~Jasmine~“What a pleasant surprise, brother,” Isabella remarked, her tone dripping with malice. “You're here to defend a woman who is clearly undeserving. What has she done to you? She has used her charms to bewitch you. Manipulating you into removing Logan as the CEO of Prime. What did Logan do to revoke the authority you gave him over that little fraction of Grand Prime?”Maverick’s expression turned stern. “Enough of the hateful words, Bella. You should know better than to trifle with the will of the moon goddess. As for Logan, I can't compromise. He cannot be trusted for trying to lure me into being a party to his bad ways.”“Know better? Can you even hear yourself, Maverick?” Isabella scoffed in disbelief. “You are the one blind to her schemes. Now she has come between you and us. She will destroy us; don't let her.”“Isabella—” Alpha Maverick warned, but she cut him off.“No, Maverick. You are my blood, and I must look out for you. I know this dirty swine better than you do. Sh
~Jasmine~I stood before the full-length mirror as I got ready for the gala, my gaze locking onto my reflection. I took a deep breath, smoothing the emerald green gown clinging to me like a second skin.The dress had a daring slit up the side, which revealed my toned legs before pooling elegantly at my feet with a luxurious cascade of the dress’s fabric.My smokey eye makeup and winged eyeliner accentuated my already striking features, while my lips were painted in a perfect deep red shade. My hair was swept up neatly, with a few tendrils framing my face. I looked absolutely gorgeous.As I touched up my face, ensuring I hadn’t missed anything, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway reached me. I didn’t need to be told—it was Alpha Maverick, so I quickly tried to finish up.After Maverick made his request, he had left to handle pressing matters about a report, leaving me to rummage through my wardrobe for something suitable to wear. My nerves had also been fraying ever since.Thi
~Jasmine~Clearing my throat, I added, “May I ask for a clarification?”They froze while the Stallion Pack’s representative gave me a judgmental look, but I continued, “You mentioned something about using a human-dominated faction, right?”His eyes narrowed, and he furrowed his brows, becoming defensive. “I believe there’s a scheme going on in the Gold Crescent Pack. Using a high percentage of humans goes against what's in the protocol book.” As I listened to him, I realized there was a misinterpretation in the research paper.I quickly sifted through my thoughts, recalling that I had encountered a similar issue during my research days. I tried to piece together the puzzle and find the missing link.“I believe this accusation stems from a misunderstanding,” I said, holding the gaze of both parties.“What do you mean?” The Alpha’s executive asked, and I smiled, clearing my throat. All eyes were on me, and for a moment, I forgot I was standing before prestigious members in the hall, the
~Jasmine~His words sent me over the edge as I pressed myself closer to him, wanting to feel him near me once again.The kiss became more frantic, more intense, as I clenched my thighs together. His large hands slowly trailed over my body, caressing me, the contact making me moan into his mouth.Just as he reached down to my panties, I shivered slightly, his thumb grazing over my sensitive spot, and reason returned to my mind.“Wait,” I said as he pulled back with a questioning look in his eyes.“Is there something wrong?” he asked in a raspy voice, his eyes still clouded with desire.I let out a shaky breath. “Nothing… I just think we need to take things slow.”His hands, which were tugging at my panty line, now rested on my thighs before he asked again, “Including sex?” He turned to look deeply into my eyes.And when I refused to answer, he got the message. He let out a low chuckle. “You know that’s going to be a hard one, Jasmine. I can’t resist you, and the mate bond isn’t making
~Jasmine~Clearing her throat, Rose pulled me back to the present. "Um, I need to check on something urgently in the office. I'll leave you both to it," she excused herself and left me alone with Alpha Zephyr.“Rose told me you would be relocating to the Red Blood Pack, correct?” He was the first to speak again, and I turned my full attention to him.“There are things I still need to take care of...may even take longer than expected.”“I understand completely.” His smile was warm as he gestured for me to sit across from him. “I promise you’ll have a memorable stay.”“That’s great.”His smile widened. “This is actually my second time visiting Gold Pack. I’m here on a business trip with my insurance company.”“Insurance company?” I repeated, intrigued.His eyes sparkled, clearly passionate about his work. “Yes, a fire insurance company. I’m focused on expanding and conducting in-depth research about it.”“That’s a really great area," I said, captivated by his topic. "It's one of the ove
