~Jasmine~My brow furrowed as I heard a faint scuffling sound. What could it be? I forced my eyes open and saw Mav dressing, which only deepened my confusion. What time was it? Had I slept that long?“Going to work already?” I asked, my voice still thick with sleep, blinking against the room's light.“Good morning, sunshine,” Mav replied, a gentle smile playing on his lips. I inwardly rolled my eyes. *Sunshine*? Seriously? It felt like a line from a cheesy old movie. Before I could tease him about it, however, he immediately asked, his tone laced with concern, “How are you feeling?”How was I feeling? I honestly couldn't say. Strangely, I woke with a sense of lightness, as if a great weight had been lifted. I still felt a lingering emptiness, but the heavy grief I had anticipated hadn't materialized.“As good as ever,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. Almost as soon as the words left my mouth, I asked, “Can I come with you to the office?”Mav’s expression softene
(Jasmine's POV)My hand quivered uncontrollably as I clutched my husband's phone. Its screen showed a naked photo sent by an unknown number: a woman wearing only one piece of underwear, her chest towering high and her cleavage exposed. Naked.But that wasn't the part that shocked me the most. My gaze fell on the embroidery on her underwear—it had my name and his on it. I looked more closely to confirm my suspicion.It was the same lingerie couple set I bought that Logan, my husband had supposedly misplaced during a business trip. The same one I had picked out specifically for a special occasion. I was so certain because it was custom-made for us, with our initials embroidered on it: J & L.My mouth hung open, and I hadn't even realized how much my tears had spilled until I felt them on my chin.I zoomed in to try to find out why this woman looked oddly familiar, and then a crescent-shaped mole on the woman’s cleavage hit me like lightning. My stomach twisted. Only one person I knew ha
~Jasmine~I sat in my living room, amidst the ruins of my marriage, as Rose’s words echoed while she sat across from me: “How could Logan have the temerity to disrespect the marriage bond?” She gasped, her eyes blazing red, a testament of her outrage on my behalf.It was the morning after Logan’s shameful act, and I had invited Rose to our home. She was the only close person I could confide in.I had sat alone assembling the shattered pieces of my heart a few hours after Logan left the house, but suddenly, I couldn't bear it alone. The weight of the betrayal was crushing, and I thought I was going crazy, so I called her to come over with the divorce papers. I needed to be in the company of someone who understood my plight.As soon as she arrived, she gave me a warm hug and words of comfort. I broke down in sobs and explained in detail the events that have left me devastated and mortified.“I just don’t know what to do at this point. I’m done for good,” I said to her, leaning slightly
~Jasmine~“Calm down,” Rose called out as I paced back and forth in her office at the café, my chest tightening with anxiety.“How can I calm down Rose? Didn’t you hear what he said?” I spun around to face her, my voice was trembling slightly. “Do you even know what this means? What if the new Alpha declared otherwise by manipulating the pack’s rules? Or worse, what if he’s as dishonest as Logan?”Little was known about the newly assigned Alpha due to his busy schedule except for his name—Alpha Maverick. Rumors about his fairness or ruthlessness were unhelpful whispers. I could only hope he would remain impartial, even with Logan as his blood relative.Under the Gold Pack’s rule book, severing a mate bond required the Alpha’s approval. Worse still, the guilty party faced expulsion which is a befitting punishment for disrespecting soul tie.I sank into the office chair, running my fingers through my hair as my thoughts spiraled. “I will lose everything, Rose. I wouldn’t even know where
~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 d
(Alpha Maverick’s POV)“Can you believe it? She framed me with heavily doctored photos and videos, and now she wants a divorce!” Logan sighed in frustration over the phone.As I made my way to meet a business associate from the Blue Lagoon Pack, he filled my ear with his complaints.I had just received a call from my nephew, explaining that his wife was accusing him of infidelity. She was also attempting to use false evidence to acquire their marital assets.“I’ll be there as soon as possible, and we’ll look into it,” I replied, cutting the call. But something didn’t sit right with me. Logan has never complained about his mate. Why would she suddenly demand a divorce after they had agreed to be mates?I dialed Alpha Tristen of the Blue Lagoon Pack. “We need to reschedule our meeting,” I said. “Something urgent has come up.”The Gold Pack’s divorce procedures required the Alpha’s presence to confirm the separation of bonded souls, so I had to return to my pack immediately after nearly
~Jasmine~Shock pinned my feet to the floor; I couldn’t believe what was unfolding before me. My heart raced while my mind went blank.I froze, the pen in my hand halting midair. The tension in the room thickened as my gaze shifted between the Alpha and Logan. Before I could react, Alpha dropped to one knee and slid a diamond ring onto my finger.My heart pounded against my chest at his claim, stunned by his choice, a clear indication that he was not one to be influenced by perceived loyalty to bloodline. I couldn't believe that this mystery man did not flee after all. But the question burning in my mind was: how had he uncovered the truth?Glancing around the room, I noticed the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces as he got off his feet, admiring his assertion on my fingers.He quickly glanced at the papers on the desk, grabbed them, and flipped through them. “One hundred percent of marital assets to you, Logan? What a joke. How did you think I would be a party to this atrocity?”
