Lahat ng Kabanata ng Mates at War: A Battle of Hearts : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

JadeMy body stiffened as the reality of what Darius was asking me sank in. The Ritual of Possession... It was the most dangerous thing a woman could go through. One out of nine survived.The thought alone made my blood run cold.The idea of lying on a cold slab, surrounded by witches chanting spells over my drugged body while they tore the bloodline of another man from within me—it was a nightmare too horrific to even imagine. And now, he—my mate—was asking me to go through it. He might as well have held a knife to my throat.“You’re insane,” I whispered, stepping back, my voice shaky. “Do you even hear yourself?”Darius's jaw tightened, his eyes burning with desperation. "You don’t understand, Jade. If there’s even the smallest chance that Rowon is the father—what happens to us? What happens to me?"His words slapped my face so hard that I blinked, shocked by the selfishness of it. My stomach churned, not from nausea this time but from a deep, growing anger.“Stop talking nonsense!”

DariusI watched her storm away, her shoulders tense, each step quickening with each passing second as if she couldn't get away fast enough. Every instinct in me screamed to run after her, to apologise, to undo the hurt I’d caused. My wolf clawed at me, restless and desperate, but I stayed rooted in place, every muscle tight with restraint. Going after her now would only make things worse. She deserved space. And after what I’d just said to her, I didn’t deserve her forgiveness—not yet.When I finally sank back into the garden chair, the romantic setup I'd spent hours preparing mocked me under the dim light. Candles flickered uselessly beside the cold, untouched plates of food. I reached for the bottle of wine, pouring a glass, and took a long, bitter sip, swallowing down the ache in my throat. The alcohol burned, but it was a dull relief compared to the guilt tearing at me.“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, clenching the glass so hard I thought it might shatter. My mind replayed

JadeThe moment the meeting adjourned, I rose swiftly from my seat, keeping my gaze averted from Darius. I could feel his eyes burning into the back of my head, but I refused to look back. I kept my head high, determined to ignore the painful pull of our bond. My heart pounded as I approached the door, the ache of leaving him weighing heavily against my ribs.I was almost at the door when Rowon stepped directly into my path, his smirk as infuriating as ever. “Jade,” he began, tilting his head as if he’d caught me in some game, “please give me a minute of your precious time.”I raised a brow, folding my arms across my chest, refusing to show even a hint of intimidation. “If you’re going to waste my time, make it quick. I don’t have time for whatever... you think this is.”He didn’t seem fazed; if anything, my annoyance only seemed to amuse him. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a slim, cream-coloured envelope. “Just take this,” he said, holding it out to me. “Please, Jade. Just h

JadeI turned my gaze to Darius, waiting, hoping he’d respond with the same fire burning in his eyes. He stood there, fists clenched so tightly that blood trailed from where his nails dug into his palms. His face held no trace of Rowon’s smug arrogance; instead, it was a mix of anger, disbelief, and something deeper—something that hurt to see. His eyes met mine, pleading silently, as though he couldn’t believe I’d demand something so brutal of him.My wolf stirred, growling deep within me. How dare you risk our mate’s life like this? Her voice was laced with fury and fear. But I ignored her, pushing her voice aside, and forced myself to keep my expression cold and unreadable. I had to do this—to know who would truly be willing to fight for me, to stand by my side."Did you hear yourself?" My father’s voice shattered the silence, dripping with disappointment. He stepped forward, his gaze piercing into mine. "How can you ask this of him, Jade? How can you ask your mate—the man the Moon

Darius The blood moon ceremony had worked wonders, calming the fury that clawed at my insides like a rabid beast. My wolf, that relentless, raging force, had finally settled, allowing me a brief reprieve from the ever-present urge to tear Rowon’s throat out. That would come later—when the moment was right. I’d savour the look in his eyes when he realised he’d overstepped one too many times.A low, dark growl escaped me as I ran, paws pounding through the forest, revelling in the wild freedom of my wolf form. It was therapy—a release for the anger coiled so tightly in my chest. Rowon. Just thinking his name made my blood burn. That smug bastard had been there, grinning, taunting me, acting like he was owed something I’d die to protect. Soon, I promised myself. Soon, his smirk would be wiped off his face for good.I pushed myself harder, running until my limbs felt raw and my mind dulled, lost in the rhythm of my stride. By the time I returned, I felt calmer—steadier, at least. I shift