~Jasmine~He looked like he didn't have a single care in the world. My heart suddenly felt heavy as I was overwhelmed by rage. How could he be happy in another woman’s company? My wolf was also furious, fighting to take control and tear the other she-wolf apart. “Let me out,” she scratched at my mind, but I refused to let her take over.Sensing my presence, Alpha Maverick turned his head in my direction, surprise flickering in his eyes. I wanted to scoff at him, but I tried to maintain my composure.“Jasmine,” he called, standing up and walking toward me as I took in his appearance, his dark hair neatly styled, and his perfect jawline highlighted by the light. He had taken off his coat and was now wearing a rolled-up white shirt, which showcased his large arms and the veins bulging beneath the fabric. A wristwatch adorned one of his wrists. He looked… spectacular.As he stood in front of me, he enveloped me in a hug, his scent overwhelming my senses. My wolf, which had previously been
~Jasmine~After Alpha Maverick left, I stayed back for a while, thinking about anything and everything, my mind full of unanswered questions.I opened the ride-sharing app on my phone and booked a cab. When it arrived, I gave the driver Alpha Maverick’s home address without thinking too much about it. His home was home to me now.The house felt cold and empty without him. I walked straight to my room and fell on the bed, still wearing my clothes. I felt drained and upset.“Calm down, Jasmine. It’s too early to feel this attached to him,” I whispered, trying to convince myself. But it didn’t help at all. The feeling refused to go away.I couldn’t stop thinking about what Alpha Maverick was doing. The thought of him remained in my mind. Frustrated, I sat up and groaned loudly, covering my face with the pillow.“Why in this forsaken world do you have to feel this way, Jasmine?” I whispered angrily at myself for caring so much.Just when I closed my eyes to rest my mind, my phone rang lou
~Jasmine~I stood frozen by the door, with confusion swirling in my mind. Why had Violeta been so stunned earlier? Was she pretending to be sick just now? Or was I just imagining things?“Jasmine!” She greeted me with a soft smile, though her expression quickly turned tired as she held her arm. I returned a faint smile as I stepped fully into the room and walked over to the visitor's chair.“Violeta…” I said as I took a seat, feeling conflicted about what to believe. Was I reading too much into things? I don't know. But one thing is certain: she is a good actress.I heard about your accident from the Alpha. I had to come check on you. But… it seems you’re doing much better,” I said, studying her closely. She shifted, sitting a bit straighter as she leaned back against the bed.“Ah... yes.” Violeta began, her voice ten times weaker than when she was on the phone earlier.““I’m trying my hardest to be strong. I’m avoiding anything that could put my baby’s life at risk,” she said, her ex
~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
~Jasmine~I swallowed, staring at him, the question hanging in the air. How did he know what had transpired between Samantha and me? How had he found out she was the one who pushed me?I didn’t remember telling him about our meeting. In fact, we’d never spoken about her. She wasn’t worth a conversation.The image of her cold eyes, leaving me there to bleed, haunted me. The more I recalled the incident, the more it frayed my nerves.I needed to teach Samantha a lesson she wouldn’t soon forget—for undermining me. If I told the Alpha about her threats, I was sure she would be severely punished.I cleared my throat, blinking. “Don’t worry about her, Mav. She’s nothing I can’t handle.”He stared at me for a few moments, trying to read me, to see between the lines. But I revealed nothing, only smiled reassuringly. He slumped back in his chair, letting the conversation drop—for now.“Your meal is getting cold,” I said, gesturing to the half-eaten steak on his plate.“I’m full,” he dismissed,