~Jasmine~I stared at him wide-eyed as his name died on my lips. He approached me slowly, like a predator closing in on his prey. Instead of backing away like any sane person would, I held my head high, crossing my arms. “What do you want, Logan?”“You? And my uncle? That is impossible, Jasmine. Why don’t you reject him, huh?” He came closer until I felt his hot breath fanning my face. His scent, which I once found comforting, now felt overwhelming. My wolf rejected his smell. Maybe it was because I had gotten a taste of my mate’s scent.Grabbing my elbow softly, he spoke again, his voice soft this time. “What do you want, Jass? I have treated you so well and worshiped the ground you walked on. I gave you every damn thing you wanted. I provided for you without you having to lift a finger. I gave you the best, so why…” His voice cracked as he continued, “Why couldn’t you give me a second chance after one mistake?”I scoffed, unable to believe what he was saying. Instead of apologizing
~Jasmine~My brow furrowed as I heard a faint scuffling sound. What could it be? I forced my eyes open and saw Mav dressing, which only deepened my confusion. What time was it? Had I slept that long?“Going to work already?” I asked, my voice still thick with sleep, blinking against the room's light.“Good morning, sunshine,” Mav replied, a gentle smile playing on his lips. I inwardly rolled my eyes. *Sunshine*? Seriously? It felt like a line from a cheesy old movie. Before I could tease him about it, however, he immediately asked, his tone laced with concern, “How are you feeling?”How was I feeling? I honestly couldn't say. Strangely, I woke with a sense of lightness, as if a great weight had been lifted. I still felt a lingering emptiness, but the heavy grief I had anticipated hadn't materialized.“As good as ever,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. Almost as soon as the words left my mouth, I asked, “Can I come with you to the office?”Mav’s expression softene
~Maverick~“Samantha?” I repeated, genuinely unsurprised. It was the only thing that made sense. I shook my head in disgust. “How could you throw a person’s life in jeopardy?”Dr. James’s wife whispered, her voice cracking, her eyes filled with shame. She couldn’t meet my gaze. Taking a sharp breath, she said, “You would understand if you were in my shoes, Alpha. What I did was uncalled for… but I did it for my family. I couldn’t turn her down.”I gritted my teeth, listening as she continued, “I feel indebted to her, Alpha. She was there for me during my darkest times… I had to return the favor, be there for her when she needed me most… even if it cost me everything.” She whispered the last part. “But believe me, Alpha, I purchased the rare seaweed, but that was it. I didn’t know anything about the poisoning.” With that, she broke down, sobbing into her hands. I didn’t know how to react. I could never understand her reasoning, and I didn’t intend to.My eyes snapped to Dr. James, who
~Maverick~“Sleep tight, I’ve got some work to do,” I said, kissing Jasmine’s forehead and pulling the duvet over her. After we left the hospital, we dropped Rosè at her house and drove straight back home. Jass needed some rest.The truth was, I couldn't shake the unease that settled over me after discovering the rare seaweed had been intentionally tampered with. Pulling out my phone, I paced the room, my gaze lingering on a sleeping Jasmine. It was late. "How dare anyone try to hurt her?" I gritted my teeth. "When I find the culprit, they won't escape my wrath."My thoughts drifted back to my conversation with Rose’s doctor. The moment he mentioned the overdose of rare seaweed in Jasmine’s system, I suspected it had been mixed with her medication. It wasn't difficult to deduce.What baffled me was his explanation that while the seaweed was dangerous in high doses, certain licensed doctors could access small amounts. In minute concentrations, like 0.01%, it could be used in extreme pa
~Jasmine~A very painful chill permeated the freezing white room, raising goosebumps on my arms. “What is this place?” I whispered, my breath misting in the icy air. My heart pounded a frantic rhythm against my ribs, the sound echoing in my ears, intensifying by the pin-drop silence.A flash of light flashed past, and I called out, my voice trembling, “Hello?” The echo amplified my fear, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.A faint whimpering sound reached me. I moved cautiously towards it, but there was no one there. Then, a weak voice whispered my name, “J…Jasmine.” Confusion deepened my fear. The aura, however, felt strangely familiar. “Who are you? What do you want?” I demanded, my voice rising in panic as the whimpering heightened. Recognition of the voice struck me hard like a physical blow. It was my wolf.I gasped. What the hell? I was in my subconscious. But why?“You’re trapped between life and death, Jasmine,” she whispered, her voice laced with pain. “I can
