wolf, calm until now, began pacing and howling wildly, willing to lay her life in submission to the man before me. It confirmed what I already knew—he was mine!
“What?” Logan stammered, his once confident composure crumbling with each passing moment.
My breath hitched as I stared at my fated mate, awestruck by the confidence and authority that he exuded.
His pack? It only meant one thing—he was the Alpha of the Gold Crescent Pack.
It couldn’t be. Was the moon goddess playing a game of twisted fate on me?
~Jasmine~I sank into the couch with a contented sigh, resting my head against Maverick’s shoulder as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through my hair. His body was warm, his breathing steady, and despite how badly he had been injured, his healing was already near complete. His healing ability was strong but the injury was severe. Only a shifter so strong could recover within the time frame he did.It had been two days since I addressed the Silvercrest threat, and in that time, the pack had remained on high alert, preparing for the worst. Tensions still ran high, but there was a newfound sense of unity—of purpose.Then, this morning, Kazeem reached out with unexpected news.“They backed down,” he said, his voice carrying through the phone. “Silvercrest is no longer pressing their demands. In fact, they’re looking for alliances.”I paused, gripping the edge of the table. “Alliances?”Kazeem exhaled, as if he was still trying to make sense of it himself. “Yes. Apparently, they’re sudde
~Jasmine~“All ranked members, to the hall immediately,” I ordered about 30 minutes later, letting Kazeem know that I would be stepping in, and taking matters into my hands.He wasted no time, sending word to the elders and pack members, calling an impromptu meeting.The moment I found that letter from Silvercrest, I knew I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. This was my home, my family, and I wasn’t going to let some power-hungry tyrants dictate our future.I glanced over at Maverick, who was sitting on the bed, watching me with hooded eyes. He still looked like hell, but he wasn’t fighting me on this. Not after our conversation.“This is my responsibility now,” I told him firmly, adjusting my stance. “I’m stepping up as Luna.”Something flickered in his eyes. There pride, maybe even admiration—but he just nodded. “Be careful.”I gave him a small smile before stepping out of the room, my heart pounding as I made my way to the meeting hall.The meeting hall was located at the other end
~Jasmine~Alpha Zeph walked over, his usual unreadable expression in place. The moment he was arm’s close, his lips curled into a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Hi Jasmine. I had to check on you.”“You didn’t have to,” I said, tilting my head.He smirked. “I know. But I wanted to.”An awkward silence followed. We stared at each other for a moment before he said, “I’m glad you forgave yourself.”I swallowed hard. “I’m glad I did too.”He nodded. “And I’m glad you chose Mav—over and over again. It would have really been tough for both of you to move on just like that. It’s good you guys sorted things out.”Warmth filled my chest. “I guess we found this out early enough.”A small smile ghosted his lips. “You’ll always be special to me, Jasmine.”I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around him. He hugged me back, firm and steady. When we pulled away from each other, he said, “Take care of yourself.”“You too.”“And if there’s anything you ever need from me, Jasmine, don’t h
~Jasmine~“I missed you.”I sat beside Mav’s hospital bed, my fingers lightly tracing the back of his hand.“Oh, I missed you more my sweet Jass.” He said, slightly patting my head. I saw the exhaustion, the pain he was trying to mask.“Mav,” I whispered, my thumbs brushing over his cheekbones. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”His smirk faltered for a brief moment before he leaned into my touch, exhaling softly. “I know,” he admitted. “But I don’t want you worrying.”I let out a soft huff. “Too late for that.”Mav chuckled, but even that seemed to take effort. “You always see right through me, don’t you?”I nodded, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Every time.”Before he could respond, the door swung open, and the doctor strode in, his gaze sweeping over Mav. “Well, Alpha Maverick, let’s see how you’re doing.”Mav groaned. “Save yourself the trouble. Just sign the discharge papers.”The doctor arched a brow. “You were stabbed and lost a significant amount of blood. You need rest,
~Maverick~Pain. It was the first thing I felt. A deep, dull ache that spread through my body like a slow-burning fire. My limbs were heavy, my head pounded, and every breath sent a sharp sting through my ribs.Warmth. Soft, familiar warmth.It was faint at first, barely breaking through the heaviness weighing me down. But then, something else—something stronger—pulled me back. A voice. Soft, trembling. Her.My fingers twitched, brushing against something warm. A hand. Her hand.I fought against the darkness, the pain anchoring me down. My body felt sluggish, my limbs leaden, but I forced my way through. Slowly, agonizingly slow, I pried my eyes open.And there she was.Jasmine.“Jas…” My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, but the moment I spoke, her head snapped up.Her eyes—God, those beautiful eyes—widened, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.“Mav.” It was a whisper, a breath, a plea. And then, before I could react, she launched herself at me, her arms wrapping around me i
~Jasmine~I watched as his fingers twitched against my belly. It was real afterall. It wasn’t just my imagination. My heart leaped with joy, each move of his fingers thrilling me.“Mav?” My voice was barely a whisper, my heart hammering so hard that it nearly hurt.His brows furrowed slightly, his lips parting as if he was trying to say something. A weak groan escaped him, his breathing shifting, his body finally reacting.I gasped, tightening my grip on his hand. “Maverick, can you hear me?”His eyelids fluttered slowly, sluggishly opening up until he fixed his dull gaze at me.A rush of emotions hit me all at once. Relief. Fear. Overwhelming love.His usually sharp, stormy eyes were clouded, hazy with pain and confusion, but he was awake. He was here.“Jas…” His voice was hoarse, barely audible, but it was enough to break me.“You fool,” I cried, running into his arms, lightly hitting his shoulder. “How could you be so reckless? Do you know how scared I was? What if I lost you? What