~Maverick~Rosè’s sobs filled the room. With trembling hands, I picked up the phone. “Where are you now?”“We’re at the hospital. The City’s General Hospital. My personal doctor is attending to her,” she replied, her words punctuated by choked sobs and hiccups.I didn’t waste another second. I bolted for my car keys, adrenaline surging through me. Jumping into the car, I gripped the steering wheel tightly. No! This cannot be happening! Nothing can happen to my Jasmine. I won’t forgive the universe if anything happens to her.I slammed my foot on the accelerator, driving like a man possessed, the city streets blurring into a meaningless rush of lights. My vision was blurred by a rising panic, my legs felt numb, and the world around me seemed unreal, almost as if I were trapped in a distorted dream.Arriving at the hospital, I found Rosè pacing frantically in the lobby, her eyes closed, her hands shaking as she mumbled what sounded like a desperate prayer.“Rosè!” I called out. Her bloo
~Alpha Maverick~Going straight to the office, I couldn't shake Jasmine from my thoughts. With each passing day, I found myself falling deeper for her and it was impossible to think of a life without her in it.“Greetings, Alpha. Here is the analysis report. We have dissolved Blue Regent on the sample, and it turned purple, meaning it is not as potent as we thought and cannot combat any parasites.” Violeta’s voice broke through my reverie as she placed the report on my desk, her eyes downcast, as if she were uncomfortable in my presence.“Thank you, Violeta. Does that mean there’s no progress so far?” I stated more than asked, my eyes scanning the report. The results were disheartening. “Never mind. We’ll see what we can do,” I said, already feeling a headache brewing.“Alpha…” she hesitated, making me look up. I tried my best to mask any irritation; I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for trivial matters.“Yes, Violeta?” I replied, keeping my voice even.“About the other day… I since
~Jasmine~“Why? How? When?… Jass, answer me!” Rosè shook me gently, her face draining of color as if she’d just witnessed something terrifying.I gasped for air, struggling to find the words. “Yes, you heard me. We are in a contractual marriage, and I live with him,” I finally managed, the confession feeling like a dam breaking. She dramatically clutched her chest, her eyes wide.“My goodness, Jass, this is… I’m literally speechless.” She covered her mouth with her left hand, her expression showing sheer disbelief. While the revelation felt like a burden lifted from my shoulders, a nervous energy still thrummed through my veins.“You know what?” Rosè finally said, breaking the silence. “Let’s get settled in first… my bladder is about to burst,” she added with a dramatic flair, which thankfully broke the tension and made us both burst into laughter.As soon as she unlocked the door and we got out of the car, I rushed to the kitchen and chugged down a glass of water to calm my nerves, a
~Jasmine~“Happy birthday, my love.” I approached her, noting the immediate gleam in her eyes, although she tried to appear nonchalant. The undisguised excitement warmed me, and I was glad I made it here.I pulled her into a tight hug. Though she didn't reciprocate it, she didn't pull away either. “You haven’t been answering my calls Rosè,” I murmured, and she nodded, her gaze flitting around the room, catching the eyes of her staff before she steered me towards her office.“What the hell were you thinking, Jasmine? And yes, I didn’t answer any of them because not once did I see a single explanation for your actions. I am still pissed at you, in fact, I will be… until you tell me what’s up with you.” She gestured emphatically, and I sighed, my shoulders slumping in disappointment.“What I’m about to tell you will blow your mind, but first…” I offered her the fresh flowers and the wrapped gift. “For you.”“Thanks…” she trailed off, taking them. “What’s this?” she asked curiously, teari
~Jasmine~“Good morning.” Mav smiled, his face close to mine as I wondered how long he had been staring at me. I could feel the blush creeping up my neck.After our impromptu steak lunch, we’d returned to his room, immersed in research, poring over journals, articles, reports—anything that could offer insight into targeting and weakening the virus. We hadn't realized how late it had become, and I'd ended up falling asleep there.Honestly, these past few days, I’d grown accustomed to sleeping in his bed, his warm scent was a comforting presence to me, and I don’t think I’d ever get used to it. Just his presence made me feel relaxed, proving to be more effective than any antidote. The thought of returning to my own empty bed felt unsettling. Stealing one of his shirts suddenly seemed like a tempting idea.“Morning,” I said, and before I could gather myself, he wasted no time pecking my lips, then licking his to savor the taste, a smirk playing on his face.“Hey! You can’t just do that.”